高田純次が台北の西門町と淡水を散策｜Take a Walk With Jun 1/2
With each step, a new encounter awaits. Good morning! Take a Walk With Jun’s
10th anniversary tour, we’re abroad today. I’m here at Taipei Station in Taiwan. It has a distinctive Taiwan feel, right?
Just about a 3-hour flight from Japan. Right now it’s about 30 or 35 degrees.
That’s nothing special here! If it hits 50, we’ll call it quits. “Take a Walk With Jun”
TV program beloved in Japan. Exploring local charm for 10 years now. Our first special series
takes us to Taiwan. Here we are in Taipei. From the charming Jiufen. To Shifen with its flying lanterns. And Taipei 101, towering over
509 meters high. Many popular tourist destinations. Our strollmaster Jun will explore
every corner of this landmark-filled city. Today we’re walking around
bustling Taipei Station. This metropolis has
many shops connected to Japan. Seeking new encounters on the main
street by the station. Well then, let’s take a walk through
downtown Taipei. You’ll find Japanese businesses like
Family Mart and Ootoya everywhere. Oh, there’s a Komeda Coffee too.
Breakfast there would be nice. I love that soft-serve ice cream on top
of a warm Danish pastry with maple syrup. You know, Taiwan has lots of motorbikes. Look over there. Instead of bicycle
parking, it’s all motorbikes. These are sandwiches, fruit sandwiches.
What’s this? Food only? Just like lodging only?
Meals only? Su-shoku? This means vegetarian. -You mean vegetarian food?
-Yes. Vegetarian? No meat or fish in vegetarian dishes. Oh, is that so. Like these? I see, vegetarian. Looks like there’s an open area that way. They’re doing repairs. What is that? Is it something important? It’s a castle gate from the Qing era. Ah, it’s a castle gate. They are the locals, right? This is amazing. Welcome to Ximending.
What is this place? This is called Ximending. -It’s a popular spot with young people.
-Ah, young people. More action at night. Oh, nice! A youth hangout spot. I like the sound of it. A spot for youngsters.
Where’d that be like in Japan? It’s like Harajuku,
where young people gather. Oh, Harajuku! Oh yeah, plenty of young faces here. What’s that? BOARDING PASS. It says BOARDING PASS.
What could this be? It’s a photo studio. Ah, having some fun while taking pictures. Yeah, it really does feel like Harajuku. This photo room looks like an airplane. Yes. -It’s an airplane-like room.
-Yes. An airplane toilet? Yes. From that angle,
doesn’t it look like a plane toilet? That’s the window view. Having an airplane toilet set
is interesting. That’s quite an idea. Really creative. Wonder what’s next? Oh, is this a freezer? -Oh, it’s an elevator.
-Yes, an elevator. They’re inside an elevator. It’s really unique here. And here’s, ah, this is a laundry. Look, it’s a laundromat. What’s the setup here? I’m supposed to toss laundry in
for the shot? Ah, so they shoot us from the other side! From there. There’s a camera on that side. It’s you here. Huh? Plenty of frames to pick! Frames? How does that work? Here we go again! Gotcha! That’s the idea. Smart thinking… and plenty of it. That’s quite an investment. I got it. One, two, three, four.
Four-way intersection. Over there. Oh, Happiness Hall. Happiness Hall, so it’s a place to eat? -It’s a bubble tea shop.
-Bubble tea! Ahh, bubble tea, of course. Wonder what they’re making? Could it be mochi? -They’re making tapioca.
-It’s from a yam, right? Kind of a yam, right? So that’s how they make it. They stretch it thin and cut it.
What happens next? Ah, it goes in here! So it pops out from here! Pop, pop, pop. Look at that. Slice it! Right there, chop it! I see. See? This is how it pops out! These are tapioca pearls. Bubble tea is our signature drink.
It’s famous worldwide. Oh, we’ve reached a plaza. Feels like a plaza, I like it.
