Ski resort in Hachimantai welcomes Taiwanese tourists

Ski resort in Hachimantai welcomes Taiwanese tourists

2025-02-19

Many people from Taiwan are traveling to Japan this winter to go skiing. According to a survey by the Japanese National Tourism Organization, a record of over 36 million tourists visited Japan last year, with travelers from Southeast Asia accounting for 60%. Some reports say major cities are becoming less welcoming to tourists, but insiders in the Japanese hospitality industry say that they prefer Taiwanese tourists to their Chinese counterparts.

With its snow-covered rooftops, Hachimantai City is a winter wonderland. Skiing is a national sport here and compulsory for elementary-school students, so locals grow up very familiar with ski resorts. But the resorts are also designed with foreign tourists in mind.

Chiang Kuan-chun
Ski instructor
There are specific ski lifts for students to practice getting on and off. Without practice, people often get hit by the ski lift or even fall off.

This ski resort is fit for first-timers and experienced skiers alike. Here, children from Japan and Taiwan can learn from each other.

In the cold weather, the warmth locals show toward Taiwanese people leaves a deep impression. Staff smile at the mention of Taiwan and display Taiwanese flags at the hotel reception and restaurant.

Kudo Masato
Hotel staffer
We have a friendly relationship with Taiwan, and they have helped us a lot, so we like Taiwanese people very much.

Although a lot of travelers from Asia visit the resort, they have a special fondness for Taiwan.

Kudo Masato
Hotel staffer
We welcome Taiwanese people, but Chinese... well... they can be a little... you know.

The friendship between Japan and Taiwan not only manifests on a political level, but even in the small town of Hachimantai, where the locals welcome Taiwanese visitors with open arms.

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日本對台灣客"友好度下降"? 日旅宿業者:仍伸出雙手歡迎

2025-02-19

今年冬天，許多台灣旅客，衝日本旅遊，滑雪，日本政府觀光局調查，去年外國旅客人次，衝破3，600萬創新高，東南亞旅客佔了六成，傳出大城市對旅客不友善消息，但，日本旅宿業者也有話要說，私底下認為，是部分中國旅客，引發反感，對台灣還是伸出雙手歡迎。

這裡是岩手縣八幡平市，沿途白雪覆蓋小屋，景色讓旅客難忘。在這裡，滑雪是國民運動，小學生冬季必上的體育課，雪場對他們再熟悉
過，老師還是會叮嚀，上下纜車要特別注意。為了外地客，雪場有貼心設計。

[[台灣滑雪學校教練姜冠均]]
“上下纜車，還有固定的纜車讓學員練習，不然沒有練習，直接上下纜車經常都會跌倒，甚至被纜車撞到。”

友善的設計，讓台灣初學者，消除心中恐懼，台日兩國孩子，互相交流學習。

冷冽寒風中，不只孩子們展現活力，當地人的熱情，更讓台灣旅客印象深刻，在旅館櫃檯，餐廳，四處可見台灣國旗，提到台灣，服務人員都是笑咪咪。

[[飯店業者工藤正人]]
“台灣曾大力援助我們，有這樣友好的關係，所以我們也超喜歡台灣人。”

儘管也有其他亞洲旅客到訪，但對台灣旅客情有獨鍾。

[[飯店業者工藤正人]]
“台灣人就非常歡迎，中國人就...嗯(問號)，感覺點點點...大概是這種感覺。”

台日友好，也不是說說而已，台灣國旗隨時都準備好幾面。兩國感情不止在國際間展現，在純樸八幡平也正延續。

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