This 92.9 km route from Hakodate Morning Market to Matsumae Castle crosses Hokkaido. Over the past 30 days, 2 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of the route, with no new activity in the past week. This route runs through brown bear habitat (native to Hokkaido). The most recent sighting was reported 2 weeks ago near Fukushima, Hokkaido; the location sits about 71.1 km from the start of the route and 59 m off the route line.
With activity this close, make noise as you hike, carry bear spray, and avoid the forest at dawn and dusk.
In Fukushima Town in southern Hokkaido, a cub approximately 70 cm long was sighted near houses, and a dashcam recorded it crossing a national road. The report says this was the first sighting of the year and notes past fatal incidents.
Fukushima, Hokkaido
Around 20:00 on April 21, 2026, a woman driving in Fukushima Town's Shirafu area sighted a cub about 70 cm long; a dashcam recorded the cub crossing National Route 228. The sighting was about 15 meters from a residential area; the town urged residents to put out garbage only on collection days, and noted that fatal bear attacks occurred in July last year and in 2021.
Fukushima, Hokkaido
Peak activity at 20:00 with 1 incidents
Ursus arctos yesoensis
Safety picks and trail essentials, top-rated on Amazon and Rakuten.
For mountain rescue, call 110 (police). They will coordinate with local rescue teams.
Draw any route in Japan and get the same bear-safety report, built around the trip you're actually taking.
No comments yet.
Over the past 30 days, 2 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of this route, with no new activity in the past week. This route runs through brown bear habitat (native to Hokkaido).
The most recent sighting was reported 2 weeks ago near Fukushima, Hokkaido; the location sits about 71.1 km from the start of the route and 59 m off the route line.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 20:00. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk.
This 92.9 km route from Hakodate Morning Market to Matsumae Castle crosses Hokkaido. Over the past 30 days, 2 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of the route, with no new activity in the past week. This route runs through brown bear habitat (native to Hokkaido). The most recent sighting was reported 2 weeks ago near Fukushima, Hokkaido; the location sits about 71.1 km from the start of the route and 59 m off the route line. With activity this close, make noise as you hike, carry bear spray, and avoid the forest at dawn and dusk.
