This time, I want to introduce a foot massage place in Taipei that we were really happy with. It is called Thousand Miles Foot Massage Therapeutic Spa. This article is based on our actual visit in 2018, but the spa is still operating today and online reservations are currently available. Please note: Current prices and service information below have been updated using the spa’s official website. Our Foot Massage at Thousand Miles in Taipei The first thing we noticed was how clean and spacious the spa felt. The reception area was large, and there were plenty of staff members working. The whole place was much bigger than I expected. The official website currently describes the facility as approximately 1,255 square meters, with several massage areas and VIP rooms. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1} We had walked a lot during our Taiwan trip, and the massage we tried the previous day had honestly been disappointing. So by this point, Mamarin in her 60s was completely exhausted. When we visited at around 7 p.m., the spa was busy and we waited for about 30 minutes. There were also quite a few Japanese travelers waiting. Today, online reservations are available, so if your schedule is already fixed, booking ahead may be more convenient. A Large Spa with Private and VIP Rooms Then it was finally time for our massage. We went upstairs to the treatment area. The upper floor was also spacious and clean. Honestly, this may have been one of the largest massage spas I had ever seen. And even with ...
This is the next part of our Finemakers Hsinchu tour. This was the streetscape around Beipu. The roads felt quite wide, with plenty of shops along the way. For lunch, we tried traditional Hakka cuisine. And honestly, the Hakka food was delicious! The flavors felt surprisingly familiar to us as Japanese travelers. This article is based on our visit in 2018, so individual restaurants and services may have changed since then. A Different Side of Taiwan: Hakka Food and Culture in Beipu One of the things I enjoyed about our Hsinchu tour was that we could experience food and culture that felt very different from central Taipei. Beipu is still known today as one of Hsinchu County’s important Hakka areas, with historic streets, traditional Hakka food and lei cha experiences. It made Hsinchu feel like a completely different side of Taiwan. Lunch at Beipu Shitang: A Table Full of Hakka Food For lunch during our Hsinchu tour, we ate Hakka cuisine at a restaurant called Beipu Shitang. Everything we tried here was really good. I thought the flavors would also be easy for many Japanese travelers to enjoy. And then the food arrived... Ta-da! The whole table was covered with food! This was when I realized that Hakka cuisine felt quite different from the Chinese food I was more familiar with. The seasoning let the ingredients themselves stand out. This dish reminded me a little of Japanese kishimen noodles. It was so good! This was a soup with bamboo shoots and seaweed. It had a ...
On the fourth day of our Taiwan trip, we joined a tour of Hsinchu with Finemakers. This was my first proper visit to Hsinchu, and I really enjoyed it. In fact, I ended up liking Hsinchu much more than I expected! It felt different from Taipei, with a more local atmosphere and plenty of food, history and culture to discover. This article is based on our visit in 2018, so prices and individual shops may have changed since then. Our First Stop: Hsinchu City God Temple Our first stop was Hsinchu City God Temple. I found this place really interesting. We only had a short time here, but honestly, I wished we could have stayed longer. Around the temple, there were lots of small shops and food stalls. This was a shop selling dried foods and local products. Our guide recommended the peanut butter, so of course we bought some! We tried it after returning home. It was not very sweet, so rather than spreading it on bread, I thought it might actually work better in savory dishes or dressings. Once we went farther inside, there were food stalls everywhere. It was still morning, but plenty of local people were already eating. The atmosphere felt quite different from a night market. You could really get a glimpse of everyday local life. That was part of what made it so much fun! Learning How to Pray at a Taiwanese Temple And right beside all those food stalls was this impressive temple. A temple and so many ...
