Taiwanese media China Times reported on the 27th that Taiwanese tourists' 'explosive shopping' in Japan amounted to 77.2 billion New Taiwan dollars (approx. 388.4 billion yen) in three months, and that travelers are visiting not only major cities but also regional cities.

The article reported that the amount spent by Taiwanese travelers in Japan during the first quarter of this year reached approximately 77.2 billion New Taiwan dollars, making them the world's top spenders. Based on information from the travel website 'Agoda,' it also reported that Taiwanese travelers are increasingly popular with five cities—Fukuoka, Sendai, Kumamoto, Nagoya, and Okinawa—as individual travel destinations, in addition to major cities such as Tokyo and Osaka.

According to Agoda's analysis, 'slow travel through regional cities' has become a trend among Taiwanese people in recent years. The number of accommodation searches for Japan from January to April 2026 increased by approximately 7% year-on-year, with Fukuoka seeing the highest growth in searches at 43%. Additionally, Sendai saw a 33% increase, Kumamoto a 25% increase. Nagoya and Okinawa also increased by 17% and 12% respectively.

According to the company, compared to the 'multi-city tour' that was previously mainstream, an increasing number of Taiwanese travelers are staying longer in one city in recent years to thoroughly enjoy the local life and food culture. Fukuoka, in particular, is highly popular because flight times from Taiwan are short, there are many gourmet spots, and it's easy to plan a '2-night, 3-day' itinerary. Sendai and Kumamoto are also attracting attention as individual travel destinations due to their hot springs, nature, and rich regional charms.

Meanwhile, slow trips are also gaining popularity among Japanese travelers, and there is a growing 'regional focus' in their travel to Taiwan as well. Search numbers for Nantou County in the central region increased by 145%, and for the southern beach resort Kenting by 135%. Additionally, search numbers for Taoyuan, Hualien, and Kaohsiung have each increased by over 65%. (Translated and edited by Kitada)