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This 81 km route runs from Noboribetsu to Chitose within Hokkaido. In the past 30 days, 8 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 2 of them. The latest sighting was reported 2 days ago near Chitose, Hokkaido.
With activity this close, slow through forested stretches and stay alert at dawn and dusk when bears cross roads.
A bear was captured on a camera in Aoba Park, Chitose City.
Chitose, Hokkaido
Around 06:50 on 2026-05-21, a bear was sighted in Takaoka, Tomakomai, Hokkaido.
Tomakomai, Hokkaido
Around 01:30 on May 19 in Tomakomai City, Takuyu Higashimachi 4-chome, a resident reported seeing a four-legged animal believed to be a bear, about 1 meter long. Takuyu Elementary School carried out supervised school commutes and the city conducted an on-site investigation but found no tracks or droppings.
Tomakomai, Hokkaido
While driving, two black animals ran across in front of me. I believe they were probably bear cubs.
Tomakomai Shinmeicho 4-chome, Hokkaido
On May 15, 2026 at about 20:35, a driver in Noboribetsu Higashi 3-chome, Noboribetsu City, spotted a bear about 2 meters long crossing a road and reported it to the police box. The nearest house was about 150 meters away; no human injuries or property damage have been reported, and city authorities and hunters found no traces during a site inspection on the morning of the 16th. Police are conducting patrols.
Noboribetsu, 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
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
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
Peak activity at 22:00 with 2 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.
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In the past 30 days, 8 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 2 of them.
The latest sighting was reported 2 days ago near Chitose, Hokkaido.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 22:00. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk.
This 81 km route runs from Noboribetsu to Chitose within Hokkaido. In the past 30 days, 8 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 2 of them. The latest sighting was reported 2 days ago near Chitose, Hokkaido. With activity this close, slow through forested stretches and stay alert at dawn and dusk when bears cross roads.
