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Tokyo governor rides Star of Formosa luxury train

Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara, left, and Minister of Transportation and Communications Lin Ling-san, right, wave to the press from a train car as the government launched a luxury train tour service yesterday. Ishihara was invited to join the first trip to help promote the train service to Japanese travelers. PHOTO: WANG MIN-WEI, TAIPEI TIMES

Governor of Tokyo Shintaro Ishi-hara yesterday started a luxurious journey on the premium-class scenic train Star of Formosa in a bid to help promote the country's tourism industry.

Accompanied by Minister of Transportation and Communications Lin Ling-san (林陵三), Ishihara and a number of Japanese reporters joined the maiden journey of the train, which was delayed for a day due to Typhoon Nock-Ten.

Ishihara's media entourage, including Fuji Television, TV Tokyo, Asahi Shimbun, Yomiuri Shimbun, Sankei Shimbun and Kyodo News, will cover the three-day trip to eastern Taiwan.

Ishihara arrived in Taipei on Sunday for his fifth visit.

He is scheduled to meet with President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁), former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝), Premier Yu Shyi-kun and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mark Chen (陳唐山) during his visit.

The governor, who attended Chen Shui-bian's inauguration ceremony in May, told Lin at that time that Taiwan's hot springs and railways could become main attractions for Japanese tourists.

"I took his advice and asked the Tourism Bureau and the Taiwan Railway Administration (TRA) to develop a top-end, around-the-island sightseeing train service," Lin said.

"We hope that through the governor's trip, Taiwan's beauty and great food can be introduced to Japanese tourists. We hope more Japanese tourists will visit Taiwan," Lin said.

Ishihara, who traveled from Taipei to Hualien via Ilan yester-day, visited the National Center for Traditional Arts in Ilan and Taroko National Park.

Today he will travel to Taitung to meet with Aboriginal people. He returns to Taipei tomorrow.

The luxury train, equipped with spacious seats and karaoke facilities, serves delicacies such as Hualien's muachi and Taichung's sun cakes, as well as a popular lunch box, with drinks including red wine and champagne, the Tourism Bureau said.
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