Is this a tourist spot as well? Yes, tourists come here
from all over the world. This is also a famous photo spot. Oh wow, that looks cool! It’s amazing. -This was built in 1908.
-What is it? It was the first Western-style market
built during Japanese rule. -A market?
-Yes. In 1908? -It has over 100 years of history.
-Standing here all this time. Yes, it’s a historical monument. Amazing. It’s stood here
for over 100 years. Over 100 years, incredible. What’s it used for now? Is it a restaurant now? Now it’s an innovative space
with various shops and restaurants. That’s amazing. This elegant building was
Taiwan’s first public market, designed by Japanese architects. It has an octagonal entrance with
market halls extending in a cross pattern. Later used as a cinema and theater, it’s now a shopping center for unique
Taiwanese souvenirs. It’s the Taipei tourist hub. Mahjong tiles. Oh, those are candles.
They’re really nice. What’s this? Xiaolongbao dumplings?
Are these edible? No? They’re candles. They’re scented. Ah, they really smell like xiaolongbao! Look, a famous Taiwan landmark. Oh, hello. Is that tower Taipei 101? Yes, that’s Taipei 101. That’s the famous one, right? Yes, Taipei 101 recently displayed
Ohtani’s 50-50 ball. -Here?
-Yes. Oh, then let’s go see it! Unfortunately, the exhibit is over. These are decorative pieces, right? You display them like that. Oh, that’s lovely. Look, look. This is Jiufen. Ah, you recognized it well! Yes, it’s Jiufen. Look at this. Ah, Jiufen is beautiful. But Jiufen looks best at night. The atmosphere is quite different
during the day and at night. Where do you think this is? Where could this be? What kind of building do you think it is? It’s shaped like a high heel.
An art hall? -No.
-A history hall? No. It’s nonsense, after all.
What is it? This is a church. A church? That’s cool.
Is this somewhere in Taiwan too? -Yes, it’s in central Taiwan.
-Could we go there? We’re not going there. We’re skipping that one. Thank you very much. Oh, these clocks! No, wait. Aren’t these watches? Not clocks? What are these? What kind of shop is this? They sell glass bottle decorations. Glass crafts, like these. Are these for sale? -You’re selling these, right?
-Yes. This is Kavalan, Taiwan’s famous whiskey. That’s nice. Are you the owner? Yes. Oh, so these are your ideas? -Yes.
-That’s amazing. This is incredible.
How do you shape them like this? Do you heat them somehow? We heat it at high temperatures
to process it. Popular Japanese sake brands. Whiskeys from around the world. These upcycled bottles
are popular with drinkers, with carefully reattached labels
after processing. The best sellers are items made from
local Taiwanese beer bottles. Many tourists buy them as souvenirs. -Have you tried Taiwan Beer?
-We had some yesterday. -It’s different from Japanese beer, right?
-Yes, lighter. Since Taiwan is hot,
lighter beers are popular. It actually contains rice.
That’s why it tastes different. Got a favorite bottle in here? Taiwan Beer, right? Japanese brands? That’s Yamazaki. Hakushu or Yamazaki whisky. It says limited edition. Is NT$2,880 about JP¥10,000 now? That’s right. It’s discontinued. Yes, it is. I emptied it and made this myself. That’s nice! I think I had Macallan yesterday. No, it was Hennessy. Something like that. Jun got caught up in liquor talk. One step, one encounter indeed. Next, we head to a waterfront tourist spot
in northern Taiwan. Where local delicacies await. I’m about 40 minutes by car
from Taipei Station. In a place called Tamsui,
written with the characters for ‘fresh water.’ They call it the Venice of Taiwan,
but I’ve rarely been to Venice myself. Anyway, since it’s a waterfront town,
let’s look for some local food. Tamsui, at the mouth of the Tamsui River,
a major trading port since ancient times. Today, it’s known as a scenic spot
with beautiful sunsets. Tamsui Old Street preserves memories of
its prosperous era with local delicacies. Shops here make you want to stop and look. What awaits in Taiwan’s Venice? Ahh, clever thinking there. Look, it’s amazing! Hats, they’re all hats and caps. I want these. Oh, they even have ring toss games! It’s ring toss, you don’t need the prizes
you just want to throw. Ring toss. This is fun! Ah, it keeps going on. Everything here. What’s that? Beer? Is that soft serve? Soft serve ice cream. Wow, this place is amazing. Oh my! Look at that over there! That’s incredible. How much? Mango and strawberry. Delicious? -They have mango and strawberry flavors.
