Seoul(Jongno-gu) , Insadong・Jongnon

Jogyesa Temple is the center of Zen Buddhism in Korea, and is famous for being located in the city. From the busy streets of Jongno, follow the road towards Anguk Subway Station, and you will see Jogyesa Temple. The first thing you will notice at the temple are the lovely trees. These locust trees and baeksong trees in front of the Daeungjeon, the main temple building, are about 500 years old. One locust tree is about 26-meter high, and in the summer, provides a large amount of shade to enhance the mood of the temple. The baeksong tree is designated as a Natural Monument. The Daeungjeon building is a stately building built in 1938. The Dancheong is particularly beautiful with all the different colors painted on it, and inside the building is the statue of Seokgamoni. In front of the Daeungjeon building, you can also see a seven-storey stone pagoda containing Jinsinsari. Jogyesa Temple does not give off the solemn and traditional air of the other temples located deep in the mountains, or offer the seasonal scenery of the mountains and the sea. But because it is located in the middle of the city, the transportation is convenient, and is well connected to the surrounding areas. It is good for tourists on a tight schedule. Along the street around Jogyesa Temple are many Buddhist specialty shops, selling such things as prayer beads, Buddhist writings, incense, as well as souvenirs such as dolls and key chains. If you are interested in Buddhism, these stores may be worth looking around.


Seoul(Jung-gu) , Myeongdong

Heynature is a cosmetics brand that researches, develops, and produces organic cosmetic products using raw and all-natural ingredients that help return vitality and youth to your skin. No artificial scents or color are added, and all ingredients go through rigorous trials and research development before being produced, so you can use it on your skin with peace of mind. Their Myeong-dong and Ehwa Women’s University locations are not franchises, so they are managed directly from the headquarters. They can also now be found at Busan’s Shinsegae Duty-free store and also at Choroc.


5.0/1
Seoul(Gangnam-gu) , Gangnam・Samseongdong(COEX)

Cheongkwanjang Spa G is a spa facility recently launched by Cheongkwanjang, a high quality hongsam (red ginseng) brand of the Korea Ginseng Corporation. The specialized spa programs at Cheongkwanjang Spa G use six-year-old ginseng roots that have gone through rigorous testing and quality management. Spa G consists of five individual hongsam therapy rooms. Guests can receive water massage to stimulate blood circulation at the Hongsam Spa Room, detoxify and provide nourishment to the body through heat and steam treatments and application of red ginseng concentrate at Hunjeungyok, get stress relieving foot massages at Foot Spa Zone, and restore scalp health using red ginseng products at Head Spa Zone. All spa programs require reservations, and spa programs vary from 1 to 6 hours depending on the choice of treatments. The spa is open from 9 am to 11 pm.


Seoul(Jongno-gu) , Insadong・Jongnon

This place maintains the tradition of Jeonju rice with mixed vegetables. You can taste the true flavor of Jeonju rice with mixed vegetables that is world famous for its abundant nutrients. During the weekday from 7 o’clock in the evening, there is a 1-hour concert of Korean classical music. *Best Korean Restaurant as designated by The Seoul Metropolitan Government    


Seoul(Jongno-gu) , Insadong・Jongnon

SM Duty Free opened in Insa-dong, in the center of Seoul, as a new landmark to lead duty free shopping culture. It houses 490 brands and about 60,000 items including premium luxury brands, best sellers of duty free shop, and K-Culture products to attract domestic and international travelers. It offers a wide range of brand selections from Coach, Bally, Etro, Franck Muller, Marc Jacobs, Estee Lauder groups, Sulwhasoo, Whoo, Cheong Kwan Jang and other brands. Also, Hallyu-related goods at Korea Drama Mall and drama filming set, K-Cosmetic Zone, K-Baby Item Zone and Hallyu experience hall are available on the 5th floor for foreign visitors.


Seoul(Gangnam-gu) , Gangnam・Samseongdong(COEX)

Lee's Gimbap, located in Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, mainly serves various gimbap dishes, such as vegetable gimbap, tuna gimbap, mushroom and bulgogi gimbap, and others. To keep its freshness, they give a discount for gimbap that has been sitting for over four hours, otherwise they dispose of it.


5.0/2
Seoul(Jung-gu)

Though the restaurant Nolbumandu’s specialty used to be son-mandu (handmade dumplings), the restaurant is now even more famous for its tasty “jokbal” (glazed pig’s feet), which is by far the most popular item on its menu. The menu also includes tteok-manduguk (dumpling soup with rice cake slices) and several Chinese dishes. This relaxed restaurant is so popular with Seoul’s citizens that during dinnertime customers normally have to wait 30 minutes to be seated, but it’s definitely worth the wait.  


5.0/1
Seoul(Jongno-gu) , Dongdaemun

The Gwangjang Market is the nation’s first market and continues to thrive as a popular tourist destination today. The second floor of the market provides all of your silk, satin, and linen bed-sheet stores, which are the largest and most famous in Seoul. Many of the stores in the area even have their own factories supplying fabrics to the Namdaemun Market, Pyoung Hwa Market, and even to some department stores. Even though the goods are not brand-name products, the wide selection of high quality goods at inexpensive prices makes it an enjoyable shopping experience. 


5.0/1
Seoul(Jongno-gu) , Dongdaemun

                   


Seoul(Yongsan-gu) , Euljiro・Chungmuro・Namsan

Namsan Outdoor Botanical Garden opened its doors on February 18th, 1997 in Hannam-dong, where the residential complex for foreigners once stood before it was demolished in 1994. Covering an area of around 59m2, it is divided into 13 themed gardens with a total 117,132 plants from 269 species. Among this diversity, 60,912 plants from 129 species are tree types and 56,220 plants from 140 species are grass types. The 13 themed gardens include a garden of herbal medicine, apricot trees, wildflowers, royal azaleas, shrubs, commercial plants and a garden for the blind.