This 410 km route from Nanae to Kimobetsu crosses Hokkaido. Over the past 30 days, 12 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of the route, including 7 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 Hitsujigaoka, Hokkaido; the location sits about 349.1 km from the start of the route and 4.8 km off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 3 weeks ago at Sapporo Minami-5-jo-Nishi 4-chome, Hokkaido, sitting about 344.9 km from the start and 887 m off the route line.
At this density of recent sightings, reroute or postpone your ride until activity quiets.
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
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
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 4 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, 12 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of this route, including 7 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 Hitsujigaoka, Hokkaido; the location sits about 349.1 km from the start of the route and 4.8 km off the route line.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 19:00. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk.
This 410 km route from Nanae to Kimobetsu crosses Hokkaido. Over the past 30 days, 12 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of the route, including 7 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 Hitsujigaoka, Hokkaido; the location sits about 349.1 km from the start of the route and 4.8 km off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 3 weeks ago at Sapporo Minami-5-jo-Nishi 4-chome, Hokkaido, sitting about 344.9 km from the start and 887 m off the route line. At this density of recent sightings, reroute or postpone your ride until activity quiets.