This was part of our Finemakers tour exploring eastern Taiwan, Taroko and the historic streets of Hualien. After enjoying Hualien’s beautiful natural scenery, we headed to Pine Garden, a historic site dating back to the Japanese colonial period. The area was once connected with military activities, and buildings and an air-raid shelter from that era have been preserved. After that, we also visited other historic buildings and explored the railway heritage around the former Hualien Station area. Please note: This article is based on our visit in 2018 and has been updated with more recent historical and visitor information. Visiting Pine Garden and Its Japanese-Era History This is the historic exterior of Pine Garden. Located near the foot of Meilun Mountain in Hualien, the site was used for military purposes during the Japanese colonial period. It was associated with the former Hualien Harbor Army Military Affairs Department, and Japanese naval personnel were also stationed in the area. Today, the historic buildings have been preserved as part of Hualien’s cultural heritage. I was surprised that buildings from the Japanese colonial period had been preserved so well. I really didn’t expect them to be in such good condition! The buildings continued to be used for different purposes after the war before eventually being preserved as a historic site. Going Inside the Air-Raid Shelter at Pine Garden Pine Garden also has an air-raid shelter dating from the Japanese colonial period. Of course, Mamarin wanted to go inside. The stairs were narrow! Even in her 60s, she had to ...
This is another story from our Finemakers tour through eastern Taiwan, Taroko and Hualien. During our 2018 trip, after visiting Swallow Grotto and the Eternal Spring Shrine in Taroko, we headed to Qingshui Cliffs. Qingshui Cliffs remains one of Hualien’s most spectacular scenic spots. Please note: This article is based on our firsthand visit in 2018 and has been updated with current information. Some areas around Taroko are still affected by restoration work and changing traffic restrictions, so check the latest access information before visiting. Qingshui Cliffs in Our 60s — Beautiful Even on a Cloudy Day! Qingshui Cliffs is one of the most dramatic landscapes on Taiwan’s east coast, with steep green mountains dropping almost directly into the sea. Looking out over the lush mountains and the ocean below felt soooo good. Ta-da! It was cloudy that day, and it was still this beautiful. The color of the sea changes depending on the weather and light, so I would love to come back and see it on a bright sunny day too. I can only imagine how beautiful the water must look then! Mountains and ocean almost crashing together in front of us. The scenery felt enormous. We were blown away. Mamarin in her 60s approved too. The Chongde Recreation Area overlooking Qingshui Cliffs has reopened after restoration work following the earthquake. However, road restrictions and closures around the wider Taroko area can still change, so it is worth checking the latest information before your visit. Trying Indigenous Taiwanese Food — What Would It ...
After leaving our hotel, we headed to two of Taroko’s famous sights: Swallow Grotto and the Eternal Spring Shrine. The scenery was dramatic, with huge rock walls rising around the gorge. Seeing it in person had far more impact than I expected. Please note: Swallow Grotto Trail and the Eternal Spring Shrine area are currently closed while restoration work continues after earthquake and typhoon damage. This article is based on our firsthand visit in 2018, with current access information added. Always check the latest Taroko National Park information before visiting. Walking Swallow Grotto in Our 60s — Helmets, Cliffs and Huge Views! Swallow Grotto runs through a dramatic marble gorge carved by the Liwu River. The rock walls rise steeply on both sides, and you can see holes and patterns formed by erosion in the cliffs. When we visited, we wore helmets while walking through the area because of the risk of falling rocks. So yes, I was a little nervous. But then I noticed something important. My cardigan was light blue... and my helmet was light blue too. Perfect coordination（笑） At least if I was going to walk through a gorge in a helmet, I was going to match. Then I looked down. Okay... that was pretty scary! The walkway was high above the gorge, and the river looked very far below. When I took photos with my phone, I found myself holding it much tighter than usual. All I could think was: “If I drop this phone, I won’t be able to write ...
One of the things I always look forward to in Bali is a good spa or massage. I have struggled with stiff shoulders and lower back discomfort for years and have tried countless massages and spa treatments in Japan. But at Ametis Villa in Canggu, I finally found one that made me think: “This might be the best massage I’ve ever had.” My husband loved it just as much as I did. In fact, we both agreed that we would happily come back to Bali just to experience this massage again. After two blissful hours, my entire body felt unbelievably light — I even noticed that riding my bicycle felt easier after returning to Japan! Here is our experience at the spa at Ametis Villa. The Best Massage of My Life? Our Ametis Villa Spa Experience During our stay at Ametis Villa, we had both a 30-minute massage and a two-hour spa treatment. And they were wonderful. I had experienced many different massages and spa treatments over the years because of my stiff shoulders and lower back, but this one stood out. It honestly felt like one of the best massages I had ever experienced. A Relaxing 30-Minute Massage That Found All the Right Spots This photo was taken during the 30-minute massage. The therapist seemed to know exactly where my body was carrying tension. Rather than simply following a routine, the massage felt focused on the areas that actually needed attention. I wore comfortable villa clothing during the treatment, so the whole experience felt ...
