Japanese Era - Taiwan Travel Blog

Changhua Travel Guide, Fall in Love with Taiwan’s Historical Central County 彰化懒人包

Byforeignersintw January 1, 2026January 1, 2026

For you expats or foreigners who have never left Taipei, Changhua is a large mostly rural county in central Taiwan. For years I myself never visited, because I didn’t know what was there and had no reason to go. It turns out there are quite a few attractions here in this secret paradise.Below I will…

Taiwan’s Northern Coast Travel Guide, Discover a Beautiful and Amazing Coastline 台灣北海岸懶人包

Byforeignersintw January 1, 2026January 1, 2026

The North Coast of Taiwan is a beautiful area with endless sights to explore. Taiwan’s northern coast is an amazing area with unique geology and rocks, lots of sandy beaches, amazing mountain views and hikes, old streets, night markets, historical sites, and much more to discover. Don’t not come here. 🏯 Planning your trip to…

Marshal Zen Garden 雙喜湯屋 , Enjoy Great Views, Hot Springs, Food, and History

Byforeignersintw January 1, 2026January 1, 2026

Marshall Zen Garden (also known as Shaoshuai Zen Garden 少帥展館) was originally a Japanese era Inn and home to Zhang Xueliang, an outcast Chinese warlord who spent more than 50 years on house arrest here. Now it has been renovated and converted into a restaurant, museum, and hot spring bath. Sitting in the hills of…

Qijin (Cijin) Island Travel Guide, Koahsiung’s Best Beach Destination 旗津懶人包

Byforeignersintw January 1, 2026January 1, 2026

Qijin Island (aka Cijin Island or Chijin Island) has one of the most accessible sandy beaches in any urban area in Taiwan. Besides the nearly 10 Km stretch of sandy shores, the island also has an old street with tasty snacks, a seafood market, a lighthouse, an ancient fort, a star tunnel, a shell museum,…

Chiayi Travel Guide, Best Places to Visit, Eat & Explore 嘉義懶人包

Byforeignersintw January 1, 2026January 1, 2026

Chiayi is a mostly rural county in south-central Taiwan. Despite its relatively small population compared to other counties in Taiwan, it has some of the most beautiful scenery, delicious local food, and interesting history. Come for Alishan, and stay for everything else you find along the way. Below I will list out some of the…

Taiwan Cherry Blossom Guide: A Complete List of Cherry Blossom Locations 台灣賞櫻花指南

Byforeignersintw January 1, 2026January 1, 2026

Cherry Blossom Season in Taiwan lasts from about February to March, but the timing varies slightly every year due to differing weather patterns. Want to know where you can find the best places to enjoy Cherry Blossoms in Taiwan? In this guide, we will show you the places to see Cherry Blossoms, including a map…

Pingtung Travel Guide, Explore Taiwan’s Sunniest County 屏東旅遊懶人包

Byforeignersintw January 1, 2026January 1, 2026

Pingtung is Taiwan’s southernmost county and includes the best beaches, sunshine, the best outer island, some of the best mountains, rivers, and waterfalls, the most sunshine, as well as interesting historical and cultural sites. It should definitely be on your list on your next visit to Taiwan. 🏖️ Planning your trip to Pingtung? ☀️ Here…

Kenting Travel Guide 墾丁懶人包, The Best Beaches in Taiwan

Byforeignersintw January 1, 2026January 1, 2026

Yes, you should go to Kenting. Kenting has some of the best natural scenery in Taiwan, from beautiful white sand beaches that are warm year-round to limestone mountains with hundreds of caves and waterfalls to explore. Although it may not be a world-class beach resort destination yet, it should definitely be on your list on your…

Beitou Public Hot Spring 北投公共溫泉, Soak on the Cheap like a Local in the Outdoors

Byforeignersintw January 1, 2026January 1, 2026

Beitou Public Hot Spring (aka Millennium Hot Springs or Beitou Outdoor Public Hot Springs 北投公共溫泉) is a large outdoor public hot spring area in Beitou, Taipei. With a price of only 60 NT, and discounted tickets for locals, it is one of the most popular and economical ways to enjoy Beitou’s hot springs. It is…

Ultimate Guide to Taipei’s Old Streets 台北老街指南

Byforeignersintw January 1, 2026January 1, 2026

Taipei has some amazing old streets that you are waiting to discover. Each one of the old streets around Taipei has a special story to tell that can help you understand more about Taiwan’s History and Culture. In this guide, we will introduce the most popular old streets in Taipei, as well as some that…

Cheng Ching Lake Ultimate Travel Guide 澄清湖完整導覽

Byforeignersintw January 1, 2026January 1, 2026

Cheng Ching Lake (aka Cheng Cing Lake or Ching Qing Lake) in Kaohsiung is one of the most beautiful parks in Taiwan. Much of the lake is full of traditional Chinese gardens and architecture. Because of its size, it cannot be properly appreciated by only going there for one afternoon; there are simply too many…

Keelung Travel Guide, Best Places to See in the Harbor City 基隆旅遊指南

Byforeignersintw January 1, 2026January 1, 2026

Keelung is a small city in the northern part of Taiwan, known for its deep harbor. Here you can find interesting historical sites dating back to the Dutch, Spanish, Qing, and Japanese colonization of Taiwan. Now the town is a bustling urban area with tons of food options, amazing coastline, waterfalls, mountains, and much more…

Orchid Island (Lanyu) 蘭嶼, Taiwan’s Best Indigenous Cultural Experience

Byforeignersintw January 1, 2026January 1, 2026

Orchid Island (not to be confused with the Fijian Island of the same name), known in the local Tao language as Ponso No Tao (Island of the people), and in Chinese as Lanyu (蘭嶼) is a secret indigenous people’s paradise off the southeastern coast of Taiwan. It is different than any other place in Taiwan…

