Overview - 2016 Trip to Taiwan and Japan

We joined a 7 days Signet Tour to visit Hokkaido (北海道) and northeastern part of Honshu (本州). Prior to this tour, we visited Taiwan for 8 days to visit family, and we had several day trips for western part of Taiwan.  The itinerary for Taiwan and Japan was as the following:

Taiwan -

1. Thursday, October 20, 2016 - Arriving Taipei and checked in Just Sleep@NTU(捷絲旅臺大尊賢館).
2. Friday, October 21, 2016 - Taking care business and meting with family for lunch at Din Tai Fung (鼎泰豐-復興店).
3. Saturday, October 22, 2016 - HikingElephant Mountain Walking Trail (象山自然步道) near Taipei 101; visiting Shifen Waterfall (十份瀑布) in Shifen (十份) of New Taipei City (新北市).
4. Sunday, October 23, 2016 - Visiting Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum (佛光山佛陀紀念館) and Fo Guang Shan Monastery (佛光山) in Kaohsiung.
5. Monday, October 24, 2016 - Visiting NTU, enjoying lunch with family and shopping.
6. Tuesday, October 25, 2016 - Day trip to Tainan, visited Confucius Temple(孔子廟) , Anping Fort (Anping Gubao)(安平古堡), Chihkan Tower (Fort Provintia)(赤嵌樓).
7. Wednesday, October 26, 2016 - Visiting Songshan Cultural and Creative Park (松山文創園區), and Chiang Kai-shek's Shilin Official Residence (士林官邸).
8. Thursday, October 27, 2016 - Reunion with John Yang’s family and friends from Houston, visiting Huashan 1914 Creative Park (華山1914創意文化園區), and dining with family
9. Friday, October 28, 2016 - Day trip to Alishan National Forest Recreation Area(阿里山森林遊樂區).
10. Saturday, October 29, 2016 - Visiting family and did more shopping.
11. Sunday, October 30, 2016 - Traveling to Hokkaido(北海道).

Japan -

1. Sunday, October 30, 2016 - Flight to CTS (New Chitose Airport) in Hokkaido, traveled to Sapporo (札幌市), and checking into Sapporo Grand Hotel.
2. Monday, October 31, 2016 - Visiting Otaru and had a Sapporo City Tour
3. Tuesday, November 1, 2016 - Visiting Hokkaido Shrine (北海道神宮), Okurayama Ski Jump Slop (大倉山滑雪跳台競技場), Shiraoi Ainuzoku Village (白老愛奴村), and Jigokidan (地獄谷).
4. Wednesday, November 2, 2016 - Visiting Lake Toya (洞爺湖), Usuza Cable Car (珠山纜車), Mt. Shyowashin-zan (昭和新山), Mt. Hakodate (函館山).
5. Thursday, November 3, 2016 - Visiting Goryokaku (五稜郭), 「函館市民廚房」, and Seikan Bullet Train through Seikan Underwater Tunnel, and visiting Nakano Momiji Yama in Miinaminakano(南中野).
6. Friday, November 4, 2016 - Hiking along Oirasekeiryu (奧入瀨溪流).
7. Saturday, November 5, 2016 - Visiting Morioka Handicraft Village (盛岡手工藝村), Lake Tarawa (田澤湖), and Bukeyashiki (角館參觀武家屋敷).
8. Sunday, November 6, 2017 - Visiting Chusonji Temple (中尊寺), Cruise Matsushima (遊覽船), and Kanrantei (觀瀾亭).
9. Monday, November 7, 2016 - Bullet Train from Sendai to Tokyo, then traveling back to Houston

The Trip Map for Taiwan is as the following:

The Trip Maps for Japan are as the following:

Signet Tour always provide the best hotel accommodations and food selections for their Japan Tours.  We have recorded many delicious food selections in this blog for future reference.

Oct 19 & 20 - Travel to Taipei

It was a long but smooth flight.  We had to change plane at NRT and the walking between the terminals was long. When we got to TPE, it was raining.  We got on CitiAir Bus (大有巴士) without any issue and arrived to Howard Grand Hotel, then we took a taxi to Just Sleep @ NTU (捷絲旅臺大尊賢館).  

Everything was smooth and the room at Just Sleep@NTU was pretty good size and it was comfortable.  After long flight, we just called the day off and went to sleep.

Oct 22 - Elephant Mountain Walking Trail and Shifen Waterfall

We found a couple attractions nearby Taipei city namely Elephant Mountain Walking Trail (象山自然步道) and Shifen Waterfall (十份瀑布). Elephant Mountain Walking Trial is near Taipei 101.  It can be reached by taking subway to Elehant Mountain Station and the just walking 15 minutes to the trailhead.  Since it was Saturday, there were a lot of locals hiking the same trails, therefore, we just follow the crowd to reach the trailhead.  

The trail has well paved walkways and steps, and it is pretty easy to hike.  However, it was hot and humid, and both of us were totally sweated after the hike.  The view of the Taipei 101 and the Taipei city from the top was very impressive.  It took us 2 and 1/2 hours to complete the hike along with many photo opportunities.

Then we took the subway and local bus to Shifen to visit the Shifen Waterfall.  It is horseshoe shape fall just like Niagara Fall, but at a much small scale.  It is in a well maintained park and the fall is pretty and surprisedly pleasant.  We grew up in Taipei and we have not learned about this fall until this trip.  It is a definitely one of nicest attraction near Taipei.

Then we went back to city to pick up Tony’s Mark II.  Dinner was at Kao-chi which we visited many times previously.  We had the same usual dishes we order every time we visit there.  After a good meal, we stalked around Yongkang Street before we called the day off.

