Ximending On A Rainy Day – 18 Indoor Things To Do Guide

Ximending is excellent for rainy days in Taipei – from souvenir shopping to Korean style photo booths, there are lots of rainy day activities in Ximending to suit all ages and budgets.

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Featuring the anime and sneaker shops of the Wannian Building to the artisan gifts found in the historic Red House, Ximending is shopping central on a rainy day and one of Taipei’s best shopping districts.

If gifts and souvenirs aren’t your (shopping bag), Ximending has many other things to do on a rainy day from cinemas to craft beer bars, cat cafes to claw machines.

Here is our ultimate guide to Taipei rainy day activities in Ximending.

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How to get to Ximending

To reach Ximending the best MRT station to alight from is Ximen MRT. You can take the blue line (Bannan) or the green line (Songshan-Xindian) to get here.

From Taipei Main Station to Ximen MRT, it is only a 2 minute journey on the Metro.

Alternatively, take the bus to Ximen Market Station – bus number 18, 1503, 221, 232, 235, 257, 513, 621. 635, 637, 640, 663, 783, 799 and 835.

Also check Google Maps or the official Go! Taipei Metro app to see which is the quickest and best route for you.

Taiwanderers Tip

Grab a Taiwan EasyCard as a convenient way to use buses and public transport in Taipei and across Taiwan. They can be easily topped up at stations and convenience stores.

Read more about how to use a Taiwan EasyCard, including how to top up >


You might like – the cutest EasyCard designs in Taiwan >


Best indoor things to do in Ximending on a rainy day

1. Korean photo booths

Our first thing to do in Ximending on a rainy day is suitable for families or (big) kids of all ages – time to take a super-cute selfie in a Korean style photo booth.

Cut Cut

In recent years, these photo booth stores have popped up in lots of vacant Ximending buildings that closed down during the COVID pandemic. On our last count, there were around 20 or so Korean photo booth shops in Ximending including Cut Cut, Snapshot and Kr4cut.

Plan B Studio Subway korean photo booth inn Ximending Taipei on a rainy day
Plan B Studio

We recently visited Taiwan’s very first subway style photo booth located at Plan B Studio in Ximending. It has several themed photo areas including a laundry, tunnel and elevator sets.

Plan B Studio Subway korean photo booth inn Ximending Taipei on a rainy day
Plan B Studio

We opted for the subway Korean photo booth as it seemed the most fun. Four images cost us NT$300 (prices correct as of October 2024) and it is a unique souvenir from Taiwan, plus a great way to escape the rain in Ximending.

Plan B Studio Subway korean photo booth inn Ximending Taipei on a rainy day
Plan B Studio
Plan B Studio laundry  korean photo booth inn Ximending Taipei on a rainy day
Plan B Studio

Taiwan checklist

We love using agoda.com and booking.com for researching and booking all our hotels, and Hostelworld for booking hostels.

For booking tours, transfers and SIM cards we recommend Get Your GuideViator, KK Day or Klook.

2. The Red House

One of Taipei’s most iconic buildings located in Ximending, the Red House is a beautiful old building that has served many purposes over the years since it opened in 1908.

From awesome artisan crafts to pop-up shops and cute cafes, there are many things to do at the Red House on rainy days.

Red House in Ximending Taipei on a rainy day

Whilst shopping heaven in the daytime, Red House reinvents itself at night with an array of LBGTQ+ bars opening in the courtyard (all of which have covered terraces outdoors).

From crafts to clothing, bars to brownies, here is our ultimate guide to Red House Taipei >

Red House in Ximending Taipei on a rainy day

Check out our Taipei neighbourhoods guides:
Beitou >
Dihua Street and Dadaocheng >
Tamsui >
Xinyi >
Zhongshan >

Also check out our guide to the best neighbourhoods in Taipei >

3. Pop Mart

Rain or shine, Pop Mart Ximen’s four storey flagship store is one of Taipei’s top toy shops for cool collectibles and a bevy of blind boxes.

