How to Visit the Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival

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Without a doubt, spring is the best time to visit South Korea; for two to three blissful weeks, the cherry blossoms begin to bloom all over the country. While Sakura season doesn’t last long, it is truly something you can’t miss. While there are gorgeous places to view and appreciate these beautiful pink flower in many different cities throughout Korea, there is one place in particular that will take your breath away: Jinhae. This small town an hour north of Busan is famous for its blooms, and visiting the Jinhae cherry blossom festival is something that you need to add to your bucket list.

A word of warning: this is one of the most beautiful sights I’ve ever seen, and millions of other people want to see it too! During the 10 day long festival, at least two million people will roll through Jinhae. While it’s easy to get frustrated with crowds like this, just be patient! You will get your pictures (Koreans are very courteous and generally tend to queue for the best photo opportunities), you will have an amazing time, and you have to remember that you’re a tourist, just like them! You’re in it together, haha!

When is the Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival

Obviously, these delicate flowers are at the whim of what the weather decides to do that year, which makes planning to see them a little bit tricky. Typically, the festival is held in the first week of April, although sometimes it begins in the very end of March. I went April 3rd, 2022 and they were in full bloom! Definitely be sure to check the dates of the festival before you book your trip.

How to get to the Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival

The best way to get to Jinhae is by doing a day trip from Busan. If you’re based out of Seoul, you might have to spend the night to make the trek worth it. A bus from Busan costs about 5 dollars, and the journey takes about 45 minutes to an hour depending on the traffic, and a bus from Seoul takes about 4 hours and is more expensive.

Another way that you could make this trip is by going through an organized tour, which is what I did! We all hopped on a chartered coach that took us to some strawberry farms before arriving in Jinhae at noon! It was super easy, we didn’t have to worry about getting stuck there or getting on the wrong bus, and it was overall an excellent experience. Check out some options below:

Where to see the Cherry Blossoms in Jinhae

While Cherry blossoms absolutely cover the small city of Jinhae, there are three spots in particular that will leave you with your jaw on the ground. Feel free to wander the streets, but always try to be walking towards one of these spots. They are all quite a ways from each other, and taxis in this area are quite hard to come by, so be prepared for lots of walking if you plan on hitting all of them!

Yeojwa stream (여좌천로망스다리 경남 창원시 진해구 여좌동 217)

This is what I would call the center of the festival. There are tons of cafes, souvenir shops and street food lining this little trickle of a stream, and it is, without a doubt, the best place to see the cherry blossoms in Jinhae. You should definitely start your cherry blossom tour here, as it will eventually lead you to another amazing spot to see the cherry blossoms.

While it is very crowded, you just have to be patient to get some good pictures. This stream has been made famous by countless K-dramas that film there, and fans love to flock to the “love bridge” for a photo. I’ve never seen a K-drama, but regardless, it’s an incredible place to take a picture.

Keep walking as far as the stream and boardwalk takes you, then cross the road and head into the ecological park.

Water Eco Park - (진해내수면 환경생태공원 경남 창원시 진해구 여명로71번길 65)

While this isn’t the most incredible place to view the cherry blossoms, it is definitely a welcome respite from the crowds. It is DECIDEDLY less crowded, and it was nice to have some space to take a breath. That is, until the views take your breath away again!

Take a lap around the pond, and be sure to snap a few photos of the tall grass, the willow trees, the cherry blossoms, and the mountains in the distance. All of these elements make for an absolutely STUNNING backdrop for any photo, and it’s not a sight I’ll easily forget! I have a soft spot for weeping willows, so while the number of cherry blossoms wasn’t overwhelming, the other plants more than made up for it. I mean, c’mon, have you ever seen something quite like this??

Old Railway Station (경화역벚꽃길 경남 창원시 진해구 경화동)

Buckle up, because from the Eco park to this next stop is about a 2.5 kilometer walk. We walked along the railroad tracks, which, while gorgeous and fun, was definitely not the easiest walk. The railroad is, at times, lined with cherry blossoms, but once you get to the station, they are everywhere! They have an old fashioned train set up for photos, and I definitely with that I had gotten here earlier! I was so crowded and nearly impossible to get a photo without anyone in it, so just keep that in mind! In the other locations, you can patiently wait your turn, but here, it’s such an open area that your odds are slim. Maybe arrive early in the morning, or switch this itinerary around and go backwards if you can!

We were so hungry at this point that once we saw the crowds, we snapped a few photos, gave up, and left to find food. If you look up a picture on google, you’ll have a better idea of what this location looks like during cherry blossom season! It truly is gorgeous, but hey, you win some, you lose some.

Conclusion

That about sums up how to visit the Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival! It truly is an experience that you can’t miss, whether you’re in South Korea or simply planning a trip. I have more photos of these silly little flowers on my camera roll than I can count, and I’m honestly not mad at it! It’s an incredible sight, and if you can line up your trip with Sakura season, you will not regret it.