A Winter Day Trip to Hwacheon: Coffee, Santa, and Serenity
21, Sangseungro 2-gil, Hwacheon-eup, Hwacheon-gun, Gangwon-do
Written and photographed by: Taeun
Supported by: Gangwon Tourism Foundation
Hello!
I'm Taeun, a travel influencer.
Hwacheon is always the first destination that comes to mind when winter begins.
When I look for a place where I can fully experience the atmosphere of the season,
my steps naturally lead me to Hwacheon, Gangwon-do, once again.
Hwacheon is famous for the Sancheoneo Ice Festival, but besides the festival,
there are hidden charms that you can only feel in winter.
Today, I'm going to introduce a winter day trip course in Hwacheon that you can easily explore on foot without a car.
☕ 01 Sancheoneo Coffee Museum
📍 21, Sangseungro 2-gil, Hwacheon-eup, Hwacheon-gun, Gangwon-do
The first place I visited in Hwacheon was the Sancheoneo Coffee Museum.
It's located within walking distance from the bus terminal,
making it a perfect first stop for a day trip to Hwacheon.
The exterior is small, but the moment you step inside,
the space itself feels like a coffee time travel.
It was created with coffee artifacts collected over 30 years by 'James Lee' while traveling around the world.
Knowing that background made even the smallest exhibit seem more special.
The admission fee for the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Coffee Museum is 3,000 won for adults,
2,500 won for teenagers, soldiers, and Hwacheon residents, and free for children and those aged 65 or older!
You can also purchase a ticket for 6,000 won that includes admission and a hand-drip coffee experience,
which is what I did.
The exhibition space isn't large, but the interior is well-organized,
allowing you to naturally follow the history of coffee as you look around.
From coffee tools used in the 1800s to vintage roasters and elegant teacups,
the collection of items with the passage of time was arranged in a charming way, making it fun to see.
I could feel the warmth of the old tools, as if they were stained with the touch of many hands.
It felt like my body and mind, which had been stiff from the cold wind, were slowly relaxing.
To me, who had only thought of coffee as a beverage,
it was a time to feel the novelty that 'coffee also has history and a story.'
The hand-drip experience takes place right next to the museum,
making the flow of the course very convenient.
For the experience, you could choose between two types of beans: Ethiopia and Kenya.
They briefly explained the characteristics of each bean, so I was able to choose according to my preference.
I chose the Kenya beans, which were moderately nutty and had a lively acidity.
The instructions were easy to follow, even if you don't have professional coffee knowledge,
and you could complete a cup in about 5 minutes.
The aroma that spread throughout the space while the coffee was blooming was comforting,
and I felt proud as I watched the coffee droplets fall.
I took my freshly brewed coffee and sat down in the resting area,
and my cold fingertips quickly warmed up, allowing me to feel a relaxing healing.
📍 02 Santa Claus Post Office Korea Main Branch
📍 10, Sansuhwa-ro, Hwacheon-eup, Hwacheon-gun, Gangwon-do
A short walk along the road from the museum will bring you to the Santa Claus Post Office with its striking red roof.
It's the official main branch operated in partnership with the Santa Post Office in Rovaniemi, Finland,
so even though it's a small space, its significance is quite large.
As soon as I stepped inside, I was greeted by a fairytale-like atmosphere.
Christmas decorations brought from Finland, Santa-related souvenirs,
and twinkling lights made it a great indoor travel destination in the middle of winter.
There's no admission fee, so it's a great course to visit lightly on time.
The highlight of the Hwacheon Santa Post Office is, of course, sending a letter.
If you buy a stamp and a postcard and write a heartfelt message,
the letter will actually be delivered to Santa Village in Finland,
and you can even receive a reply from Santa Claus during the year-end season, so I couldn't miss it.
As I wrote down the words that I don't normally say easily, line by line,
I felt like my mind was becoming more organized.
I don't know why I feel so precious to take a moment to stop during my trip and record my current mood.
The moment I put the postcard in the mailbox, a strange excitement came over me.
It felt like a letter to 'future me' rather than to someone else.
Note that you have to pay 1,000 won to buy a postcard!
📍 03 Hwacheon Bungeo Island
📍 Bungeo Island, Ha1-ri, Hwacheon-eup, Hwacheon-gun, Gangwon-do
The last place I headed to was Bungeo Island, a representative natural travel destination in Hwacheon.
If you walk a little along the path along the stream,
you can see a unique terrain that makes you understand the name 'Bungeo (carp) shape'.
Winter on Bungeo Island is completely different from summer or fall.
There are no noisy crowds of people playing in the water, and you can't hear the sounds of the festival,
but rather, you can feel the unique tranquility more intensely.
In particular, the loess path is famous, but remember that the foot bath is not open during the winter season,
so you need to bring wet wipes.
Walking barefoot on the well-paved loess
The subtle touch on the soles of my feet and the temperature of the cold soil
gave me a strangely pleasant stimulation.
Animal sculptures and photo zones are also set up throughout the island,
making it a great place for couples and families to take pictures.
The sight of people quietly enjoying fishing by the river added to
the calm atmosphere unique to Bungeo Island in Hwacheon.
After slowly walking around the island, listening to the sounds of nature,
I felt the 'feeling of clearing my mind' that I can feel at the end of my trip.
It was a day of fully experiencing warmth at the Sancheoneo Coffee Museum, childlike innocence at the Santa Post Office,
and the nature of winter on Bungeo Island.
If you want a quiet and warm emotional trip this winter,
I highly recommend this day trip to Hwacheon.
It was a course that could fill a day without excessive schedules.
📍 Sancheoneo Coffee Museum
Address: 21, Sangseungro 2-gil, Hwacheon-eup, Hwacheon-gun, Gangwon-do
📍 Santa Claus Post Office Korea Main Branch
Address: 10, Sansuhwa-ro, Hwacheon-eup, Hwacheon-gun, Gangwon-do
📍 Bungeo Island
Address: Bungeo Island, Ha1-ri, Hwacheon-eup, Hwacheon-gun, Gangwon-do
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