This 266 km route from Kitahiroshima to Kitami crosses Hokkaido. Over the past 30 days, 15 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of the route, including 5 in the past week. This route runs through brown bear habitat (native to Hokkaido). The most recent sighting was reported 4 days ago near Sapporo Hitsujigaoka, Hokkaido; the location sits about 7.7 km from the start of the route and 3.4 km off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 1 month ago at Kitami, Hokkaido, sitting about 236.6 km from the start and 426 m off the route line.
At this density of recent sightings, be ready to brake at any moment and avoid stopping in flagged stretches.
A camera installed by Sapporo City captured a bear walking on a forest road in Hitsujigaoka, Toyohira-ku, Sapporo, at about 20:20 on May 14, 2026. When the city inspected the site on the 15th they found footprints about 10 cm wide near the camera; the bear's body length is estimated at about 1.2–1.3 meters, and footage from May 3, 7 and 13 also recorded nighttime bear appearances.
Sapporo Hitsujigaoka, Hokkaido
Shortly after 20:00 on May 14, a single bear was captured by a fixed camera at the Hokkaido Agricultural Research Center in Yagakeoka, Toyohira-ku, Sapporo. A trace survey on the 15th found footprints about 10 cm wide; the bear is estimated at 1.2–1.3 m long, and similar-sized individuals were recorded on the 7th and 13th in the area.
Sapporo Hitsujigaoka, Hokkaido
[No.10] Thursday, May 14, 2026: Location: Toyohira Ward, Hitsujigaoka 1 (on the grounds of the Hokkaido Agricultural Research Center) * Bear tracks were also confirmed about 100 m north of the camera location Description: Brown bear confirmed on camera Address: https://www.google.com/maps?q=43.005028,141.420417
Sapporo Hitsujigaoka, Hokkaido
On the night of May 13, cameras installed in Sapporo's Toyohira-ku, Yōgakaoka, recorded the presence of one bear twice, at around 19:30 and 21:30. A camera had also recorded a bear in the area on the 7th, and Sapporo city is urging caution.
Sapporo Hitsujigaoka, Hokkaido
On the night of May 13, 2026, a camera near the Hokkaido Agricultural Research Center in Hitsujigaoka, Toyohira Ward, Sapporo captured the same brown bear once around 19:30 and again around 21:30. The bear is estimated at about 1.2–1.3 meters long; it was also filmed on May 7 at the same area, and Sapporo city is urging residents to strictly follow garbage disposal rules.
Sapporo Hitsujigaoka, Hokkaido
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
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
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
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
A cub crossed the road
Pippu Asahi, Hokkaido
At around 10:45 a.m. on the 20th, on a national highway in Kitami City's Rubeshibe (留辺蘂町富士見), a male driver spotted one bear eating an animal believed to be a deer at the roadside and called the police.
Kitami, Hokkaido
Peak activity at 20:00 with 7 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, 15 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of this route, including 5 in the past week. This route runs through brown bear habitat (native to Hokkaido).
The most recent sighting was reported 4 days ago near Sapporo Hitsujigaoka, Hokkaido; the location sits about 7.7 km from the start of the route and 3.4 km off the route line.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 20:00. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk.
This 266 km route from Kitahiroshima to Kitami crosses Hokkaido. Over the past 30 days, 15 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of the route, including 5 in the past week. This route runs through brown bear habitat (native to Hokkaido). The most recent sighting was reported 4 days ago near Sapporo Hitsujigaoka, Hokkaido; the location sits about 7.7 km from the start of the route and 3.4 km off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 1 month ago at Kitami, Hokkaido, sitting about 236.6 km from the start and 426 m off the route line. At this density of recent sightings, be ready to brake at any moment and avoid stopping in flagged stretches.
