Taiwan is easily accessible from Japan, and its closeness means you can enjoy the Lantern Festival in just two days and one night. Here is a summary of the information you need to know if you are going to participate in the Lantern Festival, including things to see, how to get to the venue, and lantern-related information.
INDEX
- Why is there a lantern festival in Taiwan?
- The difference between the two major lantern festivals, the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival and the Taiwan Lantern Festival
- To attend either festival, first head to Taipei
- The Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival is held every year in Shifen
- The Taiwan Lantern Festival will be held in Taoyuan in 2025.
[Why is the Lantern Festival held in Taiwan?] The deep meaning of lanterns in Taiwan
In Taiwan, which is part of the Chinese-speaking world, there is a custom of lighting lanterns on the Lantern Festival, which is the 15th day after the Chinese New Year (the first day of the lunar calendar). This custom has the meaning of good fortune and warding off evil spirits, and this culture has been passed down to the people of Taiwan.
Lantern Floating, in which countless lanterns float up into the night sky, is a ceremony in which prayers for health and safety are written on paper lanterns called "tengou," then they are sent flying into the sky using fire, the same principle as hot air balloons. Each lantern is filled with a person's thoughts and wishes, and then released high into the sky.
It is said that lanterns were originally used as a means of communication during wars, but later came to be used for prayer ceremonies during festivals.
[Taiwan's two major lantern festivals] "Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival" and "Taiwan Lantern Festival"
The Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival and the Taiwan Lantern Festival are large-scale lantern festivals that attract many people every year. Both are held during the Lantern Festival season on the 15th day of the Lunar New Year (around February) and are free to participate in.
The Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival is a sky lantern-flying event held in Pingxi, northeast of New Taipei City, located in the northern part of Taiwan. The greatest attraction is the fantastic sight of countless lanterns illuminating the night sky.
The Taiwan Lantern Festival is the largest light festival in Taiwan, attracting many tourists from all over the world. Thousands of colorful lanterns, including giant lanterns representing the theme of the year, are displayed at the venue. The location changes every year, but in 2025 it will be held in Taoyuan City, where Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport is located.
[Access to the Lantern Festival] To participate in either festival, first go to Taipei
For both the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival and the Taiwan Lantern Festival, it's a good idea to base yourself in Taipei, which has many direct flights from Japan.
Taipei is a city that is very easy to access from Japan. By plane, it takes about 4 hours from Haneda Airport to Taipei Airport, about 3 hours from Kansai Airport, and about 2.5 hours from Fukuoka Airport.
To visit Taipei, you can use either Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport or Songshan Airport. Taiwan Taoyuan Airport, which has many direct flights from Japan, is a little far from Taipei city, but you can reach the center of Taipei in less than an hour by subway (Taoyuan Metro Airport Line), local bus, or taxi.
Taipei Station is located almost in the center of Taipei City.
[Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival] A lantern festival featuring large-scale lantern-flying (Shifen)
The "lantern flying" that lights up the night sky is a truly spectacular sight
The highlight of the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival is undoubtedly the countless lanterns released into the night sky.
The sight of countless lanterns, filled with wishes, rising into the sky on the wind is so beautiful it will leave you speechless; it's a breathtaking sight that everyone should see at least once in their lifetime.
Participation in this lantern-flying event is free of charge.
To participate, you will need a numbered ticket, which will be distributed at the venue from 10am. Many people will line up from the morning to get a numbered ticket, so if you want to definitely participate, make sure you arrive at the venue early in the morning. (Registration will close once the capacity is reached.)
Flying lanterns at the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival is a rare and precious experience, so we encourage you to participate.
If you're happy just to get a close look, make sure you arrive at the venue before evening to enjoy it to the fullest.
How to get to the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival in Shifen
The Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival is held in Shifen, a small town surrounded by mountains in Pingxi, New Taipei City. The most common way to get from Taipei to Shifen is to take the Taiwan Railway (TRA) from Taipei Station to Ruifang Station, then transfer to the Pingxi Line and head to Shifen Station. The journey from Taipei takes about 1.5 hours, but please note that the Pingxi Line only runs once an hour, so there are few trains.
