A Quiet Winter Walk at Tongdosa Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Korea
#TongdosaTemple #WinterTempleTrip #MupunghansongTrail #YangsanTravel #GyeongnamAttractions #UNESCOKorea
Hello, this is Hidori 😊
On a quiet late weekend afternoon, I decided to take a peaceful walk and headed to Tongdosa Temple.
Since the timing felt a bit awkward, I thought,
“It should be pretty quiet, right?”
Well… I was wrong.
There were far more visitors than expected.
Once again, it reminded me why Tongdosa is loved in every season.
📌 Tongdosa Temple Visitor Information
Admission Fee
- Adults: 3,000 KRW
- Teenagers: 1,500 KRW
- Children: 1,000 KRW
Opening Hours
- 6:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Parking
- Free parking at the external outdoor parking lot
- Parking inside the temple grounds:
- Compact cars: 1,000 KRW
- Small cars: 2,000 KRW
- Large vehicles: 3,500 KRW
👉 Personally, I highly recommend parking outside and walking in.
🚶♂️ Start Your Visit with the Mupunghansong Trail
Instead of driving into the temple, leave your car outside and walk along the Mupunghansong Trail.
This trail is:
- 🏆 Winner of the 2018 National Beautiful Forest Award (Grand Prize)
- A healing path lined with tall, old pine trees
- Filled with the calming scent of pine throughout the walk
Even in winter, clear stream water flows beside the trail.
The contrast between thin ice, transparent water, and quiet pine trees creates a surprisingly refreshing atmosphere.
These old pines offer:
- Cool shade in summer
- A soft, comforting landscape in winter
Trees you can’t help but feel grateful for.
☕ A Different Side of Tongdosa
It had been years since my last visit, and I noticed quite a few changes.
Along the path, you’ll find:
- Small pavilions to rest
- Quiet seating areas overlooking the stream
- And yes… a café inside the temple
I expected only traditional herbal tea,
so seeing Americano coffee on the menu made me smile.
A coffee inside a temple—times really have changed. ☕😄
If you walk in, you’ll also spot inscriptions carved into the rocks along the stream.
These little discoveries make the walk even more enjoyable.
🏛 Tongdosa Temple: A UNESCO World Heritage Site
Tongdosa was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2018.
This visit was my first in over five years.
As recorded in Samguk Yusa, Tongdosa has welcomed countless monks and pilgrims over centuries.
That deep history is still visible throughout the grounds.
The first structure you encounter is Chongnim Gate,
a symbolic entrance marking the beginning of the temple.
Nearby, you’ll notice:
- Cheonhadaejanggun & Jihayeojanggun guardian totems
Interestingly, this is one of the few places in Tongdosa where Chinese characters are clearly visible.
🖼 Seonbo Museum & Iljumun Gate
The Tongdosa Seonbo Museum houses:
- Buddhist cultural artifacts
- National and regional treasures
- Around 40,000 historical items
It’s especially known for its Buddhist paintings, with over 600 works.
Unfortunately, it was closed on the day I visited.
Next comes Iljumun Gate,
whose signboard is said to have been written by Heungseon Daewongun himself.
If you enter by car, you cross this bridge quickly—but on foot, you can truly take in the scenery.
🕯 Cheonwangmun Gate & the Four Heavenly Kings
Walking past rows of lanterns, you’ll reach Cheonwangmun Gate.
The Four Heavenly Kings are believed to:
- Protect the temple
- Ward off evil spirits
- Purify one’s mind
Every time I visit a temple, I naturally put my hands together in prayer here.
Passing this gate always makes my heart feel lighter.
🏯 Geungnakbojeon, Daeungjeon & Wishes for the New Year
Geungnakbojeon Hall, a Gyeongnam Tangible Cultural Asset,
feels like a doorway leading toward peace—just as its name suggests.
Nearby, under a white tent, visitors could:
- Make a donation
- Receive a zodiac wish tag
- Hang their wishes for the new year
Soon, red plum blossoms will bloom here,
creating one of Tongdosa’s most beautiful seasonal scenes.
🌿 My Favorite Path in Tongdosa
Near the temple kitchen area lies my favorite spot:
a quiet stone wall path.
It’s peaceful, with mountains and a stream in view—
a perfect place to sit and rest.
Climbing toward the Sajamok Five-Story Stone Pagoda,
I placed a small stone on a tower and made a wish:
“Please let this year be filled with health, good work, and smooth days.”
🌅 Tongdosa at Sunset
By the time I finished my walk, the sunset had wrapped the temple in warm colors.
Stepping away from crowded city streets and spending time in such a quiet place
helped clear my mind more than I expected.
If you’re looking for a winter temple trip in Korea,
I truly recommend visiting Tongdosa Temple.
And if you go—
don’t miss walking the Mupunghansong Trail.
This was Hidori 😊
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