This 451 km route from Chitose to Chitose crosses Hokkaido. Over the past 30 days, 24 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of the route, including 5 in the past week. This route runs through brown bear habitat (native to Hokkaido). The most recent sighting was reported 2 days ago near Sapporo, Hokkaido; the location sits about 399.2 km from the start of the route and 3.6 km off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 6 days ago at Sapporo Hitsujigaoka, Hokkaido, sitting about 419.3 km from the start and 445 m off the route line.
At this density of recent sightings, consider rescheduling or choosing a different trail until activity quiets.
In the garden flowerbed of a residence in Maeda 4-jo 8-chome, Teine-ku, Sapporo, approximately 6–7 footprints believed to be bear tracks (about 13 cm wide) were found around 08:00 on May 12. No other traces or damage were confirmed nearby; police, coordinating with Sapporo city, are investigating the tracks and conducting patrols during school commuting hours while urging residents to be cautious.
Sapporo, Hokkaido
Just before 20:00 on May 9, 2026, a female driver in Arashiyama, Etanbetsu, Asahikawa City, spotted a bear about 1 meter long crossing the road; it disappeared toward the Etanbetsu River afterward. Police checked the area but found no traces and plan to conduct a tracks investigation the next day with municipal staff.
Asahikawa 江丹別町嵐山, Hokkaido
A roar/sound like a brown bear was heard from beyond the bushes.
Sapporo Teine-Honcho, Hokkaido
Around 19:30 on May 5, the city received an information email reporting a bear-like animal about 80 cm long walking west to east in front of the main gate of Teine Junior High School in Toyoka 3-jo 5-chome, Teine Ward, Sapporo. Police patrolled by patrol car but found no animal or traces and no damage was reported, so the city and police carried out investigations and increased vigilance from the morning of the 6th.
Sapporo Teine-Tomioka, Hokkaido
At around 19:25 on the 5th, a passerby reported seeing one animal resembling a brown bear in front of the main gate of Teine Junior High School in Tomioka 3-5, Teine-ku, Sapporo. On the 6th, Sapporo city reviewed nearby security camera footage and announced it was not a brown bear.
Sapporo Teine-Tomioka, Hokkaido
Around 20:00 on April 24, 2026, a black, four-legged animal about 1.5 m long resembling a bear was sighted by a passerby south of Kitakaro Sunagawa Main Store at 1 Nishi 1-jo Kita 19-chome in Sunagawa City; police conducted patrols after the report. The witness was about 30 m away and the animal was roughly 10 m from a nearby house; police initially found no tracks or droppings, but a hunters' association later discovered bear and deer tracks in a nearby wood.
Sunagawa 北光, Hokkaido
At around 20:00 on April 24, 2026, a bear was sighted moving west near 1-3, Nishi 1-jo Kita 19-chome, Sunagawa City. Residents are advised to be cautious during work or when gathering wild plants in the area.
Sunagawa 北光, Hokkaido
Shortly before 18:00 on April 16, a woman in her 30s returning home sighted a bear-like animal walking in Hokkō Park (Kitahikari Park), Nishisanjō Kita 10-chōme, Sunagawa, from about 100 meters away and reported it. Police checked the area but found no tracks or damage to buildings; the animal went north and residents have been warned to be cautious.
Sunagawa 西九条北六丁目, Hokkaido
On the evening of April 16, 2026, at Hokkō Park (North 3-jō, West 10-chōme) in Sunagawa City, a woman in her 30s witnessed a bear-like animal walking north about 100 meters away. Police patrolled the area by cruiser but found no footprints or signs of damage and warned nearby residents to be cautious.
Sunagawa 西三条北十丁目, Hokkaido
On the evening of April 16, a resident in Sunagawa City, Hokkaido, saw the rear view of a bear-like animal walking north in a park at Nishi 3-jo Kita 10-chome, about 100 meters away. The area is a residential neighborhood and police have increased their vigilance.