On the day of the Sky Lantern Festival, there is a shuttle bus that will take you from Taipei MRT's Zoo Station to the festival site in about an hour, so if you are worried about transferring to a train, we recommend using that. You can also take a taxi directly from Taipei Station to the festival site. However, the bus and taxi will run on mountain roads, so they may shake violently. If you suffer from motion sickness, it is a good idea to bring medicine with you.
Even including travel time from Japan, it only takes a few hours to get there, so it's possible to take a two-day, one-night trip and travel to the destination on the day of your arrival.
Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival
| venue | ： | Shifen, Pingxi District, New Taipei City |
|---|---|---|
| Admission | ： | free |
If you want to experience lantern flying outside of the event period, head to Shifen.
Even if you can't make it to Taiwan in time for the festival, you can always experience lantern-flying near Shifen Station, where the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival is held, or Pingxi Station on the same line.
There are several lantern-flying shops in the city, and they all basically offer the same things, so it's best to choose a shop with a vibe you like.
The colors of the lanterns can be chosen depending on your wishes: red for health and safety, yellow for financial luck, blue for career luck, purple for study luck and success in exams, orange for love and marriage luck, and white for good fortune.
You can also experience flying lanterns outside the event period.
In the town of Shifen, many shops are lined up right next to the train tracks, and people fly lanterns over the tracks and other places.
There are also souvenir shops and food stalls along the railway line, and to the north of town is a famous tourist spot known for its Shifen Waterfall, so it looks like it can be enjoyed even outside of festival season.
[2025 Taiwan Lantern Festival] A festival of lights attracting tourists from all over the world (Taoyuan)
The 2019 Taiwan Lantern Festival in Pingtung City
The Taiwan Lantern Festival is the largest light festival in Taiwan, held every year around the Lantern Festival since 1990. Many people gather from all over the world to see the colorful world.
The lantern festival is held annually in selected locations in Taiwan, and in 2025 it is scheduled to take place in Taoyuan City from Wednesday, February 12th to Sunday, February 23rd.
2019 festival venue
The main lantern for 2019 is a giant tuna called "Kyotuna Raifuku."
The biggest attraction of the Taiwan Lantern Festival is the giant lantern called the "Main Lantern." In the past, works have been created to match the zodiac sign of the year, such as the "Phoenix" (2017), which is associated with the rooster, and the "Aboriginal Child and Taiwanese Dog" (2018), which was based on the dog. The wide variety of main lanterns entertains visitors.
In addition, thousands of lanterns of all sizes and illuminations fill the venues, coloring the city with colorful lights, and various events can be enjoyed at each venue during the event, as well as many food stalls set up like a giant night market. You can enjoy the charm of Taiwan even if you just visit the venues without deciding what to see.
In recent years, there has been active exchange between Japan and Taiwan, with lanterns from Japan also being exhibited and "Yosakoi" dance performances by Japanese teams.
What kind of lanterns will decorate the city in 2025? Anticipation is already building.
The Taiwan Lantern Festival is a large-scale event divided into several venues.
The main lantern in 2025 is scheduled to be located around Taoyuan High Speed Rail Taoyuan Station. It also has good access to Taipei, so we recommend enjoying sightseeing along with the festival.
Taiwan Lantern Festival
| event date | ： | Wednesday, February 12, 2025 - Sunday, February 23, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| place | ： | Taoyuan City |
| Admission | ： | free |
| Main Lantern Venue | ： | Taoyuan High Speed Rail Station area |
A place where you can encounter emotions. That's Taiwan's Lantern Festival.
The Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival and the Taiwan Lantern Festival that we introduced are representative events in Taiwan that attract many tourists from all over the world every year. Not only can you see the impressive scenery, but you can also experience flying a lantern yourself.
Be sure to take part in two lantern festivals this winter and enjoy the charm of Taiwan.
Image courtesy of Taiwan Tourism Bureau
Originally posted on January 17, 2019
*Some content was updated on December 17, 2024.
*If you are traveling abroad, please check the situation and entry requirements of each country before traveling.
https://www.jal.co.jp/jp/ja/info/2020/other/flysafe/flights-service/quarantine-immigration/
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The contents published are accurate at the time of publication and are subject to change.
