Tongdosa Temple통도사

At a glance

Tongdosa is one of Korea's three jewel temples, the one that represents the Buddha himself, because it holds relics of the Buddha. According to the Samguk Yusa, the Silla monk Jajang founded it after studying in Tang China, enshrining the relics and building the Diamond Ordination Platform, where monks were ordained. Because the relics are here, the main hall, Daeungjeon, has no statue. The buildings burned during the Japanese invasions of the 1590s and were rebuilt twice, and today all except Daegwangmyeongjeon Hall are later reconstructions. Daeungjeon and the ordination platform are National Treasures, and the temple museum holds 26 objects designated as Treasures.

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Tongdosa Temple · 4 tours & tickets

1. GetYourGuideBusan outskirts tour with Ice Valley Cable CarAn about 11-hour tour from Busan that starts at UNESCO-listed Tongdosa Temple, then the Amethyst Cave, the Yeongnam Alps (Eoreumgol cable car optional) and Gamcheon Culture Village.Book
2. KlookBeomeosa & Tongdosa temples day tourA one-day tour of Beomeosa and Tongdosa, two of the region's major temples.Book
3. Trip.comPrivate Tongdosa & gourmet day tourA small-group day tour from Busan with hotel pick-up that visits Tongdosa Temple and includes a local meal.Book
4. GetYourGuideTongdosa & gourmet half-day private tourA 5-hour private half-day tour from Busan to Tongdosa Temple with a food stop.Book

Places to stay nearby

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Map

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Tips

• 01
  Stay overnight if you can: the heart of Tongdosa's temple stay is an evening meditation, lotus lantern in hand, in the shrine facing the relic stupa.
• 02
  Look inside the main hall: there is no Buddha statue, because the relics enshrined at the Diamond Ordination Platform take its place.

Nearby

Amethyst Cavern ParkAn old amethyst mine near Eonyang turned into a cave park, with 2.5 km of tunnels, an underground boat ride and a dinosaur zone, 12–16°C all year.Eden Valley Ski ResortA winter ski area in the hills of Yangsan near Busan, with runs for beginners through advanced skiers and snowboarders.Yeongnam Alps Eoreumgol Cable CarA 50-seat cable car in Miryang that climbs 1.8 km in about 10 minutes to 1,020 m, into the high ridges known as the Yeongnam Alps.Bangudae Petroglyphs (Daegok-ri)Prehistoric rock carvings of whales, deer and hunters on a cliff by the Daegokcheon stream, part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2025.