Sunagawa 東一条北十一丁目, Hokkaido
In the garden flowerbed of a residence in Maeda 4-jo 8-chome, Teine-ku, Sapporo, approximately 6–7 footprints believed to be bear tracks (about 13 cm wide) were found around 08:00 on May 12. No other traces or damage were confirmed nearby; police, coordinating with Sapporo city, are investigating the tracks and conducting patrols during school commuting hours while urging residents to be cautious.
Sapporo, Hokkaido
Around 17:30 on May 7, a cub-like bear was sighted at Miyagaoka Park in Nishi-no, Nishi Ward, Sapporo; city officials checked the site but found no traces. The witness was about 50 meters away, so police treated it as a "bear-like" sighting and increased patrols while urging caution.
Sapporo Nishino, Hokkaido
[No.6] Thursday, May 7, 2026: No. Date: [No.6] Thursday, May 7, 2026 Description: Location: Near 290 Nishino, Nishi-ku (on the lawn area of Miyagaoka Park) [The pin on the map indicates the surrounding area] Details: Sighted an animal believed to be a brown bear (Higuma) Address: https://www.city.sapporo.jp/kurashi/animal/choju/kuma/syutsubotsu/#no2654
Sapporo Nishino, Hokkaido
A roar/sound like a brown bear was heard from beyond the bushes.
Sapporo Teine-Honcho, Hokkaido
Around 19:30 on May 5, the city received an information email reporting a bear-like animal about 80 cm long walking west to east in front of the main gate of Teine Junior High School in Toyoka 3-jo 5-chome, Teine Ward, Sapporo. Police patrolled by patrol car but found no animal or traces and no damage was reported, so the city and police carried out investigations and increased vigilance from the morning of the 6th.
Sapporo Teine-Tomioka, Hokkaido
At around 19:25 on the 5th, a passerby reported seeing one animal resembling a brown bear in front of the main gate of Teine Junior High School in Tomioka 3-5, Teine-ku, Sapporo. On the 6th, Sapporo city reviewed nearby security camera footage and announced it was not a brown bear.
Sapporo Teine-Tomioka, Hokkaido
Shortly after 16:00 on April 24, 2026, on Mount Sankakuyama in Sapporo's Nishi Ward, three teenagers among six hikers were injured when bear spray they used as a test entered their eyes. There was no bear involved; the three descended on their own and have no life-threatening injuries.
Sapporo Yamanote, Hokkaido
On 2026-04-24 at Mt. Sankaku in Sapporo's Nishi Ward, a bear deterrent spray was accidentally discharged and entered the eyes of three teenagers (male and female), causing pain and incapacitation.
Sapporo Yamanote, Hokkaido
On the Mt. Sankakuyama trail in Chuo Ward, Sapporo, three teenagers were incapacitated after being hit by bear-repellent spray. The spray appears to have entered their eyes and the incident is reported as a possible accidental discharge. The three injured were transported (details on severity not specified).
Sapporo 山の手4条11, Hokkaido
A single bear believed to be a brown bear was sighted near the forest by Miyanomori in Chuo Ward, Sapporo; it was reported to have been about 10 meters from a residence. The bear moved back into the forest afterward, and no injuries or damage were reported. Police and city authorities conducted patrols and a trace inspection and warned local residents to stay alert.
Sapporo Miyanomori 1-jo 17-chome, Hokkaido
At around 00:40 on the 19th, a resident spotted one brown bear near Miyanomori 2-jo 17-chome in Chuo Ward, Sapporo, and reported it to the Nishi Police Station. Police and the city have warned local residents and are conducting patrols timed to school commuting hours.
