Your ultimate guide to Yilan hot springsThe most complete guide to Yilan's hot springs, including hotels, private baths, public pools, and free options

If you're looking to soak in Yilan's hot springs, you'll find a wide array of public pools, private rooms, and hot spring hotels, and it can be hard to know where to begin. Different areas of Yilan also offer varying water qualities, so which one is right for you? And how do you get to and enjoy Jiaoxi Hot Springs, a destination highly recommended by travel experts? Don't worry, Twosevenths is here to guide you through the unique characteristics of Yilan's hot springs, how to choose the perfect private hot spring room, which Yilan hot springs are most highly rated, and what to keep in mind when you go for a soak. After reading this guide, you'll be ready to embark on a relaxing Yilan hot spring journey!

Your ultimate guide to Yilan hot springs|This is the most complete guide to Yilan's hot springs, including hotels, private baths, public pools, and free options.
01

An Introduction to Yilan Hot Springs

An Introduction to Yilan Hot Springs

Yilan, known as "Hot Spring Country," boasts a rich variety of hot springs. The most famous, Jiaoxi Hot Spring, features clear, bicarbonate-rich water that softens the stratum corneum and moisturizes the skin, earning it the nickname "Beauty Soup" for its skin-enhancing properties.

During summer, the Su'ao Cold Spring, with its water temperature below 22 degrees Celsius, is the top choice for a refreshing soak. Its cool, soothing waters, combined with a high concentration of carbon dioxide that creates playful soda-like bubbles, make for a unique and enjoyable experience.

For those seeking a wilder hot spring adventure with outdoor cooking, the sulfur-rich Geothermal Hot Springs offer a chance to enjoy soaking, cooking, and foot baths amidst the misty steam of the hot spring park.

02

Yilan Hot Spring Areas

Yilan Hot Spring Areas

Yilan's hot springs vary in type and scenery depending on the region, but three areas are most popular with visitors: Jiaoxi Hot Springs, Su'ao Cold Spring, and Datong Geothermal Hot Springs.

Jiaoxi Hot Springs

Jiaoxi Hot Springs is Yilan's most famous hot spring area, renowned for its clear, odorless, moderately warm water, rich in sodium bicarbonate and minerals. It's a "beauty bath" that leaves skin feeling smooth and supple. The Jiaoxi hot spring area offers a wide array of options for soaking, including numerous hot spring hotels, public pools, and private bathhouses.

Jiaoxi Hot Springs is Yilan's most famous hot spring area, renowned for its clea

Su'ao Cold Spring

Su'ao Cold Spring is one of the world's few cold springs. Its low-temperature carbonic acid spring water is crystal clear, colorless, and odorless, making it excellent for cooling down and promoting blood circulation. The Su'ao Cold Spring area features open-air public pools for men and women, private baths, and a well-equipped recreational plaza for visitors to enjoy.

Su'ao Cold Spring is one of the world's few cold springs. Its low-temperature ca

Datong Geothermal Hot Spring

Geothermal hot springs are alkaline, and the water is rich in hydrogen sulfide. Sulfur has antibacterial properties that reduce bacteria and microorganisms on the skin, making it a nourishing spring that helps prevent skin infections and regulate oil secretion. Thanks to its convenient location, visitors can enjoy the fun of cooking their own hot spring eggs, corn, and water bamboo shoots. The hot spring area also offers foot baths, cooling pools, and a local produce sales area, allowing for a variety of hot spring experiences.

Geothermal hot springs are alkaline, and the water is rich in hydrogen sulfide.
03

Top Yilan Hot Spring Hotels

Top Yilan Hot Spring Hotels

If you're looking for a stay that combines accommodation with hot springs, a hot spring hotel is the perfect choice! Offering a one-stop experience that includes lodging, dining, hot springs, and leisure activities, a hot spring hotel is truly the best way to enjoy a complete hot spring getaway.

