This 139 km route from Jōzankei Onsen to Furano crosses Hokkaido. Over the past 30 days, 9 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 3 days ago near Sapporo Bankei, Hokkaido; the location sits about 22.7 km from the start of the route and 4.9 km off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 3 weeks ago at Sapporo 米里, Hokkaido, sitting about 31.9 km from the start and 698 m off the route line.
With activity this close, slow through forested stretches and stay alert at dawn and dusk when bears cross roads.
[No.8] Friday, May 8, 2026: No. Date: [No.8] Friday, May 8, 2026 Description: Location: Near 476 Bankei, Chuo Ward (on the road about 280 m northeast of Bankei Hall) [The pin on the map indicates the surrounding area] Details: Brown bear sighting Address: https://www.city.sapporo.jp/kurashi/animal/choju/kuma/syutsubotsu/#no2656
Sapporo Bankei, 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.4 — Friday, April 24, 2026 Date: No.4 — Friday, April 24, 2026 Description: Location: Near 160-2 Makomanai, Minami Ward (on the Sumikawa–Atsubetsu–Taki connecting road about 700 m east of Sapporo Komaoaka Incineration Plant) [The map pin shows the general area] Details: Sighted an animal believed to be a brown bear Address: https://www.city.sapporo.jp/kurashi/animal/choju/kuma/syutsubotsu/#no2652
Sapporo Makomanai, Hokkaido
[No.2] Saturday, April 18, 2026: No. Date: [No.2] Saturday, April 18, 2026 Description: Location: Minami-ku nature trail “Moiwa-yama Route” (about 400 m north of the entrance to the Citizens’ Ski Area) [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/#no2650
Sapporo Moiwayama, 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
At around 05:45 on April 14, 2026, a hospital staff member sighted one bear about 2 meters long in the woodland roughly 20 meters west of Miyano-mori Hospital in Miyanomori, Chuo-ku, Sapporo. The bear walked north and left the area; there were no injuries or reported damage, and a follow-up investigation by Sapporo city found no tracks or other traces.
Sapporo Minami-5-jo-Nishi 4-chome, Hokkaido
Peak activity at 19:00 with 2 incidents
Ursus arctos yesoensis
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Over the past 30 days, 9 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 3 days ago near Sapporo Bankei, Hokkaido; the location sits about 22.7 km from the start of the route and 4.9 km off the route line.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 19:00. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk.
This 139 km route from Jōzankei Onsen to Furano crosses Hokkaido. Over the past 30 days, 9 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 3 days ago near Sapporo Bankei, Hokkaido; the location sits about 22.7 km from the start of the route and 4.9 km off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 3 weeks ago at Sapporo 米里, Hokkaido, sitting about 31.9 km from the start and 698 m off the route line. With activity this close, slow through forested stretches and stay alert at dawn and dusk when bears cross roads.
