Sayuwon in Gunwi, with a 200-year-old crape myrtle and the 20.5 m Sodae Tower

From the 2006 Land Purchase to the September 2021 Opening: The Making of Sayuwon

Sayuwon is a reservation-only arboretum located at 1176 Chisan Hyoryeong-ro, Bugae-myeon, Gunwi-gun, Daegu Metropolitan City. The present-day grounds began taking shape after the Gunwi site was purchased in March 2006. The framework of the forest was created through the transplantation of crape myrtles, pine trees, and Chinese hackberries in 2009; four quince trees in 2010; Japanese cornel in 2015; and plum trees in 2019.

It was registered as Bugae Arboretum in December 2017, the Sayuwon corporation was established in March 2020, and the arboretum opened under a reservation system in September 2021. The name “Sayuwon” reflects its operating philosophy: a garden intended for contemplation while walking between the forest and architecture, rather than simply viewing plants. In 2025, it was selected as a promising tourist destination in the “Star of Korean Tourism” awards by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization.

Visiting from 09:00 to 17:00 and Weekday Admission of 50,000 Won: 6 Things to Check Before Booking

Visiting hours are 09:00–17:00 from Tuesday through Sunday, with last admission at 15:00. The arboretum is closed every Monday, and the main telephone number is 054-383-1278. The official website is https://sayuwon.com/, and telephone assistance is available from 09:00–11:30 and 13:00–17:00, except on closure days.

Standard admission must be reserved by the day before the visit, while packages including meals must be reserved by two days before the visit. If spaces remain, visitors may pay and enter on a first-come, first-served basis upon arrival, but if your schedule is fixed, it is safer to plan on making an online reservation. Weekday admission is 50,000 won for adults and 45,000 won for elementary, middle, and high school students. On weekends and public holidays, admission is 69,000 won for adults and 62,000 won for students.

• Children of preschool age, from 0 to 7 years old, are not permitted to enter.
• Minors must be accompanied by a guardian and provide age-verification documents.
• All areas of the grounds are smoke-free, and electronic and liquid cigarettes are also prohibited.
• Entering areas outside the open zones and designated trails is prohibited.
• Outside food is restricted for visitors other than lodging guests, so check first whether your reserved package includes a meal.

Myeongjeong, Sode, and Hanyusigyeong at the Foot of Palgongsan Mountain, Covering 520,000 Square Meters

Sayuwon is a space where gardens and architecture are scattered across a 520,000-square-meter site. Because visiting involves extended walking with uphill and downhill sections rather than a short stroll, prepare walking shoes, water, and seasonal protection from cold or sun. Due to the terrain and trail conditions, independent wheelchair or stroller access throughout the entire site is limited, so it is advisable to call before booking and ask which areas are accessible.

Myeongjeong, designed by Seung H-Sang, was completed in 2019 and is organized around a courtyard where only the sky can be seen and elements of water. Sode, designed by Portuguese architects Álvaro Siza and Carlos Castanheira, is a tilted 20.5-meter observation tower completed in the same year. The route up Sode is centered on reading Sayuwon’s perspective and views in all four directions, so it may not suit travelers who find elevated spaces or stair travel difficult.

The 200-Year-Old Crape Myrtles of Byeolyudongcheon, Completed in 2014, and Summer Visiting Highlights

Byeolyudongcheon is a garden where crape myrtles more than 200 years old, collected by the founder, were transplanted and landscaped by garden designer Kawagishi Matsunobu. Completed in 2014, this area is particularly good for appreciating the passage of time embodied in the plantings during the long summer season when the crape myrtles bloom, although the timing and density of flowering vary each year depending on the weather.

At Hanyusigyeong, the vegetation changes from an evergreen Japanese black pine woodland path to a zelkova forest. Since the space was designed to express seasonal changes in light, color, and scent, visitors following an itinerary focused only on flowers may miss Sayuwon’s design concept. Check the seasonal plantings and any events for your visiting date again on the reservation page, and arrive earlier than the 15:00 last-admission time so you can divide your time between the forest paths and the buildings.

Distinct Architectural Languages Left in the Forest by Seung H-Sang, Álvaro Siza, and Choi Wook

Sayuwon is not simply a place where buildings were erected among trees; it is a garden designed by architects and landscape architects to offer different ways of experiencing each space. Seung H-Sang designed Sadam, while landscape architects Jeong Young-sun and Park Seung-jin handled the landscaping, completing it in 2016. Sadam includes a restaurant overlooking a valley landscape, ponds with aquatic plants and koi, and a zelkova forest.

Cheomdan, at the highest point of Sayuwon, is Seung H-Sang’s 2018 work, created by coating an existing water tank in concrete and turning it into an altar for viewing the stars. Gagabinbin, designed and landscaped by Choi Wook and Park Seung-jin, was completed in 2022 and serves as a resting place overlooking the terrain and scenery from the highest point. Symphony 6 is a 250-seat outdoor performance venue beside Myeongjeong, designed by Andrea Liverani.

Express Bus 9-2, Changpyeong 2-ri, and Parking Lots 1 and 2: Differences in How to Arrive

If you are driving, it is best to set “Sayuwon” or 1176 Chisan Hyoryeong-ro, Bugae-myeon, Gunwi-gun, Daegu Metropolitan City, as your destination in your navigation system. Parking is available in Parking Lot 1 and Parking Lot 2. The address 711-6 Sanseong Gaeum-ro, Sanseong-myeon, is the address of another business, not Sayuwon, so do not use it when entering your destination.

For public transportation, take Express Bus 9-2, get off at the Changpyeong 2-ri bus stop, and walk for approximately six minutes. However, service intervals and transfer times in Gunwi’s mountainous areas may be long, so if you are departing from central Daegu, check the bus timetable and final departure again on the day of travel. Since the journey is described as approximately 32 km and 45 minutes by car from Dongdaegu Station, a taxi or rental car is a practical option if you have heavy luggage or difficulty walking.

• Parking: Parking Lot 1 and Parking Lot 2 available
• Bus: Express Bus 9-2; approximately six minutes on foot after getting off at the Changpyeong 2-ri stop
• Recommended visiting time: At least 3–4 hours, considering the sloping grounds
• Foreign-language assistance: The official website offers English, Japanese, and Chinese menus.

Sadam, Yoyobinbin, and Yuru Cabin: When Planning an Extended Visit

Sadam on the grounds is a dining space, while Yoyobinbin is a library at the entrance to Soyohon where visitors can see Álvaro Siza’s drawings and furniture. Reservations including meals close two days before the visit, one day earlier than standard admission reservations, so be careful not to confuse the booking deadline when planning an itinerary that includes a meal.

Accommodation at Yuru Cabin is divided into single-person Cabins A–H, double rooms for two people, and ondol rooms for three people. Check-in is at 13:00 and check-out is at 10:00, and admission on the day of check-in and dinner are included. No additional guests can be accommodated in the rooms; nighttime visits are prohibited for safety reasons, and smoking and drinking are also prohibited. The fact that the accommodation does not provide electronic devices is another condition that travelers planning to work during their stay should know in advance.