-Okay. Yes, that one. Large? As tall as Tokyo Sky Tree! Straight! Yes, it’s straight. Wow! That was quick. No point in me holding it. You eat it. What a generous serving!
How’s the taste? Yes, this one. How is it?
Not very tasty? -Is it sweet?
-Yes I’m glad. Usually, this much volume
would weaken the taste. Better eat fast before it melts! Long life. Is this a bag shop? Yeah, it’s a bag. This is known as Taiwan’s Louis Vuitton. Taiwan’s Louis Vuitton, you say? Actually, it was originally
a work bag for farmers. It’s really sturdy! Ritsu, they call it
Taiwan’s Louis Vuitton! Which one do you like? It’s called Taiwan’s Louis Vuitton.
Which would you choose? This Louis Vuitton-like one? That one? That one. -Alright.
-About JP¥350? JP¥350? Should I buy 10 of these? JP¥350 each.
I’ve got to get Taiwan’s Louis Vuitton. This is an old street. It has that old-time feel.
I like this atmosphere. There are many traditional shops here. Ah, I’m really getting into this vibe. Looks like it ends over there. That’s the end. Traditional shop. Tamsui. Tamsui fish balls. Lao Dian.
What does Lao Dian mean? -Lao Dian means a long-established shop.
-What kind of shop is this? We have A-gei and fish ball soup. Fish ball soup and A-gei,
a Tamsui specialty. Oh, soup. Oh, that’s the kind of shop this is.
Maybe they don’t have ice cream. Well, how’s it going to be? A-gei has glass noodles inside.
Split it and mix with the sauce. Mix with the sauce, it tastes better. Split it and glass noodles inside. Looks good. How’s it taste like? Oh, it has a distinctive flavor. Every shop has
its own special sauce for A-gei. After steaming, we add our garlic sauce
and homemade chili sauce. It’s popular because of its spicy taste. A-gei actually comes from the Japanese
word ‘abura-age.’ It’s similar to inari, stuffed fried tofu
pouches. The Taiwanese version uses glass noodles
in soy sauce. It’s topped with fish paste and steamed. As a local specialty,
many tourists come just for this dish. Another signature dish is fish ball soup
with perfect texture. Swordfish balls in a light broth. Is there something inside? -Is that meat inside?
-Yes, it’s pork. The texture is amazing.
This is really well made. So bouncy and springy! Are you from this town? Are you from Tamsui? No, I came here to study. What’s good about this place? Well… This shop! Something like that, huh? If I were him, I’d say ‘because I’m here.’ Next, we head to Tamsui’s historic sites. We’ve climbed quite a path. It’s so steep, my glutes are killing me. This is Hong Mao Cheng Castle,
which means ‘Red Hair Castle.’ This is indeed a castle. Hello, nice to meet you. Nice to meet you. Hello, I’m the director of
Tamsui Historical Museum. Thank you very much. Yes. Tell them if I get rich,
I’ll install an escalator here! So, what kind of castle is this? It was built in 1644 by the Dutch. There was originally a Spanish fort,
but the Dutch took over and rebuilt it. Just these three steps here, look! The view is amazing. Look at those
tall buildings over there too. It houses a special cannon,
still in excellent condition. Let me show you. Has this cannon been here originally? This is a 17th-century British cannon. Cannonballs were rammed down the barrel. Here’s the vent hole,
you light the fuse to fire. The 17th century? -Yes, the 17th century.
-What century is it now? The 21st century. -So 400 years ago.
