Howard Plaza Hotel Hsinchu — 5-Star in the Historic City Centre, Walk to the Temple and East Gate
Howard Plaza Hotel Hsinchu is the definitive 5-star choice in the heart of Hsinchu City's historic district — not in Zhubei's modern tech zone, but in the old city itself, where the East Gate, City God Temple, and Taiwan's most famous seafood streets are a short walk away. Operated by Howard Hotels (the same Taiwanese group behind Grand Hi-Lai Kaohsiung), the hotel has delivered consistent standards since 1992. Score: 8.6/10 from 3,374 verified guests on Booking.com.
Howard Hotels is one of Taiwan's most respected luxury hotel groups — the brand behind Grand Hi-Lai Kaohsiung, consistently ranked among the finest five-stars in southern Taiwan. Their Hsinchu property, opened in 1992, occupies a prime position at No. 188 Zhonghua Road in Hsinchu City's East District, the historic core of a city that has been at the intersection of Taiwanese culture and science since the country's early industrialisation era. Unlike Zhubei — the modern tech suburb 5 km away — Hsinchu City's old centre has temples, traditional markets, and genuine urban character.
"Perfect location. Walked to City God Temple and the East Gate on the first evening — took twenty minutes total. Breakfast was excellent with good local options. Indoor pool clean and well-maintained. Much better value than the Sheraton."
The hotel's walkability to Hsinchu's cultural landmarks is its single greatest competitive advantage. East Gate (迎曦門) — the only remaining gate from the original four that surrounded the old city — is approximately 0.4 km away. Hsinchu City God Temple (城隍廟), one of the most famous and continuously active temples in Taiwan, is roughly 0.5 km. The streets surrounding the temple are lined with vendors selling traditional snacks and local specialities that Taiwanese from across the island make special trips to taste. All of this is within comfortable walking distance from the hotel's front door.
The indoor swimming pool opens daily 06:00–22:00 and is consistently praised for cleanliness — a meaningful signal for a hotel now over 30 years old. The fitness centre accompanies the pool. The 24-hour business centre has meeting rooms ranging from small boardrooms to larger conference suites, including standard audio-visual equipment. Jou Yen Chinese Restaurant serves Cantonese and Taiwanese cuisine for lunch and dinner; a separate Western dining space handles the morning buffet (07:00–10:00, approximately NT$380–460 per person). Standard rooms are approximately 32–38 sqm, Deluxe rooms 42–50 sqm, and Suites 65+ sqm.
Hsinchu TRA Station (Taiwan Railways) is 1.2 km away — a comfortable 15-minute walk or a very short taxi ride. TRA connects Hsinchu City directly to Taipei (approximately 90 minutes on local trains, faster on express) and to other cities along Taiwan's west coast. For guests who prefer High Speed Rail, the Hsinchu HSR Station at Zhubei is approximately 5 km and 15 minutes by taxi — less convenient than from Sheraton Hsinchu, but perfectly manageable for occasional HSR use.
The honest trade-off to acknowledge is that a building opened in 1992 carries the physical signature of its era. Howard Hotels has carried out multiple rounds of renovation over the decades, and the rooms have been updated. However, some areas — common corridors, certain public spaces — reflect an architectural bone structure that no amount of cosmetic refresh fully modernises. This does not diminish the quality of the stay for most guests, as the 8.6/10 score from 3,374 reviews demonstrates. But if 'brand-new feeling throughout' is a priority, newer properties in Hsinchu deserve consideration.
Starting rates of approximately NT$3,500/night put Howard Plaza meaningfully below Sheraton Hsinchu's NT$4,500+ entry point — notable when you are comparing two 5-star properties in the same city. The difference largely reflects brand premium (Marriott vs. independent Taiwanese luxury) and location type (Zhubei tech zone vs. Hsinchu City historic centre). For leisure travellers and anyone whose meetings are in the old city, Howard Plaza wins on both price and access.
The bottom line: Howard Plaza Hotel Hsinchu is the right 5-star choice for anyone who wants to be in the actual Hsinchu City — the old streets, the temple, the famous food. If your primary concern is HSR proximity or Marriott Bonvoy points, Sheraton Hsinchu at Zhubei is better positioned for that. But if exploring Hsinchu's considerable cultural heritage is the point of your visit, Howard Plaza puts you in the right place at a price that makes sense.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Prime location in Hsinchu City's historic centre — walkable to East Gate, City God Temple, and seafood streets
- ✓ Score 8.6 from 3,374 reviews — strong consistency over many years
- ✓ Indoor pool clean and well-maintained, praised repeatedly by guests
- ✓ Lower starting price than Sheraton — better value for leisure travellers
- ! Building dates to 1992 — some areas of the hotel show their age despite renovations
- ! Approximately 15 minutes by taxi from Hsinchu HSR Station at Zhubei
- ! Not backed by an international hotel loyalty programme (Taiwanese chain)
- ✓ Walking distance to Hsinchu's most important cultural sites — no taxi needed for sightseeing
- ✓ Good breakfast spread with local Hsinchu options alongside standard hotel fare
- ✓ Staff English-language communication adequate for international guests
- ✓ Parking available for guests arriving by private vehicle
- ! Older building; common areas and certain rooms reflect the structure's vintage
- ! Noise from the surrounding street can affect some outward-facing rooms
- ! Rates rise during tech industry events — book ahead for those periods
- 💡If your primary need is convenient HSR access — Howard Plaza is 15 minutes by taxi from Hsinchu HSR Station; Sheraton Hsinchu at Zhubei is a 10-minute walk from HSR → if every meeting involves HSR connections, the Sheraton is more logistically practical
- 💡If 'brand-new hotel feel' throughout the property is important to you — Howard Plaza opened in 1992 and carries the physical markers of that era in some common areas → newer hotels in Hsinchu may better match that expectation, though they are typically at a lower star rating
- 💡If you are visiting during a major industry event in Hsinchu — city-centre hotels like Howard Plaza also fill during semiconductor events → book 3–4 weeks ahead, and check for packages that include breakfast to optimise cost