1. Introduction to the Jinhae Gunhangje Festival
Held
annually in Jinhae-gu, Changwon at the end of March, Jinhae
Gunhangje (진해군항제) is the largest cherry
blossom festival in South Korea. 360,000 cherry blossom trees blanketing
the entire city creates a breathtaking pink landscape.
One of
the festival’s highlights is the special opening of the Naval Academy and
Jinhae Naval Base Command, allowing visitors to explore normally restricted
military areas.
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| Yeojwacheon, Jinhae [Photo Credit] Flickr, Saifullah Madfuad |
2. 2025 Jinhae Gunhangje Festival Schedule & Major Events
- Dates: March
28 (Fri) – April 6 (Sun), 2025
- Location: Jinhae-gu,
Changwon (Jungwon Rotary, Jinhaeru, and surrounding areas)
- Main
Events:
• Cherry Blossom Music
Festival: Jinheung Public Stadium, March 29 (Sat) – March 30 (Sun), 14:00 –
21:00
• Gunhang K-POP Dance
Competition: Jungwon Rotary, April 2 (Wed), 17:00 – 20:00
• Nalli Cherry Blossom Market
(Traditional Cultural Performances): Jungwon Rotary, March 31 (Mon) / April 1
(Tue), 19:00 – 20:00
• Kkallongjaengi (Tourist
Guerrilla Interviews): All festival areas, March 29 (Sat) – March 30 (Sun) /
April 5 (Sat) – April 6 (Sun)
• Military Base Open Event:
Naval Academy / Jinhae Naval Base Command / Gunhang 11th Pier, March 29 (Sat) –
April 6 (Sun)
3. Top 5 Must-Visit Cherry Blossom Spots in Jinhae
①
Yeojwacheon Cherry Blossom Road (여좌천 벚꽃길)
📍 Address: 136-22, Yeojwa-dong, Jinhae-gu, Changwon,
Gyeongsangnam-do
🌸 Highlights: Famous filming location of the drama Romance!
📸 Photo Spots:
- Romance
Bridge (Inyeon Bridge): Take photos on the famous bridge featured in the
K-drama Romance.
- In
front of Yeojwa-dong Community Center: Capture stunning nighttime shots
along the cherry blossom tunnel.
- 1.5km
Deck Path along Yeojwacheon Stream: Walk along the pink blossom-lined
stream and take dreamy scenic photos.
②
Gyeonghwa Station Park (경화역 공원)
📍 Address: 1427, Gyeonghwa-dong, Jinhae-gu, Changwon,
Gyeongsangnam-do
🌸 Highlights: A magical combination of cherry blossoms and
trains!
📸 Photo Spots:
- Old
train and cherry blossoms: Take pictures with the displayed train as a
backdrop.
- Cherry
blossom tunnel along the railway: Walk along the railway covered in
blossoms and capture scenic shots.
- Gyeonghwa
Station signpost: A popular spot to take pictures with the station sign
and cherry blossoms.
③
Jehwangsan Park & Jinhae Tower (제황산 공원 & 진해탑)
📍 Address: 52, Jungwondong-ro, Jinhae-gu, Changwon,
Gyeongsangnam-do
🌸 Highlights: Climb 365 steps to enjoy a
panoramic cherry blossom view of Jinhae!
📸 Photo Spots:
- Jinhae
Tower Observatory: A 28m tall, 9-story tower offering a
stunning panoramic view of cherry blossoms and the cityscape.
- 365-step
stairway: The "One-Year Stairway" is a perfect spot
for cherry blossom shots.
- Night
lighting: Capture the beautifully lit-up tower surrounded by glowing
cherry blossoms at night.
④
Anmingogae Cherry Blossom Road (안민고개 벚꽃길)
📍 Address: A mountain pass connecting Taebaek-dong,
Jinhae-gu, and Anmin-dong, Seongsan-gu, Changwon
🌸 Highlights: Famous for driving and cycling, with
some vehicle restrictions during the festival.
📸 Photo Spots:
- Wooden
railing deck road: Walk through a cherry blossom tunnel and snap
breathtaking photos.
