No need to fly to Japan—Osaka Castle appears at Taipei Lantern Festival, romantic night cherry blossom viewing

▲ Osaka Castle lantern at the Taipei Lantern Festival, complete with cherry blossoms. (Photo / Reporter Yu Jiayun)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

Experience Osaka vibes without leaving the country. The 2017 Taipei Lantern Festival features eight major exhibition zones, among which the "Golden Egg Zone" showcases the Japanese Osaka landmark “Osaka Castle” and the giant Morinaga lantern of Osaka’s tourism emblem, making visitors feel as if they’ve arrived in Japan in an instant.

▲Osaka participates in an overseas lantern festival for the first time, bringing its iconic Osaka Castle to Taiwan. (Photo / Provided by Taipei City Government Tourism and Travel Bureau)

Mizo Hiroshi, Director of the Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau, stated that this is Osaka’s first time participating in an overseas lantern festival and the first time its iconic landmark—Osaka Castle—is presented in lantern form, paired with the city’s tourism emblem. Focused on Osaka Castle, the aim is to build a world-class tourism city where travelers and residents alike can enjoy “vibrant Osaka,” with the glowing background representing “Osaka shining on the world.” There is also a representation of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who had the castle built around 430 years ago, symbolizing “a historically and culturally rich Osaka.” Additionally, visitors can enjoy the cherry blossoms surrounding Osaka Castle before Japan’s cherry blossom season. He hopes that by participating in the 2017 Taipei Lantern Festival, both those who have visited Osaka and those who haven’t yet discovered it will come to love the city and be inspired to visit in person.

2017 Taipei Lantern Festival
Event Location: Taipei City, Beimen, Section 1, Zhonghua Road
Event Dates: February 4 to February 12