It might not come as a huge surprise that Australians are in the middle of a Japan obsession.<\/p>\n
We\u2019ve fallen hard for the country\u2019s sushi counters, snow fields, cherry blossoms, bullet trains, tiny bars, ancient temples and convenience stores that make a late-night snack run feel like a cultural event.<\/p>\n
And fair enough. Japan is one of those rare destinations that really does have something for every travel taste. Want city slicker skyscrapers? Tick. Powder-filled snow fields? Tick. Tropical islands? Tick. Hot springs, world-class food and some of the most unique cultural experiences on the planet? Tick, tick, tick.<\/p>\n
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The problem, of course, is that everyone else has worked this out too, which is why Taiwan is starting to look very interesting.<\/p>\n
Not as a replacement for Japan, exactly. More as a destination that delivers many of the same holiday highs \u2014 food, hot springs, mountains, temples, trains, safety and ease \u2014 but with far fewer crowds.<\/p>\n
Ditch the ramen queues<\/p>\n
If you love Japan\u2019s culinary precision but hate long lines for a ramen bowl, Taipei is the antidote. The food here is just as serious, but far more accessible. <\/p>\n
To find the city\u2019s heart, skip the hotel dining room and head to the night markets. <\/p>\n
A Chef\u2019s Tour Taipei<\/a> offers a high-octane, four-hour evening food crawl through old Taipei that is a total culinary masterclass. Led by expert local foodie guides, the tour takes in legendary night-market stalls, hidden local eateries and the kind of obscure hole-in-the-wall stops visitors would probably never find alone \u2013 let alone confidently order from.<\/p>\n Over 12-plus tastings, the menu spans everything from beef noodle soup and scallion pancakes to the notorious stinky tofu. The xiaolongbao alone justify the flight.<\/p>\n Delicate, soupy and best approached with caution, they are a reminder that Taiwan holds its own against anywhere in Asia. The real drawcard? It\u2019s world-class food you can actually get a seat for \u2013 no spreadsheet required.<\/p>\n Get an authentic cultural immersion<\/p>\n Taipei isn\u2019t instantly pretty like Kyoto. It\u2019s humid, busy and a little rough around the edges. But it feels like a real city, which is the point.<\/p>\n Temples sit wedged between 1970s apartment blocks and roaring traffic. Incense smoke drifts across the footpath while worshippers move through courtyards of carved dragons as if the chaos outside doesn\u2019t exist. It\u2019s a fascinating, layered fusion of Taoist and Buddhist traditions that can be difficult for outsiders to decode.<\/p>\n This is where the value of an expert on-ground presence becomes obvious. Travelling with Wendy Wu Tours \u2013 widely regarded as Australia\u2019s most specialised Asia tour operator \u2013 provides access to their elite localite guides. <\/p>\n These experts are the ultimate cultural curators, ensuring total immersion by providing the essential context behind rituals that most visitors would photograph and completely misunderstand.<\/p>\n They turn a walk through a temple courtyard from a mere photo-op into a deep dive into the island\u2019s complex spiritual DNA.<\/p>\n Boiling water and zero crowds<\/p>\n For many, hot springs and Japan are inseparable. But Japan doesn\u2019t have a monopoly on geothermal bliss. Taiwan sits on its own restless geology, and Beitou, less than an hour from central Taipei, swaps city neon for geothermal steam.<\/p>\n Villa 32<\/a> is the high-end play \u2013 an adults-only retreat tucked into a steaming valley that sets a new benchmark for indulgence. The Japanese-style rooms and private baths make the comparison to Japan impossible to ignore, but the vibe is far less packaged than the famous spa towns of Hokkaido. It\u2019s raw, refined and remarkably easy to reach.<\/p>\n Cinematic peaks and mountaintop opulence<\/p>\n Taiwan is far more mountainous than many realise. Head inland and the air cools as the landscape turns cinematic. <\/p>\n At HOSHINOYA Guguan<\/a>, the concept of the mountain retreat reaches its absolute zenith. Nestled deep within the rugged peaks of central Taiwan, this isn\u2019t just a hotel; it is an architectural marvel designed to feel like an \u201cEastern castle\u201d emerging from the valley floor.<\/p>\n The immersion begins in the guest rooms, most of which are maisonette-style duplexes featuring expansive, private semi-open-air onsen baths. <\/p>\n Here, guests can soak in constant-flow thermal water while staring out at a dramatic tapestry of emerald-green peaks. <\/p>\n Outside, the property is anchored by a sprawling water garden and a massive outdoor swimming pool that looks more like a natural lagoon hidden deep within a forest.<\/p>\n Dining is a high-art event. The resort\u2019s signature Kaiseki dinners are a breathtaking fusion of Japanese technique and Taiwanese terroir. Expect meticulously plated courses featuring local delicacies like sturgeon and mountain herbs, served in a space that blurs the line between the dining room and the surrounding landscape. It is a masterclass in slow luxury, where the roar of the river replaces the noise of the city.<\/p>\n The energy hit of Sun Moon Lake<\/p>\n If Taipei is the high-energy start, Sun Moon Lake is the soft-focus postcard finish. It\u2019s a key stop on several Wendy Wu<\/a> itineraries, including the Treasures of Taiwan tour. Beyond the lakeside cycling paths, the region offers a look at an oolong tea culture treated with the kind of reverence usually reserved for fine whiskey. <\/p>\n Having their expert local team handle the regional logistics here is a godsend, allowing travellers to actually look at the view rather than the map.<\/p>\n The new capital of cool<\/p>\n