Wonmisan Mountain Azalea Festival

Azalea flower is purple flower which usually bloom on early April in Korea.

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Wonmisan Mountain Azalea Festival is held on April 7-9 this year. Beside Wonmisan, there are other Azalea Festival such as Yeongchwisan Azalea Festival (Yeosu, early April) and Goryeosan Mountain Azalea Festival (Incheon, late April).

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Not only purple Azalea, yellow Forthysia also blooms around the mountain make it more colorful.

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If you walk around, they have a pretty bridge, a good spot for you to take good picture. Meanwhile if you reach the peak, you can see Bucheon Stadium from above.

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[HowToGetThere]

  • Take subway to Bucheon Stadium Station (Line 7), take exit 2
  • Walk straight for around 500 m, just afer you pass the stadium you will see sign “The Azale Garden” (photo below), that’s the entrance of the festival

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*more info

If you miss Wonmisan Mountain Azalea Festival, you still have a chance to visit Goryeosan Mountain Azalea Festival by joining daily tour Trazy!

Click here  Travel with Trazy

visited on April 7th, 2017

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Jinhae (2017 updated)

Everyone knows that Jinhae city is the most beautiful place in Korea for seeing cherry blossom. It’s super recommended for travellers who come to Korea during late March until April 1st week to visit this city. Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival itself held between April 1 – 10 everyear. Why it’s so pretty? The whole entire is city is PINK as cherry blossom grows everywhere.

Gyeonghwa Station

Gyonghwa Station is used to be train station where cherry blossoms trees grow along the rail way. They also put the real train during Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival to make it more beautiful.

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If you are a photographer and like to take perfect picture, you can come to this place at the dawn and use long exposure when it’s still dark. I arrived at 5.15am in the morning and took some best shots.

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Yeojwacheon Stream

The 2nd must visited place after Gyeonghwa Station when you are in Jinhae is Yeojwacheon Stream where you can see the cherry blossom tree along the stream for about 1 km long.

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Jinhae Inland Water Ecopark

At the end of Yeojwacheon Stream, they have a park with small lake called Jinhae Inland Water Ecopark.

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Jinhae Naval Base Command

You ca also take a stroll to the left side of Yeojwacheon stream (5 mins walking) to visit the Jinhae Naval Base Command area where you can also see chery blossoms

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Jinhae District Office

Jinhae is a perfect place to explore cherry blossom spot as the whole city has it. I went to the Jinhae District Office area, 30 mins away from Yeojwacheon or 20 mins away from Gyeonghwa Station by bus 307. They have cherry blossom trees around the area.

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Just next to the district office, there is a way uphill where you will find baseball court,

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If you keep walking uphill you will see a pink hill, full of cherry blossom

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Wood Culture Experience Centre (목재문화체험장)

Keep walking from Jinhae district office and take the left way in the intersection to visit the Wood Culture Experience Centre.

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Jinhae Dream Park

My cherry blossom adventure is not finished yet as I explore the Jinhae Dream Park and the surrounding, next to the culture centre to take some best photos.

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Photoshoot in Jinhae

Jinhae is also perfect place to take photoshoot, beauty shoot, couple shoot, even prewedding photos

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Are you ready to explore Jinhae city?

I already wrote the detailed direction, tips and itenerary of Jinhae trip in my previous post. You can click here

visited on April 4th, 2017

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Gurye Sansuyu Village

Sansuyu flower is the second to bloom when spring comes to Korea. Sansuyu has yellow color with unique form.

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The Sansuyu Village is located in the entrance of Jirisan Mountain, one of the most famous mountain in southern part of Korea.

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The flower usually starts to bloom on 2nd week of March and get its peak on 3rd week of March every year as they also held annual festival. In 2017, the festival is held from March 18-26. The best time to visit is March 20-25 before rain and wind blow the flower petals.

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They also build brown woody pathway along the village to accommodate guests walking and enjoying the sansuyu flowers which bloom along the way

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In this village, they have a small river where all the sansuyu flowers bloom along the stream.

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The most highlight thing from my trip was photo session with our lovely Monica wearing white dress and flower crown.

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It’s quite complicated to reach this place as I recommend you to take daily tour from some agency departing from Seoul such as trazy, wemakeprice, etc. But if you wish to travel alone, here’s the information.

[HowToGetThere]

  • Take direct bus from Seoul Nambu Bus Terminal to Gurye Bus Terminal for about 4 hours.
  • Take local bus heading to Jungdong from Gurye Bus Terminal and get off at Jirisan Hot Spring bus stop.

[Tips]

  • Check the official website or recent photos on instagram before you visit, every year the condition is different. The best time to visit os March 20-25
  • Visit on weekday and early in the morning to avoid crowd.
  • If you wish to travel with daily tour from Seoul, reserve some weeks in advance because it’s gonna be sold out so fast.
  • Wear clothes whose color is contrast to yellow so you look better in photos.