Basic Info | Festivals | Japanese Era | Kinmen | Taiwan History

Taiwan Retrocession Day 臺灣光復節

Byforeignersintw January 1, 2026January 1, 2026

Taiwan Retrocession Day (officially Taiwan Retrocession and Battle of Guningtou Victory Memorial Day 台灣光復暨金門古寧頭大捷紀念日) is a National Holiday in Taiwan, which celebrates the recovery of Taiwan from the empire of Japan. It also celebrates the Battle of Guningtou, the last time that the PRC tried to invade Taiwan. This holiday was recently reinstated as a…

Thermal Valley 地熱谷, A Natural Wonder in Beitou You Can’t Miss

Byforeignersintw January 1, 2026January 1, 2026

Thermal Valley (aka Geothermal Valley, Ghost Lake, Jade Spring Valley, or Hell Valley 地熱谷) is a bubbling and steaming turquoise pool, that is one of the sources of Beitou’s hot springs and one of only two green sulfur hot springs in the world. Here you can take a walk around the entire pool, enjoy the…

The Best Hot Spring Hotels in Beitou 北投最佳的溫泉飯店英文介紹

Byforeignersintw January 1, 2026January 1, 2026

Wondering where to stay in the Beitou Hot Spring Area? There are so many hot spring hotels in this area, that it may be hard to choose from. There are many hotels within walking distance from the MRT station as well as museums and historical sites. There are also hotels that are more secluded and…

Turtle Island (Guishan Island) 龜山島, Taiwan’s Volcanic Island Treasure

Byforeignersintw January 1, 2026January 1, 2026

Guishan Island (literally Turtle Mountain Island) is a turtle-shaped island off the coast of Yilan in Eastern Taiwan. Once inhabited by fishermen, it is now a coast guard base but is open for day tours. The island tour includes beautiful sea cliffs, hiking, a lake, an abandoned village, military tunnels, and whale watching just offshore. …

What to See and Do in Hualien Besides Taroko Gorge

Byforeignersintw January 1, 2026January 1, 2026

Sadly, due to a recent earthquake, much of Taroko Gorge, Hualien’s most famous landmark, is no longer accessible to the public. However, there are plenty of other places to check out in Hualien. In this blog, we will share a list of other places to visit in Hualien besides Taroko Gorge. Hualien is the largest…

100 Amazing Things to Do and See in Taipei 台北景點懶人包

Byforeignersintw January 1, 2026January 1, 2026

This travel guide to Taipei offers an extensive overview of attractions, activities, and dining options. Highlights include popular sites like Taipei 101, night markets, and historical landmarks. It also provides tips on transportation, accommodations, and seasonal recommendations, presenting a detailed itinerary for an enriching experience in Taiwan’s vibrant capital.

Our Travel Guide to Wulai, Taipei’s Amazing Mountain Paradise (烏來旅遊指南)

Byforeignersintw January 1, 2026January 1, 2026

Wulai District of New Taipei includes some of Taiwan’s most amazing waterfalls, hot springs, aboriginal culture, an old street with snacks and restaurants, a gondola, a train, an amusement park, hiking trails, camp sites, wildlife, and endless mountain scenery to explore. It is definitely worth a stop on your next trip to Taipei. 🏞️ Planning…

Travel Guide to Hsinchu 新竹懶人包, Taiwan’s Charming Tech Hub

Byforeignersintw January 1, 2026January 1, 2026

Hsinchu, Taiwan, combines technological innovation with rich history, Hakka culture, and natural beauty. It has numerous old streets, preserved Japanese-era and Qing-era buildings, zoos, mountains, lakes, rivers, beaches, and much more to explore. It is definitely worth a stop on your next trip to Taiwan. 🏯 Planning your trip to Hsinchu? 🪁 Here are some…

Lalu Island 拉魯島, Sun Moon Lake’s Sacred Island

Byforeignersintw November 7, 2025December 24, 2025

Lalu Island on Sun Moon Lake is a sacred island to the indigenous people here, who believe that a deer showed their ancestors the way to the lake. Before a dam was built, the island was larger and shaped like a crescent moon. Even though tourists can no longer visit the island, it is one…

Checheng Railway Station and Old Street 車程車站及老街

Byforeignersintw November 1, 2025November 1, 2025

Checheng is the last stop along the Jiji Railway Line in Nantou, and includes a large old street and shopping area, including restored historical Japanese buildings, hearkening back to the historical importance of the town as a logging hub. Here you can find museums, snacks, and beautiful scenery. It is definitely worth a stop. 🛥️…

Aowanda 奧萬大, Explore Taiwan’s High Mountain Forest Wonderland

Byforeignersintw October 31, 2025December 24, 2025

Aowanda (aka Aowanda National Forest Recreation Area) was an ancient hunting ground for the Atayal Tribe and was an area for Japanese hydroelectric power development. Now it has been converted into a nature preserve with an easy hiking trail for the public to enjoy, and is now famous for its maple trees and cherry blossoms….

Historical Buildings | Japanese Era | Nantou | Old Streets | Taiwan History

Zhushan Old Street 竹山老街

Byforeignersintw October 27, 2025October 27, 2025

Zhushan Old Street, also known as Lin Yipu Old Street (林圮埔老街), is a historical shopping area in Zhushan Township of Nantou County, with over 250 years of history. Dating back to the Kingdom of Tungning, this town has long served as the window to the central mountain range. Now this quiet street sells snacks and…