【 Photo: Participants in a templestay program (Credit: Cultural Corps of Korean Buddhism) 】 Templestay is a wonderful way to recharge oneself. The sound of wind chimes resonates within the tranquil temple grounds, rendering peace in the hearts of temple visitors. A templestay program provides sanctuary from city life, as well as time and space for meditation and relaxation.
What is Templestay?
Templestay is a unique opportunity to experience Korean Buddhism, its daily lifestyle, rituals and spirituality. It generally entails staying at a Buddhist temple and engaging in daily monastic activities. Today, templestay is considered one of the most popular programs among locals and foreigners for experiencing Korean Buddhism.
Templestay programs
Generally, a templestay program includes a Buddhist service, seon meditation, the 108 prostrations, and communal work. Some programs also educate participants on monastic meal offerings and tea ceremony rituals.
Another common program is making a lotus lantern, a form of Buddhist art; the lotus-shaped lantern symbolizes a light that brightens the dark world. Lanterns are hung before Buddha's Birthday, the eighth day of the fourth month on the lunar calendar, at all the temples and nearby areas throughout Korea. During the month of Buddha's birthday, a variety of events are held across the nation, attracting many tourists from near and far.
* Related column
Lotus Lantern Festival, Celebrating Traditional Buddhist Culture
Temples offering regular templestay programs for international visitors
Please visit the Templestay website for information and reservations.
| Region | Temple |
|---|---|
| Seoul | International Seon Center Address: 167 Mokdongdong-ro, Yangcheon-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 양천구 목동동로 167) Website: seoncenter.com (Korean, English) See templestay info (Korean, English) |
| Geumseonsa Temple Address: 137 Bibong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 종로구 비봉길 137) Website: www.geumsunsa.org (Korean only) See templestay info (Korean, English) |
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| Naksan Myogaksa Temple Address: 31 Jong-ro 63ga-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 종로구 종로63가길 31) Website: www.myogaksa.net (Korean only) See templestay info (Korean, English) |
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| Bongeunsa Temple Address: 531 Bongeunsa-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 강남구 봉은사로 531) Website: www.bongeunsa.org (Korean only) See templestay info (Korean, English) |
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| Jogyesa Temple Address: 55 Ujeongguk-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 종로구 우정국로 55) Website: www.jogyesa.kr (Korean, English) See templestay info (Korean, English) |
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| Jinkwansa Temple Address: 73 Jingwan-gil, Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 은평구 진관길 73) Website: www.jinkwansa.org (Korean only) See templestay info (Korean, English) |
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| Hwagyesa Temple Address: 117 Hwagyesa-gil, Gangbuk-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 강북구 화계사길 117) Website: www.hwagyesa.org (Korean only) See templestay info (Korean, English) |
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| Incheon | Jeondeungsa Temple Address: 37-41 Jeondeungsa-ro, Ganghwa-gun, Incheon (인천광역시 강화군 길상면 전등사로 37-41) Website: www.jeondeungsa.org (Korean only) See templestay info (Korean, English) |
| Lotus Lantern International Meditation Center Address: 349-60 Ganghwadong-ro, Ganghwa-gun, Incheon (인천광역시 강화군 길상면 강화동로 349-60) Website: www.lotuslantern.net/eng (Korean, English) See templestay info (Korean, English) |
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| Gyeonggi-do | Yongjoosa Temple Address: 136 Yongju-ro, Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi-do (경기도 화성시 용주로 136) Website: www.yongjoosa.or.kr (Korean only) See templestay info (Korean only) |
| Gangwon State | Naksansa Temple Address: 100 Naksansa-ro, Yangyang-gun, Gangwon-do (강원도 양양군 강현면 낙산사로 100) Website: www.naksansa.or.kr (Korean, English) See templestay info (Korean, English) |
| Woljeongsa Temple Address: 374-8 Odaesan-ro, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-do (강원도 평창군 진부면 오대산로 374-8) Website: www.woljeongsa.org (Korean, English) See templestay info (Korean, English) |
