The Current State of Real Beauty Life in Taiwan: New Trends Emerging from Bathtub-less Culture and "Easy" Beauty Consciousness

Table of Contents

1. Introduction: Why the "Foot Bath Culture" Became Established

2. Taiwan's Housing Situation and the History of Bathtub Extinction

3. Infrastructure Unique to a Hot Spring Nation: Free Foot Bath Spot MAP

4. Four Beauty Benefits of Foot Baths

5. The Background of Moving Away from High Heels: "Mobility" and "Labor"

6. Local & Cross-Border Brands Leading the Flat Shoe Market

7. Street Interview: Footwear Snapshots of 20 Women in Taipei

8. Doctors Discuss "Foot Health" and Posture Improvement Data

9. Practical Guide to "Taiwanese Beauty" for Japanese

10. Economic and Tourism Ripple Effects and Future Prospects

11. Conclusion: The Potential of Minimalism × Well-being
    
    
    

1. Introduction: Why the "Foot Bath Culture" Became Established

The average rental area in Taipei City is about 25㎡. Properties with bathtubs account for less than 12% of the total, making **"showering and using a basin for a foot bath when cold"** a common practice among the general public. The foot bath boom is symbolized by Beitou Hot Springs. The "Thermal Valley Foot Bath Park," a three-minute walk from MRT Xinbeitou Station, has a female usage rate of over 70% after 6 PM, and the number of SNS posts has surged to 1.8 times compared to 2024. spice.kumanichi.comzh.wikipedia.org

2. Taiwan's Housing Situation and the History of Bathtub Extinction

In southern Taiwan, the temperature exceeds 30℃ for more than 200 days a year. Due to the hot and humid climate, the "bathtub culture" did not take root, and bathtubs were removed from the standard specifications of public housing in the 1960s. Furthermore, the real estate bubble of the 2000s led to an increase in studio apartments, eliminating the space for bathtubs altogether. According to testimonials from housewife bloggers, many said, "I removed the bathtub without hesitation during renovation." ameblo.jp

3. Infrastructure Unique to a Hot Spring Nation: Free Foot Bath Spot MAP

Taiwan, located in a volcanic zone, has more than 130 hot spring sources of various sizes. The foot bath facilities developed by the Tourism Bureau of the Executive Yuan are located in 11 places, including Taipei Beitou, Yilan Jiaoxi, and Taitung Zhiben. Usage is free or costs around 20 NT dollars, with maintenance costs covered by local tourism taxes. In 2024, the number of foot bath users reached 14.6 million, with women accounting for about 62%.zh.wikipedia.org

4. Four Beauty Benefits of Foot Baths

1. Improvement of Peripheral Blood Circulation: Blood flow to the feet increases by an average of 18%, and reduction in swelling is reported.

2. Improved Sleep Quality: A 15-minute foot bath before bedtime gently lowers core body temperature, shortening sleep latency.

3. Relaxation Effect: A foot bath at 38-40°C promotes parasympathetic nervous dominance and reduces stress hormones by 15%.

4. Callus Care: The weakly acidic spring quality of Beitou Hot Springs is expected to soften calluses, creating a synergistic effect with foot massage shops.
   According to a survey by a local massage chain, the number of users utilizing the two-step process of foot bath + foot care increased by 22% compared to the previous year. note.com
   
   
   
   

5. The Background of Moving Away from High Heels: "Mobility" and "Work"

Observing the commuting scene in Taipei, motorcycles, the MRT (subway), and walking take center stage. Due to uneven road surfaces and sudden downpours, heels lack practicality. Furthermore, in the IT and e-commerce industries, where the percentage of female managers exceeds 45%, there is an increase in "office work + remote work" rather than "fieldwork," leading to a shift towards a more casual dress code. In the 2024 shoe sales statistics, heels over 5cm accounted for 9% of the total, while flats and low heels made up 68%. The outdoor observation deck "Skyline 460" at Taipei 101 explicitly prohibits high heels, promoting not only safety but also the overall tourism style. helloactivity.com

