Seoul to Museum SAN: Best Solo Day Trip for Art & Architecture Lovers
My main reason for planning a day trip to Museum SAN in South Korea was to see the James Turrell exhibition and explore the museum’s beautifully designed outdoor gardens. But the visit ended up offering so much more than I expected—both visually and emotionally.
Since this South Korea trip was a spontaneous addition to a longer journey, I only started looking into Museum SAN about two days before my visit. One thing I quickly realized: getting to Museum SAN from Seoul is not the easiest journey—but it’s absolutely worth the effort.
Planning a Day Trip from Seoul: My First Experience
The best way to reach Museum SAN is by car. Since I didn’t have an international driving permit, my only options were to rely on public transportation combined with a local shuttle bus or take a taxi from Wonju.
Personally, I’m more comfortable taking trains than buses, so I searched for the best route to Museum SAN by KTX from Seoul. The official museum website offers a helpful guide with detailed directions, but the tricky part is coordinating the train and bus connections.
Based on my research, local bus schedules from Wonju to Museum SAN don’t line up neatly with the KTX arrival times. You’ll likely face some waiting time between transfers—which is why many travelers opt for a taxi from Wonju Station instead.
My Route:
Seoul local bus from Insadong to Cheongnyangni Station. (30 minute +10 minute walking)
KTX from Cheongnyangni Station to Wonju Station. (1 hour wait + 1 hour train ride)
Taxi from Wonju Station to Museum SAN (10 min wait + 30 min ride time)
My Return Route:
Local Wonju Bus from Museum to Wonju Station (45 minute bus ride)
KTX from Wonju Station to Cheongnyangni Station (1.5 hour wait + 1 hour train ride)
Local train from Cheongnyangni Station to Gwanghamun Station, then walked back to the Insadong area.
Next time, I’d take either the KTX or intercity bus to Manjong Station (which is actually closer to Museum SAN than Wonju Station). And of course, I’d book my train tickets in advance—definitely a lesson learned!
On my way to the museum, all the seats on the KTX to Wonju and Manjong Stations were sold out, so I ended up with a standing ticket instead. More details on that experience here.
Discovering a Quiet Mountain Art Museum in Wonju, South Korea
Museum SAN opened in 2013 and was founded by the late Lee In-hee, an advisor to the Hansol Group and the eldest daughter of Samsung’s chairman, Lee Byung-chul.
The name SAN stands for Space, Art, Nature—a fitting concept that aligns with the museum’s philosophy and tranquil setting. Interestingly, san (산) also means “mountain” in Korean, which is a clever wordplay considering its peaceful mountain location in Oak Valley, Wonju, South Korea.
The museum is one of the best examples of Tadao Ando's architecture in South Korea. Designed by the iconic Japanese architect, Museum SAN features his signature use of exposed concrete, minimalist geometry, and contemplative spaces.
The structure blends harmoniously with nature, offering a meditative experience shaped by light, shadow, and sharp angles—a must-visit for architecture and design lovers.
The museum experience can be divided into 6 distinct experiences:
A Flower Garden with a Meditation Space
Water Garden
Main Museum building & Outdoor Cafe
The Stone Garden
An intimate meditation experience
James Turrell at Museum SAN
Space of Light at Museum SAN: A Meditative Architectural Experience
When I visited Museum SAN in early September, part of the flower garden was closed for construction, and there weren’t many blooms in season. Still, the true highlight of my visit was the newly opened Space of Light, a minimalist meditation space designed by Tadao Ando, completed in 2023.
This outdoor architectural installation is built in Ando’s signature concrete style and sits elevated on a grassy mound, giving it a sense of quiet separation from the rest of the museum grounds. A long, narrow concrete walkway leads visitors to the chamber-like space. Though compact, it feels monumental—defined by tall, stark concrete walls and geometric roof cutouts that let natural light stream in.
There’s no artificial lighting here—only sunlight filtering through sharp slits in the ceiling. As the day progresses, these slits cast ever-shifting shadows across the interior, offering a deeply reflective, time-sensitive light experience. I recommend visiting Space of Light twice: once at the beginning of your visit and again near sunset to appreciate how the mood of the space transforms with the light.
A Bold, Red Entrance Experience and Reflecting Pool at Museum SAN
During my visit to Museum SAN, part of the flower garden was temporarily closed for renovation. Thankfully, the garden is expansive, so the closure didn’t take away from the overall experience.
Just beyond the flower garden lies the water garden, creating a seamless transition through a series of stone walls, ponds, and reflective surfaces. The entire outdoor space felt incredibly calm and meditative. The minimal crowds during my visit added to the peaceful atmosphere, making it easy to slow down and fully enjoy the surroundings.
The entrance to the main Museum SAN building is both bold and scenic. Visitors are welcomed by a tranquil water garden, where a striking large red sculpture by Alexander Liberman, Archway, spans across the water—creating a powerful visual contrast against the minimalist surroundings and open sky.
This dramatic entryway sets the tone for the museum’s blend of art, architecture, and nature.
