Noboribetsu Bear Park

"Noboribetsu Bear Park" is considered the pioneer of bear parks in the nation. It opened in 1958, which is the 100th year anniversary of the Noboribetsu Onsen hot springs’ opening. The park started out with 8 Hokkaido brown bears living in Hokkaido and is currently breeding about 70 bears. At the "First Enclosure," where the male bear resides, the "human cage" allows visitors a chance to see huge bears while being protected by a glass window. It is a powerful exhibition where there is almost nothing between you and the bear. In the “Second Enclosure,” where the female bears reside, there are trained bears making "silly poses" to ask for treats and is popular.
Please check out the "Brown Bear Museum" after seeing the real live bears.
In addition to materials obtained from years of bear research and breeding, taxidermy of these animals from birth to adulthood is extremely rare; it is a small but magnificent exhibit. From the roof terrace of the museum, you can see the natural forest and the Lake Kuttara in Shikotsu-Tōya National Park and may even able to see Shimokita Peninsula on a sunny day. Also, during the summer, the "Yukar no Sato" is open. Yukar means "epic poetry" in the Ainu language. Here, you can see the old straw-thatched roofs of houses called chiche, and you can experience a part of Ainu culture through the tools and crafts of the early Meiji Period.