-400 years? Amazing.
Is that building older than this one? Or is it newer? Fort San Domingo is nearly 400 years old. And this building is about 100 years old. The fort is over 400 years old,
this is about 100. This was the British consulate. Look at how wide this corridor is. It’s 3 meters wide. Taiwan’s climate is humid and rainy. We built such a large corridor
for protection from rain. It’s like Glover House in Nagasaki. They built something incredible. Here’s the shaved ice place. Shaved ice. Asahi Couple. What’s that about? It’s packed! Great location, especially
with summer coming up. Shaved ice. Thank you very much. Shaved ice! Okinawan brown sugar and kinako. Papaya milk. Chocolate tiramisu. Espuma. How about papaya milk? It does feel tropical. Hey, papaya milk. One. Can’t eat much. One is enough. Ritsuko, want to share? -Really?
-What would you like? -Shaved ice.
-What’ll you have, Takada? I’m getting papaya milk. I’ll have mango yogurt. Okay, one mango yogurt. And one papaya milk. This shaved ice shop, with its great view
of the wide river, is always packed. The unique name ‘Morning Sun Couple’ comes from sunrises in Okinawa
and Tamsui sunsets. They offer about six flavors,
including Taiwanese mango. Jun’s papaya milk comes topped with cream
and rich papaya sauce for extra flavor. They even provide extra sauce
to enjoy until the last drop. Hmm. The sweetness is quite mild. Yeah, it’s not too sweet. Oh, this is good. Hey Shibata, want some? Yes. Get it from that side. Get a spoon. -How is it?
-It’s delicious. Let her take a bite. Mr. Takada, try this too. Alright. Mr. Takada, try some mango! Taiwan is famous for its mangoes. Really? Ah, I like the papaya better. No, the mango is better! You’re right. The mango is better.
It grows on you. Huh? There’s something crunchy here. Isn’t that just frozen fruit? No, it’s like crunchy chips or something. -Like cornflakes?
-Cornflakes! That’s the word I was looking for! Jun finds comfort in this perfect
shaved ice, beating the summer heat. Another day of chance encounters.
From Taipei’s trendy Ximending to the waterfront charm of Tamsui, Jun dives into bubble tea making, historic forts, and towering soft serve. Along the way, he discovers quirky souvenirs, local street flavors, and the joy of every encounter—one step at a time.
Jun’s Taipei adventure begins in Ximending, the city’s lively youth hub, where he explores a quirky airplane-themed photo studio. At Xing Fu Tang, he watches tapioca pearls being made for Taiwan’s famous bubble tea, then visits the historic Red House for unique souvenirs.
Heading north to Tamsui, the “Venice of Taiwan,” Jun strolls the Old Street, sampling towering soft serve, browsing “Taiwan’s Louis Vuitton,” also known as gaji bags, and enjoying local specialties like a-gei and fish ball soup. He climbs to Fort San Domingo, a 17th-century Dutch-built castle, before ending the day by the riverside with refreshing shaved ice, savoring both the flavors and the encounters along the way.
—Introducing “Take a Walk With Jun”—
In two special 10th anniversary episodes, co-produced with Asahi TV, beloved host Jun Takada takes his easygoing charm and signature curiosity to the vibrant streets and scenic corners of Taiwan, uncovering its unique blend of nostalgia and modern energy.
Throughout the journey, Jun shares the spirit of “ippo ichie”—cherishing each encounter, one step at a time. From bustling markets to tranquil landscapes, every moment is filled with warmth, discovery, and the joy of connecting with people.
Whether you’ve been to Taiwan before or are dreaming of your first visit, these special episodes will make you want to lace up your shoes, step outside, and experience the magic for yourself. Join Jun for a walk that celebrates not only the beauty of Taiwan, but also the simple, unforgettable moments that happen when you explore the world on foot.
#Taipei #淡水 #じゅん散歩 #高田純次 #TVAsahi #Taiwan #TaiwanPlus
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