Towards the end of Golden Week,
I suddenly decided to visit Seoul, Korea.
It had been three years since my last visit to Korea.
This time, I focused on sightseeing around Myeongdong and visited some local shops.
On my previous trip, I was so impressed by the beauty of Korean temples,
so I decided to stop by various temples this time.
First, I visited the National Folk Museum of Korea.
It had an atmosphere somewhat similar to Japan's five-story pagodas,
and the architecture felt quite familiar.
This time, I not only visited here but also the adjacent Gyeongbokgung Palace. This is the largest palace of the Joseon Dynasty, boasting magnificent scenery and vast grounds amidst nature.
The sheer scale was overwhelming.
It had a certain grandeur, reminiscent of Nikko Toshogu Shrine,
and the atmosphere made me feel like I was in a scene from a historical movie.
Due to time constraints, I couldn't explore everything,
so next time, I plan to go when it opens.
This time, I also stopped by "tout y est", which I had wanted to visit along with Gyeongbokgung Palace.
It's just a short walk from Gyeongbokgung Palace.
It's a very popular bag brand even in Japan,
and the store was almost full with many Japanese tourists visiting that day.
I heard it would be crowded, so I checked what I wanted beforehand and made my purchase.
With children, it's hard to take your time,
so next time, I'd like to combine it with a tour of the stylish cafes nearby.
After that, it was about a 10-minute taxi ride.
If you want to make a trip to Korea enjoyable for kids, head to Dongdaemun Changsin-dong Toy Street.
The landmark is a Rubik's Cube on a pillar, and it's Korea's largest toy wholesale market.
The narrow streets are packed with shops, and since it was a Sunday, there were so many people.
Even though it's a wholesale market, general customers are allowed inside, and prices are quite cheap,
so it's highly recommended for souvenir shopping.
Many of the toys distributed in Korea are sold here,
and there are many shops that will undoubtedly satisfy families traveling with children.
However, since they are Korean toys, the ones with sound, of course, speak Korean.
After that, a few subway stops away, we had a late lunch at Gwangjang Market.
This market offers local food that you can't easily find in the city center,
and it was my favorite place on this trip, truly embodying Korea's street food culture.
Stalls are tightly packed, and unlike Japanese street stalls,
food is piled high, and jeon (pancakes) are fried right at the storefront,
making for a really enjoyable local atmosphere.
Further inside, local old men were gathered around chige (stew) pots on the street, drinking,
and I found myself envying the way the locals enjoyed their Sundays.
This market is known as "Yukhoe Street," with yukhoe (beef tartare) and raw liver available at almost every store.
I wasn't sure which store to choose, but the one I picked seemed to be loved by locals,
as it was almost full even though I visited before 3 PM.
Both the yukhoe and the raw octopus were incredibly fresh and delicious,
but each plate was more than twice the size of those in Japan, so I ended up eating too much.
Being a market, not only meals but also Korean snacks and kimchi were abundant and incredibly cheap.
And the wide variety of kimchi, some of which you can only get here, was simply amazing.
This time, I chose to visit some local spots,
and I think I now understand why more people are getting hooked on traveling to Korea.
It's just so much fun!
With its different atmosphere, and food and scenery you can't experience in Japan,
Korea makes the joy of travel feel close at hand.
And what I realized this time is that the city is surprisingly clean and safe, though perhaps not as much as Japan.
Also, people are kind to families with children.
It's been almost 20 years since I first visited Korea,
and I really feel how much both the people and the city have changed since then.
It was truly enjoyable.
I definitely want to go to Korea again!
