To Taiwan without flying

[mondainai]

Does anyone know if there are any ships going to Taiwan from Okinawa?

[Crazysix]

there was a ferry running between here and ishigaki but Im not sure ask Muku...but on the smartass side I was gonna say swimming or Sea Kayak is always an option

[Asshat]

These guys were doing it, but I heard they suspended service.

You might call them and ask for recommendations, or hit up a travel agency here and ask them.

Arimura Sangyo Company
2-16-10 Minato-Machi
Naha
Okinawa
Tel. +81 (0)98 860 1980
Fax. +81 (0)98 860 1955

[ryukyuboi]

I have gone to Taiwan via ship a couple of times, but it was awhile ago. I believe the ships arrived and left from Keeluong (sp) Harbor in Taiwan. I think I left from Naha Port on Okinawa. Hopefully for you, some sort of ship service is available.

[kingrabbit]

I'm also looking to travel to Taiwan as well. If anyone has any info, stories, tips, etc to tell please let me know. Looking to travel by boat or ferry since it sounds alot cheaper than taking the plane (not to mention I'm cheap). I'm having a couple local nationals that work at my office looking into it as well. I'll post some info up to those who are interested when I find out some more. In the meantime, any info on Taiwan would be greatly appreciated :)

[NaNaKo]

Don't know how ferry/boat service works, but here's direction for flight & ground transportation.

Flight
The only airline operating between Okinawa and Taiwan is China Airlines (http://www.china-airlines.com/en/index.htm). It's a monopoly; so be sure to call several travel agencies on- or off-base to get the best price. There are only two flights per day, 11am and 7pm. At this economic down time, they even cancel flights. Be flexible!

Bus
You will fly into Taoyuan International Airport. From there, you take a shuttle to High Speed Railway Taoyuan Station. The bus is operated by the company Ubus (http://www.taoyuanairport.gov.tw/english/transportation/highspeed_e.jsp). It's $30 taiwan dollars for adult and $15 taiwan dollars for child. The link shows you how to get from the arrival lobby to the shuttle ticket counter. If you get lost, ask the information desk. At the bus ticket counter, buy the ticket to High Speed Rail Taoyuan station. The salesladies will tell you which bus stop number to wait. The ladies are VERY rude, but bear with them. Ask CLEARLY which bus stop number.

High Speed Rail (http://www.thsrc.com.tw/en/travel/stations.asp)
Once you get to the train station, buy ticket at the ticket counter. They also have machine selling tickets, but at an unfamiliar place, try the sales counter. Here it will depends on where you want to travel to in Taiwan. I'll use Taipei as an example. Buy the ticket to Taipei Station. Ticket price varies; the standard is $160 taiwan dollars for adult and $80 for child. The train is constructed by Japanese; so it feels very similar to the Shinkansen in the mainland Japan.

Taipei Metro (http://www.trtc.com.tw/e/service.asp?catid=%E4%B9%98%E8%BB%8A%E6%8C%87%E5%8 D%97&small=%E8%B7%AF%E7%B7%9A%E5%9C%96%E6%9A%A8%E8%BB%8 A%E7%AB%99%E8%B3%87%E8%A8%8A)
Taipei Station is in the middle of the subway system (red & blue lines cross). Here are some attractions that are worth going:

1. Danshui (the end of red line north) - old town feel & souvenir shopping.
2. Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall (red & green lines cross) - everyone goes here when visiting Taipei. It's that white building with blue roof that you see in the pictures of Taiwan.
3. Ximen (blue & green lines cross) - young people fashion & shopping
4. Zhongxiao Fuxing (blue & brown lines cross) - high-end shopping
5. Taipei Zoo (the end of brown line south) - two pandas recently moved in! I wouldn't recommend Maokong Gondolas now because something's currently going on with contruction problems.
6. National Palace Museum (http://www.npm.gov.tw/en/home.htm) is a must go. Take red line to Shilin Station (6th station north from Taipei Station) and take bus R30 (Red 30) to the National Palace Museum. Other routes that will take you to and near the Museum plaza are buses 255, 304, Minibus 18 and Minibus 19.

US $1 = $32 ~ $33 taiwan dollars.

If you get lost in Taipei, ask any young people. Their English is good enough for communications.

OR: MCCS (http://www.mccsokinawa.com/tours/off_island.asp)is offering tours to Taiwan.

Have fun!

[P_chan]

I'm also looking to travel to Taiwan as well. If anyone has any info, stories, tips, etc to tell please let me know. Looking to travel by boat or ferry since it sounds alot cheaper than taking the plane (not to mention I'm cheap). I'm having a couple local nationals that work at my office looking into it as well. I'll post some info up to those who are interested when I find out some more. In the meantime, any info on Taiwan would be greatly appreciated :)

Well I know that if you're military you have to get your command's permission to go to taiwan.