Wonju, Korea: A Guide To The Area
Looking for a fun day trip from Seoul? This weekend is a good time to travel to Wonju if you ask me. About an hour and a half to two and a half hours away with multiple museums, hiking trails, and suspension bridges to visit, as well as the grand Wonju Market, Wonju is a great place to visit near(ish) Seoul. It’s one of the best places to take a daytrip to from Seoul. Here are the best things to do in Wonju.
Plan your daytrip to Wonju:
- How To Get To Wonju
- What To Know About Wonju
- Where To Stay In Wonju
- Things To Do In Wonju
- Where To Eat In Wonju
How To Get To Wonju
By Bus: From Seoul Express Bus Terminal, you can get a bus to Wonju that takes about an hour and a half.
By Train: You can get a train from Cheongnyangni Station to Wonju Station which takes around 45 minutes.
Drive: Wonju is one of those areas that has a city center but most of what you want to see is outside around it so driving, renting a car for a road trip, or joining a tour is a good idea here. Check out car rental options on Klook.
What To Know About Wonju
There is a lot to explore in Wonju from historical to cultural and to natural. To the east of Wonju is Chiaksan Mountain range with Birobong, Hyangnobong, and Namdaebong peaks. Wonju is a great place for hiking and features a great suspension bridge to check out too. To the west of Wonju is Seomgang River. Wonju is also known as the origin of Hanji, traditional Korean paper. Though traditional Hanji manufacturing in Wonju faced a crisis due to the western import of mass-produced paper, local Hanji craftsmen are still working to share the culture and history of their local area.
Where To Stay In Wonju
If you want to plan more than a daytrip to Wonju, here are some good places to look into staying.
The Finland Pension
The Finland Pension in Wonju is a quaint cabin rental in a beautiful surrounding. In the summer you can swim in their swimming pools and in the winters you can enjoy the snow that falls in the area. There is Wifi and BBQ facilities. This is a great stay if you just want to get away and be surrounded by nature.
Book a stay here on Agoda.com
Hotel Ippda
If you want more of a hotel/motel type stay, then check into Hotel Ippda. Just a 5 minute walk from AK Plaza Wonju, this stay is more in downtown Wonju with plenty to do. The rooms are chic and comfortable and the staff is helpful with local recommendations for where to eat if you need them.
Book a stay here on Booking.com or on Agoda.com
Things To Do In Wonju
Hanji Theme Park (한지테마파크)
Hanji has a fascinating history and you can learn all about it in Wonju. The Hanji Theme Park is a culture space to learn about traditional Korean printing methods and Hanji. They have a lot of interesting and cool art pieces, as well as short classes where you make souvenirs to take home with you. The staff are very friendly and encourage you to explore as many open rooms as possible. There’s a lot to learn here and do, so take your time and experience the history of traditional Korean paper made by hand-processing the bark of mulberry trees.
If you’re interested in Hanji, Wonju hosts the Wonju Hanji Festival each May in the theme park and it’s beautiful.
- Address: 151 Hanjigongwon-gil, Wonju-si, Gangwon-do (강원 원주시 한지공원길 151)
- By bus: Take the Wonju Express Terminal for an hour and a half. The Seoul Express Terminal is the best way to get there which is another hour and a half ride.
- Days: Closed Monday, January 1st, Korean New Year’s Day, and Korean Thanksgiving Day
- Hours: 9:00am ~ 6:00pm. Art shop and Experience Room Lunchtime: 12:00pm ~ 1:00pm
- Admission: Free
- Experiential Programs: The cost of the various programs ranges from W2,000 to W15,000
- Website: Hanji Theme Park
Sogeumsan Suspension Bridge Trail (소금산 출렁다리)
Be prepared to hike for this suspension bridge. One of the main attractions in Wonju, the Sogeumsan Suspension Bridge is 200 meters across and 100 meters above the ground. After a grueling hike upwards (We went in the summer so it probably wouldn’t be as grueling in a cooler season.), you can tread across the Sogeumsan Suspension Bridge. There’s a resting area as well, with the newly made suspension bridge in sight.
Another half-hour trip will have you reach its elongated form. It’s a slow but bizarre and exhilarating path across the long blue trail. Make sure to take a picture before you walk across. There’s another half-hour walk down before you can reach the bottom. If it’s a very humid day, expect to become a sweat monster. At least there are refreshments at the bottom.
- Address: 26 Sogeumsan-gil, Wonju-si, Gangwon-do (강원도 원주시 지정면 소금산길 12)
- By Bus: Take the Bus by Samsan Station, then ride for 53 minutes (26 stops) until you reach Wol-Un. It’s a 15-minute walk from there.
- Days: Note that the suspension bridge is closed the first and third Monday of every month, the day of Seollal (Lunar New Year’s Day) & Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving Day)
- Special note: The whole round trip is 5.3 kilometers, so be ready to hike
Museum San (뮤지엄 산)
Museum San, in Wonju, Korea is an intriguing museum that you don’t want to miss. It was created by Japanese architect Tadao Ando. He constructed it as a love letter to architecture and its beauty of it. You can spot it like a sore thumb with the red arch that juts out from the front. It has very unique architecture and design, so if you have the time, go check it out.
