定山渓熊牧場, Brown bear farm in Jozankei, Japan
The Jozankei Bear Farm was a facility at the foot of Mount Muine in southern Sapporo that housed Hokkaido brown bears in enclosed areas. Visitors could observe the animals and feed them directly from viewing platforms.
The farm opened in 1969 as a tourist attraction and drew thousands of visitors annually. It closed in the early 2000s, though some of the bears remained on the grounds afterward.
The facility demonstrated the traditional Japanese practice of keeping bears in captivity for educational and tourism purposes in northern regions of Japan.
The grounds are easily accessible in a valley south of Sapporo and are best visited during warmer months. Wear sturdy shoes since the path to the enclosures can be uneven.
After the official closure, a caretaker continued to feed individual bears at this location for years. This unexpected continuation shows how deeply people remained attached to the animals they once cared for.
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