Dadaocheng (大稻埕) and Dihua Street (迪化街) – a walking tour of Taipei

Asia, street, urban

The history of Dadaocheng Area and the prosperous Dihua Street is deeply intertwined with all of the ruling Nations Taiwan ever had. The government tries hard to preserve the area and reviving old crafts like basket making, tea processing, the trade of dried goods and medicinal ingredients. Small museums also highlight important aspects of life in the area.

Ginza is silver – shopping is gold

Asia, urban

This seems to be the inofficial motto of Ginza (銀座), home to Western shopping, mega department stores like Ginza six and upscale boutiques. New year’s shopping starts on January 2nd and is just crazy – people line up in the cold to get to those deals. Also, lucky bags are a huge deal in Japan: a bag full of goodies that can be purchased to bring good luck.

Gaming, anime and fun at Odaiba and Akihabara

Asia, street, urban

Odaiba (お台場) is an artificial island connected to the city via Rainbow bridge – a bridge that is lit up at night in the colors of a rainbow (duh). Its offers are centered around entertainment: Gundam statue, ferris wheel, museums, parks and gaming centers are all located here.

New Year’s Celebration at Roppongi Hills and stunning views

Asia, urban

Famous for wild nightlife, Roppongi is still worth a trip during the day. Roppongi Hills is a multi-use complex complete with gardens and an open-air space for events. It is also home to the Mori museum which is definitely worth a visit for any art lover. The observation deck is right next to the museum and a much better value-for-money option for a view of Tokyo and Mount Fuji compared to the Tokyo Sky Tree.