Aso Cuddly Dominion

Aso Cuddly Dominion stands as the only one of its kind in Kyushu, offering visitors a unique animal interaction experience at the foot of Mount Aso in Kumamoto Prefecture. Originally opened in 1973 as "Aso Kuma Bokujou" (Aso Bear Ranch), the facility evolved over the years with additions of a Japanese garden, restaurant, other animals and entertainment features before being renamed "Aso Cuddly Dominion" in 1998.

The park spans an impressive 300,000 square meters and serves as the only theme park in Kyushu where visitors can touch and hold bear cubs, dogs and cats, alpacas and capybaras. Central to the experience is direct animal interaction, with visitors able to feed, touch, and hold many of the animals throughout the park. The facility features specialized areas including Bear Cub Square for commemorative photos with bear cubs, Chimpanzee's Forest with chimps living in a near-natural environment, Penguin Falls for underwater penguin viewing, Capybara Pond, Bowwow Dog Square, and Cats Square.

The park is the only place in western Japan where visitors can enjoy interaction with cubs, currently offered twice daily for one hour each session with an additional fee required. Bear cub holding experiences cost 500 yen per group. Daily animal shows are performed at two theaters within the park, featuring "Trainer Mr. Miyazawa and Purin, a chimpanzee," alongside fantasy shows by international animal trainers. Additional activities include horseback riding, reptile encounters, and helicopter sightseeing flights offering aerial views of the Aso crater region.

Access to Aso Cuddly Dominion is convenient from Aso Station, requiring approximately a 3-minute taxi ride to reach the facility. The park is located in Kurokawa, Aso City. Current admission prices are 2,600 yen for adults (high school students and above), 1,400 yen for elementary and junior high school students, and 800 yen for children (3 years and above). The facility accepts multiple payment methods including various IC cards and mobile payment options. Helicopter tours are available as an additional experience, with flights ranging from 4 to 15 minutes at varying prices depending on the course selected.