Ultimate Jiufen Old Street Travel Guide: The Real Spirited Away in Taiwan!
Everyone was crowding in this one spot trying to take pictures of the stairway
Have you ever watched Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away? If you did you might’ve been captivated by the gorgeous architecture and atmosphere in the film. Jiufen Old Street is a little mountain top village in Taiwan that exudes the exact same energy and atmosphere, and is a location that you must visit while you are traveling in Taiwan.
I traveled to Jiufen, Taiwan during my Christmas holiday with my girlfriend, however I arrived at Jiufen during the late afternoon, so a little disclaimer, my experiences will showcase Jiufen during the night where all the lanterns are illuminated, which is a totally different atmosphere compared to the day time.
Before I go on, let me apologize for the really crappy photos, I don’t have a camera capable of taking beautiful night pictures, and my phone isn’t really that good either. Plus there were a lot of people so I apologize if I happen to take a photo and someone’s face wasn’t prepared for a surprise photoshoot from me lol.
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How to Travel to Jiufen Old Street
The roads in Jiufen Village are tight and dangerous
Buses. The only way to get to Jiufen is via public buses (or your own private vehicle, but don’t expect parking). The easiest and most straight forward way to get to Jiufen from Taipei is via the direct 1062 bus.
Hop on the 1062 Bus starting from Zhongxiao Fuxing Station in Taipei and get off at Jiufen Old Street Bus Stop, which as the name suggests, drops your right in front of the Jiufen Old Street market. The frequency of the 1062 bus is around 10 - 20 minutes.
The journey takes just a little over an hour with the cost coming around 101 NTD. To make your traveling easier, I recommend you purchase an EasyPass, which is like a refillable ticket that can be used for the Metro, Airport MRT, Railway, Bus, Bike, and Taxi within the Taipei and Kaohsiung region.
There are also private transport options that you can book such as this Private City Transfer between Taipei and Jiufen, this is best if you just don’t want to worry about transport at all and let someone else handle it for you.
My 3 Recommended Hotels in Jiufen
There are a few hotels in Jiufen, but I would ask you to be open minded about your expectations as you won’t find luxury here, as most of these hotels feel more like an AirBnB or a humble family owned establishment, which isn’t a bad thing at all.
All of these Jiufen hotel recommendations are located real close or within the Jiufen Old Street market.
Jiufen Cafe Sleep B&B-Rain House
Might not look like much but this homestay is exuding charm
Jiufen Cafe Sleep B&B-Rain House is the hotel (or homestay) that I stayed at when I traveled to Jiufen and oh my god, This place is just so so so cozy and wholesome. The establishment is a bit hard to find as it’s located in an inconspicuous alleyway, but the hospitality is off the roof. The owner is a timid and very caring lady who will do her absolute best to provide you with the best hospitality you’ve ever had.
The rooms feel a bit dated, decor wise, but it’s very clean and well kept, some rooms even have cute themed designs like Hello Kitty or My Neighbour Totoro. In addition, there is a free breakfast that is included as well as a little free coffee/tea bar for you to use.
Google Maps Rating: 5 / 5 (67+ Reviews)
Location: No. 35號, Qiche Rd, Ruifang District, New Taipei City, Taiwan 224
Chiu Chunt Dint Inn
Now this just feels like a nice beachside resort in Thailand
Chiu Chunt Dint Inn is located right in the middle of the Jiufen Old Street, with the entrance being in the same building as an Illy’s Golden Cafe. Meaning if you want your morning coffee, all you have to do is go down a few floors.
The upper floors provide rooms with a gorgeous view of Jiufen Village as well as the mountain ranges and oceans. The staff are very friendly as well providing great service and offering complimentary snacks, coffees, and teas.
Google Maps Rating: 4.3 / 5 (439+ Reviews)
Location: No. 29號, Jishan St, Ruifang District, New Taipei City, Taiwan 224
95 Pavilion
Modern amenities located in a hilltop village, nice
The 95 Pavillion is a newer one, this hotel is clean and the rooms are modern as well, although not that big in size but all the amenities you could ever need are included. Jiufen is famous for their Tea and the 95 Pavillion even provides a free tea set for you to get a taste of the region’s tea leaves.
95 Pavillion is also located pretty close to the Jiufen Old Street, so walking there is a breeze.
Google Maps Rating: 5 / 5 (617+ Reviews)
Location: 224, Taiwan, New Taipei City, Ruifang District, Qingbian Rd, No. 95
Exploring Jiufen Old Street
It’s nice to be greeted by a neon bright 7-11 before you enter the Jiufen Old Street…
Alright, let’s get to exploring Jiufen! I started my exploration around 4pm, because of the winter months, at 4pm the sun had already set, so sorry if I only have night time photos to show you.
