A gold-mining town, briefly
Jiufen boomed during a gold rush under Japanese colonial rule in the early 20th century, then faded into a quiet backwater once the mines closed in the 1970s. Its dense, stacked streets and teahouses survived largely because there was little economic reason to redevelop them — which is exactly what makes the town feel so atmospheric today. Tourism revived it from the 1990s onward, following a wave of interest sparked by a well-known Taiwanese film shot partly on location there.
The Spirited Away question
Jiufen is widely marketed as the inspiration for the bathhouse in Studio Ghibli's Spirited Away, and the resemblance between its lantern-strung stairways and the film's setting is strikingly close. Studio Ghibli has never confirmed this directly, and Hayao Miyazaki has stated in interviews that the film's setting isn't based on any single real place. Whether or not it was a direct inspiration, the association has become part of Jiufen's identity regardless — worth knowing before you arrive expecting an officially confirmed movie location.
Old Street
Jiufen Old Street (Jishan Street) is the town's narrow, covered main artery, lined with food stalls, souvenir shops and snack vendors. It's properly atmospheric in the early morning or after the day-trip crowds thin out, and can be near-impossible to move through comfortably at midday in peak season. Try the taro balls (a local specialty, served in a sweet syrup), and the fish ball soup sold along the street.
The hillside teahouses
The multi-story wooden teahouses stacked up the hillside, overlooking the coastline, are Jiufen's other main draw. A pot of tea and a seat by the window with a sea view is the classic Jiufen experience — expect to pay a bit more than you would for tea elsewhere in Taiwan, but the setting is the point. Some of the most photographed lantern-lit alleyways sit right at the entrances to these teahouses, particularly striking after dusk.
The lantern-lit look everyone photographs is best after dusk, but that's also peak tour-bus departure time, when the narrow streets get seriously congested with people trying to leave. If you can, stay for dinner and let the first wave of buses clear before you head to the bus stop yourself.
Avoiding the worst crowds
Jiufen is consistently one of the most crowded day-trip destinations near Taipei, particularly on weekends and around midday when multiple tour buses arrive at once. Arriving before 10am or after 4pm meaningfully improves the experience; the narrow streets simply can't comfortably absorb the volume of visitors that arrives between late morning and mid-afternoon on a busy day.
Getting there
| Direct bus | Bus 1062 runs directly from Taipei's Zhongxiao Fuxing MRT Station to Jiufen, roughly 60–90 minutes depending on traffic — the simplest option for most visitors. |
|---|---|
| Train + local bus/taxi | Take a train to Ruifang Station, then a short local bus or taxi up to Jiufen — useful if you're combining Jiufen with Pingxi or Shifen, which share the same Ruifang transfer point. |
| Organized tour | Widely available, often bundled with Yehliu Geopark or Shifen — worth it if you'd rather not manage transfers yourself. |
Pairing Jiufen with another stop
Jiufen pairs naturally with Yehliu Geopark on the coast (both are commonly combined into a single north-coast day tour), or with Pingxi and Shifen, since both routes pass through Ruifang. Trying to fit all three into one day is possible but rushed; two is a more comfortable pace.
Frequently asked questions
Is Jiufen worth visiting?
Yes, particularly for the hillside teahouses and lantern-lit evening atmosphere — but go with realistic expectations about crowds, especially at midday and on weekends.
Is Jiufen actually the inspiration for Spirited Away?
It's widely marketed that way, but Studio Ghibli has never officially confirmed it, and Miyazaki has said the film isn't based on one specific real place.
How long should I spend in Jiufen?
Half a day is enough to walk Old Street and sit at a teahouse. A full day allows a more relaxed pace or pairing with a second nearby stop.