Top 5 Greenhouse Gardens, Hot Springs, and Kiln Saunas to Melt Away the Midwinter Cold: Sejong National Arboretum, Suwon's Irwol Arboretum, a Chuncheon Kiln Sauna, Yeongju Hot Springs, and Gapyeong's Ihwawon
Green tropical greenhouses where you can take off your coat even in sub-zero winds, plus healing in toasty oak-firewood kiln saunas and hot springs
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SejonggakSejong Special Self-Governing City
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SuwongakSuwon, Gyeonggi-do
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ChuncheongakChuncheon, Gangwon State
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YeongjugakYeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do
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GapyeonggakGapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do
Comparison table at a glance
| City and spot | Healing category | Indoor temperature and setting | Winter food to pair |
|---|---|---|---|
| Namuhyanggi Kiln Sauna, Chuncheon | Traditional oak-firewood kiln sauna | Toasty red-clay kiln steam bath | Suyuk at Gyeonggang Makguksu & Gomok bakery café |
| Yeongju Hot Spring Tourist Hotel | Natural hot spring & lodging | Hot spring sauna with soft water | Punggi ginseng galbitang & Yeongju Cheongjeong Hanwoo |
| Sejong National Arboretum | Giant Four Seasons Exhibition Greenhouse | Tropical and Mediterranean greenhouses at 18–25°C year-round | Restorative meals at Sejong Jangeo Daega & Bau Garden |
| Suwon's Irwol Arboretum | Mediterranean exhibition greenhouse | Indoor garden with warm sunlight | Kkungnyau rice noodles on Haengnidan-gil & Kolseu Coffee |
| Ihwawon on Gapyeong's Jara Island | Greenhouse garden blending East and West | Indoor botanical garden with coffee and yuzu trees | Namiseom Kkokko Chuncheon Dakgalbi & jjamppong at Guseonggak |
1. A Winter of Surrendering to Firewood Heat and Hot Spring Water: Chuncheon's Namuhyanggi Kiln Sauna & Yeongju Hot Spring Tourist Hotel
On a winter day when the cold wind numbs your fingertips, the most primal yet surest happiness lies in a hot kiln sauna or hot spring. Chuncheon's Namuhyanggi Kiln Sauna is where a body chilled from walking Nami Island or the Gongjicheon lakeside thaws in the gentle heat of oak firewood. Sweat it out in the red-clay kiln and sip cool sikhye (sweet rice punch), and the fatigue of winter travel melts away like snow.
On a winter trip to Yeongju to see the snowy scenery of Sobaeksan and Buseoksa, Yeongju Hot Spring Tourist Hotel becomes a reliable refuge. After warming up in the hot spring water, recharge with grilled Yeongju Hanwoo beef or ginseng galbitang amid the aroma of ginseng at Punggi Ginseng Market.
Namuhyanggi Hanjeungmak · Photo: Korea Tourism Organization · KOGL Type 1
Yeohaenggak editor's tip In winter the sun sets early, around 5 p.m., so the perfect route is to finish outdoor sightseeing between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. and head to a kiln sauna or hot spring after 4 p.m.
2. The Mediterranean in Midwinter, No Heavy Puffer Required: Sejong National Arboretum & Suwon's Irwol Arboretum
For families or couples hesitant about winter outings, arboretums with giant glass greenhouses are the best destinations. Step into the Four Seasons Exhibition Greenhouse at Sejong National Arboretum, and green palms, ferns, and showy winter-themed flowers make the sub-zero temperatures outside seem beside the point, with air so mild you'd be warm in short sleeves.
In the capital area, the exhibition greenhouse at Suwon's Irwol Arboretum is likewise warmed by winter sunlight streaming through its glass ceiling. Take bright winter photos among green Mediterranean plants, then head to Haengnidan-gil and fill up on piping-hot Thai rice noodle soup at Kkungnyau's Haenggung branch for a day trip with no worries about the cold.
Sejong National Arboretum · Photo: 김용훈 · Korea Tourism Organization · KOGL Type 1
Yeohaenggak editor's tip It can be too hot to walk around large greenhouses in your outerwear, so layer thin, easy-to-remove innerwear or use the lockers at the greenhouse entrance.
3. A Botanical Garden That Warms Jara Island's Winter: Gapyeong's Ihwawon
On a winter trip to Gapyeong, the cozy oasis where you can escape Jara Island's cold river wind is Ihwawon (二和園), the greenhouse botanical garden at the entrance to Seodo on Jara Island. Plants from East and West, North and South, including coffee trees from Brazil, olive trees from Israel, yuzu trees from Goheung, Korea, and tea trees from Hadong, show off their year-round green inside two large greenhouses.
After your greenhouse stroll, grill dakgalbi on a hot iron griddle at Namiseom Kkokko Chuncheon Dakgalbi or warm up with the spicy jjamppong broth at Guseonggak, then spend a winter night at the cozy BROOK5 or The Stay Hotel.
Jarasum Ihwawon · Photo: Korea Tourism Organization · KOGL Type 1
Yeohaenggak editor's tip Gapyeong's Ihwawon and Chuncheon's Namuhyanggi Kiln Sauna both lie along the Gyeongchun Line corridor, making them great to combine into a 2-day, 1-night winter Bukhangang course.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Q. During winter vacation with kids, which indoor courses pair well besides greenhouse arboretums?
Pairing the National Children's Museum (Sejong) right next to Sejong National Arboretum, or Daegu National Museum and the Yangnyeongsi Museum of Oriental Medicine (Daegu) near Daegu Arboretum, makes for a winter-vacation learning trip where no one feels the cold at all.
Q. Can I get to Chuncheon's Namuhyanggi Kiln Sauna by public transportation?
You can get there by taxi from downtown Chuncheon (Chuncheon Station, Namchuncheon Station), so even car-free travelers arriving on the ITX-Cheongchun can take a taxi there after a walk along Gongjicheon.
Q. Are there destinations where I can see flowers outdoors even in midwinter?
To see clusters of red camellias outdoors in the depths of winter, December to February, head to Camellia Hill and Hueree Natural Park on Jeju Island, or Odongdo Island in Yeosu.
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