Itinerary

We went on a 23 days trip to visit Taiwan and Japan.  The Taiwan part of the trip was touring Eastern Taiwan in late March 2015 and the Japan trip was for Sakura (cherry blossom) in early April 2015.

Bella and Maggie (Houston friends), Fei and Tony were on the Taiwan Trip. South East Travel Service (東南旅行社) was the tour company which provided us a private 7-passengers van, a private driver/guide, and VIP treatments to tour Eastern Taiwan trip.

Maggie, Fei and Tony attended the Japan Trip provided by Signet Tours (超值旅遊).  The primary purpose of visiting Japan was for cherry blossom. Through Signet Tours' recommendation, we chose April 1 as the starting date for the Japan tour. And we were lucky to be able to view the full blooming of Sakura (cherry blossom). The timing was prefect.

The itinerary for Taiwan part of the trip is as the following:

3/18 - traveled from Houston to Taiwan

3/19 - arrived Taiwan

3/20 - visited family in Taipei

3/21 - Jioufen (九份) 

3/22 - Wufongchi Falls (五峰旗瀑布區), National Center for Traditional Arts (國立傳藝中心) 

3/23 - Kavalan Whiskey Distillery (噶瑪蘭酒廠), Jiancing Historic Trail (見晴懷古步道)

3/24 - Cueifang Lake National Walking Trail (翠峰湖國家步道), Taipingshan Villa (太平山莊), Chingshui Geothermal Water (清水地熟), Changpi Lake Scenic Area (長埤湖風景區)

3/25 - Qingshui Cliff (清水斷崖), Taroko Terrace (太魯閣台地), Shakadang Trail (砂卡礑步道), Swallow Grotto (燕子口), Jiugudong (九曲洞), Cimu Bridge (慈母橋） 

3/26 - Baiyang Trail (白揚步道), Buluowan (布洛灣), Liyu Lake (鯉魚潭), Mataian Wetland (馬太鞍濕地) 

3/27 - Fu-yuan Butterfly Valley (富源蝴蝶谷), Sanxiantai (三仙台), Little Yehliu (小野柳)

3/28 - Jhihben National Forest Recreation Area (知本森林遊樂區), East Rift Valley (花東縱谷), Bunun Leisure Farm (布農部落屋), Chu Lu Ranch (初鹿牧場)

3/29 - Kenting National Park (墾丁國家公園), Maobitou (貓頭鼻), E-Luan-Bi (鵝鸞鼻)

3/30 - visited family in Taipei, Yangmingshan (陽明山)

3/31 - visited friends and shopping in Taipei

The itinerary for Japan part of the trip is as the following:

4/1 - Traveled from Taiwan to Narita (Tokyo International Airport), Shinshoji Temple (新勝寺)

4/2 - Umihotaru (海營島), Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine (鶴岡八幡宮), Hase-dera (長谷寺)

4/3 - Lake Ashi (蘆之湖), Owakudani Valley (大涌谷), Imperial Palace (皇居外苑)

4/4 - Tokyo Mizube Line (隅田川遊船), Asakusa Senso-ji (淺草觀音寺), Tokyo Skytree (東京晴空塔), Sumida Park Sakura (隅田公園賞櫻花)

4/5 - Shinkansen Bullet Train (高速新幹線子彈火車) to Kyoto (京都), Miho Museum

4/6 - Kiyomizudera Temple (清水寺), Ninenzaka (二年板), Nijo Castle (二條城), Gion (袛園)

4/7 - Sagano Romantic Train Ride (嵯峨野浪漫小火車), Arashiyama Park (嵐山公園), Bamboo Walking Path (竹林步道), Sakura near Togetsukyo Bridge (渡月穚旁賞櫻花), Kinkaku-ji (金閣寺)

4/8 - Tenshukaku (天守閣), Todai-ji (東大寺), Kiku-Masamune Sake Brewery (菊正宗酒廠), Meriken Park (美利堅公園), Kobe Chinatown (南京町)

4/9 - Traveled back to Houston