The Aso Cuddly Dominion petting zoo is dedicated to highlighting the importance of animals, people, and nature living together in harmony. The petting zoo gives visitors the chance to interact directly with and feed a variety of different animals. At Bear Valley, one of Aso Cuddly Dominion’s most iconic facilities, visitors will have the chance to meet some of the zoo’s roughly 130 bears from four species, including the Japanese black bear and Himalayan black bear. The glass bridge—one of many ways to enjoy Bear Valley—is perfect for observing the bears from above, while the bear cave, which reproduces a bear’s hibernation burrow, gives visitors an up-close look at bear life. Aso Cuddly Domain is also the only place in Kyushu where visitors can pet cute bear cubs. Don’t miss taking a commemorative photo with a lap full of bear cubs at Bear Cub Square!

Other popular facilities at Aso Cuddly Dominion include the Chimpanzee’s Forest, with chimps living in a near-natural environment; Penguin Falls, where visitors can watch penguins swimming through the glass; Capybara Pond, featuring useful information on the lives of capybaras; Bowwow Dog Square and Cats square, where visitors can play with dogs and cats of breeds from around the world alongside knowledgeable staff, and Children Square, where children can interact with guinea pigs, hedgehogs, and other small animals. Other fun attractions include an exhilarating animal show with skilled animals and trainers, and exciting, unpredictable miniature pig races.