定山渓熊牧場

Located at the foot of Mount Muine in Sapporo's southern district, this animal facility housed up to 100 Hokkaido brown bears in specialized enclosures.

The Jozankei Bear Farm started operations in 1969 as a tourist attraction, drawing over 10,000 annual visitors before its closure in 2004.

The facility demonstrated the traditional Japanese practice of keeping bears in captivity for educational and tourism purposes in northern regions of Japan.

Visitors paid 1,000 yen for entry and could purchase bear food for 200 yen, with operating hours from 8:00 to 17:00 during regular season.

After its closure, 13 bears remained on site until 2011, with subsequent investigations revealing the presence of two elderly bears continuing to receive daily care.

Inception: 1969

GPS coordinates: 42.94083,141.12781

Latest update: May 31, 2025 13:20