A polar bear living a leisurely life at a zoo in Hokkaido. A photo capturing this scene has gone viral on social media, bringing a moment of peace to many. What's in the picture? A polar bear's butt. Just looking at it has a strangely calming effect.

I went to see the polar bear's butt

Photo from @nonotrig's post

The sight of the polar bear gently floating in the water, looking relaxed and refreshingly cool. When this photo was posted on social media, it garnered 540,000 likes, delighting many people with comments like, "So incredibly cute," "Like a stuffed animal," and "Nice butt."

The Popular Polar Bears of Maruyama Zoo

A polar bear playing with a ball in the water (Photo by Nonoji)

The photo was taken at Maruyama Zoo in Sapporo. The polar bears, floating leisurely in the water, are the stars of the zoo. The photographer, Nonoji, was visiting Hokkaido from outside the prefecture after hearing about the zoo's reputation for being able to see polar bears swim.

Their playful antics are also very healing (Photo by Nonoji)

The Polar Bear Exhibit's Underwater Tunnel is a Hit! The Elephant House Also Opened in 2019

The red panda is also a popular animal at Maruyama Zoo

Maruyama Zoo is located near the center of Sapporo. The Polar Bear Exhibit, where the polar bears live, opened in October 2017, and the underwater tunnel where this photo was taken is a major highlight. The zoo is also home to many other popular animals like red pandas and Amur tigers. In 2019, the Elephant House was newly completed, attracting many visitors, including families and couples.

The Elephant House, home to four Indian elephants

Be sure to visit Maruyama Zoo to meet the polar bears and other popular animals.