Okuhida Bear Park

Okuhida Bear Park is a sanctuary in the mountains of the Hida region that houses Asian black bears and brown bears in spacious enclosures. The enclosures are built into the hillsides at different levels, giving the bears plenty of room to roam and explore.

The sanctuary began in the 1970s to provide a safe place for threatened bears and support visitor education. Over the decades, it has become an important facility for helping people understand wild bears in the region.

The park was created to care for orphaned or injured bears and show visitors how these animals live in mountain regions. The enclosures follow natural hillside slopes, giving the bears space to move and behave as they would in the wild.

The park is best visited in the morning when the bears are most active and easier to observe. The enclosures are reached by paths that go over hilly terrain, so wear comfortable shoes and plan for some walking.

The park is known for feeding sessions where visitors can watch bears stand upright on their hind legs to reach for food. This behavior is natural for these animals when they search for food in higher places, and the display shows their remarkable strength and flexibility.