Travel Guide
At Noboribetsu Bear Park, you can see Ezo bears, or brown bears, which is the biggest animal on the land in Japan. There are over 100 Ezo bears and the adult bear could weight 400 kilograms.
Ezo bears are the largest species of animal in Japan also in Hokkaido and were worshiped by Ainu, the native Hokkaido people, as the God. There are approximately 2,000 brown bears in Hokkaido and the number is reported to be on the decline. In order to protect the Ezo bears, farming, observing and studying of brown bears started in October 1958, and the Noboribetsu Bear Park, the first bear park in the world was established. The park recorded a major success. The numbers of bears are now over a hundred, from only eight at the beginning, and happily ever after is the way they live now.
You can get up close to bears at Noboribetsu Bear Park. When fed with snacks, the big brown bears stand up together and make “gimme” poses, which are very popular among the visitors. You could check out the baby cub kindergarten and “scholar bear” shows, or try the thrilling “Human Cage” which takes you right out amongst the bears.
Ezo Bear Museum in the Noboribetsu Bear Park is the world’s only dedicated bear museum which will teach you everything there is to know about Brown Bears or you can learn how the Ainu people lived at Yukara Village, a recreated Ainu settlement.
This facility also features programs and events that people of all ages can enjoy, including the "Bear Cub Ranch” where cute bear cubs play and the “Duck Race” in which duck compete against each other in a running race.
Ezo Bear Museum | Yukara Village | Duck race |
Travel Advice
Noboribetsu Bear Park is located at the top of Mount Shiho-rei, the mountain is commonly called “Bear Mountain”, which is 560 meters high. You need to take a ropeway ride from the Noboribetsu Hot Spring town to the park. On the top of the mountain, there is also the Kuttara Observatory. From here you can have great view on Lake Kuttarako, a lake which has the 2nd clearest water in Japan.
Visit
Address | Noboribetsu Onsen-cho 224, Noboribetsu-shi, Hokkaido | |
Phone | 0143-84-2225 | |
Admission | Adult: 2,650 yen (Groups 2,350 yen) Child: 1,350 yen (Groups 1,200 yen) |
Adult: over 12 Child: 4 to 11 Groups: over 10 Ropeway ticket is included |
Hours | 08:30 to 16:30 08:30 to 17:00 July and August |
Entry until 40 minntes before closing |
Closed | Open 7 Days a Week | |
Duration | 1 hour and 30 minutes | |
Getting There | By Train 15 minutes ride by Donan Bus bount for Noboribetsu Hot Spring from JR Noboribetsu Station to the Noboribetsu Hot Spring Bus Terminal, then walk approximately 5 minutes. Change to ropeway and get off at the final stop. 100 minutes ride by Donan Bus bound for Noboribetsu Hot Spring from JR Sapporo Station to the Noboribetsu Hot Spring Bus Terminal, then walk approximately 5 minutes. Change to ropeway and get off at the final stop. By Car Take Hokkaido Expressway to the Noboribetsu-higashi exit. Approximately 4 kilometers 10 minutes from exit, change to ropeway and get off at the final stop. |
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Parking | Paid parking available at the station of ropeway. |