Andeok forest bookshop in Jeju: tea and solo meditation at Egatot

What is Egatot Library?

Egatot Library is a bookshop tea house deep in the forest of Andeok-myeon, Seogwipo, Jeju. You brew your own tea while looking out at nature, and you can read quietly, write in a journal or meditate, all in a time that's entirely your own. It was honestly my absolute favorite place of this whole Jeju trip!

It sits deep in the Seogwipo forest, so it's quiet, secluded and truly nature itself, and I loved it so, so much. I booked through Naver and went. (Catchtable works too.)

Egatot Library tea ceremony times and seating

The tea ceremony at Egatot Library has just three entry slots a day (11:00 / 13:00 / 15:00), each lasting 1 hour 50 minutes, with 10 seats per slot. With a reservation, you get an individual tea set at your own seat to enjoy the ceremony.

They explained how to drink the tea clearly at the start, so even a first-timer to tea ceremony like me could enjoy it without any trouble.

Parking and getting to Egatot Library

Egatot Library has parking lots 1 and 2, and I heard lot 2 is a little closer. Lot 1 isn't far either! (About a 1-minute walk difference.)

The moment I walked in, the trees were so lush, there was a forest path, and I could hear birdsong like the kind you only hear in ASMR videos. It felt a bit like stepping into another world, so I loved it from the walk in, haha.

Hydrangeas are welcoming us here too! This Jeju trip is one where I get to see all the hydrangeas I could ever want, haha.

The directions to Egatot Library are very detailed, so it's not hard to find. (About a 3-minute walk from the parking lot.)

Can you go without a reservation? Opening hours and walk-ins

Egatot Library (a forest meditation library) is open 11:00 - 17:00. Solo seats and the tea ceremony require a Naver reservation and are only available at 11:00, 13:00 and 15:00 (1 hour 50 minutes of use). Shall we go in?

We took the 3 p.m. session, and since it was the last slot, it was relatively relaxed and quiet, which was great for enjoying the meditation library.

Walk-ins without a Naver reservation are possible, but you can't do the tea ceremony. You order a drink (matcha latte, pu-erh tea or kombucha) and enjoy the bookshop on your own at the central table or the left window table (2 seats).

I read the notice before entering carefully and went in quietly.

When you first come in, you change into slippers and a staff member shows you to your seat.

Even if you come with others, it's solo seating! A space that's entirely your own! Each seat is spaced at just the right distance, which I loved.

First time at a tea ceremony? Learning tea at Egatot Library

At Egatot Library, a staff member first teaches you how to brew tea before you sit down. Off to learn the tea ceremony! They explained it softly and in detail, yet so kindly and simply that anyone can enjoy tea.

They said learning it once like this makes it easier and smoother later on, so I watched with total focus for the first time in ages. The welcome tea they brewed smelled wonderful, and tasted nutty and warm. So good.

After a quick lesson, everyone picks their own tea,

I agonized over these three and finally chose hojicha! Now off to my seat.

Solo seats and forest-view seats at Egatot Library

The solo seat I was assigned at Egatot Library was my spot. Wow, it was so good. A cozy space. Looking at the photos, I want to go again.

The forest view from the 2-person table here looked great too.

A curated bookshelf of books shared by travelers

Egatot Library also has a curated bookshelf. Books that travelers to Jeju enjoyed and shared are arranged by category: body, mind, learning, work, relationships, meditation, finance and environment. Each area is spread widely across the big space, which felt comfortable to look at.

This is the central table!

Is 1 hour 50 minutes too long?

The 1 hour 50 minutes at Egatot Library goes by faster than you'd think. At first I thought, that's going to be pretty long, but between learning the tea ceremony, picking out a book, sitting still watching the scenery and listening to music, meditating a bit and letting my mind wander, enjoying my own time, the hours just flew by.

When it was time to leave, I was so sad. Maybe because the weather was pleasantly overcast and cool with some humidity, perfect for reading and zoning out,

but being there, I also think it would be wonderful on a sunny day.

Brewing tea alone with a tea kit and a guide card

At your seat in Egatot Library, you get an individual tea kit along with a card listing the steps, so you can brew tea by yourself. Now let's enjoy the tea ceremony. During the lesson I felt like I could totally do it alone, but once I got the tea kit my mind went blank ^_^,, haha.

But they gave me the card too, so I could jog my memory and enjoy the tea ceremony.

Water refills are available too! Everyone at the bookshop was so warm and kind, which made the time even more comfortable.

Would I go back to Egatot Library?

Egatot Library was a bookshop where I got to spend time that was pure serenity. A perfect space even if you don't read a single book! Next time I'm in Jeju, I want to visit again and spend time on my own.

If you want to enjoy time just for yourself in Jeju and feel that calm, I highly, highly recommend Egatot Library, the Jeju bookshop tea house.