Where do Japanese women most want to travel abroad? Taiwan is ranked No. 1

▲A survey by Japanese website ozmall asked which country Japanese girls most want to visit abroad, and Taiwan was ranked first. (Photo / Screenshot from ozmall website)

By reporter Tsai Wenjun / Comprehensive report

Where do young Japanese girls most want to travel abroad right now? A recent survey released by the well-known Japanese women’s website OZmall on the 4th revealed that Taiwan has“its strong ties with Japan, as well as the diverse local cuisine and attractions”as reasons for taking the top prize.

OZmallA questionnaire survey recently conducted among 750 young office ladies in Tokyo asked, “Where would you most like to travel abroad right now?” Taiwan garnered 225 votes, edging out Hawaii (188 votes) to claim the throne, while South Korea came in third. Many Japanese office ladies commented that Taiwan is close to Japan, is friendly toward Japanese people, and boasts a wide variety of delicious food and scenic spots. They added that even solo travel is fine, and even a short three-day-two-night trip can be extremely satisfying.

OZmall outlined four key categories that are top picks among office ladies: local cuisine, desserts, scenery, and popular small items. The globally renowned xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) remain a high vote-getter—not limited to Din Tai Fung. Some office ladies noted that Taiwanese xiaolongbao come in a variety of wrappers and fillings, with different stores offering unique flavors. In addition, Taiwan offers a rich array of noodle dishes, so much so that OZmall described the selection as “virtually limitless.” Besides beef noodle soup, other popular options include danzai noodles, zhajiangmian (noodles with soybean paste), miànxiàn (vermicelli noodles), and cold noodles.

▲Taiwanese xiaolongbao, with their diverse fillings and wrappers and rich textures, were chosen as the best food by Japanese office ladies. (Photo / Eastern TV)

“Desserts I want to eat even in winter!”—that’s what many office ladies are saying about Taiwanese shaved ice. Its adorable decorations and rich toppings have made milk snow ice and snowflake ice incredibly popular, with many eager to enjoy them even in the cold winter months. Other sweet treats on the list include the bouncy-looking aiyu jelly, chewy bubble tea with its Q-textured pearls, and tofu pudding, also known as “soymilk pudding.”

Beyond the usual spots like Taipei 101 and Shilin Night Market, OZmall mentioned the trend of specialty cafés where you can enjoy dessert and drink sets—also called “afternoon tea.” These range from cat cafés where you can hang out with felines, to cafés with princess-themed décor and menu items. Another surprising experience for Japanese visitors is getting your hair washed at a beauty salon—“It became a hot topic on TV for a while, so we included it in our itinerary. Actually seeing the stylists scrubbing my hair up and down was really amusing!” The affordable prices also left a deep impression on many women.

▲“Xiao Chai Zai Tang,” known for its stylish teaware and premium-quality teas, is quite famous among Japanese visitors. (Left image / fromXiao Chai Zai Tang’s fan page). Various unique cafés are also highly favored among Japanese women. The right image shows “Here’s the Cat Café” in Taichung. (Photo / Reporter Li Wei)

Finally, when it comes to popular small items that get hearts racing, many office ladies choose Taiwanese tea and teaware. Practical tea bags and aesthetically pleasing teaware are especially popular. Visiting Taiwan during the new tea season could be a great opportunity to stock up on must-haves. In addition, trendy boutiques where you can buy accessories and miscellaneous goods in bulk at low prices, as well as lightweight dried fruits and jams that make great souvenirs, are also recommended by those who have visited Taiwan.