One of Ximending’s newest attractions for 2024 and a cool collectible toy shop in Taipei, Pop Mart Ximen spans four floors and even has an exhibition space, VIP lounge and recording studio (not to mention thousands of blind boxes and collectibles).

pop mart in Ximending Taipei on a rainy day

When Pop Mart Ximen first opened in late December 2023, people queued around the block to get in and check out all the exclusive merchandise and opening offers plus see the magnificent MEGA SPACE MOLLY showcase.

Even the exterior looks the part, with vintage movie theater vibes inside and out. From the Pop Mart range to a floor by floor overview, here is our ultimate guide to Pop Mart Ximen Mega / flagship store in Taipei, Taiwan in 2024 (with photos) >

pop mart in Ximending Taipei on a rainy day

4. Modern Toilet Ximending

If the weather is ‘sh*t’ and it is raining like p*ss, make some Modern Toilet time in Taiwan.

Taipei has many unusual things to do including many bizarre, gimmicky and quirky themed restaurants that are popular with young locals and tourists.

modern toilet in Ximending Taipei on a rainy day

The Modern Toilet is a bathroom themed chain restaurant that has branches in Ximending and Shilen – the restaurant interior is kitted out like an interior of a bathroom, with wall tiles decorated with poo shaped cartoon characters.

The toilet themed food here is a mix of Italian and Asian cuisine – and surprisingly, it isn’t too crap (although it literally looks like it might be).

‘Flushed’ with success, Modern Toilet restaurants will celebrate their 20th anniversary this year in 2024. Check out our full guide to eating in Modern Toilet Taiwan restaurant here >

modern toilet in Ximending Taipei on a rainy day

5. Wannian Building

A maze of market stalls and small independent shops, the Wannian Building is your go to place for gachapon stores galore, retro clothing, sublime sneakers and collectibles.

Wannian Building in Ximending Taipei on a rainy day

Spread over several levels with a cheap food court in the basement, the Wannian Building is a good place to geek out on a rainy day in Ximending.

There are amusement arcades, a huge collection of claw machines plus an entertainment center (Tom’s World’s on level 5) – you could spend hours here (and a lot of loose change) sheltered from the Taipei rain and bad weather.

Wannian Building in Ximending Taipei on a rainy day
Wannian Building in Ximending Taipei on a rainy day

When we last visited Ximen’s Wannian building in October 2024, the basement food court was also bustling with teppanyaki stalls, tonkatsu and various BBQ and sizzling plate joints. It smells delicious and is pretty cheap compared to some other Ximending restaurants.

Wannian Building in Ximending Taipei on a rainy day

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6. Fashion Shopping – UNIQLO & NET

If you are staying in Ximending or fancy some new clothes after getting wet in the rain (treat yo self in Taipei), there are a few big brand fashion stores in Ximending plus dozens of independent clothes shops – seriously, it feels like every other shop in Ximen sells funky, colorful shops.

uniqlo in Ximending Taipei on a rainy day

Ximen’s Uniqlo store has six storeys of fashion – in addition to the usual Uniqlo high quality clothing like thermals, winter jackets and wet weather gear, the Ximen Uniqlo also has a special top floor with a personalized clothing section (‘UTme!) where you can create your own t-shirt designs and tote bags.

uniqlo in Ximending Taipei on a rainy day

Alternatively, head to NET in Ximending, a famous Taiwanese fashion chain with over 140 stores nationwide.

This is one of the most popular clothes stores in Ximen with three floors of fashion and it is pretty cheap – it reminds us of GAP or UNIQLO but less expensive!


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7. Don Don Donki Ximending

Japan’s most joyful discount store is now open 24/7 in Taipei – so whether it rains in the day or in Taipei by night, Don Don Donki has you covered – and yes, they sell very cheap umbrellas too!

Originally known as Don Quijote in Japan where it has dozens of stores all over the country, Don Don Donki (as it is branded in Taiwan) opened their first Taiwan store in Ximending in 2021.