*more info 

visited on March 22th, 2017

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Jinhae, the best place for Cherry Blossom in Korea

Jinhae is the best, the most beautiful place to visit when Cherry Blossom blooms in Korea. It is because the whole city of Jinhae is PINK between March 20th – April 10th. They also held the annual festival on April 1-10 where people from all over Korea gather here. That’s why some people said that during the festival you can see people more than Cherry Blossom flowers in Jinhae lol.

I went there last year on March 30-31, 2016 before the festival started to avoid people (since I dont want people’s head ruin my photos). I’m gonna give you recommended itinerary and tips for 2 DAYS and 1 NIGHT trip in Jinhae.

Day 1 . Yeojwacheon Stream, Light Festival, Jjimjilbang Stay

The best way to get to Jinhae from Seoul is taking DIRECT BUS, since taking KTX (even though it can be faster)is quite confusing since you will get off in other city, and transfer taking bus to Jinhae.

The direct bus is from Seoul Nambu Bus Terminal to Jinhae Bus Terminal, takes you 4,5 hours and cost 26.100 won. They have direct bus for 13 times a days, start from 07.00, 08.20, 09.50 …. 20.00, 23.10 (Tip : book early, up to 1 month before, especially if you want to travel during the festival). You can reserve the bus ticket (GO and BACK) through this website https://txbus.t-money.co.kr or https://www.bustago.or.kr (korean only).

Yeojwacheon Stream (Romance Bridge)

Yeojwacheon Stream is one of the main spot for Cherry Blossom in Jinhae. It’s truely a stream with a little of water between the beautiful brown bridge and Cherry Blossom trees are grown along the stream. During the spring festival, usually they also decorate the stream with umbrella, and also LEDs which on at the night.

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As you arrive in the bus terminal, you can just walk (15 mins) or taking bus number 760 for 9 mins to the first spot, called Yeojwacheon Stream. Here’s the direction

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  • The bus ride is only 14 mins, 4 bus stops away
  • GET ON the BUS 760 or 160 at the bus stop accros the Jinhae Bus Terminal. The bus station is called Inedongjongjeom Bus Stop (6330064)
  • GET OFF at JinhaeYeok Bus Stop (519804)

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Yeojwacheon Stream Light Festival

Time gonna flies so fast as you see the miracle of pink flowers there. But it’s not over yet since after you grab some dinner you can enjoy the magical colorful light festival, combined with the warm pink flowers.

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Jjimjilbang Stay

If you plan for 2 DAYS 1 NIGHT trip, you can sleep over at hotel, motel or jjimjilbang around the festival area, but I prefer jjimjilbang as a local traveller (10.000won).

There are many jimjilbang around the area festival, but the nearest is Oasis Jjimjilbang, 15mins walking from Kyeonghwa Station, the 2nd Cherry Blossom Festival Place. Here’s the direction

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  • The bus ride is only 23 mins, 9 bus stops away
  • GET ON the bus no. 307, 315-1, 315-2 from Jinhae Yeok bus stop ACCROS Jinhae Station (look at the map below, left side)
  • GET OFF at Kyeonghwa Station bus stop. (Kyeonghwa Station, the 2nd festival place, just in front of you, but if you wish to stay over, you can follow the map below
  • (right side) to Oasis Jjimjilbang which is around 15 mins walking.

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Day 2. Kyeonghwa Station, Back to Seoul

Kyeonghwa Station

Kyeonghwa Station is the other best spot for Cherry Blossom. This place is a train station which still operates, where the Cherry Blossom trees are all over the station area, especially between the rail road which is so amazingly pretty.

Last time I stayed in Oasis Jjimjilbang and left to Kyeonghwa early in the morning at 6am to be able to take best show when there’s still no people.

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KakaoTalk_20170316_161546368KakaoTalk_20170316_161546666IMG_4292Back to Seoul

You can go back to seoul by the same direct bus, BUT do not forget to BUY IN ADVANCE as soon as you arrive in the Jinhae Bus Terminal

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  • The bus ride is only 23 mins, 14 bus stops away
  • GET ON the bus no. 307, 315-1, 315-2 from Kyeonghwa Station bus stop JUST IN FRONT OF the main gate of Kyeonghwa Station (look at the map below, left)
  • GET OFF at Namwon Rotary bus stop and walk to bus terminal for 5 mins, follow the map below (right side).

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[Tips]

  • Visit Jinhae 1-2 days BEFORE the festival starts. The best date to go is March 29th-31th if you wish to visit when there are less people. Do not worry that you wont see the flowers, since the Cherry Blossom usualy already reached the peak by March 30th.
  • Reserve the bus ticket (ONE WAY or ROUNDTRIP) from Seoul Nambu to Jinhae Bus Terminal as EARLIEST as possible (1 month before is better), using this link *click here (Korean only)
  • If you don’t want to reserve through online, buy the bus ticket BACK TO SEOUL as soon as you arrive in Jinhae Bus Terminal or you wont get it,  especially during the festival
  • Bring camera, tripod, selfie stick, wear clothes which is not pink or white (so you will look better on camera)
  • Get ready to just walk to the festival area if you visit during festival since the traffic is so bad.

