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Monday, May 18, 2009

Seoul, Hongdae - Happy Day Jjimjilbang

This sauna is exceedingly easy to find. Despite this, my bf and I wandered around for over an hour trying to remember where it was! Now we know, and we will never stay anywhere else in Hongdae.  If you leave the Hongik University subway stop (Hongdae-ip-gu, line 2) from exit 9, just walk straight along that street until you get to the large, tall Benikea Premier Marigold Hotel building (베니키아프리미어메리골드호텔) about 10 min, on your left. Alternately, exit Hapjeong station exit 3, walk the same distance, it will be on your right. The jjimjilbang is down one level. Easy.

Inside, you'll find some 3 floors of decent rooms and baths, areas to sleep, and separate levels for the sauna and jjimjil. If you're staying overnight, I'd recommend getting there earlier as it can fill up on weekend nights. I find that the yoga room is the quietest, darkest place and they often leave it last for morning cleaning.

2017 edit:
Recently, there are a lot of negative reviews on Korean sites, mainly because it is so popular with young people for a cheap night over in Hongdae and as a result, super noisy and crowded at night. I would caution against spending the night here unless you really have no other option, or you just want to clean up and stay up all night. Also seems you may need to pay extra for mats/bedding now too :(

서울시 마포구 서교동 371-10 번지 B1층
Seoul, Mapo Gu, Seo-gyo Dong 371-10, B1
Open 24 hours a day/ 7 days a week

Rates:
(note: This information has been provided by recent visitors. All web sources seem to be out of date.)
Sauna + Jjimjilbang:
12,000 won - If you arrive between 5am & 8pm (for daytime or overnight use)
15,000 won - If you arrive between 8pm & 5am (for overnight use)
***Weekend costs may be slightly higher, no information available***

This cost covers 12 hours from the time you arrive, as usual. They also offer 4 hours free parking near the building.

Wikimap of Happy Day Jjimjilbang

26 comments:

  1. Thank you so much for posting this!!!! I have been here before in the Summer of 2006 while I was studying abroad in Korea but I haven't been able to find it anywhere online or with my friends. As you may know, there are no street names in Korea so getting directions was hit or miss but the address that you posted here has helped me millions! Thank u again!

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  2. Thanks for the feedback. I'm glad you found the address helpful. I'm always open to improving my method of giving directions if you ever have any input!

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  3. good work, thanks for the ininfofo.

    looking forward to their bubbles

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  4. Would like to ask, if possible if we drag our luggage bag there? As we arriving late night, we thought we would go bunk into the jjimjilbang.Thank you.

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  5. Jen, I think you'll be fine if you bring your luggage there. At the front desk, just ask them to keep it for you. The staff are pretty helpful and Korea is a very trustworthy place. I never worry about leaving my things with the staff.

    However, if you prefer something more secure and safe, I would recommend staying in the Silloam Firepot Sauna near Seoul Station. They have large luggage lockers available for you to store big bags really safely.

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  6. Hi Sonja,

    I am headin' back to Korea (3rd time!) and I was wondering how much extra is the fitness center entrance?

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  7. Bri~ The fitness club, equipment, and any classes there are included in the 6-7,000 won entry fee. They don't have a website, so I can't be 100% but this has been my experience. Unless they've remodeled or changed their facilities/services it should be the same.

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  8. Hello are there private rooms available here? or just public gender-segregated ones? Thanks!

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  9. No, there are no private rooms here, sorry. Most saunas & jjimjilbang are purely public - it's part of the experience!

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  10. Has exit # 5 changed to #9 today due to the contructon of addinng a new subway line to Inchon International & Gimpo Airports ?

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  11. Yes! You're absolutely right! I haven't actually been to this area since the new station opened. I'm sorry if you got lost, that connection looks messy and exit 5 is nowhere near where it was!! So, yes, I've updated the post - Exit 9.

    Thanks for the heads-up :)

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  12. so i think this is near on hey backpackers area which is 5 minutes from exit 9 i will be in korea on sept 8 i will visit this spa,thanks for the info....

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    1. DEAR SONJA - THIS IS AN EXCELLENT INFORMATION.
      ARE THERE ANY SIMILAR SAUNA'S AROUND GANGNAM, SEOLLEUNG OR SAMSEONG STATION AREAS
      ARE YOU STILL IN SEOUL?
      SIVA

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    2. Hi there! Well, I never did live in Seoul so no - I'm not there now :) But I have found a couple places you might try. I haven't been there myself but they get good ratings by Naver/Daum users.
      Near Gangnam, Hwang-geum Oncheon (황금온천). It's across from Seoul Seo-i Elementary School (서울 서이 초등학교) off bus lines 144 & 363.
      Near Seolleung, Sam Sauna (샘 사우나 삼성점) is in the Daelim Acrotel but it is probably just a mok-yok-tang/bathing area and no jjimjilbang.

      Also, you know, if you take your green subway line up to Gangbyun station or Gu-eui station, there's another Happy Day Spa like this one in Jayang-dong. More info in this post: http://saunasinkorea.blogspot.com/2009/08/seoul-ja-yang-dong-happy-day-spa.html
      Good luck and if you find a good one, let us know! :)

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  13. It's actually 10,000 Won if you arrive after 8pm on a Friday or Saturday. I was just there this past Friday and it was quite nice.

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    1. Thanks for the update. My information was all gathered from 2006-2011, when I was living in Korea so no doubt some of it is out of date already!

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  14. I think there are better saunas this place.was awful.. I guess you haven't been to many

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    1. I'm sorry to hear you didn't have a good time. It would be helpful if you posted specifically what made it awful. I would freely admit that Happy Day doesn't compare to Dragon Hill or some of the top-end jjimjilbang, but for an affordable overnight in Hongdae, it is pretty nice.

      I would counter your comment by saying perhaps you haven't been to many saunas... there are a huge number of really terrible, dirty, run-down neighborhood bathhouses out there which I do not review, for obvious reasons.

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  15. Sonja,
    Just stayed there last night, thanks to your review. I‘ve been looking for just such a jjimjilbang for the past few months after concerts, the place was just what I needed for a great price!

    Currently the building above ground is undergoing construction, they have a small lighted sign on the sidewalk for the non-Hangul speaker.

    Lastly, an easy way to locate the facility is that it‘s between the Hongik University and Hapjeong stations. One can find it by exiting either station and walking to the other.

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  16. I have just been to this Jimjilbang. It seems that the rates have gone up a little bit: I checked in on Thursday just before 8PM and had to pay 9000 krw, and the lady at the reception said that after 8PM the price is 10000 krw.

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    1. Thanks for the update! I do my best to stay on top of info, but it's hard to keep up with everything. I've checked several sources but they're out of date or lack info as well so I've just updated my post with your latest info. I appreciate your help :)

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  17. hi ~ have u been to any jimjibang that has private room for sleeping overnight? Thanks ^^

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    1. Private meaning a room to only yourself (and those you choose to join you)? No. Never. I don't believe such a place exists.There are motels which incorporate hot tubs in the rooms, there are jjimjilbang which have separate hushed rooms for only females/males (gender-segregated), but I've never known of any jjimjilbang with private rooms. Sorry.

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  18. hi..
    can i bring my luggage here?
    since i arrive seoul at 7 am and my hotel check in time is 2pm
    thanks forward ^^

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    1. I'm not 100% sure. A lot of places will store your bag at the front desk for the night, but it will not be secure. If it's a smaller suitcase it may fit in the lockers. That's kind of tough. Sorry. I remember when I traveled, I would use the lockers at the KTX and subway stations.

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