Yangyang

Yangyang (양양) is in Gangwon. It is a name of a small town and of a bigger county of which it is the capital. It used to be an unpopular tourist destination compared to Sokcho and Gangneung, but it became famous for surfing and now attracts about 15.22 million tourists a year. Yangyang is an area famous for its beautiful beaches and natural scenery. It is where the southern and eastern coasts meet, and the clear and clean sea stands out. In Yangyang, you can enjoy various beach activities such as bathing and surfing. Also, Naksansa Temple, a famous tourist attraction, is located in Yangyang and gives tourists a good experience.

Understand

Yangyang is a small coastal town (population: 28,000 in 2022) and a county in the very north east of South Korea in Gangwon province. In the east, there are beaches, ports, and ports as it faces the east coast. In the west, there are many mountainous areas such as Hangaryeong Pass and Seoraksan Mountain.

Information

Yangyang General Passenger Terminal Tourist Information Center ☏ +82 033-670-2397~8, It provides various tourism information about Yangyang-gun.

History

The original place name was 'Yangju' from Goryeo to the early Joseon Dynasty. However, during the reign of King Taejong of the Joseon Dynasty, most of the villages whose names end in 'Ju' were changed to 'Yangyang' as they were ordered to change their names to 'Yang', 'Cheon', and 'San'. Located in the middle of the Taebaek Mountains, which form the backbone of the Korean Peninsula, it connects Seoraksan Mountain in Yeong-dong, Gangwon-do to the East Sea, making it the "Sunrise Town" as it is.

Townships
  • Ganghyun-myeon (강현면)
  • Yangyang-eup (양양읍)
  • Seo-myeon (서면)
  • Sonyang-myeon (손양면)
  • Hyunbuk-myeon (현북면)
  • Hyunnam-myeon (현남면)

Climate

Yangyang has a similar climate to Gangneung in the south. The Taebaek Mountains are blocked to the west, and the East Sea is bordered to the east, so the cold northwest wind crosses the Taebaek Mountains in winter, making the climate warmer than the west coast of the same latitude, and cooler than the west of the Taebaek Mountains in summer.

Yangyang's annual average temperature is 10 degrees, which is said to be higher than the annual average temperature in Gangwon-do. Yangyang-gun's annual precipitation is 1,557mm, which is more than the average precipitation in Gangwon-do. The maximum temperature in summer is 25 degrees, and the minimum temperature in winter is -4 degrees.

Yangyang
Climate chart (explanation)
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
 
122
 
 
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Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation+Snow totals in mm
Data from Yangyang's official page
Imperial conversion
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
 
4.8
 
 
46
33
 
 
 
2.1
 
 
48
32
 
 
 
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56
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1.3
 
 
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0
 
 
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49
 
 
 
0.5
 
 
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0
 
 
44
30
Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation+Snow totals in inches

Get in

By plane

By bus

A number of buses leave from Seoul Express Bus Terminal daily, headed for Yangyang or Sokcho. Travel time on the tickets says 2 hours, but 3½-4 hours is more realistic (depending on traffic and weather conditions).

When buying a return ticket, this paper ticket might work only for the Seoul/Yangyang leg. Before departure back to Seoul, the ticket would then need to be exchanged at Yangyang Intercity Bus Terminal. (August 2020)

There are a few local buses (Line 9) that make the trip between the Yangyang bus station and the Naksan beach area, but they leave infrequently. A taxi ride for that trip takes around 5 minutes and costs around ₩8,000. (August 2020).

By car

1. Yangyang Expressway (2 hours and 10 minutes)

You will arrive at Yangyang from Seoul via Chuncheon.

2. Yeongdong Expressway (2 hours and 30 minutes)

You will arrive at Yangyang from Seoul via Gangneung.

By train

There is no train station in Yangyang, so you have to get off at Gangneung Station and move.

You can get off at Gangneung Station KTX and get on at Seoul Station, Cheongnyangni Station, and Sangbong Station. (₩26,000-30,000/ May 2023)

It takes about two hours, and you need to use a bus or taxi to move to Yangyang after getting off at Gangneung Station.

From Gangneung Station to Yangyang:

  • Bus: There is no bus that goes at once, so you have to transfer and it takes at least 1 hour and 30 minutes.
  • Taxi: Travels about half an hour.