Hot Spring Hotel Features

  • One-stop service: Staying at a hot spring hotel allows you to enjoy accommodation, hot springs, and gourmet dining all at once. Hotel staff also provide attentive welcome services, ensuring you receive star-level VIP treatment.
  • Exquisite dining: Most hot spring hotels feature high-end restaurants offering both local and international cuisine. Some even provide a "one night, two meals" service, making for a luxurious and enjoyable experience.
  • Hotel-grade facilities: Beyond accommodation and hot springs, most hot spring hotels offer spas, gyms, saunas, and other entertainment facilities to enrich your hot spring vacation.

Jiaoxi|Chuan Tang Spring Hot Spring Hotel

Kawau Spring Hotel is Yilan's first hot spring hotel to combine hot springs and a spa. It currently has two locations, the Flagship and Deyang branches. The Flagship branch boasts over a dozen outdoor open-air hot spring pools, offering more than 30 variations of spring water experiences that can be tailored by temperature, season, or specific needs, making it a renowned, long-standing hot spring hotel in Jiaoxi.

Kawau Spring Hotel is Yilan's first hot spring hotel to combine hot springs and

Jiaoxi|Dau Shui Hot Spring

Dai-Shuei Hot Spring Resort is a new take on Japanese Zen style, built on a minimalist concrete foundation with natural wood and organic interior design. It blends the outdoor scenery with indoor aesthetics to create a tranquil atmosphere. The resort offers a rich selection of themed hot spring rooms, including scenic and open-air options, allowing guests to soak in mountain views and sunrises for a truly relaxing and therapeutic experience.

Dai-Shuei Hot Spring Resort is a new take on Japanese Zen style, built on a mini

Jiaoxi|Donglu Tangsu

Formerly the Jia Bin Zhuang hot spring hotel, Toucheng Leisure Hotel has been renovated to preserve the original venue's half-century-old Chinese window grilles, Japanese lintels, and sloped roof. The new design features a bare concrete main structure, creating an elegant space where old and new eras intertwine. The refined private hot spring rooms feature stone-built baths and misty spring water in a bright, comfortable setting. The venue has won the Agoda Gold Circle Award for three consecutive years, making it a popular choice for travelers seeking a relaxing Jiaoxi hot spring experience.

Formerly the Jia Bin Zhuang hot spring hotel, Toucheng Leisure Hotel has been re

Su'ao|RSL Cold & Hot Springs Resort Suao

The RSL Hotel Suao offers four sizes of private hot spring rooms in Suao Township, Yilan. Each room is private, comfortable, and features a minimalist design, with both natural cold and hot spring water options. This means you can enjoy a refreshing soak in summer or a warming therapy in winter, making it a year-round destination for hot spring relaxation.

The RSL Hotel Suao offers four sizes of private hot spring rooms in Suao Townshi

Dongshan|Architect Hot Spring Resort

Architect's Spring Villa, a domestic travel partner venue in Dongshan Township, Yilan, offers two distinct styles across its A and B buildings. Building A was recognized by Liberty Times as a representative green building for Earth Day, while Building B is a European-style detached villa nestled amidst lush green rice paddies. The mineral-rich hot springs, bright and quiet spaces, and pet-friendly environment make it ideal for families with furry companions seeking a relaxing hot spring getaway. Scenic rooms offer distant views of Guishan Island.

Architect's Spring Villa, a domestic travel partner venue in Dongshan Township,
04

Yilan Hot Spring Bathhouse Recommendations

Yilan Hot Spring Bathhouse Recommendations

Hourly private hot spring rooms offer a secluded and tranquil bathing environment. While prices are higher than public pools, they provide superior hygiene and freedom, perfect for travelers who want to enjoy a nude soak without being exposed to others. For recommendations on the best hot spring rooms to visit, check out this guide to Jiaoxi hot spring rooms.

Hot Spring Room Features

  • Private and Quiet: Private hot spring rooms allow you to enjoy intimate bathing time with family or friends, undisturbed by external factors.
  • Diverse Styles: Hot spring rooms come in a variety of styles. You can choose between a wooden Japanese-style or a modern stone-style pool, depending on your preference. Some rooms even include a resting area, catering to guests who want to lie down and relax after their soak.
  • Hygienic and Convenient: Private hot spring rooms mean you don't have to share the spring with others, and you can adjust the water temperature to your liking, making them both hygienic and convenient.

