Imagine you have just spent a morning diligently teaching and your shoulders have begun to tense up. Wouldn't it be nice to relax and escape the pressures of the rat race? How about a hot bath? Public baths can be found in almost every neighborhood and hamlet in Korea. For many Koreans, the public bath is a weekly or bi-weekly ritual; a chance to unwind and get really clean (those showers just don't do the job). If you have not yet experienced a public bath, make your firstvisit an unforgetable one to. We suggest a place that goes well beyond the average and into the extraordinary.
Hurshimchang spa is a public bath that utilizes waters from the springs deep beneath the ground on which it stands. Its size alone seperates it from other spas, and thus earns it the title, "grand spa." The spa is, of course, seperated into men's and women's sections, but both are similar. The main area is an atrium with a large glass dome beneath which is housed a number of different shaped pools of varying temperatures ranging from 15C to 47C (59F to 117F). In addition to the spring baths, there are different kinds of medicinal baths bearing names like: Jasmine bath, Ginseng Bath, Mineral bath (featuring dead sea salt), Mud bath (sorry guys, this is in the women's spa only), Tea bath, and Cave bath. There are also saunas, a steam room, an ondol room, squall showers, mist showers, "lying down" baths, "sitting down" baths, an open air bath ( cold and hot), an area to sit and play paduk or janggi whilst water slips down your body. A half hour massage is available in the men's and women's spas for 8000 W. So it is easy to see how one can spend many hours soaking away in each different bath or sweating off the calories in the saunas.
However, the service doesn't stop there. Need a good workout? Put on the provided pajamas and stroll on down to the lower floor into the free health club that features modern "Cybex" workout equpment as well as free weights and a variety of cardiovascular exercise equipment. Need a nap? They have a sleeping room. Did you forget your toothbrush, shampoo, rinse, or razor? For a very reasonable price, you can buy them from the convenient vending machines. Hungry? There are several restaurants in the building, including a buffet style restaurant that features various types of Asian cuisine (pricey but worth it!) Need a haircut, guys? There is a barbershop that will provide you with a haircut, pedicure, cucumber facial, and a deep hour-long massage for W 50 000. Sorry ladies, beauty parlor services are not available. Does a good bath make you want to shop? There is shopping available on the first floor with some pretty good deals on a wide variety of products.
When you arrive at the main doors there is a woman behind a counter who will sell you a ticket to the spa. Take your ticket to the top floor. Once there you will give your ticket to an attendant who will give you a key. One might wonder, where do I keep this key while I am bathing? Ladies with long hair can use it to tie their hair into a ponytail, others usually wear it around their wrist or ankle. If you purchase anything while in the spa, a tag will be added to your key tag and you will pay when you leave (restaurants, however, require cash upon service). Next, proceed to your locker. Once you receive your key you may come and go from the spa as you like, wearing the provided pajamas. Once you enter the spa area, be sure to shower completely before you begin soaking, showering, baking, steaming, and the like. Don't worry about toiletries because they have them all: hairbrushes, combs, hairdryers, nail clippers, aftershave and cologne for the guys, perfume and powder for the ladies. Basically , you don't have to bring anything with you except a lot of time. we recommend a minimum of two hours, more if you plan to exercise, eat, or get a massage.
The spa is open from 5:30am-9:00pm daily (even holidays). The cost for admission is W 6600 per adult, W 4400 per child (between 5:30am and 8:00am prices are W 4400 per adult and W 3300 per child). This price may seem high until you see the facilities and realize that it is a very good deal for the money. The building has a parking lot and spa guests are allowed a three hour maximum.
It is located at subway stop #27 (Onchonjang). From the subway, proceed west out the doors facing the large busy street. Choose the closest pedestrian overpass. While on the overpass you see Hurshimchang quite easily (look west) due to its odd shape: two large glass humps on either side. Simply walk in that direction taking the most direct route. If you are not arriving by subway, most taxi drivers will know the location if you say, "Huh sheem chang Mok yohk tang." From PNU it takes about five minutes and costs about W 1300. There are several buses that stop in Onchonjang near McDonald's such as 51, 37, 49, 49-1, 80. From McDonald's walk north through the alleyway behind the police station. Have fun and remember, don't drink the water!