< A place you can enjoy your date, Samcheong-dong Street >

Take the bus 11 at Gwanghwamun Korean Telecom Research Group station to go to Samcheong-dong. It is convenient to take the bus 1711 or 1020 at Kookmin University Main Gate bus stop to get to Gwanghwamun station. There is another way to get to Samcheong-dong. Take the bus 1711 or 1020 and get off at Gyeongbokgung station. Go to Anguk station by subway and go out through exit 1. And keep going straight for 15 minutes by foot. You can easily find a Tour Information Booth around in Samcheong-dong and Bukchon. If you get a map at the booth, it will make the day go by quicker. I would definitely recommend you to get the map if you are new to the area.

< The place you can feel the past and the present at the same time, Samcheong-dong Street >

Samcheong-dong is well known as a beautiful place to date. That is the reason many couples go there. It is the place where you can see many attractions on every corner of the street and visit museums and galleries. Also there are plenty of good food restaurants. Samcheong-dong is centrally located in the city, but it harmonizes with the modern style buildings. You can see high buildings lined up when you look over Samcheong-dong, where small and low buildings are clustered. This harmonious atmosphere makes you feel comfortable. You will be happy to walk around this place. If you want something different, let’s hit the road now.

< The museum that is worth visiting >

‘The Owl Museum’ is a museum with a unique atmosphere that has collected 2000 pieces of handcraft on the theme of owls for 30 years. You can see the works and have a cup of coffee. It is also fun listening to the story of owls by a museum director. Various shapes and kinds of owls are on display everywhere in the museum. The price of admission which includes drinks is 4000 won for students and 5000 won for adults. In designated areas, you can take as many pictures as you want! You are going to see tons of owls you cannot see anywhere else in the world.

< The restaurant that is worth visiting >

Why don’t you have a meal at the place named ‘Snowy Tree House’ which has been popular for 10 years? In Samcheong-dong, you can enjoy delicious and unique food everywhere, but I can tell you that Snowy Tree House’s dishes are way better. This place is a quite old one, so you can see the walls filled with the celebrity’s autographs. Kimchi, which is Korean’s favorite dish is tasty and light here. The best dish in the restaurant is Kimchi noodle soup which has more flavor than normal greasy and rich food. Another dish I would like to tell you about is Korean style ribs. These chewy and tasty ribs have been a favorite for many years. All furniture and architecture are made of wood that can make you feel the unique Korean character and natural mood at the same time. I definitely recommend this delicious restaurant to you.

< A place you can enjoy your date, Bukchon Hanok Village >

Bukchon Hanok Village is one of the best places that you can feel Korean traditional culture in the city of Seoul. Not like museums or folk villages, in Bukchon Hanok Village you can experience living and breathing Korean culture. Bukchon Hanok Village also can be a good date spot, because it is located next to Samcheongdong Walkway, which is very popular for its unique and romantic shops and cafes. Bukchon Hanok Village is between Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung. In the Joseon Dynasty, noble class people lived in this area. Nowadays, residents are still living in Hanok, which has changed a little for modern living. Gahoedong-gil, Gamgodang-gil, Gyedong-gil, Samcheongdong-gil.... It does not matter which way you go first, you will see beautiful Hanok everywhere. And that is why Bukchon is always busy with couples, friends, and tourists. Whenever you visit, the little alleys of Bukchon will lead you to experience Korea’s classic beauty.

< Tips for Traveling to Bukchon Hanok Village, Finding Bukchon’s 8 Views >

If you walk on Gyedong-gil straight from Exit 3 of Anguk Station, you will see Bukchon Traditional Culture Center. Don’t forget getting guidebooks and maps there, and start your Bukchon Hanok Village tour. Don’t just look around without a goal; let’s try to find all of Bukchon’s 8 views. Finding the 8 views one by one can add more fun to your tour. The left bottom photo is the 1st of the 8 views, Changdeokgung. Changdeokgung was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1997, and it is a great start for your Bukchon Tour. Bukchon’s 5th and 6th views are the very spots where you can appreciate the beauty of Hanok. On both sides of the tiny alley, Hanok buildings are lined up. Also, because it is located on a hill, you can look down to the city of Seoul. The most popular of the 8 views is the 8th view. It may look like common stairs, but after you hear about how it is made, you will be amazed, because the stairs are carved from one giant piece of granite!

Samcheong-dong and Bukchon are places that are near the school, but ones we rarely visit. In this situation, I could say “The beacon does not shine on its own base”. Galleries, museums, the Hanok building, unique stores and restaurants are all gathered in one place! It is safe to say that Samcheong-dong and Bukchon is a fine place to visit alone too. So get out from under the blanket and tour these places and enjoy the end of winter! The first step on the road to new experience in that place will make a day more valuable. The only things you need are a camera and an appetite.