Jiaoxi|Hot Spring Onion

The artistic and youthful Onion Hot Spring is Jiaoxi's first self-service private hot spring venue. Artists and designers have thoughtfully created a variety of themed hot spring rooms, each with a playful, cute, and youthful vibe that's both therapeutic and photo-worthy. If you're looking for a hot spring experience that's different from the traditional Japanese style, Onion Hot Spring is the perfect choice!

Jiaoxi|Chunshui Ji Hot Spring

Chun Shui Ji Hot Spring is a traditional Japanese-style hot spring venue, featuring the colorless, odorless Jiaoxi hot spring water. Guests can choose from a public nude bath, private couple's rooms, or family rooms. Its affordable prices and friendly service are why many travelers return and recommend it!

Chun Shui Ji Hot Spring is a traditional Japanese-style hot spring venue, featur

Jiaoxi|Four Seasons Hot Spring

Jiaoxi Four Seasons Hot Spring, located next to Chunshui Ji Hot Spring House, offers clean, tranquil Japanese-style hot spring pools. Guests can choose between public nude bathing areas and private hot spring rooms. The hot spring complex also features massage chairs, parent-child play facilities, and a frozen seafood product area for use and purchase, making it a high-value option for public nude bathing.

Jiaoxi Four Seasons Hot Spring, located next to Chunshui Ji Hot Spring House, of

Su'ao|22 Degree Hotel

Located in Su'ao Township, Yilan, "22 Degrees Hotel" is a concrete-style building with highly-praised transparent natural cold springs, where the water temperature hovers around 22℃, making it an excellent choice for a summer soak. The venue offers independent parking spaces with private entrances, similar to a motel, ensuring maximum privacy for guests. Its contemporary Japanese industrial design is simple and comfortable, creating an alternative hot spring experience that blends various accommodation styles.

Located in Su'ao Township, Yilan, "22 Degrees Hotel" is a concrete-style buildin
05

Yilan Public Hot Spring Recommendations

Yilan Public Hot Spring Recommendations

Compared to private hot spring rooms and full-service resorts, public hot spring pools in Yilan offer a more budget-friendly option. Common types include mixed-gender pools where swimsuits are required, as well as gender-separated nude bathing areas. For recommendations on public hot spring pools worth visiting, check out our Jiaoxi Public Hot Spring Pool Guide.

Public Pool Features

  • Affordable Prices: Public pools are more economical, ideal for travelers on a budget.
  • Social Experience: Enjoy soaking with friends, family, and fellow travelers — a great opportunity to meet new people.
  • Additional Facilities: Public pools often feature multiple hot spring pools and extra amenities like saunas, cold plunge pools, and hydrotherapy jets, providing a diverse bathing experience.

Datong|Jhihben Hot Springs

Jiuzize Hot Springs, located within Yilan's Taipingshan National Forest Recreation Area, is home to dreamy pale-blue carbonic springs that visitors have dubbed "Taiwan's Blue Lagoon." The venue features outdoor public pools, separate men's and women's nude bathing areas, Japanese-style wooden bathhouses, and a cooking area. The nearby Jiuzize Trail allows visitors to immerse themselves in the forest, breathe in the phytoncides, and completely relax their mind, body, and soul.

Jiuzize Hot Springs, located within Yilan's Taipingshan National Forest Recreati

Datong|Qingshui Geothermal Park

Qingshui Geothermal Park is nestled in Yilan's Datong Township, a lush green haven where you can enjoy a public hot spring experience. The venue features separate men's and women's pools, requiring swimwear and swim caps for entry. Visitors can rent kimonos and yukatas to fully immerse themselves in the natural beauty, try their hand at hot spring cooking, and enjoy the unique sensation of "fish pedicures." It's the perfect place to unwind in the outdoor hot spring area and soak up the tranquil atmosphere.

