Gangneung from the Sunrise Train Station to Solhyang Arboretum and Gyeongpodae: A Four-Season Nature Walk via Jeongdongjin Station, Sandglass Park and Gangmun Beach
A day that begins with sunrise at the train station closest to the sea and fills up on phytoncides from a thousand-year-old forest of Geumgang pines
Comparison table at a glance
| Place | Scenery theme | Admission | Recommended time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jeongdongjin Station | Train station & East Sea | Small entry fee (included for train passengers) | Clear sea views from just after sunrise to 10 a.m. |
| Sandglass Park | Beach park & sculpture | Free | A coastal walk right after visiting Jeongdongjin Station |
| Gangneung Solhyang Arboretum | Healing forest of Geumgang pines | Free | Forest bathing in cool shade, 1–4 p.m. |
| Gyeongpodae Pavilion & Gangmun Beach | Pavilion, lake and beach | Free | Lake and seaside walks in sunset light, 4 p.m. to evening |
1. White Sea Foam Breaking Right in Front of the Platform: Jeongdongjin Station & Sandglass Park
Listed by Guinness World Records as 'the station closest to the sea in the world,' Jeongdongjin Station holds a surreal view in which the blue waves of the East Sea break into white foam just a few meters beyond the tracks. Get off the KTX at Jeongdongjin Station, or buy a platform ticket and sit on a bench beneath the seaside pines, and the romance of crashing waves mingling with train horns will sweep over you.
Leave the station and walk south along the coastal promenade to reach Sandglass Park, home to a giant sandglass more than 8 m in diameter. The golden sculpture, designed so that its sand takes one year to run through, is surrounded by well-kept coastal pine groves and lawns, making for a wonderfully refreshing walk in the sea breeze.
Jeongdongjin Station · Photo: IR 스튜디오 · Korea Tourism Organization · KOGL Type 1
Yeohaenggak editor's tip KTX-Eum, ITX-Maeum and Nuriro trains run directly between Gangneung Station and Jeongdongjin Station, so even car-free travelers can easily fit this in as a morning course.
2. A Secret Garden of Thousand-Year-Old Geumgang Pines Hidden in a Seaside City: Gangneung Solhyang Arboretum
If you thought Gangneung was all about the sea, Gangneung Solhyang Arboretum, on the slopes of Chilseongsan Mountain in Gujeong-myeon, delivers a pleasant twist. Created by preserving a stand of the red, straight Geumgang pines (Chunyangmok) that have long symbolized Gangneung, this arboretum is landscaped to such a high standard that it's hard to believe both admission and parking are free.
Walk the Thousand-Year Forest Path, with trees soaring as if to pierce the sky, and the primeval-forest trails beside clear valley streams, and the rich scent of pine seeps deep into your lungs. Come here in the afternoon, when the strong seaside sun can easily wear you out, and you can experience perfect forest healing in the cool shade.
Gangneung Solhyang Arboretum · Photo: Korea Tourism Organization · KOGL Type 1
Yeohaenggak editor's tip It's only a short detour inland on the way from Jeongdongjin up to downtown Gangneung (Chodang, Gyeongpo), so it's the ideal next stop after a morning at Jeongdongjin.
3. The Pavilion Where Five Moons Rise and an Emerald Beach: Gyeongpodae & Gangmun Beach
Once you've cleared your head in the forest, it's time to head in the late afternoon to the Gyeongpo area, the heart of Gangneung. Climb Gyeongpodae Pavilion, ranked first among the Eight Scenic Views of Gwandong, and a layered landscape unfolds in which the calm, mirror-like Gyeongpo Lake, the coastal pine windbreak beyond it and the East Sea overlap in a single frame.
Come down from Gyeongpodae and cross the channel where Gyeongpo Lake meets the sea, and you'll find Gangmun Beach, lined with charming photo spots and ocean-view cafés. As an old verse about Gyeongpodae says, the moon rises in the sky, the sea, the lake, a wine cup and the eyes of your beloved—so end the day with an evening walk on Gangmun Beach as the sunset fades and the streetlights come on.
Gyeongpodae Pavilion · Photo: 김지호 · Korea Tourism Organization · KOGL Type 1
Yeohaenggak editor's tip Gyeongpodae Pavilion stands on a hill west of Gyeongpo Lake, not on the sandy beach, so when searching in your navigation app, distinguish between 'Gyeongpo Beach' and 'Gyeongpodae (pavilion).'
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Q. Can regular tourists who aren't taking a train enter the platform at Jeongdongjin Station?
Yes. If you buy a visitor's entry ticket (KRW 1,000) at the ticket office, you can enter the platform inside Jeongdongjin Station and the beachside pine photo zone even without a train ticket.
Q. Is Gangneung Solhyang Arboretum suitable for walks with a stroller or with parents?
Barrier-free wooden deck paths are well laid out on gentle grades from the entrance to the main garden sections, so it's very well suited to family walks with strollers or older relatives.
Q. Where should we eat on a day linking Jeongdongjin, Solhyang Arboretum and Gyeongpodae?
After Jeongdongjin in the morning, pair Terarosa Coffee Factory (the Gujeong-myeon flagship) with Solhyang Arboretum, then head to Chodang Sundubu Village, known for its soft tofu, for a late lunch or early dinner before strolling Gyeongpodae and Gangmun Beach for a perfect route.
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