Jogyesa Temple

조계사

A downtown temple where incense drifts between office towers

Hours

Grounds always open; main hall about 4am–9pm

Tickets

Free

Address

55 Ujeongguk-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Right next to Insadong, this is the head temple of Korea's Jogye Order. A tall old scholar tree and a lacebark pine stand in the main courtyard, and office workers slip in at lunch just to sit for a while. Around Buddha's Birthday in May the whole yard disappears under lanterns, and in autumn there is a chrysanthemum display. The temple stay information office is on the grounds.