Get around

By taxi
  • Foreign tourism taxi, ☏ +82 033-670-2397. 10:00-17:00 (Reception time). Yangyang-gun operates foreign tourist taxis. Up to four people can take a taxi. You can apply online or at the tourist information center at Yangyang General Passenger Terminal. ₩20,000 for 3 hours of use, ₩15,000₩ per hour of additional time. (updated Oct 2023)

See
  • 🌍 Naksansa (낙산사), ☏ +82 33-672-2448. every day 06:00 - 17:30 - Entrance/Pet is not allowed until 17:30 (No moving place, no dog car). Possibly the main draw of Yangyang besides the ocean. Beautiful temple area with both mountain and ocean views. ₩4,000 entry fee. (updated Aug 2020)
  • 🌍 Naksan Beach (낙산해수욕장), 59, Haemaji-gil, Ganghyeon-myeon, ☏ +82 033-670-2518. Yangyang's main beach with swimming opportunities and parasol rental. Located 16 kilometers south of Sokcho (束草), it is considered one of the most popular beaches in the East Coast region along with Gyeongpodae Beach. It has a 4-km white sand beach against a dense pine forest, and Namdaecheon Stream flowing from 雪嶽 Mountain forms a large lake in the estuary, which is also rich in fresh water. As the water depth is around 1.5m to 70m off the coast, it is safe and has been booming since it opened as a beach in 1963. (updated Dec 2023)
  • 🌍 Hajodae Beach (하조대해수욕장), Hyeonbuk-myeon 강원 양양군 현북면, ☏ +82 033-672-5647. A 1.5-km-long beach with fine, white sand. It is a famous spot for snorkeling in Yangyang. It is 1.5km long, 100m wide, 7,562.5㎡ wide, and 0.5 to 1.5m deep, 12km south of Yangyang-gun and 1km north of the 38th parallel. Behind the beach, pine forests are dense, and in the pine forest, there is Hajodae, a hexagonal pavilion where Ha-ryun (河崙) and Jo-jo (趙浚), the founding contributors of the Joseon Dynasty, spent their last years. (updated Dec 2023)
  • 🌍 Yangyang Airport (양양국제공항), 201, Gonghang-ro, Sonyang-myeon, ☏ +82 1661-2626. South Korea spent a great deal of money building airports all over the country. Yangyang airport is probably the best example of this, having an infamous reputation of being a fully functional international airport with hardly any flights at all. (updated Dec 2023)
  • 🌍 Mulchi beach (물치해수욕장), Jeongam, Ganghyeon-myeon, ☏ +82 033-671-5108. It is a simple beach. As it is located at the entrance of Mt. Seorak, it is well-known as a place where many tourists stop by for a brief tour of the sea. Mulchi-ri Village is well-known as a place where many Seoraksan tourists stop by to see the sea for a while as it is at the entrance of Seoraksan Mountain. The Pine Mushroom Lighthouse at Mulchi Port next to the beach is a lighthouse shaped like pine mushroom, a specialty of Gangwon-do, and has become a famous spot of Mulchi Port. (updated Dec 2023)

Do
  • 🌍 Naksansa Temple Stay (낙산사 템플스테이), 100, Naksansa-ro, Ganghyeon-myeon, ☏ +82 033-672-2417, . It is located at the foot of Obongsan Mountain, one of the three famous mountains in Gwandong along with Geumgangsan Mountain and Seoraksan Mountain. In particular, Naksansa Temple is located in a place where you can see the East Sea at a glance. Temple Stay is a traditional cultural experience program that experiences the daily life of a practitioner in a mountain temple where the 1,700-year history and culture of Korean Buddhism live. The programs are divided into experience type and rest type, and various programs are held every time. You can check the detailed program through the website. Experience type (1 night, adult) ₩50,000. Experience type (1 night, middle, high school, college student) ₩40,000. Resting type (1 night, adult) ₩40,000. Rest type (1 night, middle, high school, college student) ₩30,000. (updated Dec 2023)
  • 🌍 Sol Beach Yangyang Ocean Play (쏠비치양양오션플레이), 678, Seonsayujeok-ro, Sonyang-myeon, ☏ +82 1588-4888, . Middle season Oct-Dec: Indoor zone 10:00-18:00, Outdoor zone 10:00-17:00. It is a water park that uses seawater directly raised from the clean sea on the east coast. Outside, you can enjoy open-air bath, outdoor pool, and event bath while looking at the East Sea. It's operated by the resort, so you can even solve the accommodation. Adult ₩40,000, child ₩35,000 (Middle season Oct-Dec). (updated Dec 2023)
  • 🌍 Surfyy Beach (서피비치), 119, Hajodaehaean-gil, Hyeonbuk-myeon, ☏ +82 033-672-0695. Everyday 10:00-22:00; surfing school 10:00-18:00. Surfing is the main place. However, it is a hot place for young Koreans these days, such as food and famous photo zones in Korea. It's a unique thing to find in Korea because it's decorated in an exotic way. Introductory surfing lesson ₩50,000-60,000. (updated Oct 2023)
  • Yangyang board park (보드파크), 250, Ilchul-ro, Yangyang-eup, Yangyang-gun, Gangwon-do, ☏ +82 033-670-2726. It is a place where you can skateboard. There are three skateboard lamps. (updated Oct 2023)

