After spending 4 nights in Taipei, we took a little excursion to Jiaoxi in Yilan. It is about an hour away. You can get here using the bus or train. This is one of the most popular areas for hot springs. The hot springs in Jiaoxi are one of the two in the world that contain phenol titanium. This is said to help with beauty and anti-ageing. Jiaoxi is well equipped with hot springs resorts with options for both day trippers or travellers who wish to stay a night or two to luxuriate in the waters. The rather near distance also makes it possible for travellers to come here straight after landing at Taoyuan Airport. I stayed at their sister property Wellspring by Silks Jiaoxi which is more suitable for couples. The Just Sleep is better for families. You can also check out some of the other Silks Hotel Group properties that I stayed at in Taiwan such as Regent Taipei, Silks Place Taroko, Silks Club Kaohsiung and Silks Place Tainan.
Booking Process & Pre Arrival
The Just Sleep Jiaoxi is just around the corner from the train station. It is about a 10-minute stroll away from the bus terminal. The hotel also offers a shuttle to the train station and the bus terminal. It will be better to take the shuttle if you have huge bags. Complimentary parking is offered onsite. Seeing The World In Steps stayed as a guest of Silks Hotel Group. I stayed in their Japanese Deluxe Family Twin Room. Just Sleep Ximending features 138 guest rooms. You can find their breakdown below.
| Rooms | In Room Hot Spring Tub | Room Size |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese Superior | Yes | 23 Sqm |
| Superior | Yes | 23 Sqm |
| Hollywood Twin | Yes | 30 Sqm |
| Japanese Tatami | Yes | 19 Sqm |
| Western Style | Yes | 30 Sqm |
| Japanese Deluxe Family Twin | Yes | 40 Sqm |
Checking In
I arrived at the hotel at around 2pm. We took the 12.30pm bus from Taipei Bus Station. We got some traffic on the way. It took around one hour to reach Jiaoxi. Upon arrival at the bus terminal, we took the hotel shuttle. It was a very short drive from the bus terminal to the hotel. It is within walking distance but not recommended with the weather and your baggage. Do reach out ahead to the hotel to request the shuttle service.
It was rather busy at the hotel when we arrived and there was a slight wait to check-in. The friendly associate then confirm my reservation and provide me with all the information. There was a slight wait for the room as they were putting the finishing touches. We waited by the lounge in the meantime. It is located by the side of the lobby area. This is a communal space for hotel guests. From 1pm to 10pm, guests can enjoy some snacks, coffee and tea here. You can use the space to work or enjoy some takeaway food here.
Japanese Deluxe Family Twin Room
The rooms here are segregated into Japanese style or the Western style. I am staying in room 801, a Japanese-style deluxe Family Twin room on the 8th floor. I got a very special room this time around. We were staying in a Japanese-style guest room. I think this might be my first time staying in such a room. The Deluxe Family Twin Room is good for 4 person and comes with two double beds. This will be great for huge groups. Upon entering, there is a short L-shaped entrance before you enter the main space of the room. All room types here come with your in-room onsen tub. You first enter into the bathroom and onsen area. The first half of the room consists of the bathroom area. It is very spacious. It comes with a gigantic tub that is perfect for both solo or couple soaking.
The TV is designed to be viewed from the tub area. I will share more about this later. Water pressure is good and it doesn’t take too long to fill it up with natural hot springs waters from Jiaoxi. The idea here is to shower before relaxing in the wonders of the hot spring waters. They are said to work wonders on your skin and nerves.
The bathroom area also comes with a standing shower. It is spacious and comes with a handheld showerhead. It can be taken down or mounted on the wall. There is also a pail and bench inside. Toiletries are provided in large pump-size bottles and from Cha Tzu Tang, a local brand from the area. I love the herbal scent.
Moving on, you can find the toilet in a separate room. It is lovely to see that they had installed a Japanese-style bidet toilet. The bathroom comes with a single sink and all sorts of amenities. The hairdryer is here too. I appreciate that they had a little stool here which will come in handy to convert it into a little amenity area.
By the bathroom area, you can also find the minibar. It is well-stocked with all sorts of instant coffee and teas. There is also a kettle here. The fridge is stocked with beverages that you can enjoy. These are complementary and refilled during daily housekeeping.
