East-rift-valley
Provincial Highway 9 is 476 km long and is the longest provincial highway in Taiwan. From Chishang to Taitung City, the highway runs the whole length of the East Rift Valley. Traveling down the highway, visitors can see rolling mountains and green fields on the both sides giving Provincial Highway No.9 the nicknamed the Green Highway. More attractions along the highway include the hot air balloon in Luye Highland, Mr. Brown Avenue in Chishang, the green rice paddies in Kaadaadaan, and the Walking trees in Luanshan.
A plane ride isn’t necessary to enjoy traveling in Japan. Here in Luye, you can tour a traditional and elegant Japanese-styled Japanese Shrine. Located in Luye’s Longtian Village, the Luye Shinto Shrine has retained the original torii, chozuya, and main temple structures. The shrine is surrounded by a quiet environment against a magnificent mountain backdrop creating a peaceful and comfortable ambiance. It’s no wonder why many visitors travel far and wide to visit the Luye Shinto Shrine.
The Luye Shinto Shrine was the core of the Longtian residents’ faith and religion during the Japanese occupation. The Longtian community was once an immigration village for Japanese people. The government built the Luye Shinto Shrine to provide comfort for the Japanese immigrants who resided there. The shrine was modeled after Japanese shrines to offer a place of worship. Luye Shrine is a religious structure of Japanese Shintoism. At the time, the shrine venerated the Japanese Kaitaku Sanjin (Ōkunitama no Mikoto, Sukunahikona no Mikoto, and Ōnamuchi no Mikoto) and Prince Kitashirakawa Yoshihisa to bless the land. There are currently no enshrined deities at the Luye Shinto Shrine, but guests are asked to remain respectful while visiting the Shrine.
The Luye Shrine was destroyed after the war. In 2014, the Luye Township office and East Rift Valley National Scenic Area Administration collaborated to import cypress wood from Japan and invite Japanese craftsmen to rebuild and restore Luye Shrine to its former glory. If you’re interested in the history of Luye Township, consider adding Luye Shinto Shrine to your itinerary and tour the nearby Japanese structures including the Luye District Office, and the Japanese-styled Principal’s dormitory at Longtian Elementary School. （Photo Credit：IG@stella__0830）
- Phone: 089-551-637
