After spending our vacation in the Philippines, my wife, Krissel, and I decided to make a short stop in Taiwan before returning to Japan.
With two nights available, we wanted to explore Taipei, try local food, and visit some of northern Taiwan’s famous sights.
This Taiwan itinerary follows our actual trip, including our hotel, airport transfers, food stops, and Klook day tour. Our third day was mainly for traveling back to Japan, so most of our sightseeing happened during the first two days.
Trip at a Glance
Before You Go
- Passport Check the entry documents for your nationality.
- Arrival Card Official online form
- eSIM We used an eSIM throughout our trip.
- Local Cash We exchanged money for local spending.
Check the official arrival card website for the current submission window. Keep your hotel, transfer, and tour confirmations easy to access.
Our Stay
Mayer Inn
Two nights · ¥19,490
We kept the same hotel throughout our visit and used it as our base for exploring Taipei and joining our day tour.
From Davao to Manila
Our journey began in Davao, where we took a flight to Manila before continuing to Taipei. We reached NAIA around midnight and had roughly six hours before our next flight.
We decided to try A Lounge, paying ₱3,000 per person. There was food available, and it gave us somewhere to rest during the overnight wait. It was an extra expense, but we appreciated having a place to take a break before our next flight.
Day 1 · Exploring Taipei
Arrival & Tim Ho Wan
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Arrival & Lunch at Tim Ho Wan
We arrived at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport around 10:13 AM. We had booked a Klook airport transfer for ¥5,800 to take us directly to Mayer Inn.
Our first lunch in Taipei was at Tim Ho Wan. We ordered several dishes to share:
- Salted egg custard buns
- Baked BBQ pork buns
- Pork chop fried rice with X.O. sauce
- Stir fried noodles
- Prawn dumplings
Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
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Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
After lunch, we visited Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall. The first thing that struck us was its size. The wide plaza, grand buildings, and surrounding gardens made the whole complex impressive to explore.
To us, the architecture reflected a strong influence from traditional Chinese design. Opened in 1980 in memory of Chiang Kai-shek, the former president of the Republic of China, the memorial is an important historical landmark in Taipei. The grounds also include the National Theater and National Concert Hall.
We took plenty of photos, but it’s worth allowing time to walk around, appreciate the architecture, and learn about part of Taiwan’s history.
Taipei 101
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Taipei 101: A Photo Stop
Next, we headed to Taipei 101, one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks. We decided not to visit the observatory and simply took photos from outside.
Seeing the tower in person was still a memorable part of our first day. You can keep this as a short photo stop or allow more time if you want to visit the observatory.
An Evening in Ximending
In the evening, we went to Ximending for a light dinner and some street food. We tried a garlic chive bun and bought milk tea from Xing Fu Tang. Walking around and choosing something to eat was part of the fun.
We kept comparing Taiwan with Japan. Familiar shops such as GU, UNIQLO, FamilyMart, and 7-Eleven made parts of Taipei feel familiar to us. We also encountered Japanese visitors during our trip.
After dinner, we returned to our hotel to rest and prepare for the next day’s tour.
Day 2 · Northern Taiwan
For our second day, we booked a northern Taiwan day tour through Klook. The booking price was ¥3,413. Admission to Yehliu Geopark was separate, so we also booked entrance tickets for ¥595 per person.
Meeting time: 8:00 AM
Meeting point: Ximen Station, Exit 5
Yehliu Geopark
Our first stop was Yehliu Geopark. The journey took around 45 to 50 minutes, and we had approximately one hour to explore.
Yehliu sits on a cape about 1.7 kilometers long in New Taipei City. Sea erosion, weathering, and movements of the earth have shaped its rocks into unusual forms, giving the coastline an almost otherworldly appearance.
Its best known formation is the Queen’s Head, named for its resemblance to a queen’s profile. Other formations include mushroom rocks, candle rocks, and the Fairy’s Shoe. With the rocks set against the ocean, there was plenty to photograph.