Located over several stories including a big fresh food area (with lots of Japanese food like takoyaki and sashimi / sushi), DON DON DONKI Ximen Store is a great place for late night shopping in Taipei.

On the top floors, there are also several restaurants including a Korean fried chicken place.


8. Shelter in Starbucks Ximending

Whilst we aren’t saying this is the best coffee shop in Ximending, the Starbucks branch here is HUGE inside and located in one of the most historic buildings in the Wanhua District.

It is also nice to grab a table in the big upstairs bay windows and look out over the busy streets below, rain and all.

starbucks ximending taipei

And if you are a collector of Starbucks cups, they have a huge range of Taiwan / Taipei branded Starbucks mugs, some exclusive to the Ximending branch.

starbucks ximending taipei

If you prefer a more unique cafe experience, check out our guide to Taiwan’s highest coffee shop atop Taipei 101, Simple Kaffa Sola >


9. Ximending Movie Cinema Street (Wuchang Street)

You (probably) didn’t come to Taipei to watch movies but on a rainy day in Ximending, you could always catch up with the latest movie release.

Most Taipei cinemas show western movies in their original English format (with Mandarin subtitles) plus many cinemas also serve beer and popcorn – cheers!

There are around 15 cinemas in the area including epic IMAX screens, but the biggest concentration can be found here along Ximending movie theater street (Wuchang Street).


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10. Themed 7-Eleven stores

We talked about the famous themed Taiwan 7-Elevens in great detail here – there are over 100 themed 7-Elevens in Taiwan featuring characters like Snoopy, Mofusand, Ultraman and Pokemon.

Ximending is home to the famous Hello Kitty 7-Eleven stores (read about them here including Google Map links) plus the Lay’s Potato Chips themed 7-Eleven.

These are both open 24 hours a day plus stock lots of wet weather ponchos and umbrellas – they also have seating areas  should you want to sit down and escape the rain.

You might like our guide to 7-Eleven bars in Taiwan or 14 reasons why 7-Elevens in Taiwan are the best in the world.


11. FuFu Cat Cafe

‘Feline’ like a fun rainy day activity in Ximending?

Taipei only has a handful of cat cafes (plus the odd capybara cafe or alpaca cafe) – the best known cat cafe and pussy parlor to visit in Ximending is the FUFU Cat Cafe, which opened in 2017.

Very good value compared to other cat cafes, FUFU Cat Cafe charges $50 NTD per 10 minutes or $500 NTD for 100 minutes which includes a drink (unlike other cat cafes, you don’t have to purchase a drink if you don’t want to).

Other snacks (human and cat treats) can be bought additionally – this is a purrfect way to escape the rain in Ximending.


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12. Souvenir shopping

Whilst you might consider a rainy day in Taipei a waste, you could always put it to good use and stock up on unusual and unique souvenirs.

Although there are lots of great Taipei malls, the concentration of gift shops in Ximending is so high that it is quite easy to walk from store to store without getting too wet (plus many streets have covered awnings above the shops).

In Ximending, browse all the independent stalls (some are rather whacky!) or famous fashion stores like ABC Mart.

Although Ximending sometimes has a reputation for tacky gift-shops, there are some really nice stores showcasing Taiwanese artists and creators – so many cute cartoon stickers and magnets are available.

Souvenir shopping in Ximending Taipei

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13. Eslite – two Ximending branches

Eslite is epic! If you are shopping in Taiwan or looking for unique Taiwanese souvenirs, one of your best bets is the Eslite Taiwan chain of bookshops, stationery stores and department malls – there are two branches of Eslite in Ximending.

Some of the most beautiful bookshops you’ll find in Taiwan (and across Asia), Eslite (誠品) is one your one stop shop for unique gifts, cute collectibles and travel reading.

From some of the best Eslite bookstores in Taiwan to the famous 24 hour Eslite in Taipei, here is our ultimate guide to Eslite Taiwan >


14. Gachapons galore / claw machines and amusements

Taipei (and Ximending in particular) has numerous gaming arcades which stay open until late.

