This 145 km route from Noboribetsu Onsen to Sumiyoshi Shrine crosses Hokkaido. Over the past 30 days, 19 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 1 day ago near Sapporo, Hokkaido; the location sits about 122.7 km from the start of the route and 1.7 km off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 3 days ago at Tomakomai, Hokkaido, sitting about 48.9 km from the start and 11 m off the route line.
At this density of recent sightings, be ready to brake at any moment and avoid stopping in flagged stretches.
In the garden flowerbed of a residence in Maeda 4-jo 8-chome, Teine-ku, Sapporo, approximately 6–7 footprints believed to be bear tracks (about 13 cm wide) were found around 08:00 on May 12. No other traces or damage were confirmed nearby; police, coordinating with Sapporo city, are investigating the tracks and conducting patrols during school commuting hours while urging residents to be cautious.
Sapporo, Hokkaido
At around 22:50 on May 10, 2026, a driver spotted a roughly 2-meter-long bear crossing National Route 276 in Takaoka, Tomakomai. There was no collision or injuries, and police searched the area but did not find the bear or any traces.
Tomakomai, 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
Around 17:30 on May 7, a cub-like bear was sighted at Miyagaoka Park in Nishi-no, Nishi Ward, Sapporo; city officials checked the site but found no traces. The witness was about 50 meters away, so police treated it as a "bear-like" sighting and increased patrols while urging caution.
Sapporo Nishino, Hokkaido
[No.6] Thursday, May 7, 2026: No. Date: [No.6] Thursday, May 7, 2026 Description: Location: Near 290 Nishino, Nishi-ku (on the lawn area of Miyagaoka Park) [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/#no2654
Sapporo Nishino, Hokkaido
A roar/sound like a brown bear was heard from beyond the bushes.
Sapporo Teine-Honcho, Hokkaido
At Yufutsu River in Akebono-cho, Tomakomai City, a man fishing spotted one bear on the opposite bank and recorded it on video. The article notes that bear sightings have been increasing across Hokkaido since Golden Week and warns that this season presents a higher risk of close encounters between people and bears.
Tomakomai, Hokkaido
In Tomakomai City, Hokkaido, an angler spotted a bear on the opposite bank and the animal was captured on camera. Sightings have been increasing during the holiday period, and authorities are warning people to be cautious as encounters can occur at close range.
Tomakomai, 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 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
Just after 04:30 on May 3, 2026, a fisherman in Tomakomai's Akebono-cho encountered a brown bear at about a 10-meter distance and captured the moment on camera. The witness estimated the bear's body length at about 1 meter; on the same day a camera also recorded one brown bear near the Hokkaido Agricultural Research Center in Toyohira-ku, Sapporo.
Tomakomai, 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
Shortly after 16:00 on April 24, 2026, on Mount Sankakuyama in Sapporo's Nishi Ward, three teenagers among six hikers were injured when bear spray they used as a test entered their eyes. There was no bear involved; the three descended on their own and have no life-threatening injuries.
Sapporo Yamanote, Hokkaido
On 2026-04-24 at Mt. Sankaku in Sapporo's Nishi Ward, a bear deterrent spray was accidentally discharged and entered the eyes of three teenagers (male and female), causing pain and incapacitation.
Sapporo Yamanote, Hokkaido
On the Mt. Sankakuyama trail in Chuo Ward, Sapporo, three teenagers were incapacitated after being hit by bear-repellent spray. The spray appears to have entered their eyes and the incident is reported as a possible accidental discharge. The three injured were transported (details on severity not specified).
Sapporo 山の手4条11, 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 05:50 on April 14, 2026, hospital staff in Sapporo's Chuo Ward (Miyanomori) spotted a brown bear about 2 meters long moving north through the woods near Miyanomori Hospital and reported it via the security guard to emergency services. Police patrolled the area and increased vigilance and warnings timed to school commuting hours.
Sapporo Miyanomori, Hokkaido
Peak activity at 19:00 with 4 incidents
Ursus arctos yesoensis
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Over the past 30 days, 19 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 1 day ago near Sapporo, Hokkaido; the location sits about 122.7 km from the start of the route and 1.7 km off the route line.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 19:00. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk.
This 145 km route from Noboribetsu Onsen to Sumiyoshi Shrine crosses Hokkaido. Over the past 30 days, 19 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 1 day ago near Sapporo, Hokkaido; the location sits about 122.7 km from the start of the route and 1.7 km off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 3 days ago at Tomakomai, Hokkaido, sitting about 48.9 km from the start and 11 m off the route line. At this density of recent sightings, be ready to brake at any moment and avoid stopping in flagged stretches.
