The Complete Travel Guide to Hsinchu Howard Plaza Hotel

Introduction

Centrally located in the heart of Hsinchu, Hsinchu Howard Plaza Hotel (新竹福華大飯店) has long been a favorite choice for leisure and business travelers alike, balancing comfortable accommodations, thoughtful amenities, and unbeatable access to Hsinchu’s most iconic cultural and natural attractions. Whether you’re in town for a weekend food getaway, a family vacation, or a corporate work trip, this established full-service hotel delivers a relaxed, convenient base for exploring everything the region has to offer.

Hotel Overview

Hsinchu Howard Plaza Hotel sits at No. 178, Zhongzheng Road in central Hsinchu, putting popular sights, local street food markets, and public transit within easy walking distance. The hotel caters to every type of traveler with a wide range of thoughtful facilities and services. All guest rooms are air-conditioned, non-smoking, and outfitted with complimentary hotel-wide WiFi, with options for spacious family rooms and accessible accommodations for travelers with mobility needs. The hotel offers a full array of complimentary perks, including free on-site private parking that requires no pre-booking, 24-hour front desk support, multilingual staff fluent in Chinese, English, and Japanese, and convenient services ranging from concierge assistance, luggage storage, currency exchange, and express check-in/out to a full business center for working travelers.

For leisure, the hotel features a year-round indoor swimming pool open to guests of all ages, with complimentary towels and lounge chairs, a well-equipped fitness center, a full-service spa and wellness center with a hot tub and sauna, and a ping pong court for casual fun. On-site dining receives consistently high praise from guests, particularly its hearty, varied breakfast that highlights both local Taiwanese and international favorites.

Nearby Attractions

Three standout attractions are just a short trip from the hotel:

• Chenghuang Temple of Hsinchu: A 5-minute walk from the hotel, this 18th-century Taoist temple is one of the most historic in northern Taiwan, famous for its intricate wood carvings, vibrant red architecture, and surrounding old street lined with legendary Hsinchu pork balls and rice cakes.
• Hsinchu Glass Museum: Just 2 km from the hotel, this beautiful repurposed government building houses one of Taiwan’s finest collections of contemporary and traditional glass art, with regular hands-on workshops for visitors.
• Neiwan Old Street: A 40-minute drive from the hotel in mountainous Zhudong, this charming retro Hakka old street offers wooden shophouses, Hakka glutinous rice cakes, and scenic views of the nearby river and hills.

Travel Tips

Book your stay in advance during the annual Hsinchu City God Festival in October, when accommodation fills up quickly. The hotel’s central location means you can leave your car in the free parking lot and explore the nearby old town on foot, avoiding downtown parking hassles. If you’re visiting with children, be sure to pack swimwear for the indoor heated pool, which is open even in cooler winter months. For dinner, the on-site restaurant serves excellent Hakka and Cantonese dishes, but don’t leave without walking 10 minutes to the nearby night market to try Hsinchu’s famous bubble tea and oyster omelets.