Festivals
  • Yangyang Songi Salmon Festival Festival held in autumn. Yangyang's representative festivals, the Songi Festival and Salmon Festival, which have been held since 1997, will be held for the first time in 2023.
  • Song-i Festival (Pine Mushroom Festival). Early October, for five days. Song-i mushrooms are known as the golden mushrooms, diamonds of the forest and mysterious spiritual beings. The Song-i Mushroom Festival is an opportunity to observe the habitat of song-i mushrooms that are strictly monitored. Anyone can enjoy the mysteriousness of these delicious pine mushrooms, but reservations should be made in advance. 
  • Yangyang Salmon Festival. Early November, for two days. This festival is held in the fresh waters of Namdaecheon, the biggest Korean river up which salmon swim. Apart from a good look at the natural ecosystem, there are various events such as catching salmon with bare hands, regular salmon fishing, and running with salmon. 
  • Yangyang Cultural Festival (양양문화제), Namdaecheon, Sungnaedong, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do, ☏ +82 033-670-2795. Every year for three days before and after Dano, in June. A local cultural festival that inherits Yangyang's traditional culture, Through various events and performances such as ssireum competitions, traditional weddings, and traditional folk experiences, you can have a special experience of traditional customs. (updated Oct 2023)

Buy

The gift store at Naksansa temple has some nice or interesting souvenirs.

And in the town there are several shops and stalls selling dried fish, squid, ...

  • 🌍 Yangyang market (양양시장), 9, Nammun 5-gil, Yangyang-eup, ☏ +82 033-671-2878. 06:00-21:00. If you want to feel Yangyang properly, you can visit traditional markets. Yangyang Traditional Market has the whole region and you can feel its unique vitality. If you visit Naksan Beach and Naksansa Temple, it is one of the courses you can stop by on your way. There are 64 stores and 100 stalls. It is a place where you can buy fresh local agricultural products at a low price, and you can enjoy your mouth with a variety of foods when you are hungry. It sells agricultural and fishery products, forest by-products, miscellaneous goods, sea cucumbers, various wild fruits, and herbs. It also sales a variety of specialties as Yangyang sand and pine mushroom. The 100-year-old traditional five-day Yangyang market held here is the largest in Yeongbuk area and is held on the 4th, 9th, 14th, 19th, 24th, and 29th, attracting a lot of people. (updated Dec 2023)
  • 🌍 Yangyang store (양양상점), 8-1, Nammun 6-gil, Yangyang-eup, ☏ +82 0507-1378-0765. F-W 11:00-19:00, closed Th. It sells cute souvenirs such as badges and key rings. (updated Dec 2023)
  • 🌍 Stuff house (스터프하우스), 6, Inguhang-gil, Hyeonnam-myeon, ☏ +82 070-7094-8012. 11:00-20:00. Stuff House is located in Yangridan-gil, Hot place, near Ingu Beach, and has many things to eat and play. It also sells a variety of surfing items including surfboards, clothing, and camping equipment for travelers. (updated Dec 2023)

Eat

The line of restaurants along Naksan Beach mostly offer dishes with raw fish. For solo travellers, Hoe-deop-bap (회덮밥) is a good meal choice.

In the street Naksan-sa-ro (낙산사로), also nearby, the focus is more on baked/grilled fish. If looking for a vegetarian main dish, quite delicious Deodeok-gui (더덕구이) can be found here, too.