The bedroom and bathroom area are separated by sliding doors on both sides of the TV. The TV is on the panel in the middle. The panel can be turn to face the bed area or the tub. It allows you to enjoy a casual soak while watching your favourite shows. This is a thoughtful design. The TV is a good size for the room. It comes with a good number of both local and cable TV channels. There is a sitting area in the bedroom.
There are two double beds in the bedroom and nightstands in the middle. It comes with their signature wellspring bed. I love their bedding. You can also customise your sleep experience with a pillow menu. I got some memory foam pillows which offer awesome neck support. Switched for the lights and power outlets are within reach. They even have a USB outlet here.
I love the room! Some of my favourite aspects would be the private onsen and the bed! That mattress was so comfortable. If I had to complain, I felt the air conditioning could be stronger. It can feel warm at times, especially during the summer season. I also got a chance to look at the Western-style Superior Room here.
Superior Room
Outdoor Onsen Pool
The hotel comes with an outdoor onsen pool on the ground floor. It is a lovely space for kids and families to enjoy. It is of a good size and popular among the kids. It is open from 7am to 10pm daily. Besides the main pool itself, there is also a smaller wading pool for kids. It comes with floating duck toys.
Indoor Onsen
This is the main onsen in the hotel. It is a classic one where pools are gender segregated. It is at the basement level. It opens from 7am to 11am and 3pm to 11pm. The nude-only onsen comes with both a cold water pool and a hot water pool. There are also bathing facilities. I am lucky to come here when at a good time to get a picture of the place.
Kids Club
The Kids Club is located on the second floor. It is in operation from 9am to 9pm. Guests can use the exclusive facility to bring their little ones and have fun.
Mihan Jiaoxi Restaurant at Wellspring by Silks
An extension of Mihan Honke of Regent Taipei, Mihan Jiaoxi is a contemporary Japanese restaurant offering authentic Japanese cuisine at Wellspring by Silks. This is a good option if you are looking for something to dine on property. It is just right across the hotel. One of the most popular dishes is the hot pot, made with carefully selected Yilan local fresh seafood and hot spring vegetables. Onsen and Hot Pot is a classic pairing. The restaurant is on the 11th floor and is open for dinner from 5.30pm to 9.10pm.
You can find the menu here. It works in a semi-buffet style. You order a set of hotpots from the menu which comes with the main. In addition to that, they have a gorgeous salad station as well as a dessert bar. Staff service is excellent here and will assist in the cooking.
We went for the Surf and Turf hotpot set. It comes with assorted seafood and a choice of meat as well as carbs. We shared among ourselves and tried the beef as well as the pork. The food is excellent and I had an enjoyable time. The service is very attentive and we paired the meal with Dassai Sake.
At the end of the meal, the staff made a little porridge from the leftover soup which had all the essence from the ingredients we cooked. Last but not least, we went for ice cream from the dessert bar. They had 6 flavours on offer.
Breakfast at Just Cafe
Breakfast is served at Just Cafe. Breakfast service is from 7am to 11am daily. I appreciated the extended hours given that this is a resort place. It can get crowded at later times. It is just in the lounge area beside the lobby. Breakfast costs NT$480+10% for an adult and NT$240+10% for a child if not included in your rate. I was down for breakfast at around 10am. The spread isn’t overly huge but everything looks good.
There are both continental options and hot dishes. We offer salad, fruit, bread, hot porridge, vegetables and some local dishes. Here are some pictures of the breakfast. This is a good place to grab a bite and kick-start your day of travel.
I enjoyed the salad station and the pork bun was very good. Breakfast was quite a treat. Don’t miss it if you have it included.
Conclusion
I have stayed in both Silks Hotel Group properties in Jiaoxi, Yilan. This is a popular spot for enjoying the hot springs. While there are little boutiques resorts and hotels over here, sometimes it is nice to stay with a chain and brand that you are familiar with. The Wellspring by Silks is more marketed towards couples and the Just Sleep is more conducive for families. Both are great and probably the two best properties in the area. I did feel that the air-conditioning is rather weak. I’m not sure if this is specifically designed due to the in-room onsen but it can get rather warm at times, especially during the summer season. I enjoyed the Japanese theme room that I stayed in. The proximity to Taipei makes this place perfect. I will recommend taking the bus here as it is a lot faster. Jiaoxi is great for a night or two.
This was a hosted media stay by Silks Hotel Group, all views expressed are my own
You must be logged in to post a comment.