Oct 21 - Met with Family

After a good night rest, we got up earlier and met with Fei’s sister.  She helped us taking care some of the residence related business.  Then we went to the Din Tai Fung (鼎泰豐-復興店) to have a wonderful lunch.  After lunch, we took Fei’s watch and Tony’s Mark II for maintenance.  

After some rest, we walked around Taida campus and then went to a nearby restaurant for a light dinner.

Oct 23 - Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum and Fo Guang Shan Monastery

We got up early to catch the high speed bullet train to start our day trip to Kaochiung.  The main attraction we tried to visit was the Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum (佛光山佛陀紀念館).  This museum is affiliated with Fo Guang Shan (佛光山), one of Taiwan's largest Buddhist organizations. The museum houses one of the tooth relics of Sakyamuni Buddha, the founder of the Buddhist faith. Construction of the museum began in 2008, and the museum was opened to the public in December 2011.  The design of the museum itself went through more than one hundred revisions. Just when the foundation had been completed Venerable Master Hsing Yun (星雲大師) had a sudden flash of inspiration, he used a few bottles of mineral water, a tissue box and some newspapers, and set out a rudimentary layout for the future Buddha Museum. 

The architecture of this museum is impressive and it can be described with the following:

1. The Front Hall - 

The Front Hall is defined by the Gate of Perfect Ease and the Gate of Liberation. The lion and elephant, both accompanied by smaller cubs, welcome guests from either side of the doors. Inside, there are restaurants and a buffet, all so visitors can rest there or grab something to eat. 

2. Eight Pagodas -

There are eight pagodas representing different ideas or precepts as the following:

• One Teaching Pagoda - represents Buddhist teachings.
• Two Assemblies Pagoda - monastic and lay assembles.
• Three Goodness Pagoda - refer to the wholesome deeds of the body, speech and mind.
• Four Givings Pagoda - give others confidence, joy, hope and convenience.
• Five Harmonies Pagoda - refer to personal harmony achieved through joy, interpersonal harmony achieved through respect, family harmony achieved through deference, social harmony achieved through cooperation, and world harmony achieved through peace.
• Six Perfections Pagoda - namely giving, ethics, patience, dillgence, meditation, and wisdom.
• Seven Admonishments Pagoda - refer to admonishing drugs, pornography, violence, stealing, gambling, alcohol, and harsh words.
• Eigthfold Path Pagoda - lead a person to liberation: right view, right understanding, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration.

3. Twin Pavilions

4. Bodhi Wisdom Concourse

5. Eight Patriarchs

6. Main Hall with the following Shrines and Museum

• Mount Potalaka Avalokitesvara Shrine - houses the Thousand-Armed, Thousand-Eyes Avalokitesvara status. 
• Golden Buddha Shrine
• Jade Buddha Shrine
• Museum of underground Palaces
• Museum of Buddhist Festivals
• Museum of the History of Fo Guang Shan
• Museum of the Life of the Buddha
• Great Enlightenment Auditorium

7. Four Noble Truths Stupas

8. Fo Guang Big Buddha

There are many Art Reliefs, One-Stroke Calligraphy, Statues, Sculptures and Art Galleries can be seen throughout the compound.  While we visited, there are 2 impressive exhibitions in the Main Hall.  One is Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s (星雲大師) One-Stroke Calligraphy and the other is the artwork of Chang Dai-Chien (張大千) on loan from Taiwan Palace Museum. 

Then we walked to Fo Guang Shan Monastery (佛光山).  It is covered by green forests and the monastery is set on the top of the mountain with great views overlooking the surroundings. There are more than 100,000 statues around the monastery that create solemn atmosphere. It covers an area more than 30 hectares comprised of university building, shrines, Great Hero Hall and a 36-meter tall status of Amitabha Buddha. 

After we got back to Kaochiung HSBT station, we got a couple of HSBT dinner boxes for dinner on the bullet train.  

Oct 24 - Visit NTU, Family and Shopping

As a part of planing for this trip, I had to apply for NTU Alumni ID Card.  NTU Alumni office was very considering and sent the ID card with condition of paying the application fee later when I visit NTU.  Therefore, we made special effort to go to NTU Alumni office to pay the application fee.  At the same time we visited NTU and took many photos.

We met Fei’s sisters and Caroline for lunch at a very nice restaurant Chang Ju Cantonese Cuisine (常聚) which was picked by Caroline. Once again we tasted the Cherry Duck along with many delicious dishes such as 三星蔥燒餅 and 蘿蔔絲卷.  After lunch, we did some shopping at i-Roo and Uniqlo.  We were here in last couple trips and were quite familiar with them.  

With the wonderful lunch, neither of us felt hungry at all.  Therefore, we just went to a nearby bakery for some pastries as our supper.  Fresh Taiwan pastries always are our favorite.  

Oct 25 - Tainan, Taiwan

Tainan is one of cities with the most historical attractions in Taiwan.  We decided to make a day trip to visit some of the famous historical attractions.  The local bus station is not near the high speed bullet train station, therefore, we had to take a local train to the regular train station to start our bus route.  

The first attraction we visited was the Confucius Temple(孔子廟).  Every Teacher Day (September 28), Taiwan government will host a Confucian ceremoniy to celebrate Confucius’s birthday at this location.  In earlier time, this was the location of the highest educational institution of Taiwan.  

Next attraction was the Anping Fort (Anping Gubao) (安平古堡).  It is the castle built by Holland people and later occupied by Cheng-Kong Cheng (鄭成功). It is one of the most significant castles in the Taiwan’s history.

Then we visited the Chihkan Tower (Fort Provintia) (赤嵌樓).  This castle is located close to city and was well maintained.  Our most significant memory about this attraction was that it was on one of the most popular stamp published long ago in Taiwan.