- Scenic
viewpoint: Overlook Changwon and Jinhae while capturing cherry
blossoms from the pass.
- Rest
areas: Various benches and rest spots make perfect cherry
blossom background shots.
⑤
Naval Academy & Jinhae Naval Base Command (해군사관학교
& 진해기지사령부)
📍 Address: 1 Jungwon-ro & 1 Chungjang-ro, Jinhae-gu,
Changwon, Gyeongsangnam-do
🌸 Highlights: These locations are only open to the
public during the festival.
📸 Photo Spots:
- Main
Gate of the Naval Academy: Take photos at the special open gate with
cherry blossoms in the background.
- Cherry
Blossom Road inside the Academy: Walk alongside naval cadets under
the cherry blossoms (limited to the festival period).
⑥
Ungdong Reservoir (웅동수원지)
📍 Address: 191, Sosa-dong, Jinhae-gu, Changwon,
Gyeongsangnam-do
🌸 Highlights: The largest cherry blossom cluster in
eastern Jinhae, reopened to the public after 57 years.
📸 Photo Spots:
- Cherry
Blossom Grove Around the Reservoir: Capture stunning photos in a 25,000m² cherry
blossom forest.
- Scenic
View of the Reservoir: Take pictures of the cherry blossoms reflected
on the water.
4. Activities to Enjoy with Cherry Blossoms
- Marine
Leisure Sports: Experience cruiser yachts, kayaking/rafting,
motorboats, windsurfing, and more.
- Cherry
Blossom Cycling Tour: Ride along Jinhaeru, Anmingogae Cherry
Blossom Road, and Yeojwacheon Cherry Blossom Path.
📌 Bike Rental: Use Nubija (누비자), the public bike-sharing system. Non-members can easily rent
bikes for 1,000 KRW daily, with a 90-minute usage limit per ride (bikes
can be returned and re-rented).
- Jinhae
Military Band & Honor Guard Festival:
📍 Location: Jinhae
Public Stadium & Changwon Citywide
📅 Dates: April
4 (Fri) – April 6 (Sun)
5. Transportation Guide
🚆 KTX (High-Speed Train): Seoul Station → Changwon Jungang
Station (Approx. 2 hours 50 minutes, 52,100 KRW)
🚖 Taxi: Changwon Jungang Station → Yeojwacheon (Approx. 25
minutes, ~25,000 KRW)
6. Accommodation Recommendations – Hotels, Hanok Stays, & Cozy Stays
- 3-Star
Hotels in Jinhae: From 100,000 KRW per night
- Jinhae
"Cherry Blossom Hanok" Stay: From 120,000 KRW per
night
- Airbnb
with a "Cherry Blossom View": From 100,000 KRW per
night
- Korean-Style
Pensions: From 100,000 KRW per night
📌 Accommodation during the festival is highly competitive, so booking
at least 1-2 months in advance is best. The closer to cherry blossom
spots, the higher the prices, and costs vary significantly depending on the
type and quality of lodging.
7. Top 3 Local Restaurants
Since Jinhae
is a coastal city, seafood dishes are highly recommended. Here are
three famous Agwijjim (아구찜, braised monkfish)
restaurants in Jinhae:
- Aguhouse
(아구하우스): 5, Yongwonjung-ro 5-gil, Jinhae-gu,
Changwon, Gyeongsangnam-do
- Haemi
Agwijjim (해미아구찜): 6, Ancheong-ro 42-gil,
Jinhae-gu, Changwon, Gyeongsangnam-do
- Donghae
Agwijjim, Yongwon Main Branch (동해아구찜 용원본점): 8,
Yongjae-ro 3-gil, Jinhae-gu, Changwon, Gyeongsangnam-do
8. Travel Tips
- Cherry
Blossom Full Bloom Forecast: March 31 – April 1, 2025
- Traffic
Control During the Festival: Public transportation & walking are
more convenient than driving.
9. Final Thoughts
"Once
again, Jinhae is painted in cherry blossoms."
In
the spring of 2025, stroll under the pink cherry blossom tunnels and
create unforgettable memories at the Jinhae Gunhangje Festival in South
Korea!
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