  • Pine Mushroom Village (송이버섯마을), 339, Wol-li ,Yangyang-eup, ☏ +82 0507-1320-3145. 11:00-20:00. It is a restaurant that has appeared in several Korean restaurant broadcasts, and is famous for shabu-shabu, bulgogi, and hot pot with pine mushrooms, a specialty of Yangyang. (updated Dec 2023)
  • Sweet and sour pine chicken (송이닭강정), 57, Yangyang-ro, Yangyang-eup, ☏ +82 033-673-0301. 10:00-20:00. It is Yangyang's sweet and sour chicken restaurant, selling mild, spicy, and fried chicken. It is located in Yangyang Traditional Market. (updated Dec 2023)
  • Naksan Spicy Moray Eel Stew (낙산물곰탕), 35, Naksansa-ro, Ganghyeon-myeon, ☏ +82 010-8797-9749. 07:30-21:00. It is a restaurant near the entrance of Naksansa Temple and is recommended by locals. You can enjoy a moray and cod soup. You can taste various Korean fish dishes such as soup and grilled fish. (updated Dec 2023)
  • Samgyori Dongchimi Makguksu (삼교리 동치미 막국수), 20, Jaemoe-gil, Sonyang-myeon, ☏ +82 0507-1408-3095. M-F 10:00-18:00, Sa Su 10:00-19:30. It is a restaurant that sells makguksu that utilizes Dongchimi, a traditional Korean dish. Dongchimi is a type of water kimchi, which is made by putting various spices in salt water as the main ingredient of radish. With white kimchi, you shouldn't think of red kimchi. It also sells sashimi makguksu with sashimi. (updated Dec 2023)

Drink
  • 🌍 Please Wait (플리즈 웨잇), 28-23, Ingu-gil, Hyeonnam-myeon (셔틀버스 운행), ☏ +82 1577-8647. It is a cafe located on the main street of Yangridan-gil. It operates as a cafe during the day and a pub at night. (updated Dec 2023)
  • 🌍 Cafe Pinetree (파인트리), 56, Haesongcheon-ro, Hyeonnam-myeon, ☏ +82 0507-1406-5641. 10:00-20:00. You can drink coffee at Korean traditional hanok. (updated Oct 2023)
  • 🌍 P.E.I coffee, 3539, Donghae-daero, Ganghyeon-myeon (if you use public transportation, it takes 3 minutes on foot from the Mulchi three-way station), ☏ +82 0507-1339-3389. 10:00-20:00. It is a large cafe with three floors, and the top is a rooftop. It is made of windows, so it is an ocean view no matter where you sit. Macadamia cream latte ₩8,000. (updated Dec 2023)

Sleep

It feels like the Naksan area of Yangyang consists almost entirely of "motels", all not-so-cheap with mediocre quality. If Korean is not a problem, it might be best to check out Korean websites and compare to find the best deal.

  • 🌍 Naksan Beach Hotel (낙산비치호텔), 73, Naksansa-ro, Ganghyeon-myeon (Bus No. 9 in Sokcho from Yangyang Intercity Bus Terminal Bus Station: getting off at Naksan Station (takes 30 minutes); it takes about 5-10 minutes on foot to Naksan Beach Hotel), ☏ +82 02-742-0334, . Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 11:00. Deluxe, 136 rooms. It is a four-star class, and you can see all the mountains, the sea, and the sunrise. It boasts a beautiful view overlooking Naksan Beach at a glance. 
  • 🌍 Osaek Green Yard Hotel (오색그린야드호텔), 511 Osaek-ri, Seo-myeon, ☏ +82 33-672-8500. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 11:00. Holon immunity provides vitality and healing power for a person to live happily and healthily. This is the Holon spirit that the Five Color Green Yard Hotel pursues. The Holon Immunization UP program and accommodation experience in clean five-colored nature will help you meet yourself even healthier. 
  • 🌍 Sol Beach Yangyang (쏠비치 양양), 678, Seonsayujeok-ro, Sonyang-myeon, ☏ +82 1588-4888, . Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 11:00. It is a four-star ocean view hotel and is located close to Songjeon Beach. Naksansa Temple and Yangyang Traditional Market are located 10 minutes away and Hajodae Beach is 20 minutes away. There is also a water park inside the resort, so there are plenty of things to play. (updated Dec 2023)
  • 🌍 Sol Guesthouse (솔게스트하우스), 28-25, Ingu-gil, Hyeonnam-myeon (Shuttle bus), ☏ +82 1577-8647. Check-in: 16:00, check-out: 11:00. It is a guest house where six people share a room, and it is an ocean view of the entire guest room. It is a cultural complex guesthouse where you can enjoy surfing, barbecuing, and pub parties. (updated Dec 2023)

Connect

The area code for Yangyang and the rest of Gangwon province is 033.

  • Tourist Information Phone, ☏ 1330. It is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.. If you call 1330, you can find out the tourist information of the tourist destination, accommodation, transportation, and restaurants you want. Korean, English, Chinese, and Japanese. (updated Oct 2023)

Go next
  • The town of Gangneung is a short journey to the South. It is a tourist destination similar to Yangyang, but stop by at least once as it is the most visited place in Gangwon-do.
  • The town of Sokcho and the Seoraksan National Park are a short journey to the North.
  • The town of Pyeongchang is a short journey to the west. You can see great natural scenery such as Daegwallyeong sheep ranch.
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