Jjimjilbang: Spa Land

 

When traveling to South Korea, you do not want to miss a visit at a jjimjilbang. They are located everywhere. A Jjimjilbang (찜질방) is a public bathhouse and a popular weekend destination for Korean families. Most jjimjilbangs are open 24 hours. Therefore, one can sleep overnight. The most picturesque and amazing designs jjimjilbang is Spa Land. This jjimjilbang located in Shinsegae Centum City Shopping Center in Busan. This jjimjilbang, however, do not allow overnight since they only open from 6 AM to 12 AM. In this jjimjilbang, the running man episode 82 was filming here with Lee Da Hee as a guest.

Credit @ Running Man - SBS & iSUBS

Direction:
Busan Station - Take Bus 1001 or 1003 from Busan Station to Centum City 
Haeundae Beach - Take Line 2 (Green) from Haeundae to Centum City (3 stops)

Fee: (Up to 4 hours)
Adults: 13,000 won weekday / 15,000 won weekend - Happy Hour 8,000 won weekday / 10,000 won weekend (Before 9 AM or After 8PM) Note: There is a coupon to enter this jjimjilbang. 

Spa Land Jjimjilbang Map

When we visited Busan, we chose to visit after 8 PM because it was less crowded. After pay for the entrance fee, they assigned us the locker number. 

Ticket Counter (Credit @ smshayne )

With the ticket, we went up to where the shoe lockers were located. We kept our shoes in the locker with the number that we had already assigned. The shoe locker key will also be used as the entrance and exit access key to the jjimjilbang and lockers inside the bath room. After scan the key at the entrance, we picked up our jjimjilbang clothing to use after the shower. Men and women have different color.

Shoe Lockers

From shoe locker, scan the key and enter from right side

Pick up the jjimjilbang clothing and waiting area (Credit @ CNN)

 At this time, men and women went separate to their locker room. 

Women enter this side

Inside the locker room, everything was weird at the first time because everyone was naked and walk around the lockers. I looked for my locker and put my clothing and stuffs inside the locker and naked. My dad and I then entered the bathtub area.

 

Bathtubs (Credit @ CNN)

 

Outdoor bathtubs - women only (Credit @ CNN)

Outdoor bathtubs - women only (Credit @ CNN)

Inside the bathtubs, there was an instruction board on how to use the jjimjilbang. Before getting in the bathtubs, we had to take a quick shower first. There are lots of bathtubs and saunas. Each bathtub and sauna had a different temperature. The saunas had a higher temperature than the bathtubs. The bathtubs fed by two different kinds of all-natural spring water pumped up from 1000 meter underground. After the quick shower, we started to enter the bathtub with the coldest temperature in 20s Celsius. After several minutes, we moved to the higher temperature bathtub. We did this until we tried all the bathtubs. After that, we tried the saunas from the lowest temperature to the highest temperature sauna. Inside the bathtub area, they also offered massaging service but they had already closed when we got there. We took the shower after we tried all the bathtubs and saunas. This time with soap and shampoo.

When we were done, we went back to the locker room and dry with the towels. Next thing everyone did after the bath was to drink water so that we did not get dehydration. There was a water dispenser inside the locker room. Then, I put the jjimjilbang clothing on. Inside the jjimjilbang, they also have a make-up desk area, where you can use the hairdryer, comb, and free skin - lotion - toner for face.

From the locker room, we followed the sign that brought us to the meeting point toward the saunas room.

At the meeting point, we met my mon and sister. We then headed out to an open-air foot spa. Each tub again have different temperature and we started from the lowest to the highest temperature.

The foot-spa closed at 10PM. We stayed until that time. We then went to try all the saunas. I got headache when my surrounding got too hot. Therefore, I did not try the saunas that were very hot. There were a total of 13 sauna rooms. Each sauna room had a different theme inside. 

Credit @ CNN

Credit @ CNN

Credit @ CNN

Credit @ CNN

Credit @ CNN

 

Food stand

 Inside the saunas,

Credit @ CNN

When we were done, we went back to the locker room and changed the clothing. We then go back to the entrance, exit , and pick up our shoes. In Spa Land, they also offered spa beauty and water massage at the second floor.

Credit @ CNN

Credit @ CNN

How to make a sheep-looked like head for jjimjilbang:

This hat is called as Yangmeori. It is very easy to make this head. Here is step-by-step how to make it with pictures.

1. Take a small regular towel and fold it three times

2. Fold both of the end of the towel couple times that fitted your head

3. Your sheep-head is ready

Note: try hardboiled and pakbingsu while you visit the jjimjilbang