Life had been busy again, and suddenly I found myself thinking back to the dreamlike time we spent in Bali. This time, I want to share our breakfast and private pool experience at Ametis Villa, a peaceful luxury hideaway in Canggu, Bali. If you ever feel like escaping everyday life and doing absolutely nothing for a while, this kind of villa stay is hard to beat. As of 2026, Ametis Villa continues to offer private pool villas with personal butler service, and breakfast can still be served in the comfort of your villa. Menus and other services may change, so check the latest details before booking. Breakfast at Ametis Villa: Japanese Food with a Funny Surprise One of the best things about breakfast at Ametis Villa is that you do not need to go to a restaurant. Our personal butler brought breakfast directly to our villa. Sitting in our own private space, listening to birds outside and enjoying breakfast at a relaxed pace felt wonderfully luxurious. There was no need to dress up or rush anywhere. A Comforting Japanese Breakfast in Bali That morning, we chose the Japanese breakfast. When it arrived, one small detail immediately made us laugh. “The salmon is facing the opposite direction from how it is usually served in Japan!” Little cultural differences like this are part of what makes traveling overseas so interesting. We had eaten quite a lot during our romantic dinner the night before, so the light and gentle Japanese breakfast was exactly what we wanted the next ...
One of the things I was most excited about during our Bali trip was the romantic dinner offered by Ametis Villa. The idea of having dinner on the beach while listening to the sound of the waves felt almost too perfect. Just imagining it made me excited. That year was especially meaningful for us because I was celebrating my 60th birthday and we were also marking our 30th wedding anniversary. No matter how old you are, celebrating a special milestone together can still feel wonderfully romantic. So this became our very own version of a honeymoon — or perhaps a “full moon” trip for a long-married couple! 2026 update: Ametis Villa still offers a private beach dining experience in Canggu, with a romantic setup featuring flowers, candlelight and dedicated butler service. The current menu and pricing may differ from what we experienced during our stay, so check the latest details before booking. 1. Relaxing in the Lounge Before Dinner Before heading to the beach, we spent some time relaxing in the lounge at Ametis Villa. The space was large and beautifully decorated with Bali-inspired furniture. At the time, there were no other guests around, so it almost felt as if we had the whole lounge to ourselves. That sense of privacy is one of the things I loved most about staying in a villa. You can move at your own pace without constantly crossing paths with other guests. The dress I wore that evening was something I had bought at a local market in Bali. ...
One of the highlights of our Bali trip was staying at Ametis Villa, a luxury private villa in Canggu. We wanted to spend a couple of days simply relaxing at a beautiful villa, and Ametis Villa was exactly what we had imagined. Each villa offers plenty of privacy, and ours came with a spacious private pool, open living area, kitchen, large bathroom, and a dedicated butler. Having a butler who could assist us during our stay also made the experience especially comfortable. For travelers visiting Bali for the first time, staying somewhere that feels private, peaceful, and well looked after can make a big difference. Here is a closer look inside our villa and what it was like to stay at Ametis Villa in Canggu. Checking in at Ametis Villa in Canggu The villas are separated from one another, and our villa was located beyond this private entrance. Even before stepping inside, it already felt very secluded. This was our villa. It had its own garden and a large private swimming pool. The atmosphere felt more like staying in our own private vacation home than in a typical hotel. A Spacious Open Kitchen and Living Area The living space was incredibly spacious. There was a dining table as well as an open kitchen, making it easy to spend time relaxing in the villa without feeling confined to a hotel room. Guests can also use the kitchen. Our butler helped prepare fruit for us, and it was also possible to buy ingredients from a supermarket and ...
