TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Tainan Mayor Huang Wei-che (黃偉哲) announced on Wednesday (Dec. 24) a new initiative to foster tourism and cultural exchange between Tainan and seven Japanese cities. Starting on Jan. 1, 2026, Tainan residents can enjoy exclusive ticket discounts, including half-price or free entry, at designated attractions in these Japanese cities.
Residents of Tainan need to present a citizen card or national ID to access discounts at attractions in Yamaguchi Prefecture (山口縣), Yamagata City (山形市), Nikko City (日光市), Minakami Town (水上町), Uto City (宇土市), Beppu City (別府市), and Usa City (宇佐市). In turn, residents from these Japanese cities can enjoy similar benefits when visiting Tainan's attractions, such as Chihkan Tower (赤崁樓) and Anping Old Fort (安平古堡).
The Akiyoshido Cave (秋芳洞) in Yamaguchi Prefecture offers Tainan citizens a discounted ticket price of 1,250 yen, down from the original 1,600 yen. Beppu City's Global Tower (別府世界之塔) also provides free entry to Tainan residents, with some hot spring facilities waiving their entrance fees. Huang emphasized this initiative as a pioneering effort in city diplomacy, aiming to enhance mutual understanding and friendly recognition through tourism.
The Tainan City Government's Department of Information and International Relations (台南市府新聞及國際關係處) stated that 28 attractions will initially participate, requiring valid identification for discounts. Huang expressed gratitude for the enthusiastic response from Japanese cities and acknowledged Tainan City Councilor Ingay Tali's (穎艾達利) suggestions. The program will undergo adjustments based on implementation results, with potential expansion as more cities join.