Noboribetsu Bear Ranch (のぼりべつクマ牧場)

Flow of the course

About this spot

About 7 minutes by ropeway from Noboribetsu Onsen Town, at the summit of Shihogane Mountain at approximately 550 meters elevation, lies a bear ranch. You can observe Hokkaido's king of beasts, the brown bear, up close; when you throw snacks, the bears stand up and wave their paws in begging gestures that delight children. In the first bear field's "human cage," you can face brown bears at close range through glass, and their size and power will take your breath away. During times when you can observe young bears' growth, you'll see their adorable appearances, and an affiliated museum teaches about bear ecology. From the summit, you can overlook Kutcharo Lake, a mysterious lake surrounded by primeval forest of Shikotsu-Toyo National Park, and with the ropeway's aerial walk included, it's like a complete amusement park attraction.

Tips

The ropeway base station is only a few minutes' walk from the hot spring town and has free parking. The entrance fee (approximately 3,000 yen for adults, with discounts for children) includes round-trip ropeway fare. Bear snacks can be purchased in the park. The summit is cooler than the base, so it's reassuring to bring a light layer.

Best time to visit

Approximately 2 hours required. Around midday is best for seeing active bears during feeding time. Light refreshments are available in the park.

Access & map

〒059-0551 Noboribetsu, Hokkaido, Noboribetsu Onsen Town 224