Hamamatsu and Taipei Strengthen Railway Ties
Officials from Hamamatsu visited Taipei to bolster tourism and promote a new regional railway event.
Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Asia
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A delegation from Hamamatsu visited Taipei on September 22, 2026, to discuss railway cooperation and reinforce the cities' long-standing tourism partnership. The cities also unveiled a joint exhibition at the Zhongshan MRT station to boost mutual travel.
Why it matters
This diplomatic visit aims to deepen municipal exchanges between Hamamatsu and Taipei while leveraging local transit infrastructure to drive international tourism between Japan and Taiwan.
The upcoming HAMAMATSU EVANGELION 巡禮 event will feature stamp collections across 20 different tourist attractions. The campaign is scheduled to run from October 4, 2026, until February 28, 2027.
The players
Hamamatsu
This is a city in Japan that maintains a friendship and tourism agreement with Taipei.
Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation
This entity manages the metro system in Taipei and held rail cooperation talks with the visiting delegation.
The details
The delegation met with the Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation to coordinate rail efforts, building upon a tourism agreement first established in 2013. The city also launched a new exhibition at the Zhongshan MRT station, while fans of the film Shin Evangelion can visit Tenryu Futamata station, which served as the model for the movie's Village 3.
Timeline
The two cities signed their initial tourism agreement in 2013.
A Hamamatsu delegation visited Taipei on September 22, 2026.
The Evangelion-themed tourism event begins on October 4, 2026.
The themed event will conclude on February 28, 2027.
Travel Outlook
This collaborative effort extends the 2013 Hamamatsu and Taipei tourism agreement by integrating pop culture themes into existing municipal travel strategies. By aligning city-level promotion with regional transit, the effort marks a departure from standard tourism outreach toward targeted engagement.
Travelers planning to visit Japan can visit the Hamamatsu Tourist Information Center to receive gifts. Visitors should note that the stamp collection activity across 20 local attractions will be available starting in October 2026.
The takeaway
Travelers looking to participate in specialized regional events should check official municipal schedules before booking their transit. Aligning travel plans with these themed campaigns can provide access to unique local experiences and promotional incentives.
Further reading
Explore more developments in the Asia region regarding international tourism initiatives.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Adnkronos.
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