Tourism Spots · Hokkaido
Lake Notoro Brown Bear Incidents
Bear incident and sighting reports for Lake Notoro, compiled from official government sources, news outlets, and community submissions. View the interactive incident map and safety information before hiking or outdoor activities.
Lake Notoro is seeing the sharpest recent attention in Kitami Tokoro cho Kyoritsu, where on April 22, 2026 two brown bears or bear like animals were reported in the urban area of Tokoro, and the Tokoro branch office issued warnings by disaster radio. Just before that, on April 21, 2026 at 4:20 a.m., a motorist on National Route 238 in Tokoro cho, Kitami City spotted one brown bear, and another report came from Tosa on April 18, 2026 at 10:10 a.m. when a driver on the Dodo Kitami Tokoro Line saw an animal resembling a brown bear.
The main pressure points are the Tokoro area of Kitami City and parts of Abashiri, including Ichiyasaka near the Tokyo University of Agriculture Okhotsk Campus and Yobito, where repeated road sightings have been reported. Activity was busiest in October 2025 with 4 incidents and again in April 2025 with 4, while the full record for Lake Notoro stands at 36 brown bear sightings overall.
Lake Notoro Bear Incident Map
No incidents in this time range
No incidents in this time range
Nearby Areas
Comments (0)
No comments yet.
Hiking in bear country
Safety picks and trail essentials, top-rated on Amazon and Rakuten.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bears in Lake Notoro
How many bear incidents have been recorded in Lake Notoro?
Lake Notoro has recorded 36 bear incidents in total, with 3 reported in the last 30 days and 0 in the last 7 days. These reports are compiled from official government sources, news outlets, and community submissions, and can be viewed on the incident map.
When and where was the latest bear incident in Lake Notoro?
The most recent bear sighting in Lake Notoro was on April 20, 2026 in Kitami Tokoro-cho-Tokoro, Hokkaido, where 1 Brown Bear was reported. Detailed location and surrounding incidents are available on the incident map.
Where have bears appeared recently in Lake Notoro?
Recent bear sightings in Lake Notoro have been concentrated in Kitami (10), Kitami Tokoro-cho-Toyokawa (8), Kitami Tokoro-cho-Tomioka (5). These areas have had multiple reports within the last 30 days.
Is bear activity increasing in Lake Notoro?
Activity has slowed. 0 incidents in the last 7 days, 3 in the last 30 days.
What type of bears are in Lake Notoro?
Lake Notoro is home to brown bears (Ussuri brown bear), which can weigh up to 500kg and are found only in Hokkaido. They are active from spring through autumn. Always carry bear bells and bear spray when hiking.