Teddy bears are often the first friends a child will have. They'll tell them their secrets, give them kisses and pull them under the covers at night so they don't get lonely.
Brown bears, who can look just as cuddly, are — of course — more dangerous than our plush friends, but no less fascinating to kids. The animals live in the forested mountains and meadows of Honshu, Shikoku and Hokkaido.
Sahoro Resort's Bear Mountain in Hokkaido lets visitors see the bears in a facility resembling their natural habitat. Starting this Saturday, the resort invites families to observe the bears and will encourage children to find their inner artist by participating in a sketching activity. Sketching kits will be available for rent.
The Brown Bear Sketching Event will be held from July 27 till Aug. 31 at the Sahoro Resort's Bear Mountain, which is located in the town of Shintoku in Kamikawa, Hokkaido. The venue is about 100 minutes from the New Chitose Airport by car. The bears will be available for viewing and sketching from 9 a.m. till 4 p.m. Admission is free, but participants will be charged between ¥1,050-¥2,785 to take part. For more information, call 0156-64-7007 or visit www.bear-mt.jp/2013/06/post-523.php (in Japanese).