The 84-Meter Island Garden Reached by Boat: Geoje’s Oedo Botania
Oedo Botania is a marine botanical garden established on Oedo’s western island off the coast of Il운-myeon in Geoje. The island can only be reached by taking a sightseeing cruise. This guide focuses on the actual visitor route, covering the island’s history, cultivated by the couple Lee Chang-ho and Choi Ho-sook since 1969, preparations before landing, garden stay times, and weather-related variables.
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How One Night of Fishing in 1969 Led to Oedo Natural Farm in 1995
Oedo Botania is a marine botanical garden established on Oedo’s western island within Hallyeohaesang National Park, off the coast of Irun-myeon, Geoje-si. Oedo is divided into eastern and western islands; the botanical garden and visitor facilities are concentrated on the western island, while the eastern island is preserved in its natural state. The island’s highest point is known to be 84 meters above sea level, creating a combination of ascents and descents along the garden paths and views of the sea.
The life of the couple Lee Chang-ho and Choi Ho-suk on Oedo began in July 1969, when Lee Chang-ho encountered rough seas while fishing and spent a night on the island. The couple purchased the island by 1973 and continued cultivation and planting before opening it as “Oedo Natural Farm” on April 25, 1995. The central story of Oedo is that it is a privately developed site where former fields and village spaces were transformed into gardens and visitor facilities despite strong winds, limited drinking water, and the conditions of a rocky island.
Why the 11,000-won Admission Fee at 17 Oedo-gil Must Be Calculated Separately from the Boat Fare
Oedo Botania’s address is Oedo Haesang Nongwon, 17 Oedo-gil, Irun-myeon, Geoje-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, and its main telephone number is 055-681-4541. The official website is https://www.oedobotania.com. Admission is listed as 11,000 won for adults, 8,000 won for youths, military personnel, and police officers, and 5,000 won for children. This amount covers admission to the island garden and must be budgeted separately from the round-trip cruise fare departing from the various piers in Geoje.
Because Oedo has no land access, visitors travel by boat from cruise piers such as Jangseungpo, Jisepo, Gujora, and Dojangpo. The fare, whether a Haegeumgang sightseeing cruise is included, and the departure time vary according to the departure port and selected course. According to the Oedo Cruise Reservation Center, on the day of boarding, visitors should collect their boarding passes and purchase their Oedo admission tickets at the ticket office no later than 30 minutes before departure. Identification must be checked for all passengers, and a passenger manifest must be completed.
Arrive 30 Minutes before Departure and Bring Identification: The Two First Things to Prepare for an Island Trip
The Oedo Cruise Reservation Center states that departures generally operate from around 8:00 a.m. to around 4:00 p.m., although schedules vary depending on the season and number of reservations. During peak season, departures may run from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., while in the off-season there may be only two or three departures per day. Rather than memorizing a fixed timetable, it is safer to choose the boarding date first and then check the departure time on the operator’s reservation page.
Since passengers without identification are not permitted to board, adults should prepare a resident registration card, driver’s license, passport, or similar document, while children should bring proof of identity such as a copy of the family register, health insurance card, or student ID. Even if online reservations are sold out, some tickets may remain available at the site, but they can sell out early on weekends, holidays, and during the summer peak season. The reservation center’s inquiry telephone number is 1688-8788, and its consultation and operating hours are listed as 09:00–17:00 year-round.
Recheck the Haegeumgang Course and Whether You Can Land on Oedo on the Day of Your Visit, as Waves and Fog Can Change the Schedule
For an Oedo visit, the first decision is whether marine transport can operate, rather than whether the garden is open. Departures may be delayed or canceled because of waves, wind, fog, Coast Guard controls over port entry and departure, vessel conditions, or minimum passenger requirements. Cruise boats may depart 10–30 minutes earlier or later than the scheduled time. It is best to check operating conditions again on the morning of the visit and avoid scheduling essential transportation or reservations too tightly after the island itinerary.
On courses that include a Haegeumgang sightseeing cruise, waves or dense fog may prevent passengers from seeing the Haegeumgang section. Even when the boat operates only to Oedo, the Haegeumgang section may be described as an ancillary service, meaning the fare can remain the same. If viewing Haegeumgang is the primary purpose of the trip, read the operating conditions and refund policy before booking. Conversely, if the entire service is canceled due to Coast Guard restrictions, the reservation center states that a full refund will be provided.
