What other travelers are saying about Okuhida Bear's Ranch
Okuhida Bear's Ranch offers a chance to see a variety of bears in a well-maintained, clean facility. However, it’s a relatively small attraction that can easily be explored in under an hour.
The Bears and the Experience
The ranch features many bears, and while they’re impressive to see up close, the experience left something to be desired. The opportunity to take a picture with a "baby bear" was underwhelming—the bears were not small as advertised, and they seemed aggressive. Additionally, you’re only allowed to hand over your phone for the staff to take photos, which felt impersonal and overpriced for the experience.
Worth the Visit?
Unless you’re staying nearby, the ranch may not be worth going out of your way for. While the facility is clean and the bears are interesting, the overall experience doesn’t justify a long trip.
Final Thoughts
Okuhida Bear's Ranch is a quick, simple stop if you’re already in the area, but it falls short as a standalone destination. If you’re considering the photo experience with the bears, it might be better to skip it.
🚪 Entrance: ¥1100 (there is also promotion where we followed Instagram for 10% off and get a free box of biscuits to feed the bears with)
🖼 : There is also extra photography service where you can take a photo with a bear cub (max 8 ppl in photo) for ¥1000
🐻: It is a good opportunity to see real Japanese Black Bears up close, especially for kids. But I must agree that it is a little sad to see them in captivity and kept in such a state (concrete and water but no greens for them)
🤳: Since it is very close up, you can take really great photos of them.
🍯: You can get bear biscuits or dried fruits to feed them. Also sad to see them just sleep and beg for food though (and they REALLY beg 🥺)
Overall, I'd like to mention that it is still a good experience to see them up close, but if you do not like or cannot bear to see such settings, please do avoid.
Note: I do not know if the bears get rotated and get to experience time out of their cages, but I really hope so... it looks very sad as is.
Visited: 09/11/2024 (10-11 am)
It's fun to see especially with kids, fun to give food to the bears and you can also line up and take picture with a baby bear (1000¥).
However it feels very sad for the bears, there is absolutely no trees or green, they are just inside a bloc of grey concrete.
Do not come here! Animal cruelty! The most confronting animal conditions, bears begging for food and kept in tiny & crowded concrete cells with no shelter or toys or greenery. Some kept in cages beneath. I only came here as I assumed it would be free range in nature due to the word “ranch” so I assumed it was a sanctuary but it is quite the opposite. Wish I looked at reviews prior as i would have never funded this place. Disappointing a place like this is allowed to remain open, this would not be legal in my country.
Very sad to see the poor bears deprived from all freedom. It's like a bad zoo, basically. The poor bears are bored in their concrete cells, don't even have trees. The worst part was how the cubs were treated... With a muzzle to close their mouths and sedated so people can take a picture... I shouldn't have come...
While direct interaction is not allowed for safety reasons, visitors can feed the bears from a safe distance using designated feeding stations.
The best time to visit Okuhida Bear's Ranch is during spring and autumn when the weather is mild and the bears are most active.
Okuhida Bear's Ranch is home to Asiatic black bears, also known as moon bears due to the white crescent shape on their chest. The ranch focuses on the care and preservation of this species.
Besides observing the bears, visitors can enjoy nature trails around the ranch, visit the small museum showcasing bear-related exhibits, and participate in feeding sessions. There’s also a souvenir shop with bear-themed merchandise.
Okuhida Bear's Ranch is accessible by bus from Takayama Station, with a journey time of approximately 60 minutes. There is also parking available for visitors who prefer to drive.