Shifen Old Street & Sky Lanterns
Next, we traveled to Shifen Village, with the journey taking around 40 minutes. This former coal mining town is in New Taipei City’s Pingxi District. Its Old Street runs alongside the railway tracks, with shops, food stalls, and lantern sellers lining both sides.
We explored the old street and tried one of Shifen’s best known traditions: releasing a sky lantern. We wrote our wishes on it before letting it go and watching it float into the sky.
Making those wishes together became a special memory from our Taiwan trip.
Shifen Waterfall
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Shifen Waterfall
After exploring the old street, we visited nearby Shifen Waterfall, often called the “Niagara Falls of Taiwan.” Around 20 meters high and 40 meters wide, it forms a broad curtain of water along the Keelung River.
We really loved it here and took lots of photos of the falls and surrounding scenery. It was a beautiful addition to our visit to Shifen.
Jiufen: Our Favorite Stop
Our last stop was Jiufen, around a 40 minute journey away. It was probably our favorite place on the day tour.
This hillside town is full of narrow lanes, small shops, and food stalls. Some souvenir shops sell similar items, but there’s plenty to browse, including miniature models, plushies, magnets, and keychains. There’s also so much local street food to choose from.
Fans of Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away may recognize a familiar atmosphere in Jiufen’s lanterns and winding alleys. Although Hayao Miyazaki has denied that Jiufen inspired the film, it’s easy to understand why visitors make the comparison.
Even without that connection, the atmosphere and coastal views make Jiufen a memorable place to explore.
From Gold Mining Town to Travel Destination
Our tour guide also shared some of Jiufen’s history. Once a prosperous gold mining town, Jiufen became quieter as the mining industry declined. Later, Hou Hsiao-hsien’s 1989 film A City of Sadness, which was filmed here, helped bring renewed attention to its streets and architecture.
For me, that story made the visit more interesting. Gold once brought people to Jiufen, but today its history, culture, and scenery draw visitors. It reminded me that a place’s value goes beyond what can be mined or sold. The heritage left behind can be just as precious.
Dinner & Our Last Evening
After the tour, we had dinner at 台灣火車頭鐵路便當, where we ordered vegetable rice with a pork chop and a fried egg. It was a simple, delicious meal after a full day of sightseeing.
Later, we walked around, tried more street food, and watched a live street performance. We wanted to stay out longer, but our early flight meant we needed to return to the hotel. We packed our things, washed up, and got ready to leave.
Day 3 · Back to Japan
Airport & ScootPlus
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Early Checkout & Our Flight Home
Our flight to Japan was around 7:00 AM, so we checked out of Mayer Inn at approximately 2:00 AM. We booked another airport transfer through Klook, paying ¥3,936 for the journey to Taoyuan Airport.
We found the airport transfers surprisingly affordable compared with our experience in Japan. Having a transfer arranged was especially helpful for such an early departure.
For our flight back, we traveled with ScootPlus. It was time to head home after two busy days of exploring Taiwan.
What We Paid
| Booking | Price paid |
|---|---|
| A Lounge at NAIA · per person | ₱3,000 |
| Arrival airport transfer | ¥5,800 |
| Mayer Inn · 2 nights | ¥19,490 |
| Day tour · booking price | ¥3,413 |
| Yehliu entrance · per person | ¥595 |
| Return airport transfer | ¥3,936 |
Klook and hotel prices are listed in Japanese yen as recorded for our trip. Flights, meals, shopping, the eSIM, and other spending are excluded. Booking prices may vary.
A Short Trip,
Plenty of Memories
Our Taiwan visit was short, but we enjoyed how much we experienced in two sightseeing days. We explored Taipei, tried local food, saw Yehliu’s unusual coastline, released a lantern in Shifen, and wandered through Jiufen’s old streets.
Jiufen was probably our favorite stop, while making wishes together in Shifen was one of our most memorable experiences.
What began as a stop between our Philippine vacation and our return to Japan became a trip of its own. We would have loved more time, but this Taiwan itinerary gave us a lovely first introduction to the country.
