Taiwan's Jiufen Town Adorns Streets with Japanese Lanterns for Golden Week

The charming mountain town of Jiufen in New Taipei City, Taiwan, is embracing a unique cross-cultural initiative by adorning its streets with Japanese lanterns, creating an immersive experience for visitors ahead of Japan's Golden Week holiday. This picturesque display is part of an ongoing cultural exchange and tourism promotion effort between Jiufen and Japan's Atagawa hot spring area, with which Jiufen shares a striking geographical resemblance.

As Japan's Golden Week, a major holiday period running from April 29 to May 5, approaches, Jiufen has hung traditional Japanese Atagawa lanterns along its famous Shuqi Road. This move aims to evoke a sense of being in Japan, offering tourists a taste of international travel without leaving Taiwan. The initiative is a tangible symbol of the deepening ties between Jiufen and Atagawa, formalized through a "Friendly Exchange Agreement" signed in October 2025, which uses the "light of lanterns" as a core element of their partnership.

This collaboration is more than just a decorative gesture; it's a strategic effort to invigorate local economies through tourism. By integrating Japanese cultural elements, Jiufen hopes to attract both international and domestic travelers, highlighting the unique blend of Taiwanese charm and Japanese aesthetics. The Jiufen Business Development Association plans to install explanatory signs about Atagawa to further educate visitors about the cultural context, fostering a deeper appreciation for this cross-border friendship and the shared symbolism of the lanterns that illuminate both towns.