The main highlight of Jiufen Old Street, of course, which is a strip of roads and alleyways lined on both sides with stalls selling Taiwanese street foods, preserved foods, beverages, and cute trinkets. This is where the “Spirited Away” atmosphere is located.
The Jiufen Old Street isn’t entirely old, as there are a few modern shops that have opened up over the years, and unfortunately their bright lights, air conditioning, and pure white and glass construction really contrasts with the overall atmosphere of the Jiufen Old Street.
Feels almost like I am walking through some claustrophobic Tokyo alleyway
The Jiufen Old Street opens everyday from 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM, on weekends from Friday to Sunday, the time is extended to 10:00 PM. Although that’s what it says on Google Maps, in reality, I went to Jiufen on a Sunday and the stalls all started closing at around 8:00PM. So your mileage may vary.
You could certainly take a day trip to Jiufen if you are well organized with your time, in fact there are tours like the Yehliu Geopark, Jiufen, Shifen, and Golden Waterfall Day Tour that brings you to many of the regions major attractions, day tours like these saves you both time and headaches from having to plan your trip.
But if you want to thoroughly explore all the nooks and crannies of Jiufen then staying overnight would be the best option.
There are so many eye catching things, I don’t know where to look
It is widely believed that the Jiufen Old Street has inspired the many scenes in Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away, while you can certainly make a connection with all the bright illuminated red lanterns hung throughout the streets, Miyazaki denied that Jiufen was an inspiration for the film.
That won’t matter if you’re a fan though, as there is no doubt the Jiufen Old Street gives off an incredibly similar vibe to the famous Miyazaki film.
Some alleys may look sketchy but these are often filled with hidden gems
Walking through the Jiufen Old Street can be a bit claustrophobic, especially during peak activity around and at certain hotspots.
The size of the alleys can barely fit two people side to side and with a constant flow of people walking back and forth it can be hard to take some good photos or enjoy the various foods and products at each stall.
Explore more thoroughly though and you’ll come across some alleys with not many tourists, often these hold hidden gems, such as one shop that I found that was selling the most tart and fragrant plum alcohol.
Even though this is during the night, the atmosphere is still beautiful
The Jiufen Village is located on top of a mountain and is surrounded by neighboring hills. During the early hours of the day, if you wake up early enough, you’ll be greeted with a beautiful fog covered mountain range, with the coastline being visible not far away.
It truly is beautiful. And if you have the chance to relax at one of the many teahouses here, all of them will be overlooking the Jiufen hillside.
Things to Do in Jiufen Old Street
There a few locations to check out in Jiufen, but the main focus is of course the Jiufen Old Street. Take your time to explore here as there is much to discover.
For some suggestions of landmarks and interesting activities here are a few of them that I recommend you check out.
Jiufen Tea Houses
The A-Mei teahouse in all her iconic glory
You cannot come to Jiufen without sampling some aromatic tea at one of the many teahouses scattered across the village. Aside from the Spirited Away vibes, the village of Jiufen is also famous for its many teahouses perched on the mountain side overlooking the village.
At each of these tea houses you will be served a tea set with your choice of tea leaves as well as a complimentary array of specialty regional snacks for you to enjoy. Enjoying tea at a Jiufen Teahouse was definitely a highlight of my trip, especially if you go during the early morning when the weather is cool and the mountains are covered in fog.
Jiufen Teahouse - Full service tea house, a bit (maybe too much) on the pricey side, but that comes with excellent quality and service, also includes an art gallery for you to browse through.
Skyline Tea House - Beautiful scenery and pretty good tea, provides a beautiful view of the A-Mei Tea House as well as the surrounding mountain skyline.
A-MEI Tea House - The signature image of Jiufen, good place to grab some food as well as tea, beautiful view, people mostly come here because this building resembles the Spirited Away vibes the most. Although a lot of people say that service is pretty bad here and is unfriendly towards solo travelers.
Artist Tea House - A hidden gem for tea lovers, I recommend this one. located a bit further from the main Jiufen Old Street but owners are incredibly kind and atmosphere is relaxing, delicious cakes and teas.
Some of these places require you to make a reservation in advance or else they won’t accept you. Call in beforehand or book through the links I have provided above for a easy reservation.
Jiufen Ghost Lore Museum
A very unexpected thing to see in a place like this but also pretty cool
The Ghost Lore Museum is a quirky little “museum” in the middle of the Jiufen Old Street. I say museum loosely because it’s more like an exhibit showcasing various ghosts and monsters, there’s no real theme other than just being scary and unnerving.
However, despite that it’s very fun to check out if you are into horror movies or supernatural stuff. There’s plenty of spot for photo opportunities, with photos stuck on the walls of people posing with the displays.
