"Taiwan Festival 2026" Records Over 10,000 Visitors on Final Day Amidst Lingering Typhoon Impact!

The "Taiwan Festival 2026," held from June 26 (Fri) to 28 (Sun), 2026, at Nakano City Hall (Sotoniwa & Nakanowa) and Nakano Shiki-no-Mori Park in Nakano Ward, Tokyo, has concluded.

The event faced challenging weather conditions throughout its run, with rain on the first day and strong winds due to an approaching typhoon on the second. Despite the lingering effects of the rain on the final day, over 10,000 visitors flocked to the venue, enjoying authentic Taiwanese gourmet food, culture, and music, filling the space with excitement all day long.

A total of 51 booths participated. The festival brought together the diverse charms of Taiwan, including gourmet food, merchandise, tourism, and hands-on experiences, enveloping the streets of Nakano in a Taiwanese fervor for three days.

Taiwan Festival 2026 Successfully Held

Taiwan's Popularity Unwavering Despite Rain, Crowds Gather Throughout the Venue

Despite the unfavorable weather throughout the event period, many visitors came.

On the final day, visitors who had been waiting for the weather to improve joined the crowds, with a wide range of generations attending, including families, groups of friends, and Taiwan enthusiasts. Long lines formed at the food stalls, people enjoyed shopping in the merchandise area, and cheers were heard for performers in front of the stage, filling the entire venue with energy.

It was a three-day event where many people experienced Taiwanese culture, undeterred by the weather conditions.

Food Area: Long lines at food stalls, Taiwanese indigenous clothing display

Queues for Authentic Taiwanese Gourmet Food; Popular Stores Sold Out and Restocked

The venue featured authentic gourmet food reminiscent of a Taiwanese night market.

From Taiwanese fried chicken, pepper buns, and braised pork rice to Taiwanese stir-fries and bubble tea, booths offering representative Taiwanese flavors attracted many visitors from shortly after opening, with queues continuing throughout the day.

On the final day, the number of visitors far exceeded expectations, leading to early sell-outs at several on-site cooking stalls. Some stores urgently procured additional ingredients to continue sales, indicating the high popularity of Taiwanese cuisine.

Additionally, merchandise booths selling popular Taiwanese baked goods, honey, food products, and miscellaneous goods also saw many visitors, who enjoyed taking home a taste of "everyday Taiwan."

Taiwanese gourmet food, drinks, souvenirs, and many types of night market games were available.

Music, Traditional Arts, and Culture: A Stage Where Taiwan and Japan Intersect

The main stage featured a special project, "Resonance of Enka and Calligraphy," by special ambassador and enka singer Yukino Ichikawa. In collaboration with Taiwan Culture Festival Cultural Exchange Ambassador Taiki Takemoto, a unique performance blending Japanese enka and calligraphy was presented, receiving thunderous applause.

Furthermore, artists active in both Taiwan and Japan performed, including "Rao Jiao Pi Li Shuang Ren Zu" (饒舌霹靂雙人組), a notable act in the Taiwanese hip-hop scene. A diverse range of performances transcended genres over the three days, showcasing new facets of Taiwanese culture.

Large crowds gathered in front of the stage, creating a moment of connection between Taiwan and Japan through music and performances.

Enka and Calligraphy Resonance: Yukino Ichikawa & Taiki Takemoto; Rao Jiao Pi Li Shuang Ren Zu

Daisuke Katayama, Alan Channel (YouTuber)

Exploring the Venue to Learn About Taiwan: Interactive Content Also Popular

A stamp rally held throughout the venue attracted participants of all ages, from children to adults, and was well-received as a unique interactive feature of the Taiwan Festival.

Lottery events hosted by sponsoring companies also drew many participants, adding to the event's excitement as an interactive experience that allowed visitors to enjoy not only the food and stage performances but the entire venue.

Lottery events held at each booth; Taiwan information pamphlets available.

Beyond the Taiwan Festival: What's Next

The Taiwan Festival is held as a cultural exchange event that offers a comprehensive experience of Taiwan's "food," as well as its "culture," "music," "tradition," "lifestyle," and "tourism."

Despite the challenging conditions of an approaching typhoon, the large number of visitors who came to the venue, with approximately 12,000 on the final day, serves as a testament to the growing interest in Taiwanese culture in Japan and the power of cultural exchange in connecting people.

The Taiwan Festival Executive Committee aims to continue delivering authentic and "Dao Di" (道地) Taiwan to various parts of Japan, further promoting events in major cities nationwide and strengthening collaborations with regions across Taiwan.

Nakano Mayor Naoto Sakai's Greeting; Opening Ceremony Tape Cutting

Information on the next event will be announced sequentially on the official website and official social media channels.

Taiwan Festival 2026

Organizer: Taiwan Festival Executive Committee

Co-organizer: KACHIAL Inc.

Sponsors: Nakano City, Tokyo; JTB Corp.; SoftBank Corp.; Marutomi Paper Co., Ltd.; Taskin Rent All; Taoyuan City Government Department of Tourism; Tainan City Government Tourism Bureau; Kaohsiung City Government Tourism Bureau; Taiwan Indigenous Peoples Federation in Japan; Tokyo Taiwan Association, etc.

Official Website: https://taiwanbunkasai.com/

Official Social Media: Instagram, Facebook, X

Execution Company: Tomotomo Inc.