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| Chungcheongnam-do | Magoksa Temple Address: 966 Magoksa-ro, Gongju-si, Chungcheongnam-do (충청남도 공주시 사곡면 마곡사로 966) Website: www.magoksa.or.kr (Korean, English) See templestay info (Korean, English) |
| Chungcheongbuk-do | Guinsa Temple Address: 73 Guinsa-gil, Danyang-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do (충청북도 단양군 영춘면 구인사길 73) See templestay info (Korean, English) |
| Beopjusa Temple Address: 405 Beopjusa-ro, Boeun-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do (충청북도 보은군 속리산면 법주사로 405) Website: www.beopjusa.org (Korean, English) See templestay info (Korean, English) |
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| Jeollanam-do | Mihwangsa Temple Address: 164 Mihwangsa-gil, Haenam-gun, Jeollanam-do (전라남도 해남군 송지면 미황사길 164) Website: www.mihwangsa.org (Korean) See templestay info (Korean, English) |
| Hwaeomsa Temple Address: 539 Hwaeomsa-ro, Gurye-gun, Jeollanam-do (전라남도 구례군 마산면 화엄사로 539) Website: www.hwaeomsa.or.kr (Korean only) See templestay info (Korean, English) |
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| Jeonbuk-do | Geumsansa Temple Address: 1 Moak 15-gil, Gimje-si, Jeonbuk-do (전라북도 김제시 금산면 모악15길 1) Website: www.geumsansa.org (Korean only) See templestay info (Korean, English) |
| Seonunsa Temple Address: 250 Seonunsa-ro, Gochang-gun, Jeonbuk-do (전라북도 고창군 아산면 선운사로 250) Website: www.seonunsa.org (Korean only) See templestay info (Korean, English) |
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| Naesosa Temple Address: 243 Naesosa-ro, Buan-gun, Jeonbuk-do (전라북도 부안군 진서면 내소사로 243) Website: www.naesosa.kr (Korean, English) See templestay info (Korean, English) |
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| Gyeongsangbuk-do | Golgulsa Temple Address: 101-5 Girim-ro, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do (경상북도 경주시 양북면 기림로 101-5) Website: www.golgulsa.com (Korean, English) See templestay info (Korean, English) |
| Bulguksa Temple Address: 385 Bulguk-ro, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do (경상북도 경주시 불국로 385) Website: www.bulguksa.or.kr (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese) See templestay info (Korean, English) |
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| Jikjisa Temple Address: 95 Jikjisa-gil, Gimcheon-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do (경상북도 김천시 대항면 직지사길 95) Website: www.jikjisa.or.kr (Korean only) See templestay info (Korean, English) |
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| Gyeongsangnam-do | Haeinsa Temple Address: 122 Haeinsa-gil, Hapcheon-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do (경상남도 합천군 가야면 해인사길 122) Website: www.haeinsa.or.kr (Korean only) See templestay info (Korean, English) |
| Daegu | Donghwasa Temple Address: 1 Donghwasa 1-gil, Dong-gu, Daegu (대구광역시 동구 동화사1길 1) Website: www.donghwasa.net (Korean only) See templestay info (Korean, English) |
| Busan | Beomeosa Temple Address: 250 Beomeosa-ro, Geumjeong-gu, Busan (부산광역시 금정구 범어사로 250) Website: www.beomeo.kr (Korean, English) See templestay info (Korean, English) |
| Jeju | Yakchunsa Temple Address: 293-28 Eeodo-ro, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do (제주특별자치도 서귀포시 이어도로 293-28) Website: www.yakchunsa.org (Korean only) See templestay info (Korean, English) |
How to participate
The Templestay Information Center is located across from Jogyesa Temple in Seoul. The center provides comprehensive information on templestay programs and the temples that offer templestay programs. For those who cannot visit the center in person, reservations can be made through the website.
- Address: 56 Ujeongguk-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
(서울특별시 종로구 우정국로 56) - Directions Walk for approx. 5 min from Jonggak Station (Seoul Subway Line 1), Exit 3-1
Walk for approx. 5 min from Anguk Station (Seoul Subway Line 3), Exit 6 - Operating hours: Weekdays 09:00-19:00, Weekends 09:00-18:00
* Closed on New Year’s Day, Seollal (Lunar New Year’s Day) and Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving Day) holidays - Inquiries: +82-2-2031-2000 (Korean, English)
- Website: www.templestay.com (Korean, English)
- 1330 Korea Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese, Russian, Vietnamese, Thai, Malay)
This page was last updated on September 28, 2024 and therefore information may differ from what is presented here.
