By MOOK Scenic Spots Editorial Team
There has long been a rumor that the bathhouse in Studio Ghibli’s blockbuster film “Spirited Away” was inspired by Jiufen’s A-Mei Tea House. Although the president of Studio Ghibli later debunked the claim, the similar appearance and atmosphere continue to draw countless domestic and international tourists. Other locations have also gained fame due to these rumors, and below are four rumored filming spots of Spirited Away.
Every rumored filming location of Spirited Away, whether true or not, attracts fans from around the world. (Photo / q318be)
Jiufen
A-Mei Tea House on Shuqi Road in Jiufen Old Street is an iconic teahouse among Jiufen’s many tea establishments. It’s a scenic spot that international travelers long to visit. With different views during the day and at night—especially enchanting when the red lanterns are lit—it’s a place well-known even to many Japanese who haven’t visited Taiwan. Filled with classic charm and the historical ambiance of Jiufen, it’s definitely worth a visit, even if it’s not the actual filming site.
The beauty of A-Mei Tea House at night leaves a deep impression, leading many Japanese to believe Spirited Away was filmed in Jiufen. (Photo / New Taipei City Gold Museum)
Dogo Onsen
Dogo Onsen in Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture, Shikoku, Japan, is world-renowned. It is said to have been in operation for 3,000 years, earning the title of Japan’s oldest hot spring. Many members of the imperial family and historical figures have visited here. The famous author Natsume Sōseki also featured Dogo Onsen in his classic novel “Botchan,” which is why it is affectionately nicknamed “Botchan’s Hot Spring.”
It is also rumored that its architecture served as the prototype for the bathhouse in Spirited Away.
The main building of Dogo Onsen is located in downtown Matsuyama City. Due to the aging wooden structure, seismic reinforcement work is underway, and the second-floor and above rest areas are fully closed. However, the first-floor public baths remain open as usual. (Photo / Ehime Travel)
Yunoshima Onsen
Yamagata Prefecture in northeastern Japan captured the hearts of many Taiwanese through the TV drama “Oshin.” In the city of Nanyō, there is Yunoshima Onsen, a hot spring nestled along the Yunoshima River valley. Once thriving due to silver mining, its wooden, retro-style architecture has also led to rumors that it inspired the design of the bathhouse in Spirited Away. Strolling along the riverbanks offers a tranquil atmosphere, with rows of early Showa to Taisho-period style Western-style wooden inns creating a peaceful and beautiful scene like a hidden paradise.
The “Notoya” ryokan on the hot spring street is said to be the model for the film’s bathhouse, with its four-story wooden irimoya-style structure and the red bridge out front, showing several similarities. (Photo / q318be)
Sarasa Nishijin
SARASA Nishijin, a café near Kyoto’s Senbon Kuramaguchi Station, is a café converted from a traditional Japanese public bathhouse. It retains the original elements and façade of the bathhouse, and its vintage old-house design feels quite unique. The classic traditional exterior is full of nostalgia and often reminds visitors of the bathhouse scenes from Spirited Away.
SARASA Nishijin Café was originally a public bathhouse in Japan and has been transformed into a distinctive old-house-style café. (Photo / SARASA Nishijin)
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