This 1294 km route from Chitose to Cape Chikiu crosses Hokkaido. Over the past 30 days, 14 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of the route, including 4 in the past week. This route runs through brown bear habitat (native to Hokkaido). The most recent sighting was reported 2 days ago near Biei, Hokkaido; the location sits about 282.1 km from the start of the route and 4.3 km off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 1 month ago at Sunagawa 東一条北十一丁目, Hokkaido, sitting about 95.0 km from the start and 215 m off the route line.
At this density of recent sightings, consider rescheduling or choosing a different trail until activity quiets.
At around 20:00 on May 9, 2026, a man in his 60s driving on Route 115 in Kitayoshino-cho, Sunagawa City, saw a bear about 2 meters long crossing the road from left to right. Police, municipal staff and hunters checking the scene found multiple bear tracks (about 24 cm) heading north and south, and increased vigilance was implemented because a residential area lies about 1 km away. No injuries or damage to the vehicle were reported.
Sunagawa 北吉野町, 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
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
Around 09:00 on May 12, 2026, on a forest road leading to the Tomuraushi mountain trail in Shintoku (Tokachi), footage taken from inside a car showed an adult bear run into the woods and seconds later suddenly charge toward the vehicle. Witnesses reported two additional small bears believed to be cubs. Separate sightings and track investigations were reported in Kitami and Sapporo, with Sapporo tracks later judged not to be from a bear.
Biei, Hokkaido
On May 6 at around 10:00, a bear in Shari (Shiretoko Peninsula) emerged from the roadside, slowly crossed the road, walked along the shoulder and disappeared into vegetation on the opposite side. No damage to people or buildings was confirmed, and the police are conducting patrols by patrol car.
Shari Hon-machi, Hokkaido
At around 22:50 on May 10, 2026, a driver spotted a roughly 2-meter-long bear crossing National Route 276 in Takaoka, Tomakomai. There was no collision or injuries, and police searched the area but did not find the bear or any traces.
Tomakomai, Hokkaido
At Yufutsu River in Akebono-cho, Tomakomai City, a man fishing spotted one bear on the opposite bank and recorded it on video. The article notes that bear sightings have been increasing across Hokkaido since Golden Week and warns that this season presents a higher risk of close encounters between people and bears.
Tomakomai, Hokkaido
In Tomakomai City, Hokkaido, an angler spotted a bear on the opposite bank and the animal was captured on camera. Sightings have been increasing during the holiday period, and authorities are warning people to be cautious as encounters can occur at close range.
Tomakomai, Hokkaido
Just after 04:30 on May 3, 2026, a fisherman in Tomakomai's Akebono-cho encountered a brown bear at about a 10-meter distance and captured the moment on camera. The witness estimated the bear's body length at about 1 meter; on the same day a camera also recorded one brown bear near the Hokkaido Agricultural Research Center in Toyohira-ku, Sapporo.
Tomakomai, Hokkaido
Peak activity at 20:00 with 4 incidents
Ursus arctos yesoensis
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Over the past 30 days, 14 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of this route, including 4 in the past week. This route runs through brown bear habitat (native to Hokkaido).
The most recent sighting was reported 2 days ago near Biei, Hokkaido; the location sits about 282.1 km from the start of the route and 4.3 km off the route line.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 20:00. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk.
This 1294 km route from Chitose to Cape Chikiu crosses Hokkaido. Over the past 30 days, 14 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of the route, including 4 in the past week. This route runs through brown bear habitat (native to Hokkaido). The most recent sighting was reported 2 days ago near Biei, Hokkaido; the location sits about 282.1 km from the start of the route and 4.3 km off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 1 month ago at Sunagawa 東一条北十一丁目, Hokkaido, sitting about 95.0 km from the start and 215 m off the route line. At this density of recent sightings, consider rescheduling or choosing a different trail until activity quiets.
