Day Trip out of Seoul~ Icheon 이천

Famous for its pottery, Icheon is a small city slightly more than 1 hour from Seoul.

How to get there:
Seoul Express Bus Terminal (Gyeongbu Line) (서울(강남)고속버스터미널(경부선))

Express Bus to Icheon - 4,700krw

Our first stop was cerapic (ceramic utopia 한국도자재단) and despite finding information about public buses that go there from the bus terminal, we were unable to find the buses upon reaching there. We ended up taking taxi there. It wasn't expensive though (approximately 2,500krw one way).

The main building is on top of a hill, so a short climb of about 5-10mins is required. However there's lots of interesting sculptures and art pieces along the way to the main building so you will reach the main building without realising it!

The Gyeonggi International Ceramic Biennale is hosted at the Cerapic, which includes contemporary ceramic pieces in the main and special exhibitions, as well as workshops for both professionals and the public. The place was under renovation to prepare for the Biennale when we were there, so we didn't manage to see any exhibitions at all. Do check out the timing for the next Biennale before you make a trip there.

Sculptures outside the main buildings

If you are interested to learn pottery, you can go to the pottery classroom (토락교실) near the main building. For 15,000krw you can make your own pottery item. They will then send it to your address a few weeks later after the art piece has dried.

설봉가든 (Seolbong Garden)

Address: 경기 남양주시 화도읍 가곡리 258-59번지전화번호

Tel: 031-594-5591
Just outside the main road to Cerapic there's a restaurant selling sushi, or what they call 초밥 (literally
vinegar rice). We got a mixed sushi set with mini udon for 15,000krw (First item on Menu D). The sushi were pretty fresh!

Map of the area - Screenshot taken from map.daum.net

Seolbong Garden restaurant - Screenshot taken from map.daum.net

Icheon Ceramics Village 이천도예마을 / 사기막골도예촌재래시장

Address: 3128, Gyeongchung-daero, Sindun-myeon, Icheon-si, Gyeonggi-do 경기도 이천시 신둔면 경충대로 3128

The ceramics village houses many small pottery factories, each with its unique designs. The place looks very quiet from the outside, but take your time to visit each shop to find something you like. 

Traditional kiln that is still in use at the village

We went to random shops and found several items that we liked! However because of the weight I only bought a few small decorative items for my new home.

Mini ceramic animals

I really loved the designs from this shop, stripes and polka dots and bright colours, but I didn't have luggage space to bring all these back!

There's pottery classes in the village too. Prices will depend on the items you want to make. The customers were making plates and bowls, engraving their names onto them! 

Ceramic Janggu 장구, one of the percussion instruments used in Salmunori performances! This is also the instrument I learnt during our Salmunori class in level 2!

With 2 of my classmates during our Samulnori class at National Gugak Centre국립국악원

With my Level 2 classmates

Lots of interesting houseware and cute decorative items! My friend bought a cute sheep at about 8,000krw. I think it's inexpensive compared to prices in Seoul. It's the village where the ceramic distributors are anyway! So take your time to find some unique items!

From the main road, you can take a bus back to the Bus Terminal. Refer to the map above for the list of buses. The journey takes about 20 minutes at 1,100krw if you use cash, or 1,050krw if you use t-money!

Buses from Icheon leave for Seoul at regular intervals, but if you want to go back to Seoul Express Bus Terminal, take the Dongbu Express. The ticket counter is found further in from the main station.

Icheon may not be as easy to travel around by bus as other cities I've been to, but I think it's worth a visit if you are keen to find some pretty ceramic pieces!

Total cost for the day trip:

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