Hello, this is Yosugaya!
(I've been neglecting to update my introduction to Taiwanese tea...lol)
I recently visited Taiwan, so today I would like to introduce Taiwan to you again.

Taiwan is an island roughly the same size as Kyushu.
During the Age of Discovery, the Portuguese sailors who discovered the island called it "Ilha Formosa" (Beautiful Island), and it is also known as "Beautiful Island."
It has long been considered an important trading hub and has a history of being ruled by major powers, most notably Japan, which ruled it for around 50 years from 1895.
Given this background, I feel that it has a unique atmosphere that is different from the provinces across mainland China.
The connection with Japan would take too long to go into here, but the bustling night markets, wide variety of fruits, and Xiaolongbao are now all familiar sights.

Looking at the economic aspect, Taiwan was once called one of the "Four Little Dragons of Asia" along with Hong Kong, Singapore, and South Korea, and was expected to grow rapidly.
Since then, growth has slowed compared to other regions, resulting in the region falling somewhat behind, but in recent years it has actually strengthened its international presence as an indispensable base for the cutting-edge semiconductor industry.

Although Taiwan faces complex political challenges, most people are easygoing and caring, and the democratization that began in the 1980s has created a widespread sense of freedom and openness.
Furthermore, due to rising prices and the weak yen, the impression that it is a "cheap place to stay" has faded.
However, meals at local restaurants, transportation costs, and fruit are still relatively affordable, which is a welcome point for travelers.
As for trends, while traditional leaf tea is struggling, it seems that new products such as the spread of coffee culture and "Made in Taiwan" craft goods are attracting attention.

Popular tourist spots include Jiufen, rumored to be the setting for "Spirited Away" (though director Hayao Miyazaki later denied this lol), the National Palace Museum, which houses many treasures brought over from the mainland by the Kuomintang, and Taipei 101, a skyscraper with a bamboo motif.

I myself lived in Taiwan for four years, from my university days through my working holiday, and have visited many times since then, but I still feel that Taiwan is a place full of charm that I cannot fully grasp.

Please get your passport and travel to Taiwan from Hanamaki Airport!

Taiwanese street food

24-hour porridge shop

 MRT (Metro) Subway 

 dragon fruit 

 The Tatung electric rice cooker that everyone has