Qingshui Geothermal Park is nestled in Yilan's Datong Township, a lush green hav

Nan'ao|Bihou Hot Spring

Bihou Hot Springs, nestled in Yilan's Nanao, is a hidden gem offering stunning mountain views and crystal-clear stream water. The natural sodium bicarbonate springs here are transparent and colorless, with a subtle hint of sulfur. The venue features open-air baths and private family rooms, and at night, with no light pollution, you can immerse yourself in the forest's phytoncides and quietly admire the beauty of the stars.

Bihou Hot Springs, nestled in Yilan's Nanao, is a hidden gem offering stunning m
06

Free Hot Springs in Yilan

Free Hot Springs in Yilan

Beyond hot springs, Jiaoxi in Yilan also offers free outdoor foot baths, perfect for travelers to cool off in the summer heat while exploring the unique venues nearby!

Jiaoxi|Tangweigou Hot Spring Park

Tangweigou Hot Spring Park, also known as "Shaoshuigou," is a hot spring park specially planned by the Yilan County Government. It's well worth a visit, offering public baths for men and women, a Zen-inspired cypress wood bath, a semi-outdoor foot bath, and a hot spring fish spa where tiny fish nibble away dead skin cells.

Tangweigou Hot Spring Park, also known as "Shaoshuigou," is a hot spring park sp

Jiaoxi|Jiaoxi Hot Spring Park

Located at Jiaoxi Transfer Station, this expansive Japanese-style park features a forest bath, separate men's and women's hot springs, free foot baths, and a visitor center where you can rent kimonos. It's like stepping into Kyoto without leaving Taiwan!

Located at Jiaoxi Transfer Station, this expansive Japanese-style park features
07

Hot Spring Etiquette

Hot Spring Etiquette

While hot springs are a safe leisure activity, there are some important tips that beginners should know and experienced bathers should review!

  1. Eat in moderation: Avoid soaking on an empty stomach or immediately after a meal. It's best to wait an hour after eating.
  2. Control water temperature: The water temperature should not be too high; 38°C to 42°C is recommended to avoid scalding your skin.
  3. Optimal time: Do not soak for too long. It is recommended to soak for 15-20 minutes at a time to avoid discomfort.
  4. Stay hydrated: Soaking causes significant sweating and fluid loss, so replenish fluids before and after your soak to prevent dehydration.
  5. Enter slowly: When entering the hot spring pool, adapt to the water temperature gradually to avoid sudden immersion in hot water, which can cause blood pressure fluctuations.
  6. Cleanse your body: Shower and clean your body before entering the hot spring pool to maintain its hygiene.
  7. Avoid wounds: Those with open wounds or skin conditions should avoid soaking to prevent infection or worsening of their condition.
  8. Rest adequately: After soaking, take an appropriate amount of rest and avoid strenuous exercise immediately.
  9. Remove makeup: The heat from the hot spring opens pores. If you wear makeup, pores can easily become clogged, leading to skin problems.
  10. Maintain cleanliness: Public hot spring pools in Taiwan are usually mixed-gender, so you can wear a swimsuit. To maintain the cleanliness of the hot spring, long-haired guests must tie up their hair or wear a swimming cap.
Editor's Note

Final Thoughts

This concludes our Yilan hot spring guide. Twosevenths has compiled information on several Yilan hot spring accommodations, private hot spring rooms, public pools, and free hot springs.

The best way to experience Yilan's wonderful hot springs is to try them yourself! You'll find budget-friendly public pools, secluded and quiet private rooms, and luxurious hot spring hotels. Whether it's the "beauty spring" of Jiaoxi, the refreshing cold springs of Su'ao, or the geothermal sulfur springs where you can enjoy cooking, each offers unique features to satisfy all your hot spring desires. Gather a few friends and come relax in Yilan's hot springs!

For more articles on Yilan hot springs, you can refer to Jiaoxi Private Hot Spring Rooms for Couples, Jiaoxi Public Hot Spring Pools, and Recommended Jiaoxi Hot Spring B&Bs.

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