Your own private onsen
5 Best Hot-Spring Hotels
in Jiaoxi, Yilan!

Jiaoxi's spring is sodium bicarbonate (碳酸氫鈉泉) — clear, odourless and drinkable, leaving skin noticeably soft after soaking; locals call it "Beauty Water" (美人湯). Beitou's spring is white sulphur — milky, with a faint sulphur scent. Jiaoxi suits anyone who prefers no smell or wants to soak for a long time without irritation. Jiaoxi's water also flows to the surface naturally without pumping, at around 45–52°C.

The fastest and most convenient way is the TRA Puyuma Express or Taroko Express from Taipei Main Station to Jiaoxi Station (礁溪站) — 1 hour 5 minutes for NT$218. Book ahead through the TRA website (available in English), especially on holiday weekends. The Kamalan Bus runs from the Taipei MRT system to Jiaoxi for NT$140, taking around 1 hour 20 minutes depending on traffic. By car via National Freeway No. 5, expect about 1 hour 15 minutes under normal conditions.

Yes — every hotel in this article provides a private in-room mineral-spring bath. Yamagata Kaku, Evergreen Resort, Wellspring by Silks and Just Sleep Jiaoxi all have an in-room onsen bath in every room, no exceptions. Hotel Royal Chiao Hsi has multi-theme outdoor communal pools as its main onsen feature; select room types (Zen Suite, Hot Spring Room, Royal Suite) also have a private in-room or open-air balcony bath — always check the exact room type when you book.

You can soak year-round, but the most enjoyable season is winter (November–February), when the cool air makes a hot mineral soak deeply relaxing — this is peak onsen season, so prices are higher and rooms fill fast; book 4–6 weeks ahead, particularly around Lunar New Year and Golden Week. Spring (March–May) has pleasant weather, fewer crowds than winter and fair prices. Summer onsen visits are comfortable too, since in-room baths let you adjust the temperature yourself.

Jiaoxi's onsen hotels are generally more relaxed about tattoo policies than traditional Japanese onsens. For the private in-room bath at all five hotels in this article, there are no tattoo restrictions since the tub is yours alone. For the gender-separated communal pools (Just Sleep Jiaoxi and Evergreen Resort), policies may vary — contact the hotel directly before booking. Hotel Royal's outdoor pools are shared by all guests; check the current policy directly with the property.

Yes — Jiaoxi has the free Tangweigou Hot Spring Park (湯圍溝溫泉公園) with public foot-soaking pools open all day, and a 24-hour public foot hot spring on Zhongshan Road, both at no charge. Several hotels also offer hourly private soaking-room packages for non-staying guests — enquire directly. That said, the full experience of soaking in your own private in-room sodium bicarbonate bath, taking your time, is far more rewarding than a day-trip rush; one night makes a big difference.