Gaesimsa Temple Cherry Blossoms (Seosan, Korea) – A Beautiful Spring Visit

Located in Seosan, Chungcheongnam-do, Gaesimsa Temple is one of Korea’s hidden spring destinations.
The temple is especially known for its beautiful double cherry blossoms and the rare Ukon cherry blossoms
that bloom slightly later than the typical sakura season.

I recently visited Gaesimsa Temple again after five years. Although the drive took about three hours,
the chance to see these unique cherry blossoms in full bloom made the trip well worth it.

Wanting to fully enjoy the feeling of spring, I recently visited “Gaesimsa Temple” in Chungcheongnam-do.
This temple is known as a famous cherry blossom spot where double cherry blossoms and the rare Ukon cherry blossoms bloom beautifully.
It was actually my first visit in five years since the last time I came here.

By the way, during my previous visit there was an unexpected mishap. I happily took out my camera, excited to start taking photos,
but when I tried to turn it on, I realized that I had forgotten to put the battery in.
I was quite disappointed at the time (you can read that blog post here → Blog from May 2019).

This time I made sure to prepare everything properly and set out again by car.
The one-way drive took about three hours, which was a bit long,
but thinking about the beautiful cherry blossoms waiting for me made the trip exciting.

Address: 321-86 Gaesimsa-ro, Unsan-myeon, Seosan-si, Chungcheongnam-do, South Korea

I arrived around 3:00 p.m., and even though it was a weekday, the parking lot was completely full.
It really shows how popular this place is during the spring season.
With the cherry blossoms at their peak, my expectations were getting higher.

However, when I reached the entrance, the first thing that caught my eye was a pile of garbage stacked under the stairs.
I honestly had to look twice in disbelief. It was a little disappointing to see such a famous spot in that condition.
As I walked around the temple grounds, I also felt that something was different from my last visit.
Perhaps due to insufficient maintenance, the place seemed to have lost some of its former beauty.

Another disappointment was that the water in the restroom wasn’t running.
Cleanliness is especially important at tourist destinations, so I hope this issue will be improved in the future.

Even so, the scenery of the double cherry blossoms and Ukon cherry blossoms in full bloom was truly breathtaking.
I couldn’t stop taking photos. If the site were properly maintained,
it would surely become an even more wonderful tourist destination.

Personally, I feel that even if the parking lot were made paid, it would be worth it if the funds were used
to maintain the site and preserve its beautiful scenery.
I hope that next time I visit, I’ll be able to enjoy Gaesimsa Temple in its perfect beauty once again.