Sights · Our pick in Seoul
Jogyesa
Lanterns in the old city
The head temple of the Jogye Order, in the old city near Insadong, hung with lanterns before the Buddha’s Birthday.

Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © https://www.flickr.com/photos/parrhesiastes/ · CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © AnbyG · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons1 / 2
Our take
- Dress respectfully
- Lanterns in spring
- Address
- Jongno, Seoul
- Nearest metro
- Jonggak
450 m · 5 min walk
More distances - Website
- jogyesa.kr
About Jogyesa
Jogyesa is the head temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism (jogyesa.kr). In the weeks before the Buddha’s Birthday its courtyard is canopied with lanterns; the Lotus Lantern Festival, Yeondeunghoe, is on UNESCO’s list of intangible heritage.
Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Jogyesa before you go.
Last checked: October 2026 How we choose
Hotels nearby
The closest hotels in our guide to Jogyesa, as the crow flies.
- Four Seasons Hotel Seoul750 m9 min walk
- Lotte Hotel Seoul1.0 km12 min walk
- Le Méridien Seoul Myeongdong1.3 km17 min walk
What’s nearby
Distances from Jogyesa are approximate, measured in a straight line (as the crow flies). Times are approximate too: walking at about 80 metres a minute, cycling at about 12 km/h and driving at typical city-traffic speeds. Traffic and routes vary.
Nearest metro stations
- JonggakLine 1450 m5 min walk
- AngukLine 3500 m6 min walk
- GwanghwamunLine 5550 m7 min walk
Key sights
- Gyeongbokgung800 mWalk 10 minCycle 4 minCar or taxi 11 min
- Bukchon1.2 kmWalk 15 minCycle 6 minCar or taxi 12 min
- Changdeokgung1.3 kmWalk 16 minCycle 6 minCar or taxi 12 min
- The DDP2.6 kmWalk 32 minCycle 13 minCar or taxi 17 min
- N Seoul Tower2.6 kmWalk 32 minCycle 13 minCar or taxi 17 min
- COEX9.6 kmCar or taxi 40 min
- Lotte World Tower13 kmCar or taxi 50 min
Main railway stations
- Seoul Station2.2 kmWalk 28 minCycle 11 minCar or taxi 15 min
- Yongsan Station5.2 kmCycle 26 minCar or taxi 25 min
- Suseo Station (SRT)14 kmCar or taxi 55 min
Location
The map comes from Google Maps, which sets its own cookies once it loads.