This 352 km route from JR Tower to Cape Sōya crosses Hokkaido. Over the past 30 days, 12 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 1 week ago near Tomamae, Hokkaido; the location sits about 191.2 km from the start of the route and 38 m off the route line.
At this density of recent sightings, consider rescheduling or choosing a different trail until activity quiets.
In Tomamae Town, Hokkaido, a single brown bear weighing over 300 kg was captured after emerging from hibernation. The local hunting association said they were surprised at its unusually large size for a post-hibernation bear.
Tomamae, Hokkaido
In Tomamae Town, Hokkaido, at around 08:30 on April 27, a single brown bear measuring 2.15 m and weighing about 330 kg was captured in a box trap. The trap was set on April 25 after a sensor camera had recorded the bear, following consultations with the town.
Tomamae, Hokkaido
On April 26 in Tomamae Town, Hokkaido, a 330-kg brown bear was caught in a box trap and culled. According to the local hunters' association, its size was unusually large for the period just after hibernation.
Tomamae, 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
Around 07:50 on April 23, 2026, a driver spotted two bears believed to be a parent and cub at the roadside in Fujiyama, Rumoi City, Hokkaido (one about 1.5 m long, the other under 1 m). The site was about 40 meters from the nearest house; police say bears were also seen in the same area last week and are warning residents that they may be the same animals.
Rumoi, 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 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 08:15 on the 14th, a driver traveling on the Toyotomi-Sarufutsu road near the Toyotomi Bypass of National Route 40 in Shūtoku, Toyotomi Town, spotted a bear about 2 meters long roughly 50 meters to the right; the bear ran off to the northeast. The sighting occurred about 400 meters from nearby houses; police are patrolling by patrol car and the town urged people to avoid going out alone and to avoid active times such as dawn and dusk.
Toyotomi, 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 8:00 with 2 incidents
Ursus arctos yesoensis
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Over the past 30 days, 12 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 1 week ago near Tomamae, Hokkaido; the location sits about 191.2 km from the start of the route and 38 m off the route line.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 8:00. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk.
This 352 km route from JR Tower to Cape Sōya crosses Hokkaido. Over the past 30 days, 12 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 1 week ago near Tomamae, Hokkaido; the location sits about 191.2 km from the start of the route and 38 m off the route line. At this density of recent sightings, consider rescheduling or choosing a different trail until activity quiets.
