Taipei, June 9 (CNA) A Japanese railway fan was honored as "a friend of Taiwan's railways" at a celebration to mark the 130th anniversary of the Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA) in Taipei on Friday.
Yoshiyuki Kekke, 64, has visited Taiwan more than 300 times over the past 37 years, spending more than NT$5.5 million (US$182,414) on the trips.
Kekke, who was born in Tokyo in 1953, joined a railway club while at university and researched the development of the railway system in Japan, including the routes and trains. He currently works for a Japanese company that publishes railway publications.
He said he has ridden trains in Australia, as well as other Asian and European countries, but Taiwan is still his favorite travel destination.
He first visited Taiwan in 1980 to visit a friend here, and since then, has made more than 300 trips to Taiwan, he said.
He described Taiwanese people as friendly and said the railway scenery is similar to that of Japan.
Asked to give recommendations for traveling around Taiwan, Kekke suggested tourists should start with Chiayi City, where they can take the Alishan forest railway to visit the mountainous area of Alishan, one of the top attractions in Taiwan.
He also suggested that tourists should visit Tainan and Kaohsiung in the south, and then take the train to Taitung and Hualien counties in eastern Taiwan.
Describing Taiwan as being like his second home, Kekke said he plans to move to Taiwan after he retires.
As part of the TRA's anniversary celebrations, a series of events are running in the lobby of the Taipei Main Station from Friday to Sunday, including a display of train models, according to the TRA.
The development of Taiwan's rail network started in 1887 during the Qing dynasty, when a line between Taipei and Keelung in northern Taiwan was constructed. A more extensive line was then built, connecting Keelung to Kaohsiung in southern Taiwan, and was completed in 1908, during the Japanese colonial rule of Taiwan (1895-1945).
After the Republic of China government took over Taiwan, it continued to develop the rail network.
