Cherry blossom groves are a dime-a-dozen in Seoul, but finding just the right scenic spot to spend the first few days of spring is an art. Our personal favorites are the well curated lakeside walking paths of Seokchon Lake, the crowded festivities of Yeouido Park, and the neighborhood vibes of the Gyeongui Line park. And now we’d like to add the Ansan Cherry Blossom Forest to the list!
What is the Ansan Cherry Blossom Forest?
Ansan is both a mountain in Seoul and a city in Gyeonggido, but today we’re focusing on the former. Ansan Mountain is located in the Seodaemun-gu district in the northern part of Seoul. It’s a relatively small mountain range known for its easy hiking trails.
But come late-March and April, the Herb Garden on Ansan Mountain is a hotspot for locals and visitors from all over Seoul who come to enjoy the beautiful flowers that grow in the garden. The cherry blossom forest isn’t very big, so it doesn’t warrant an large chunk of your time. However if you’re looking to take the perfect selfies, it may require a bit more time and patience especially when visiting on a weekend.
When is the best time to visit?
Cherry blossom season is generally from late-March to mid-April, but it only lasts for a week or so before the rains wash away the petals or the winds blow them away.
The forest is also home to other herbs and rows of vibrant flowers throughout the spring season that are absolutely stunning. To be honest, the forest is worth a visit any time between early-spring and late-autumn. But, of course, expect the most crowds during cherry blossom season.
If you want to visit during cherry blossom season and avoid crowds, you should definitely try to visit in the morning and on weekdays. We visited on a weekend, but we had to wait for lulls in the sizeable crowds in order to get the shots we wanted.
Where is the Ansan Cherry Blossom Forest?
The Ansan Cherry Blossom Forest is located on Ansan Mountain just north of Hongdae Station. The easiest way to get there is to head directly for Cafe Pokpo. From there, it’s a quick 5-minute walk across the river and a short hike up the mountain.
Address:
- 연희동 산2-75 (Naver Map)
- San2-75 Yeonhui-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul (Google Maps)
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