In early April, Cruise Media LLC’s Carolyn Spencer Brown and Teijo Niemelä sailed onboard Mitsui Ocean Fuji, which belongs to a relatively new Japanese brand Mitsui Ocean Cruises. The 32,477-gross-ton and 458-passenger ship caters mainly to Japanese guests but welcomes international passengers as well. The 7-night cruise was a roundtrip voyage from Tokyo International Cruise Terminal and included a full-day call in Busan, South Korea.
Both Carolyn and Teijo have visited Busan previously, so they decided to compare notes: Teijo would take the ship’s organized shore excursion with an English-speaking guide, while Carolyn would spend the day exploring on her own.
Teijo’s organized shore excursion
I was lucky to take the ship’s English-speaking shore excursion, as it took me to locations I had not visited before over the course of the five-hour tour. Our first visit was to Gamcheon Cultural Village, which is often described as the “Santorini of Korea” or the “Machu Picchu of Busan.” During the early morning hours, it was already evident that the village — built on a mountain slope with brightly painted homes, murals and sculptures — is popular among visitors and one of the most Instagrammable sights in Busan.
As cherry blossoms were the theme of our cruise, our second stop took us to the Nakdonggang Riverside Cherry Blossom Festival. It was an enchanting spring landscape along a 12-kilometer (7.5-mile) stretch, transformed into a tunnel of fully bloomed cherry blossoms.
Despite visiting two very photogenic sites, perhaps the best part was our guide, nicknamed “Celine,” who provided context for the tour with information about current affairs and life in Korea. Note: The Busan metro area has over 3.4 million inhabitants, so traffic can slow sightseeing.
Carolyn’s independent exploration
I have loved Busan since my first visit and often think of it as Korea’s Los Angeles. That’s because it has mountains and the sea; wonderful beaches; a glamorous skyline; and not to mention its history, culinary heritage and naturally, great shopping.
The challenge for a one-day visit to Busan (especially if you’ve already visited), is that much like LA, it too is a sprawling, cosmopolitan city. This makes it particularly difficult to choose a direction. On this trip, I decided to focus on Busan’s eastern neighborhoods. Here, I made a second visit to its famous Haedong Yonggungsa Temple to welcome in the sunrise on a gorgeous morning. The temple is set along the sea, amidst craggy rocks and lush forests. At that early hour, the surroundings both quieted my soul and amped up my heart. The temple is a 40-minute taxi or rideshare from the ship’s terminal in the Jung-gu district, so plan accordingly.
In Busan, I always aim to reach a high elevation so that I can get my bearings and admire this complex metropolis. From the temple, I headed over to Busan X The Sky, the second tallest tower in Korea. Located within the Haeundae LCT Landmark Tower, just off the beach, X the Sky offers traversable glass walkways around the 98th, 99th and 100th floors — not for the faint of heart. What can you see? Everything from the Gwangan Bridge and Marine City to the sea and the mountains. At this height, it’s even possible to see the massive Busan Citizens Park from above.
Coming back down to earth, I adore strolling the beach and pathways of Haeundae; it’s always fun to watch one of the many surf classes in action.
I left myself just a bit of time, before reporting back to Mitsui Ocean Fuji, to cab it downtown. Here, the Lotte Department Store’s food hall, cafes, and the Olive Young branch of Korean potions, is a lighthearted diversion. Jagalchi Market, which specializes in seafood, is nearby; but alas, I ran out of time. I’ll save it for my next trip to Busan.
Gamcheon Cultural Village, Photo credit: Teijo Niemela
Cherry Blossom Festival, photo credit: Teijo Niemela
Olive Young store, photo credit: Carolyn Spencer Brown
