Aso Cuddly Dominion

Zoo

4.0

Located on a sprawling plot of land at the foot of Mt. Aso, this zoo boasts nearly 500 specimens from approximately 100 species, including about 200 bears. It is famous for the chimpanzee Pan-kun, his daughter Purin-chan, and the dog James (currently James II), all of whom have appeared on television programs. It offers visitors many opportunities to get close and personal with the animals, including an exhibit where they can experience feeding the bears as well as a dog and cat petting facility.

Spot details

Address: Kumamoto Pref. Asoshi Kurokawa 2163 Map
Area: Aso Area
Phone: 0967342020
Hours: [Weekday]9:30-17:00
[SaturdaySundayPublic holidays]9:30-17:30
[Mid-Oct.-Next Mid-Mar.]10:00-16:30
Closed: Dec.- Feb. Wednesdays (Winter holidays and public holidays excluded)
Fees: [Entrance ticket] Adults (High school students and above) 2,400yen, Elementary and junior high school students 1,300yen, Toddlers (3 years old and above) 700yen
Parking Lot: Available(1,200spaces)
※Free
Credit Card: Available (VISA, MasterCard, JCB, AMEX, UnionPay, DISCOVER, Diners Club)
Smoking: Available (Smoking Area Available)
Wi-Fi: Available (Kumamoto Free Wi-Fi)
English Menu: Available
Note: Temporary suspension of business:Closed until May 31, 2020 (Information as of May 8, 2020)
* Information may be changed, so please be sure to check the official information.
Can be enjoyed even on a rainy day: Yes (free umbrella available)
Average budget: [Lunch] 1,001-3,000yen
Estimated stay time: 120 minutes or more
Wheelchair accessible: Available (manual, electric assist wheelchair rental available)
Infant friendly: Available
Pet friendly: Available

Information Sources: NAVITIME JAPAN

Review

Appalling abuse of the animals

Reviewed : 2020.04.04

Overcrowding and unnatural forced interactions for the animals. It’s all under the guise of being cute, and one probably wouldn’t recognize the problems unless familiar with signs of distress in...
Please dont support this place.

Reviewed : 2020.02.12

Like many reviewers before me, we went to Cuddly Dominion for its affordable helicopter ride over Mount Aso. It came as a recommendation from a friend so we did not do any further research. Had we...
Terrible conditions for bears

Reviewed : 2019.12.16

Sadly this was not what we expected, the first bear we saw, a large brown in a small cage was pacing back and forth continually, a sign of stress.The other bear enclosures were also sparse with...