There's nothing quite like breathing in the delicious mountain air and feasting your eyes on panoramic, forested landscapes. Aso Cuddly Dominion is an excellent option to explore if you're traveling with children and hiking isn’t feasible.

Immerse yourselves in its expansive grounds and be prepared to spend the entire day here, as visitors are allowed to feed various animals throughout the day. During our visit, my son fed penguins, koi fish, goats, and alpacas, gaining close contact with an impressive range of creatures. Unlike the Singapore Zoo, where advance bookings are required for animal feeding sessions, carefree parents (like yours truly) will appreciate that simply queuing up early enough ensures a spot in these sessions here.

We were also entertained by the comical antics of Purin, a chimpanzee so famous that he's made TV appearances. We watched, transfixed, as he climbed up and down a slope in his gunny sack jacket. Yes, we feel you - March in Japan can still be soul-numbingly cold!

Another attraction that will likely captivate your children is the chance to take photos with a bear cub. While it's worth noting that Aso Cuddly Dominion doesn't house bears simply because "Kumamoto" (熊本) contains the kanji character for bear (熊), it does offer a diverse collection of bears from various species. Here's a perfect opportunity to tell your child that the teddy bear was named after former U.S. President Teddy Roosevelt.

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