Sapporo Miyanomori 1-jo 17-chome, Hokkaido
[No.3] April 19, 2026 (Sunday): No. Date: [No.3] April 19, 2026 (Sunday) Description: Location: Forested area near 11, 2-jo 17-chome, Miyanomori, Chuo Ward [The pin on the map indicates the surrounding area] Details: Brown bear sighted Address: https://www.city.sapporo.jp/kurashi/animal/choju/kuma/syutsubotsu/#no2651
Sapporo Miyanomori 1-jo 17-chome, Hokkaido
Around 19:00 on April 14, a person walking a dog sighted a bear-like animal about 80 cm long on the riverbed north of the Kita-Juusanjo Bridge on the Toyohira River in Yonesato, Shiroishi-ku, Sapporo. Police patrolled the area but found no footprints, droppings, or reports of damage; Sapporo City plans an on-site survey on April 15 and police will increase patrols during school commuting hours.
Sapporo 米里, Hokkaido
On May 7, 2026, shortly before 20:00, a fixed camera set up by the Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute captured one bear in Hitsujigaoka, Toyohira Ward, Sapporo. The bear's size and age are unknown; it was about 600 meters from the Nishioka residential area. Sapporo city warned that bears will become more active during the breeding season.
Sapporo Hitsujigaoka, Hokkaido
Around 19:50 on May 7, a single bear was recorded by a mounted camera walking in the forested area of Hitsujigaoka, Toyohira Ward, Sapporo. On the night of May 3 there was also a reported bear appearance inside the grounds of a research facility in the same Hitsujigaoka area of Toyohira Ward.
Sapporo Hitsujigaoka, Hokkaido
No.7 — May 7, 2026 (Thursday): No. Date: No.7 — May 7, 2026 (Thursday) Description: Location: Near 7-1 Hitsujigaoka, Toyohira Ward (on a forest road about 1.2 km northwest from the summit of Yaki-yama) [The pin on the map indicates the surrounding area] Details: Brown bear confirmed on camera Address: https://www.city.sapporo.jp/kurashi/animal/choju/kuma/syutsubotsu/#no2655
Sapporo Hitsujigaoka, Hokkaido
On the night of May 3, 2026, a camera installed by Sapporo captured one brown bear inside the Hokkaido Agricultural Research Center in Yōgakyū, Toyohira Ward, Sapporo. The city inspected the site on May 4 but found no traces of the bear and judged it unlikely that the animal regularly approaches inhabited areas.
Sapporo Hitsujigaoka, Hokkaido
No.5 — May 3, 2026 (Sunday): No. Date: No.5 — May 3, 2026 (Sunday) Description: Location: Near 1 Hitsujigaoka, Toyohira Ward (on the grounds of the Hokkaido Agricultural Research Center) [The pin on the map indicates the surrounding area.] Details: Brown bear (grizzly) spotted on camera. Address: https://www.city.sapporo.jp/kurashi/animal/choju/kuma/syutsubotsu/#no2653
Sapporo Hitsujigaoka, Hokkaido
Around 19:00 on April 14, a person walking a dog sighted a bear-like animal about 80 cm long on the riverbed north of the Kita-Juusanjo Bridge on the Toyohira River in Yonesato, Shiroishi-ku, Sapporo. Police patrolled the area but found no footprints, droppings, or reports of damage; Sapporo City plans an on-site survey on April 15 and police will increase patrols during school commuting hours.
Sapporo 米里, Hokkaido
Peak activity at 19:00 with 4 incidents
Ursus arctos yesoensis
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Over the past 30 days, 24 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of this route, including 5 in the past week. This route runs through brown bear habitat (native to Hokkaido).
The most recent sighting was reported 2 days ago near Sapporo, Hokkaido; the location sits about 399.2 km from the start of the route and 3.6 km off the route line.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 19:00. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk.
This 451 km route from Chitose to Chitose crosses Hokkaido. Over the past 30 days, 24 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of the route, including 5 in the past week. This route runs through brown bear habitat (native to Hokkaido). The most recent sighting was reported 2 days ago near Sapporo, Hokkaido; the location sits about 399.2 km from the start of the route and 3.6 km off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 6 days ago at Sapporo Hitsujigaoka, Hokkaido, sitting about 419.3 km from the start and 445 m off the route line. At this density of recent sightings, consider rescheduling or choosing a different trail until activity quiets.
