The Yubari Melon Bear

Yubari and the Melon Bear: Japans most terrifying Mascot

credit: mainichi.jp

If you find yourself in Yubari this winter, a former industrial now ski town tucked in a mountain valley north east of Sapporo you might look up at the Mt Racey ski resort and see hurtling towards you Melon Kuma.

Melon Kuma or Melon Bear with its gaping maw and bright red gums that make it look as though its mouth is dripping with blood is the town of Yubari’s answer to the immensely popular Japanese mascot phenomenon.

It takes two things that Yubari is famous for its immense bear population and its melons famous across Japan for their sweetness and exorbitant price. And mashes them together to form Japan’s most terrifying mascot.

The bear is supposed to be a grizzly bear that has eaten a Yubari melon and become stuck. Starting as a souvenir the Melon Bear was made the towns official mascot in 2010 to try and drum up tourism for the area.

The Yubari Melon is Japans, and possibly the worlds most expensive melon. Some have sold for over $10’000.

Yubari is a former industrial town that suffered a crippling recession in the early 2000’s that forced much of the population away from the town. At its height the towns population was 120’000 today it is just 11’000.

However, it has been revitalising itself as an extensive and affordable skiing destination. The Mount Racey slope has 18 trails and off-piste skiing. As a lesser known resort, the slopes are quiet and the lines for the lifts are non-existent.

Sitting in a spectacular mountain valley Yubari is surrounded by spectacular hiking, and numerous Onsens, Yubari is just one hour outside of Sapporo.

And

Yubari is also the only place in the world where one can buy the surprisingly tasty Yubari Melon Pokey.

Melon bear was created in 2009 and gained nation-wide fame in 2010 for scaring children so much they fled in terror and wept.

[Edit, the Mout Racey Ski resort is closed as of 2021 as a result of the Covid Pandemic]