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Aso Cuddly Dominion has cute animals and hilarious performances to make your trip a memorable one

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By Elizabeth Sok

Located in Kumamoto Prefecture, Aso Cuddly Dominion is a must-visit for animal lovers. With plenty of fun for all ages, this animal kingdom has cute animals and hilarious performances to make your trip a memorable one.

The only one of its kind in Kyushu, Aso Cuddly Dominion is a large petting zoo that grants visitors access to a variety of animals big and small, common and rare. Central to the experience is the ability to touch, pet and hold many of the animals you’ll come across. The park itself is laid out similarly to an amusement park with each type of animal acting as an attraction.

While you might see bears at one end of the park, you’ll be able to enjoy the penguins just a short walk away. In addition to the animals on display, Aso Cuddly Dominion also has other activities to keep you busy. Soar high above the ground in a helicopter ride that will take you on a tour of Mount Aso, Japan’s largest active volcano.

Park Highlights

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Bear Cub Square allows visitors to snuggle up with the small, furry creatures. Image: PIXTA/おたどん

Starting with more common animals, visitors will be able to get up close and personal with cats, dogs and guinea pigs in several areas of the park. Although these may seem like regular fare in a park of this kind, where else will you be able to play with toy poodles, dachshunds and labrador retrievers one minute and dozens of cats the next?

If you’re a bear lover, you won’t want to miss Bear Valley which houses around four species of around 130 bears and Bear Cub Square which allows visitors to snuggle up with the small, furry creatures. Penguin fans will want to stop at Penguin Falls to feed them a treat and pose for a keepsake. Native to South and Southeast Asia, the binturong is a rare sight that is somewhere between a bear and a cat, hence its nickname, bearcat. With its friendly personality, this endangered animal will be one you won’t soon forget.

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© GaijinPot

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2 Comments
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What is this monstrosity? Bears aren't pack animals that they can live in tight quarters. And bear cubs are only cute until they can rip your face off. They shouldn't be being bred for people to pet.

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