There are both temporary and permanent exhibits that will knock your socks off. There’s the paper gallery where hair ornaments and maps made of paper that feels like animal skin are located. There are also five exhibits by James Turrell. There’s one called Wedgework, which uses projected light that mimics the sight of walls; Ganzfeld, which deploys light that eliminates depth perception. There’s also, Skyspace, Horizon Room, and Space Division, which involves viewing the sky through a wall or ceiling.
- Address: 260 Oakvalley 2-gil, Jijeong-myeon, Wonju-si, Gangwon-do (강원도 원주시 정지면 오크밸리2길 260)
- Hours: 10:00am ~ 6:00pm
- Days: Tuesday ~ Sunday
- Admission: Basic Museum Ticket: Adults: W18,000; Students W10,000; Preschoolers: FREE; Basic Museum Ticket + the James Turrell Exhibit: Adults: W28,000; Students: W18,000; Preschoolers cannot enter the James Turrell Exhibit; Basic Museum Ticket + Meditation Ticket: Adults: W28,000; Students: W18,000; Preschoolers cannot enter the Meditation Hall. Entrance to all three: Adults: W38,000
- Website: Museum San
Wonju Rail Park (원주레일파크)
The Wonju Rail Park is a fun course that goes from old Ganhyeon Station to Pandae Station. The course is downhill so you can appreciate the views as you coast along. There are 6 tunnels to pass through with LED lights and fun scenery. The vivid scenery will make it unforgettable as you chug along the track. Railbikes are a great way to get some movement in your day and see something fun. Especially great if you’ve got kids in our experience.
- Address: 163 Ganhyeon-ro, Jijeong-myeon, Wonju-si, Gangwon-do (강원 원주시 지정면 간현로 163)
- Hours: March – November: 9:30am ~ 4:30pm; November – February: 10:00am ~ 3:40pm
- Admission: Two person rail bike: W38,000; Four person rail bike: W48,000
- Days: Monday ~ Sunday (year-round)
Sogeumsan Grand Valley (소금산그랜드밸리)
Located at the point where the waters from the Seomgang River and Samsancheon River merge, you’ll find the Sogeumsan Grand Valley, also called the Ganhyeon Tourist Attraction. The scenery is stunning and peaceful to visit any time of year. It leads towards the hike up to the suspension bridges and has a lot of local vendors where you can enjoy refreshing beverages and delicious foods. Stop here on your way up or down from the bridges to get a snack, hydrate, and relax.
- Address: 12 Sogeumsan-gil, Jijeong-myeon, Wonju-si, Gangwon-do (강원 원주시 지정면 소금산길 12)
- Days: Note that the area is closed the first and third Monday of every month, the day of Seollal (Lunar New Year’s Day) & Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving Day)
- Hours: 9:00am ~ 6:00pm
- Admission: Adults: W9,000; Children: W5,000
Where To Eat In Wonju
Wonju does have a couple of specific dishes they’re known for and if you want to try those, here’s what to look out for:
- Ppongnip Hwangtae Bap (mulberry leaf and dried pollack rice): This dish is served with rice cooked with organic mulberry leaves and dried pollack. The dish is served with fresh herbs and natural ingredients from the area and has a rich and savory taste.
- Boksunga Bulgogi (peach marinated bulgogi): This bulgogi is marinated with peaches grown in the Chiaksan Mountain region. This is one of the most popular dishes in Wonju so if you see it, try it!
Wonju Jungang Market (원주중앙시장)
Ever wanted to visit a market with both authentic Korean foods and items as well as foreign foods cooked expertly? Then you definitely want to check out the Jungang Market. Generally when traveling around Korea, when we’re not quite sure where to eat, a local market is our best bet. You’re bound to find something delicious.
The first floor of the Jungang Market is littered with unique delicacies that are majorly exclusive to Korea. You’ll find buckets of different types of food, Korean donuts both sweet and savory, while also acting as a base for a sandwich, and even potato pancakes. Upstairs is filled with cute stores that sell a plethora of items, as well as foreign shops that sell delectable food. A lot of places only take cash, so make sure to have some on you in case something catches your eye.
A warning to donut fans, however. If you come upon a donut display with a donut that appears to be filled with jelly and whipped cream—take a closer look. You may notice that it is actually coleslaw and ketchup, not what you think it is. There are many other sweet or savory items that will either be right up your alley or worth talking about on your social media page.
- Address: 6 Jungangsijang-gil, Wonju-si, Gangwon-do (강원도 원주시 중앙시장길 6)
- Directions: From Seoul Express Bus Terminal take a bus to Wonju Bus Terminal. Then take bus No. 3 from the bus stop across the street and get off at Jungang Market Bus Stop.
Ready to plan a trip to Wonju? Have fun!
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