A Healing Journey of Pottery, Rice, and Hot Springs

In early spring, Icheon blooms with the deep yellow flowers of the cornus (sansuyu) tree, and the city is famous as a home of ceramics, hot springs, and rice. Once the site of royal kilns that fired ceramics for the palace, the Icheon area is home not only to the royal kiln heritage sites but also to many pottery studios carrying on that tradition, making it possible to combine historical exploration with hands-on pottery experience. Enjoy Icheon rice cuisine, unwind your travel fatigue at Spa Plus — famous for its hot springs — and make the day one to remember.

Along the way

1. 1

   Deulkkotmaeul Pottery Studio

   도예공방 들꽃마을

   Here you can try your hand at making pottery and stay overnight at the studio; the piece you make will be glazed and fired, then sent to your home. You can create a one-of-a-kind piece of pottery all your own and take home a beautiful memory of the experience. At night, you can enjoy a campfire in the front yard of Deulkkotmaeul, gaze up at a sky full of stars, and play acoustic guitar, fully savoring the romance of youth. MoreLess

   ReviewsSaveDirections
2. 2

   Lunch (Imgeumnim Ssalbapjip, Icheon Ssalbapjip)

   점심식사 (임금님 쌀밥집, 이천쌀밥집)

   [Imgeumnim Ssalbapjip] Imgeumnim Ssalbapjip is famous not only for its full-course meals but also for its braised chicken. Well-seasoned throughout, the braised chicken is spicy yet chewy and popular with people of all ages. Instead of the usual doenjang-jjigae (soybean paste stew) served with the set meal, it offers cheonggukjang (fermented soybean stew) without the strong smell, for a distinctive flavor. The seasonal wild greens, hand-picked and prepared, are also a delicacy here. [Icheon Ssalbapjip] Icheon Ssalbapjip, the originator of Icheon rice cuisine, offers outstanding rice. The food is generous, with wild greens, meat, and fish well balanced and very flavorful. The rice comes in two types, both cooked in stone pots — plain rice made only with Icheon rice, and nutritious rice cooked with jujube, ginkgo nut, pine nut, sweet potato, pumpkin seed, ginseng, soybean, and chestnut — both so delicious that you won't feel anything is missing even without side dishes. The restaurant also has a traditional ceramics exhibition hall and a hands-on workshop, letting you enjoy the beauty of traditional pottery along with traditional cuisine.MoreLess

   

   ReviewsSaveDirections
3. 3
   Seolbong Park

   설봉공원

   Seolbong Park is centered on a large lake, with a walking trail, a garden with a traditional feel, and a traditional kiln arranged around it, making it a pleasant resting space in every respect. Outside the World Ceramic Center building is a pottery experience area where anyone can try making pottery at low cost. Unlike other experience centers that focus mainly on producing works and run the hands-on program as a side activity, this space is built with the pottery experience itself as its main purpose, so visitors can enjoy pottery-making under expert instructors in a pleasant setting. MoreLess

   ReviewsSaveDirections
4. 4

   Spa Plus

   스파플러스

   Known as the largest landmark in the Icheon area, the Icheon Miranda Hotel consists of a main building with one basement floor and ten above-ground floors, an annex of three floors — together about 26,400 square meters (8,000 pyeong) — and Spa Plus, spanning about 33,000 square meters (10,000 pyeong). Spa Plus is a comprehensive hot spring theme park where you can enjoy natural hot spring water amid a natural valley setting; its eco-friendly hot spring garden is made up of an outdoor 'Theme Spa Zone' and an indoor 'Hot Spring Sauna Zone,' letting the whole family enjoy a variety of water activities together. MoreLess

   ReviewsSaveDirections