Seongeup Green Tea Cave

In the hills of eastern Jeju, at Seongeup Green Tea Village in Pyoseon-myeon, Seogwipo, a path across the tea fields leads to a small lava cave hidden in a patch of forest. Look back towards the entrance from deep inside and the black basalt roof frames the green trees outside like a picture – that single view is what brings most people here. It is an easy way to combine a walk through tea fields with a short cave visit.

A cave at the edge of the tea fields

Seongeup Green Tea Village is a tea estate that grows and processes its own tea on volcanic ash soil. From the car park, a path between the rows takes about 15–20 minutes to reach a small wood, and the cave is inside it. A smaller cave comes first; go a little further and it opens into a larger chamber with a high ceiling. The cave is not big – most visitors stay just long enough to look around and take photos.

What to see

• The view from the large cave: the best-known shot is taken from deep inside, looking out at the bright entrance. The contrast between daylight and the dark rock makes the green of the forest look especially intense.
• Rock walls and vines: the cliffs around the entrance are covered with creepers and trees, giving a taste of Jeju's gotjawal forest.
• The tea fields: beyond the rows of tea you can see Hallasan and oreum hills such as Yeongjusan. On a clear day the paths between the fields are good for photos too.
• On TV: the cave appeared in the tvN variety show House on Wheels 4.

After the cave

The café at the estate entrance sells green tea souvenirs and offers a green tea foot bath on the ground floor. The foot bath costs extra and is booked in advance by phone. A few minutes' drive away is Seongeup Folk Village, with the walls and thatched houses of the Joseon-era town of Jeongui-hyeon, plus Jeongui Hyanggyo, a Confucian school, so the area makes a good half-day outing.

Tea grown on a volcanic island

Volcanic ash soil is rich in organic matter and drains well, which suits tea bushes, and the estate also draws on clean volcanic bedrock water. The café on the estate serves tea grown and processed on site, along with green tea rice cakes and green tea ice cream. In 2022 the tea fields were also a location for the Jeju episode of Korea's overseas tourism video "Feel the Rhythm of Korea". There is a go-kart track right next to the estate, which can be worth adding if you are travelling with children.

Tripto tips

• Hours and fees: tourism listings give 09:00–17:30, open every day, with free entry. Some listings say the estate closes at 17:00, so if you are arriving late in the afternoon, call +82-64-787-6888 first.
• Time needed: about 1 hour for the walk to the cave and back, or around 2 hours with the café and foot bath.
• Photos: overcast days and mornings make the bright entrance easier to photograph. The cave floor can be wet and slippery, so wear trainers.
• Getting there: set your navigation to "Seongeup Green Tea Village" (성읍녹차마을) or the café "Oneureun Nokcha Hanjan" (오늘은 녹차한잔). From Jeju City it is roughly 40 minutes by car along Beonyeong-ro. By bus, head for Seongeup Folk Village and walk about 1 km.
• Good to know: pets are not allowed, and it is fairly dark inside the cave, so watch your step.