Pohang Homigot Sunrise and Guryongpo Street: A Day Trip Guide

Yes, you can see the Homigot sunrise and walk Guryongpo's old street in one day from Pohang. Stay the night in Pohang or near Homigot, catch sunrise at the giant bronze "Hands of Harmony" sculpture, then head a short ride south to Guryongpo for its preserved Japanese-era house street, the harbour market and a seafood lunch. If you are coming from Seoul, the KTX gets you to Pohang Station in about two and a half hours, so an overnight stay works much better than trying to reach the coast before dawn.

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Why Homigot is Korea's famous sunrise spot

Homigot sits on the tip of a peninsula that sticks out into the East Sea, the "tail of the tiger" in the old idea that the Korean peninsula looks like a tiger. Because it faces open water to the east, it is one of the earliest places on the mainland to see the sun come up, and it is where Korea's big New Year sunrise festival is held every 1 January.

The image everyone knows is the Hands of Harmony (Sangsaengui Son): a huge bronze right hand rising out of the sea, with a matching left hand on land in Homigot Sunrise Square. On a clear morning the sun can appear between the fingers, which is why photographers line the sea wall well before sunrise.

Tips for the sunrise itself

Check the sunrise time the night before. It shifts through the year; in winter it is around 7:30 a.m., in summer much earlier. A weather app or the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute site will tell you.
Arrive 30–40 minutes early. The sky turns colour well before the sun clears the horizon, and the best spots along the sea wall fill up on weekends.
Dress warmer than you think. The wind off the East Sea is strong, especially from November to March.
Avoid 1 January unless you love crowds. The festival is fun, but traffic and parking are very hard that morning.

Around the square you will also find the Homigot Lighthouse, one of the oldest in Korea, and the National Lighthouse Museum next to it. Check opening days on the official site before you plan around it.

Getting there: Seoul to Pohang to Homigot

Seoul to Pohang

KTX trains run from Seoul Station to Pohang Station. Book on the Korail website or app; see our guide to booking the KTX as a tourist, which works the same way for Pohang. Express and intercity buses from Seoul also run to Pohang if trains are sold out.

Pohang to Homigot and Guryongpo

Homigot is not on a train line. Your options:

Local bus: City buses run from central Pohang (the intercity bus terminal area) to Guryongpo, and you can change there for Homigot. Route numbers and stops change, so check Naver Map or Kakao Map on the day and show the driver "호미곶" (Homigot) or "구룡포" (Guryongpo).
Taxi: The easiest way before dawn, when buses may not be running yet. It is a fairly long ride, so ask your hotel for an estimate or book through the Kakao T app.
Stay nearby: There are guesthouses and small hotels around Homigot and Guryongpo. Sleeping on the coast lets you walk to the sunrise.

A working mobile data connection makes all of this much easier, because Korean bus info is live in the map apps. A prepaid card like the Korea Unlimited Data SIM can be picked up at the airport.

Guryongpo Japanese House Street

Guryongpo was a busy fishing port in the early 20th century, and Japanese fishing families settled here during the colonial period. A short hillside street of their wooden two-storey houses has been restored and is now known as the Guryongpo Japanese House Street (Guryongpo Iljonin Gaok Geori). It is an honest, slightly complicated piece of history: the local information boards explain the colonial background rather than just presenting it as a pretty set.

Many Korean visitors also know the street from the 2019 drama When the Camellia Blooms, which filmed around Guryongpo. You will see cafés, small museums, hanbok and old-style costume rentals, and photo spots in the restored houses.

What to do on and around the street

Climb the stone stairs to the park above. The steps in the middle of the street lead up to a small park with views over the harbour.
Visit the history museum house if it is open; it gives context on the fishing town and the colonial era.
Walk the harbour. Guryongpo is still a working port, with fishing boats, drying racks and a fish market.

What to eat: gwamegi, snow crab and fresh seafood

Guryongpo is famous for gwamegi, half-dried Pacific saury (traditionally herring) that is hung in the cold sea wind in winter. It is eaten wrapped in seaweed and greens with garlic, chilli and gochujang. The season is roughly late autumn to early spring, so a November-to-February trip is the time to try it.

The harbour also has plenty of restaurants selling raw fish (hoe), spicy fish stew and, in season, snow crab (daege). Prices change by catch and season, so ask before you order, and look for places with a printed menu if you are unsure.

A simple one-day plan

Before dawn: Taxi or walk to Homigot Sunrise Square. Watch the sunrise at the Hands of Harmony.
Morning: Coffee near the square, the lighthouse and museum area, then bus or taxi to Guryongpo.
Late morning: Walk the Japanese House Street and the park above it.
Lunch: Seafood or gwamegi by the harbour.
Afternoon: Back to central Pohang. If you still have energy, Yeongildae Beach and the Space Walk sculpture in Hwanho Park are popular evening stops. Or continue to Gyeongju, which is close by: see Gyeongju in one day.

"I'd go for the sunrise, but honestly the fish market and the walk afterwards make the trip." — Jina, a dancer from POPORO CITY

Quick tips

Stay overnight near Pohang or on the coast; a same-day sunrise from Seoul is not realistic.
Use Naver Map or Kakao Map for live bus times; Google Maps transit info in Korea is limited.
Bring gloves and a windproof layer in the cold months.
Try gwamegi only in winter, when it is made fresh.
Check museum opening days and festival dates on the official Pohang tourism site before you go.

FAQ

Can I do Homigot as a day trip from Seoul?

You can visit Homigot in a day from Seoul, but you will miss the sunrise. For the sunrise, sleep in Pohang or near Homigot the night before.

How far is Guryongpo from Homigot?

They are both on the same peninsula, a short drive apart. A taxi is quickest; local buses also connect them, but check the timetable since they are not very frequent.

Is the Guryongpo Japanese House Street free?

Walking the street is free. Some museum houses, cafés and costume rentals charge their own fees.

When is the best season to visit?

Winter brings clear skies for sunrise and gwamegi season, but it is cold and windy. Spring and autumn are milder and quieter. Avoid New Year's morning if you dislike crowds.

Do I need a car?

No. A combination of KTX, local buses and the occasional taxi works well. A car only helps if you want to drive the coastal road further.