Recording Walks Through a New Neighborhood Alley Every Weekend
Choose Alleys, Not Main Roads
Main roads look similar almost everywhere, but step just one block inward and every neighborhood shows a different face. Old signs, stairways packed with flowerpots, and laundry lines beyond low walls reveal the neighborhood’s real character. An aimless 1–2 hour walk can be surprisingly good for clearing your head.
| Section | Key summary |
|---|---|
| Choose Alleys, Not Main Roads | An aimless 1–2 hour walk can be surprisingly good for clearing your head |
| Supplies and Budget | Comfortable sneakers: 0 won if you use what you already own |
| Difficulty and Choosing a Route | The difficulty level is very low |
| Getting Started | When you see a main road, deliberately turn into an alley one block inside |
| Records Become a Map | In one month, you will have records of four neighborhoods; in one year, nearly fifty alley walks |
Supplies and Budget
- Comfortable sneakers: 0 won if you use what you already own
- Phone for taking photos: 0 won
- Small notebook and pen for notes, or a phone memo app: 0–3,000 won
- A bottle of water and transportation: 2,000–5,000 won
- Optional public transportation to the neighborhood: 1,500–3,000 won
This is a hobby that costs almost nothing. For the price of two coffees a month, you can cover transportation to an unfamiliar neighborhood at the edge of the city.
Difficulty and Choosing a Route
The difficulty level is very low. Still, wandering without any plan can tire you out quickly, so it is best to set only a starting point and an endpoint, then walk freely in between. If you connect the distance of one subway stop only through alleys, or choose a traditional market you have never visited as your endpoint, a natural 1-hour route will come together.
| Route type | Walking time | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Between stations | 40–60 minutes | Less worry about getting lost |
| Hillside neighborhood | 60–90 minutes | Views and stairway scenery |
| Market endpoint | 30–50 minutes | Walk first, finish with snacks |
Getting Started
- Choose one station or neighborhood you have never visited and mark only the starting point and endpoint.
- When you see a main road, deliberately turn into an alley one block inside.
- If a scene catches your eye, stop to take a photo and leave a one-line note.
- At a fork in the road, choose the narrower, more intriguing side, but keep moving toward your endpoint before sunset.
- When you reach the endpoint, pick 3 favorite photos from the day.
- When you get home, organize the route map, 3 photos, and two or three lines about what you felt onto one page.
Records Become a Map
In one month, you will have records of four neighborhoods; in one year, nearly fifty alley walks. If you write the date and neighborhood name on each page, it becomes your own city guide. When you open it again later, even the weather and mood of that day will come back to you.