Hsinchu

A 3-day unlimited ride pass for just under 10,000 yen per person is a great deal. This time, we only used it for two days across three sections: Taipei to Taichung, Taichung to Tainan, and Tainan to Taipei, but even that was cheaper than the regular price. It would be even more economical if you rode it extensively for three days. What's more, the purchase method is simple: you buy it online and receive a voucher. This time, after arriving at Taipei Station from Taoyuan Airport via the MRT, we went straight to the high-speed rail counter, received our 3-day pass from the voucher, and booked our tickets to Taichung Station for the next morning. After sightseeing in Taichung the next day, we purchased tickets to Tainan at Taichung Station, and upon arrival at Tainan Station, booked our tickets to Taipei Station for the following day, successfully completing our entire trip as planned. This 3-day pass requires face-to-face interaction at a counter rather than using vending machines or automatic ticket gates, so we were able to manage with broken English and written Chinese characters, which was reassuring. We had to show our passports (one per person) at each step of the process, but it was reassuring to know that we could purchase our tickets without any problems.

I used it for both the outbound and return journeys, and exchanging the ticket at the counter was incredibly easy. I was surprised to find that both trains were completely full. Advance reservations are definitely necessary, and the discounts are fantastic.

Din Tai Fung always has a long wait, so I looked for a way to at least shorten the wait and bought this before going. I arrived a little after 5 PM, showed them the voucher, and was able to get in after waiting just under 10 minutes. Since it is Din Tai Fung, the food and service were, of course, top-notch. When I finished eating and left a little after 6 PM, the wait had already exceeded an hour.

The seats are spacious and have charging outlets. The driver is very nice and will even help with your luggage. It's more convenient than taking the high-speed rail, as you don't have to carry your luggage up and down. I highly recommend it. Also, since many people travel abroad frequently, I suggest booking in advance.

The driver was of good quality and the vehicle was clean, but due to the flight delay, the driver initially didn't answer the system and wasn't dispatched immediately.

KKday tickets are very convenient; you can just scan at the entrance to enter, and they even give you a free grass jelly smoothie, which is more cost-effective than buying tickets directly. The lazy river is a lot of fun; there are staff members spraying ice water on the side, and other tourists are also spraying water. It would be great if there were more free rest areas, because it's really sunny!