Where are the 10 temples with the best autumn leaves in the country? Enjoy autumn at a temple with sacred treasures

Recently, Metaverse Mountain Temple, which was created in the online space, has gained popularity as a healing space, captivating many people who are tired of daily life. If you have recharged your energy at an online mountain temple, why not try looking for an ‘offline mountain temple’ where you can feel the clean air, cool breeze, and refreshing forest scent?

It can be an even more enriching fall outing by viewing the cultural and natural heritage of the temple at a quiet temple buried in the peak of fall foliage.

According to the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism on the 7th, Naejangsa Temple in Jeongeup, Jeollabuk-do is the famous temple with the largest number of visitors during the fall foliage season (October to November) compared to the rest of the year.

Naejangsa Temple, located in Naejangsan National Park, had an average of 240,530 visitors per month from October to November last year, which was 4.8 times the monthly average for the rest of the year (50,429).

Even in Naejangsan Mountain, which is famous for its beautiful fall foliage due to the large daily temperature range and long hours of sunlight, the autumn foliage tunnel that runs from Naejangsa Iljumun Gate to Naejangsa Temple is by far the highlight. This year, the peak of Naejangsan’s autumn leaves is expected to be around the 7th to 8th.

Baekyangsa Temple in Jangseong, Gwangju, Jeollanam-do, located at the foot of Baekam Mountain in Naejangsan National Park, is also a famous place for autumn leaves. Last year, 2.9 times more visitors than usual visited Baekyangsa Temple during the fall foliage season.

Baekamsan Mountain's Baekhakbong, famous for its outstanding natural scenery, has a spectacular view as if it is embracing a temple, so the entire area of ​​Baekamsan Baekyangsa Temple has been designated as a scenic spot.

There are many sacred treasures held by Baekyangsa Temple. The Soyo Daesa Pagoda, which is the tomb of Soyo Daesa (1562-1649), who served as the chief priest of Baekyang Temple, the wooden Amitabha Buddha statue created to pray for the enlightenment of the royal ancestors of the late Joseon Dynasty, and the Amitabha Buddha sermon painting created by 11 Joseon painters in the 18th century are designated as treasures.

Beopjusa Temple in Boeun, North Chungcheong Province, located in Songnisan National Park, is also a place that cannot be missed when talking about autumn leaves and cultural heritage.

Beopjusa Temple, a thousand-year-old temple whose temple itself is registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, receives twice as many visitors as usual during the fall season. The autumn leaves along Sejo-gil, which runs from Beopjusa Temple to Sesimjeong, are especially famous.

Beopjusa Temple has three national treasures, including the Unified Silla stone lantern, the Twin Lion Stone Lantern, Palsangjeon Hall, and Seokryeonji Pond. There are also many treasures, including the Stone Lantern of the Four Heavenly Kings, Wontongbojeon, Gwaebultaeng, and iron pot.

Seonunsa Temple in Gochang, Jeollabuk-do is beautiful when camellia flowers bloom in the spring, but the scenery created by maple leaves in fall is no less beautiful. The sight of beautifully colored maple leaves reflecting on the water of Dosolcheon Stream, and the sight of maple leaves past their peak falling on the water and coloring Dosolcheon Stream red are spectacular.

Seonunsa Temple has many treasures, including the Daeungjeon Hall, Yeongsanjeon Hall, and Manseru Pavilion, as well as the gilt-bronze seated Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva statue, which recently attracted many visitors from the Seoul Buddhist Central Museum, as well as a natural monument, the Camellia Forest.

Among temples near Seoul, Yongmunsa Temple in Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi Province, is a representative fall attraction.

When the ginkgo tree, designated as a natural monument, turns golden and blends in with the red maple leaves, you can feel the atmosphere of mid-autumn.

The treasured gilt-bronze seated Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva statue in Gwaneumjeon on the grounds of Yongmunsa Temple, along with the treasured State Preceptor Jeongji Pagoda and monumental ginkgo tree on the east side, about 300 meters away from Yongmunsa Temple, make Yongmunsa Temple shine.

Temples in the Gyeongbuk region, such as Jikjisa Temple in Gimcheon, Daejeon Temple in Cheongsong, and Unmunsa Temple in Cheongdo, are all famous for their beautiful autumn scenery.

Jikjisa Temple creates a beautiful scenery with the red-colored Hwangaksan Mountain and the antique, thousand-year-old temple.

In the grounds of Jikjisa Temple and the Seongbo Museum, you can see various sacred treasures, including treasures such as the Daeungjeon Hall, the stone seated Yaksha Tathagata statue, the East and West three-story stone pagodas, and the Sakyamuni Buddha Triad.

At Cheongsong Daejeon Temple, located within Juwangsan National Park, the number of visitors during autumn foliage season increases more than three times compared to usual.

You can enjoy beautifully colored autumn leaves against the backdrop of an oddly shaped cliff. Bogwangjeon of Daejeonsa Temple is designated as a treasure, and the Juwang Valley area with its majestic mountain scenery is a scenic spot.

At Unmunsa Temple in Cheongdo, the largest nun training center in Korea, the large ginkgo tree located within the monks’ training area is a specialty. This space is open for only three days in the fall when the trees turn yellow, and although I missed this year's opening day (October 29-31) and can't get close, the scenery of ginkgo trees, red maple leaves, and green pine trees mixed together beyond the fence is still spectacular.

At Unmunsa Temple, where there are several treasures, including 13 treasures such as the stone lantern in front of Geumdang, the stone seated Buddha statue, and the Vairocana Samsin Buddhist painting, you can also take a look at the turbulent history of the thousand-year old temple that has continued since the Silla period.

Naesosa Temple in Buan, Jeollabuk-do, which contains national treasures, and Buseoksa Temple in Yeongju, Gyeongbuk are representative temples where you can enjoy cultural heritage and autumn leaves at the same time.

At Naesosa Temple, famous for its elaborate dragon carvings, a national treasure, you can see colorful autumn leaves while walking along the fir forest path leading from Iljumun Gate to the temple.

Buseoksa Temple in Yeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do has five national treasures, including Muryangsujeon Hall, a stone lantern in front of Muryangsujeon Hall, Josadang Hall, a seated Buddha statue of Buddha, and a mural at Josadang Hall. Other treasures of Buseoksa Temple include the ginkgo tree road leading from Iljumun Gate of Buseoksa Temple to Cheonwangmun Gate and the autumn scenery of Sobaeksan Mountain seen from the front yard of Muryangsujeon Hall.

In addition, Shinheungsa Temple in Sokcho, Gangwon-do, and Baekdamsa Temple in Inje, as well as Magoksa Temple and Gapsa Temple in Gongju, South Chungcheong Province, are also temples that attract many visitors in the fall.

About 60 temples across the country with cultural heritage will be exempted from paying cultural property admission fees from visitors starting in 2023, allowing visitors to experience the temple's cultural heritage for free. According to the Jogye Order, the total number of visitors to the 64 temples exempted from admission fees last year was 43.8 million, a 2.64-fold increase compared to 2022 before the exemption.