From gachapon shops to the UFO / claw machine arcade machines, you are never far from gaming action in Ximending.

Although many claim the UFO machines are rigged, it is still a fun way to potentially win some prizes whilst the weather is wet and to stay dry – there are such arcades all over Taipei but Ximending seems to have the highest concentration.


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15. Ximending’s Tattoo Street

If you want a more lasting unusual souvenir from Taipei, you could always head to Tattoo Street in Ximending.

There are several tattoo shops located in one covered lane, all of which have tattoo ‘menu boards’ outside. Apparently Kevin Tattoo shop is famous in Taiwan and has featured on Taiwanese TV programmes.

On our last visit, one tattoo shop was proving particularly popular as it had a rather cool cat out front drawing attention from passers by – it doesn’t seem to mind the rain in Ximending either!


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16. Ximending Craft Beer Bars

‘Ganbei’ to the Taipei craft beer scene and Taiwan brewery bars If you don’t fancy shopping or arcades in Ximending, why not head to one of Ximending’s pubs or craft beer bars.

From beautiful beer taprooms like Taihu Brewing to Taipei craft beer bars in historic buildings, there is much to enjoy whilst exploring Taipei’s best bars and pubs.

Taipei Driftwood Bar

Given Ximending is Taipei’s main entertainment and night-time neighborhood and popular with tourists, it is no surprise there is a surfeit of pubs, clubs and craft beer bars to enjoy.

One of our favorites is the Taihu Brewing Driftwood Bar, located on the ground floor of the Papa Whale Hotel.

A curious concoction of craft beer and kitsch decor, Taipei Driftwood Bar in Ximen is kind of like having a beer on a tropical island, with tiki-inspired interiors and hop-tastic Hawaiian themes.

The fact the craft beer choice here is so good is just a bonus. So forget about your wet weather worries and drink some seriously good craft beer in Ximending.

You might like our guide to Taipei’s best craft beer bars and breweries >

Taipei Driftwood Bar

Try this – Taipei pub crawl or Taipei nightlife tour


17. Sit down restaurants

Most of the famous food places in Ximending (like Ay-Chung Flour Rice Noodle) are mainly takeaway restaurants so it doesn’t help you to escape the Taipei rain in Ximending.

Whilst not Taiwanese, two of the largest restaurants in Ximending that have ample indoor seating are Sushiro and Saizeriya.

Sushiro is a famous Japanese conveyor belt restaurant known for its inexpensive sushi, sashimi and fish fishes – plates on the conveyor belt start from as little as NT$40. Be prepared to queue during busy periods as it is very popular with families in Ximending.

Sushiro Ximending Taipei
Sushiro

Another option popular with the local Taiwanese youth is Saizeriya located between UNIQLO and Pop Mart – this serves very cheap Italian food like pizzas for NT$130 and pasta dishes for around $120 upwards.

Alcohol is also very cheap like NT$70 for a large Taiwan Beer plus unlimited soft drinks for NT$40 – the food isn’t amazing but it is OK if you want a sit down meal and escape the rain or fancy a break from dumplings and noodles etc.

Again, just to state we aren’t saying these are fine dining or in any way comparable to Taiwanese food or Taiwan night markets but that they have huge indoor seating areas and inexpensive food, which are ideal for a rainy day. Otherwise, stick with tasty Taiwanese food stalls!

Saizeriya Ximending Taipei
Saizeriya

Our final Ximending rainy day activity

18. Taipei Tianhou Temple

Dedicated to Mazu, the Goddess of Mercy, the Taipei Tianhou temple is one of the most beautiful temples in Ximen, albeit quite small inside. Be sure to leave your umbrella outside when it is raining.

Taipei Tianhou Temple

You’ll usually witness a steady stream of worshippers paying their respects plus red lanterns hanging from the ceiling plus plastic animals like an elephant.

The Taipei Tianhou Temple attracts many many Japanese visitors as it enshrines the Japanese Buddhist Grand Master Kobo-Daishi and is the only such temple in Taiwan.

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