[Recommended Itinerary]

Day 1

  • 9.50 Leave from Seoul Nambu Buss Terminal
  • 14.10 Arrive at Jinhae Bus Terminal
  • 14.20 Take bus no 760/160, going to Yeojwacheon Stream
  • 14.30 – 17.30 Yeojwacheon Stream
  • 17.30 – 18.30 Dinner
  • 18.30 – 20.00 Yeonjwacheon Stream Light Festival
  • 20.15 Going to Wangja MokTang Jjimjilbang, sleep over

Day 2

  • 8.00 Leave the Jjimjilbang, going to Kyeonghwa Station (walking 10 mins)
  • 8.15 Arrive at Kyeonghwa Station
  • 8.15 – 10.15 Kyeonghwa Station
  • 10.15 Going back to Jinhae Bus Terminal
  • 11.00 Going back to Seoul

*more info

visited on March 30th, 2016

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November Highlight

Say Hi to November from #rufustory featuring #wowkorea! Early November is the prettiest moment throughout the year when the maple trees are hitting the peak and starting to amaze you.

Here is top 4 destinations for you to spend the beautfiful colorful autumn in Korea.

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1. Gyeongbokgung (경복궁)

You can find the hidden beauty of magical autumn season in Seoul inside the palaces in Seoul. First, the biggest palace in the middle of Seoul City, Gyeongbokgung. Located in Subway Line 3 Gyeongbokgung Station Exit 5.  *moreinfo

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2. Changdeokgung (창덕궁)

Changdeokgung is another story of the autumn in Seoul. Just located next to Gyeongbokgung (1km away), you can see such amazingly colorful scenery in the this palace which is famous as secret garden longtime ago. Located in Subway Line 3 Anguk Station Exit 3.  *more info

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3. Deoksugung (덕수궁)

Deoksugung is also famous for its autumn trees which are combined with the magical stone wall. You can also go to a cafe in 13th floor of the building on the left side of Deoksugung to see the colorful scenery from above (free admission). The best time to visit the 3 palaces in Seoul is October 28 – November 5. *more info

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4. Naejangsan (내장산)

3 hours ride from Seoul will be more than worthied when you can witness the best, the most beautiful, the most colorful, the super amazing view of autumn season in Naejangsan National Park. As far as you can see, you will just see colorful maple trees which makes you even wanna stay for the whole week there. The best time to visit this place is November 8 – November 15. Located in Subway Line 1 and Line 4 City Hall Exit 2. *moreinfo

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Incheon Grand Park (인천대공원)

I managed to visit Incheon Grand Park again this autumn, and for earlier time when the foliage .almost reached the peak (80%). Here I want to update some recent photos to give you brief look how it looks like recently.

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My prediction, the peak is ongoing until November 5, but you can still see it until November 15 at least.

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[HowToGetThere]

  • Take subway to Songnae Station (Line 1), and get out from Exit 1.
  • Just in front of the station, you can see the bus stop. Take bus no. 103, 16-1, 909 and get off at Incheon Grand Park.

[Tips]

  • Come early in the morning to get the sunlight come through the tunnel as well as avoid many people pass by to take better pictures.
  • Take picture on the lake first when the sun is still low
  • Use the maximum zoom (any camera or phone) when you take picture of the tunnel to make “blur effect” for the further part of the tunnel.

*more info

visited on October 23rd, 2016, 11am

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Incheon Grand Park (인천대공원)

Incheon also offers you a magical view of Autumn in Korea in Incheon Grand Park which hit the peak on late October annually (Oct 20-30). In this urban natural park, you can see thousands autumn trees which delight your eyes even from the main entrance.

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They also have a mini lake in the centre of the park, surrounded by the colorful autumn trees.

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The best time to visit this park is at 7am when you still can see the sun which is still low and there are not many people yet so you can take good pictures in the main spot.

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The main spot of Incheon Grand Park is the “Autumn Tree Tunnel” (단풍터널) which can be described only with one word : AMAZING. This place looks like a tunnel or a cave because the autumn trees were placed on both side along the road and the leaves meet above.

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As I arrived early in the morning, the sun was still low and the sunlight came through the leaves and branches making the view was even more beautiful

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Just beside the lake, you can also have another good spot as they put many rocks where you can sit while enjoy the lake view.

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[HowToGetThere]

  • Take subway to Songnae Station (Line 1), and get out from Exit 1.
  • Just in front of the station, you can see the bus stop. Take bus no. 103, 16-1, 909 and get off at Incheon Grand Park.

[Tips]

  • Come early in the morning to get the sunlight come through the tunnel as well as avoid many people pass by to take better pictures.
  • Take picture on the lake first when the sun is still low
  • Use the maximum zoom (any camera or phone) when you take picture of the tunnel to make “blur effect” for the further part of the tunnel.

*more info

visited on November 4th, 2015, 8am

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