Cherry Blossom Festival in Jinhae Korea – 10 Essential Tips

The Cherry Blossom Festival in Jinhae is one of the most famous and beautiful in Korea. Not just because of the thousands of cherry blossom trees but because of the romantic kind environment. You should not miss it!

 

Cherry Blossom Festivals are very popular events in Korea. Almost every city have specific scenarios to enjoy the magic of cherry blossom on spring, However Cherry Blossom Festival in Jinhae is the one which catches all the attention during this season. Actually if you look for cherry blossom images in Korea on google the first options will probably be pictures of an old train surrounded by cherry blossom trees, that’s Jinhae! This year the festival is scheduled during April 1st ~ 10th and if you are planing to visit there, make sure to prepare yourself with this 10 tips.

• 1. Make sure to plan your visit with time:

Cherry blossom festival in Jinhae is really crowded, everywhere! My experience was a spontaneous visit… took a bus from Daegu at 3 pm (which suppose to be just 2 hours) and got stuck on traffic so reached there at almost 7 pm. Went to Romance Bridge first and it was difficult to fully enjoy due to the mass. The path is very narrow and people stop to take pictures, you can barely walk and see. And forget about the good pictures with so much people around! Since it was too late I had to stay in Jinhae but guess what?! … no rooms available! I had to spent the night in a 24 hrs shop. So better make a plan at least 2 days 1 night, book a room and book the bus/train ticket on time.

 

• 2. The best time for pictures is in the morning:

Since I spent the night in a shop and I couldn’t sleep, I decided to check the Gyeonghwa Station (the old train) at 7 am. Surprisingly there were not much people and was more easy to enjoy the scenery and take pictures. Although it was so cold, there were several of street food’s stands for coffee or food. At that time you mostly see old people so the crowd behave differently and it’s easy to take good pictures. Later I went to the Romance Bridge again and surprise! no people! … Few people I saw in there were actually photographers. And for sure because the scenery was even more enjoyable during the day than during night.

 

• 3. Explore as much as you can:

The most famous places in Jinhae are the Romance Bridge ????? and the Gyeonghwa Station ??? but actually Jinhae is full of spots to enjoy the beautiful cherry blossom scenery. If you have enough time make sure to include NFRDI Environment Eco-park, Korea Naval Academy and Naval Base Headquarters and Jehwangsan Park.

 

• 4. Enjoy the festival as local:

During cherry blossom festival in Jinhae there are many other events going on such as The Victory Parade (on April 6th) and Sokcheonhang Port Multimedia Fireworks on the Sea (on April 4th). Besides around the spots there are several of street food stands and some other entertainment that you can enjoy. I hardly recommend to try the delicious food during the festival, it’s a paradise of food there!

 

• 5. Wear warm:

I already comment my experience with the cold weather. Even if spring already started nights in Korea are very cold and weather can drastically change. When I visited the Romance Bridge during the morning I was gracefully surprised by the rain. I have to admit that the cherry blossom rain is one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen. Usually the temperature is around 15 degrees during this season but we still have temperatures of winter (like 10 degrees and even 3 degrees during the night) so remember to wear warm and pack an umbrella if necessary.

 

 

• 6. The scenery is made mostly for couples:

Mainly the Romance Bridge is well-known as a romantic spot due to the several K-dramas shoot there. This year you’ll probably see a full decoration of hearts everywhere. There are several photo zones made for couples and it’s certainly a beautiful place for a romantic date, So you can make of this trip a romantic trip! However partner, friends or family doesn’t matter you can enjoy the festival the same way.

 

 

• 7. Explore beyond:

Don’t get stuck where all the people stand… if you’re in Romance Bridge try to walk further and you’ll find a beautiful spot to see the entire festival. If you’re in Gyeonghwa Station follow the rails further and enjoy and amazing walk and view, little far from the crowd.

 

 

• 8. Keep yourself inform:

Make sure to check the broadcast often. The rain can easily short the time available to see the peak of cherry blossom. Try to not make your plans at last because the rain can ruin your trip at the end and you’ll also miss plenty of activities that are scheduled during the first days of the festival.

 

• 9. Get yourself a selfie-stick:

If you’re expecting to take lot of pictures there and you’re just carrying your smartphone I really recommend you to use a selfie stick. You’ll get for sure amazing photographs there but the crowd make impossible to take pictures properly. Selfie stick will make easy to handle your phone among the people and avoid the heads sneaking into your frame,

 

• 10. Enjoy the culture and enjoy with the people:

The cherry blossom festival in Jinhae brings millions of people in one only place. Not just Koreans but also foreigners. Not just young people but also old people. It’s the perfect event to enjoy the culture and to share with locals for free. The best way to enjoy the happy and friendly atmosphere that generally represent Korean culture and Korean people. If you have the opportunity, talk with them and try to learn their customs. Embrace the Korean culture!!