“After visiting about 20 of Tadao Ando’s buildings from Osaka to Naoshima, my mother-in-law and I were so moved by the experiential art of James Turrell in Naoshima that we invited the artist himself to visit the site of Museum SAN to propose an artwork and space.”
Outdoor Café at Museum SAN: Scenic Views of Lush Korean Mountains
Museum SAN has two cafés on site. The first is a small indoor café located just after the ticketing lobby—perfect for a quick break. The second, larger café is inside the main museum building and features spacious outdoor seating perched on the edge of the mountain.
From this terrace café, visitors can take in sweeping mountain views while listening to the gentle sounds of the water garden nearby. It’s a serene spot to unwind and take in the museum’s natural surroundings.
I can only imagine how stunning this view becomes during autumn in Korea, when the mountains are painted in vibrant shades of orange and red.
Museum SAN’s White Stone Garden: A Peaceful Zen-Inspired Space
The White Stone Garden at Museum SAN reminded me of traditional Japanese rock gardens often found at historic temples. One of its most striking features is the strong use of circular shapes, which appear throughout the space. The non-linear walking paths invite visitors to slow down, wander, and explore the space at their own pace.
The ground is covered in white and grey pebbles, giving the garden a minimalist, almost meditative aesthetic. Scattered throughout are several dome-like stone sculptures, each standing around 1.8 meters tall, adding to the sculptural landscape.
Unlike the lush greenery we typically associate with gardens, this one embraces a monochromatic palette. The trees are sparse and modest in size, and some areas may even feel intentionally barren.
Still, the atmosphere is incredibly calm, peaceful, quiet, and unexpectedly warm despite the lack of color or foliage. It’s a different kind of beauty—subtle and deeply reflective.
I recently came across photos of the garden blanketed in snow during winter, and the sight was absolutely stunning. I’d love to return someday to experience that winter landscape in person.
Experience Meditation in a Modern Art Museum Setting
The meditation hall at Museum SAN is tucked away within the White Stone Garden, subtly integrated into the landscape. It's easy to miss if you're not looking for it—marked only by a single sign and a small staircase that leads down to a minimalist concrete dome structure.
This underground meditation space is intentionally small and intimate, accommodating up to 15 participants per session. Each guided meditation lasts about 30 minutes. The experience begins with a quiet line-up outside the dome.
At the entrance, guests are served a small cup of welcome tea, then asked to remove their shoes and socks, if they wish, before stepping onto the cool concrete floor, which feels especially refreshing in warm weather.
Inside, the dome is softly lit and acoustically still. The meditation area occupies about two-thirds of the space, with mats neatly arranged in a semicircle along the curved walls to ensure a clear view of the instructor. Sessions are conducted in both Korean and English, making the experience accessible to international visitors.
Photography is not allowed inside the meditation hall, but you can check out the link at the end of this post to see official photos of this unique, architecture-meets-mindfulness space.
A Look Inside Museum SAN’s Permanent James Turrell Exhibition
At the far end of the White Stone Garden lies one of the most unique features of Museum SAN—the dedicated James Turrell Gallery. This separate building houses four of Turrell’s immersive light installations: Skyspace, Horizon Room, Ganzfeld, and Wedgework.
Entry is by guided tour only, and just like the meditation hall, visitors must book a time slot in advance when purchasing their museum ticket at the main lobby.
While the tour is conducted only in Korean, non-Korean speakers can still enjoy the experience. The artworks themselves are deeply sensory and don’t require language to be appreciated. However, since the transition between installations involves movement through dark corridors, stairs, and curtained entrances, it’s important to follow instructions closely.
TIP: Because the galleries are kept very dark, expect to walk in a single file, sometimes holding onto railings, walls, or simply following the person in front of you. If you don’t speak Korean, try to position yourself in the middle of the group—not at the front or very back—so you can safely follow the flow.
Overall, the experience is incredibly immersive and thought-provoking. My only wish was to be able to explore each room at my own pace, as the timed nature of the tour limits how long you can linger with each installation.
BONUS TIP: If your schedule allows, consider booking the special Colorful Night program, a sunset viewing experience available only on Fridays and Saturdays. This nighttime program focuses on Skyspace and Horizon Room, where the peaceful, muted tones of the day shift into vivid, saturated color displays as the sun sets. It's a rare opportunity to witness James Turrell’s work at twilight, and well worth the effort to plan ahead.
Having previously experienced Turrell’s installations at MoMA PS1 in New York, I can confidently say this was just as magical—if not more so—thanks to the natural surroundings and thoughtful pacing of the space.
Unfortunately, photography is not permitted inside the James Turrell Gallery, but it’s an experience that stays with you long after your visit.
Art in Nature: Ugo Rondinone’s Monks Looking Out Over the Korean Mountains
Outdoor view of BURN TO SHINE, a solo exhibition by Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone at Museum SAN, 2024.
Outdoor view of BURN TO SHINE, a solo exhibition by Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone at Museum SAN, 2024.
Tadao Ando’s Signature Interior Design at Museum SAN: Concrete and Geometry
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