The 90 Minutes When You Cannot Have a Meal on Oedo: Planning for Water, Shoes, and Restrooms
Because an Oedo visit must be completed within the time allotted by the cruise boat, allowing approximately 90 minutes for a garden walk is generally practical. The cruise reservation center states that the island has a souvenir shop, a small snack stand, beverage vending machines, and sales outlets, but no restaurant where a meal can be eaten. Finish your meal before departure, and prepare water before boarding or purchase it on the island.
Bringing food into the botanical garden is prohibited, and the entire island is designated as a no-alcohol and no-smoking area. Overnight stays and cooking are not allowed, and pets cannot accompany passengers on the cruise or to Oedo, except guide dogs for people with visual impairments. In summer, prepare a hat and sunscreen to account for the sun on both the boat deck and garden paths; after rain or in winter, comfortable sneakers with good traction are recommended.
Free Pier Parking and the Practical Limitations of Using Strollers and Wheelchairs
It is not possible to reach the island directly by public transportation; visitors must first travel to the cruise pier for which they have made a reservation. For example, the boarding location for departures from Jisepo is listed as 89-19 Jisepohaean-ro, Irun-myeon, Geoje-si, Gyeongsangnam-do. The Oedo Cruise Reservation Center indicates that free parking is available at the pier, but the area may be crowded during peak season, so arriving earlier than the ticketing cutoff 30 minutes before departure is necessary.
Strollers and wheelchairs are reportedly available for rental on Oedo, but quantities are limited, and the island’s terrain and slopes can make movement difficult. Stroller and wheelchair users should contact the operator and Oedo before departure to ask about available quantities and the day’s route. It has not been confirmed whether foreign-language assistance is provided regularly, so international visitors should prepare their passports as identification and realistically reconfirm the boarding procedures and return time with their companions.
Combine Venus Garden and Haegeumgang on the Same Day, but Plan Your Movements around the Return Time
Oedo is often arranged not merely as a place to view gardens but as an itinerary that also offers views of the islands of Hallyeohaesang and Haegeumgang from the boat. The Oedo–Haegeumgang course typically lands at Oedo after a sightseeing cruise around Haegeumgang, and the order or inclusion of the Haegeumgang section may change because of marine conditions. This is why you should first check the gathering time for the return boat before looking for filming locations and viewpoints in the island garden.
A southern Geoje itinerary can connect Dojangpo Port, Windy Hill, Sinseondae, and Hakdong Mongdol Beach after returning from the Oedo cruise, but Oedo boat services are affected by weather and delays during boarding and disembarkation. If you also plan to visit Windy Hill on the same day, first check the travel distance between the cruise’s return port and Dojangpo on a map, and leave ample time for sunset viewing and restaurant reservations. A YouTube search was attempted, but no video was included because the search service quota had been exceeded and results could not be obtained.
Before You Go
- Address
- Oedo Haesang Nongwon, 17 Oedo-gil, Irun-myeon, Geoje-si, Gyeongsangnam-do
- Hours
- The official operating hours of the Oedo Botania garden could not be confirmed. Consultation and operating information from the Oedo Cruise Reservation Center is available 09:00–17:00 year-round, while actual departures vary according to the season, weather, and passenger numbers.
- Closed
- The official closing days of the Oedo Botania garden could not be confirmed. The cruise reservation center states that it operates year-round.
- Admission
- Adults 11,000 won / youths, military personnel, and police officers 8,000 won / children 5,000 won. Round-trip cruise fare not included.
- Phone
- 055-681-4541
- Official site
- https://www.oedobotania.com
- Transport
- No land access. Board at cruise piers such as Jangseungpo, Jisepo, Gujora, and Dojangpo in Geoje. Arrive at the ticket office at least 30 minutes before departure, and all passengers must bring identification.
- Parking
- Free parking is available at the cruise pier. Congestion is possible during peak season.
- Time needed
- Approximately 90 minutes is recommended for viewing the island garden. A half-day itinerary is recommended when cruise travel and a Haegeumgang sightseeing cruise are included.
- Accessibility
- Strollers and wheelchairs can be rented on Oedo, but quantities are limited, and movement may be difficult because of the island’s terrain. It could not be confirmed whether foreign-language assistance is provided regularly.
The information above is current as of the time of writing. Check the official information again before visiting.
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