*** TRIGGER WARNING : SPOOKY IMAGE BELOW***
As a fan of horror, this is a really cool display lol
All of these displays are of course not real, but even though I knew that, I can’t help but shake off the feeling that the displays will come to life and kill me lol.
Walking through the different exhibits was really unnerving, mainly because all of the ghosts are humanoids that gives off an uncanny valley sort of feeling.
If you like learning about the paranormal there are also signs with little tidbits of information about paranormal rituals and such, but they are all in Mandarin and I couldn’t read any of it…
Learn About the Jiufen Gold Mine at the Jiufen Goldore Museum
You can touch it yes, but don’t even think about stealing it
The Jiufen Goldore Museum is a family owned business located a bit away from the the Jiufen Old Street, it’s also rather small but every educational with the owners explaining the history of Jiufen’s mining community and how it influenced the region in the modern day.
I definitely recommend taking the night tour here, it includes a tour guide who explains the background history of the area in both English and Mandarin very well.
A bit further away from Jiufen Village in the Gold Ecological Park is the New Taipei City Gold Museum, that was opened during 2004 as Taiwan’s first eco-museum. Here you’ll be able to learn about the region’s mining industry under Japanese colonization, touch one of the largest gold bars in the world, and try your luck and panning for specs of gold.
I recommend booking an E-Ticket for the New Taipei City Gold Museum as there can be quite a bit of tourists during peak seasons.
Foods to Try in Jiufen Old Street
Now this wouldn’t be a Feastography blog post without talking a bit about food, and o boy Jiufen has some tasty eats for you to try, so let’s get to it.
Taiwanese Peanut and Cilantro Ice Cream Roll
This is the most beautiful plate I have ever seen
First thing’s first, a must try snack when you come to Taiwan is this Taiwanese Peanut and Cilantro Ice Cream Roll! I swear, I had like 4 of these on my 5 day trip to Taiwan, they’re just so good and refreshing.
A large thin and bouncy crepe is filled with shredded candied peanuts, and 2 scoops of either Taro or Pineapple Ice Cream is put on top, a sprinkle of cilantro is added and the whole thing is wrapped like a burrito. It’s incredibly refreshing to eat due to the tartness of the pineapple ice cream and the peanuts gives it a nice crunchy texture, the cilantro adds a nice unique aftertaste to round out the flavors.
A-Zhu Peanut Ice Cream Roll is a famous shop located in the Jiufen Old Street where you must try this tasty treat. Aside from Stinky Tofu, this is one of my favorite snacks in Taiwan.
Juicy and Meaty Taiwanese Sausage
The vendor seems very passionate about her sausages.
Another popular street food snack that you’ll find in Taiwan, and that Jiufen has an abundance of, are grilled Taiwanese Sausages.
These large sausages are made with big chunks of pork, fat, liquor, and spices. These guys are then grilled over charcoal to give them a smoke-y aroma and a nice crisp shell.
Taiwanese Sausages are juicy, meaty, and very oily from all that fat. However they also taste very sweet with might throw some people off, nevertheless it’s a popular street food snack in Taiwan, so I encourage you to try it out.
My girlfriend was skeptical at first but when she tried it she fell in love, and we had Taiwanese Sausages at almost every night market we went to lol.
Jiufen Traditional Fish Balls (Bonus: Glass Noodles and Fried Tofu)
The perfect trio is right here in front of me
One thing that you’ll come across at the Jiufen Old Street are these traditional fish balls. They’re popular in this region and they’re perfect to warm up your body while exploring the cool mountain tops of Jiufen.
There is this one restaurant that we went to called Fishball Bozai and they have a set with 3 of their popular dishes: the fish balls, the glass noodles, and the tofu.
Their glass noodles are served warm with this spicy rich sauce. I definitely recommend these noodles, the dish feels very comforting to to eat.
The tofu was a surprising favorite of mine, it’s like a fried tofu stuffed with more of their fish ball mixture. It’s bouncy, meaty, and topped with that same flavorful spicy sauce.
Up for some Fish Balls anyone?
The fish balls were comforting, slightly bouncy and a little bit flour-heavy. While the flavors are not as intense as the other two dishes, these fish balls are still incredibly delicious.
The price is very cheap too coming in at only 35 NTD per dish, so well worth it, also service is very fast. You order at the front of the shop and then go to your table, as soon as you sit down, the dishes have already arrived.
Looking for Things to Do in Taiwan?
Museum of Marine Biology - Explore the best aquarium in the world in Kenting!
Yehliu Geopark and Jiufen Tour - A day tour through north eastern Taiwan
Taipei 101 Observatory Ticket - Pre-purchase to avoid large crowds and long wait times.
Discounted Tickets - Browse a variety of attractions, tours, and transports all for a great price
Useful Resources for Traveling in Taiwan
Tourism Information - All the information you need when traveling in Taiwan
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