Destination: Hurshimchung / Heosimcheong Hot Springs Spa (Busan)

Author’s note: the two spellings above may cause confusion. In each case, the spelling and pronunciation is based on the Korean for the place – 허심청. The former is how the place refers to itself, while the latter is the proper Romanization – don’t get confused since they sound pretty similar but are written differently.

Hurshimchung Hot Springs / Spa is referred to as one of the better hot springs in Busan, so naturally I had to check it out. My friend Meghan was game, so off we went. Located near Geumgang Park, it’s a great place to relax your muscles after hiking the mountain (even if you were lazy and took the cable car down).

The first trick was finding the place. I knew the subway station and exit, and the map inside the subway station showed it – now the trick was navigating the streets. If you find yourself trying to get there, read the bottom of the post for directions. we found our way there, though it took a little longer than it looked on the map.

Inside the building, which also looked to be a buffet or convention center. Once at the building, go up the escalator and find this welcoming sign:

No pictures were allowed (or taken) from this point on – something about people being naked inside a public bath makes that sort of thing a little discouraged. Read on, though 🙂

After accepting the 7,900 won entrance fee (you pay when you leave), get a key at the front desk, put your shoes in one locker, then walk into your gender’s changing / locker / shower room. The process is pretty similar at most jimjilbangs / spas – strip, shower, then enjoy the hot springs and hot water in all the ways they’re presented to you.

This particular place had a little bit of everything, at every temperature from COLD (like the shower when you first turn it on) to too-hot-to-handle. The scenery was equivalently beautiful – and varied:

• An open-air bath
• A cave bath (like you’re in an underground cave surrounded by hot water)
• A waterfall bath (stand underneath the waterfall much like a shower)
• Cherry bath (smelled and colored like cherries)

Even after you switch to the saunas to sweat a bit, there’s several different temperatures to get you hot – and most had TV’s inside.

Later on, I met up with my friend down in the unisex area. We found several more saunas for the clothed people, along with an ice room (during the winter, however, just step outside – not the most popular room as a result!), and Dr. Fish. I wasn’t quite sure about the thought of putting my feet in a tank and letting little fish bite the dead skin off on my feet, but at least two other bloggers in Korea gave it a try elsewhere. Check them out: take number 1, and take number 2 – I envy their courage 🙂

Hurshimchung / Heosimcheong Spa is worth the visit if you’re in Busan. It’s not a 24-hour jimjilbang (closes at 10pm), so find a nearby motel / yeogwan if you need a place to sleep. There’s enough English to understand what’s going on, and even during a random weekday there were a couple other foreigners around. Cleaned up and dried off, it’s time to pay the bill and continue exploring Busan.

What else is there to see in Busan / Gyeongsangnam-do? Let’s find out!

Directions: Take the Busan subway system to the Oncheonjang subway station on line 1. Take exit 1 to street level, then cross the street using the pedestrian overpass. At the traffic light, turn right, then another right at the Woori bank. Begin looking for the Hotel Nongshim on the left side of the road. Hurshimchung is behind Hotel Nongshim – once inside the building take the escalator up to the spa.