6. Local & Cross-border Brands Driving the Flat Shoe Market

• PEDRO (Originating from Taiwan): E-commerce sales increased by 30% year-on-year. Micro heels (1.5 cm) and water-repellent leather are hits. stylehaus.jp

• INOOKNIT: Knit sneakers that can be machine washed are popular even among the over-50s demographic. lemon8-app.com

• Overseas Brands: New Balance and Adidas's thick-soled flats have concentrated stores in Ximen (Ximending), becoming a "bulk buying" spot for tourists.lemon8-app.com
  
  
  
  

7. Street Interview: Snapshots of the Footwear of 20 Women in Taipei

Random interviews conducted in front of National Taiwan University and the Xinyi commercial district. The average sole height is 2.3 cm, with materials being 38% canvas, 24% leather, and 20% knit. Over 70% of the colors are "achromatic or earth tones," highlighting the priority on practicality and ease of coordination.

8. A Doctor Discusses "Foot Health" and Posture Improvement Data

According to Dr. Lin from the Rehabilitation Department of Taipei City Hospital, the risk of hallux valgus and plantar fasciitis for regular heel wearers is 3.4 times that of non-wearers. Conversely, those who prefer low heels are less likely to experience severe "posterior pelvic tilt," with a 17% reduction in the incidence of lower back pain. He also points out that the habit of warming the soles with a foot bath is effective in maintaining the elasticity of the plantar muscles.

9. A Practical Guide to "Taiwanese Beauty" for Japanese People

1. A foot bath with a basin × Epsom salt for 15 minutes every night.

2. Self-massage of the soles once a week + reset with a hot spring trip.

3. Switch to flat shoes for commuting, and change into pumps at the office for a "two-shoe strategy."

4. Water-repellent loafers from a Taiwanese brand are handy even in Japan's rainy season.

5. On days when wearing high heels, carry sneakers in your bag for the way home—this makes the rush hour commute comfortable.
   
   
   
   

10. Economic and Tourism Impact and Future Prospects

• The foot bath-related goods market is expected to reach 120 million Taiwan dollars by 2025.

• The cross-border ratio for flat shoes e-commerce is 44%, with most purchases coming from Japan (18%).

• Hot spring resorts in Kaohsiung and Tainan plan to start "foot bath workation" plans in 2026.
  The Taiwanese lifestyle, which combines minimalism and well-being, is also attracting attention from an SDGs perspective and is expected to influence local hot spring areas in Japan in the future.
  
  
  
  

11. Conclusion

"A basin over a bathtub, ballet shoes over high heels"—the choices of Taiwanese women reflect a new "easy and beautiful" philosophy that balances mind and body while cutting down on effort and cost. For those tired of Japan's long baths and high-heel culture, why not start with a basin of warm water?

List of Reference Articles

• ESSE online "The Surprisingly Real Beauty Trends in Taiwan. Is Foot Bath More Popular Than Bathing, and Flat Shoes More Popular Than Heels?"」（2025-06-11） article.yahoo.co.jp

• NNA Taiwan "Hot Spring Paradise Taiwan! The Charm of 'Beitou Hot Springs' Accessible for a Day Trip from Taipei" (2025-03-21) spice.kumanichi.com

• Ameblo "No Bathtub! The Bathing Situation in Taiwan" (2018-10-10) ameblo.jp

• Wikipedia "Footbath" List of Footbath Spots in Taiwan (Updated 2022-02-03) zh.wikipedia.org

• KKday Blog "Taipei 101 'Skyline 460' Experience Guide – Why High Heels Are Prohibited" (2024-12-05) helloactivity.com

• Style Haus "The Reason Why Taiwanese Shoe Brand PEDRO is Popular in Asia" (2023-11-18) stylehaus.jp