This 1083 km route from Otaru Canal to Otaru Canal crosses Hokkaido. Over the past 30 days, 26 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of the route, including 10 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 Nishino, Hokkaido; the location sits about 1056.7 km from the start of the route and 804 m off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 3 weeks ago at Sapporo 米里, Hokkaido, sitting about 39.2 km from the start and 177 m off the route line.
At this density of recent sightings, consider rescheduling or choosing a different trail until activity quiets.
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
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
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
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
A cub crossed the road
Pippu Asahi, 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 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
Around 05:45 on April 14, 2026, a staff member at Miyanomori Hospital spotted a brown bear about 2.0 m long in the forest roughly 20 meters west of the hospital and security called 110. There were no injuries or damage, and the city's trace inspection found no footprints, but because Triangle Mountain Elementary School (三角山小学校) is nearby police and school staff conducted patrols and escorted students during arrival times.
Sapporo Miyanomori, Hokkaido
[No.1] Tuesday, April 14, 2026: No. Date: [No.1] Tuesday, April 14, 2026 Description: Location: Vicinity of 1274 Miyanomori, Chuo Ward (in woodland about 200 m southwest from the Miyanomori trailhead on the Sankakuyama Bankei nature trail). [The map pin shows 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/#no2649
Sapporo Miyanomori, Hokkaido
A bear about 2 meters long was sighted near Kannonko-ike in Kiyosato Town. The woman who filmed it made eye contact with the bear from about 50 meters away; the bear then hid behind a tree, and people gathering wild plants nearby were warned to be careful.
Kiyosato, Hokkaido
Around 16:30 on May 3, a woman in her 20s driving on a prefectural road near the popular tourist spot Kaminoko-ike in Kiyosato Town spotted a bear approximately 2 meters long on the mountainside beside the road. She locked eyes with the bear at about 50 meters, but the bear hid in the shade and there were no injuries. People collecting wild plants frequent the area, so warnings have been issued.
Kiyosato, Hokkaido
Around 16:30 on April 29 in Kiyosato Town near Kaminoko-ike, a woman in her 20s spotted a brown bear about 2 meters long from roughly 50 meters away while in a car. The bear moved around cautiously and hid in the shade of trees; authorities warned people to be careful because foragers' cars were parked nearby.
Kiyosato, Hokkaido
At around 14:40 on May 2, a JR Hanazaki Line driver spotted two bear cubs beside the tracks at Suminoe 4-chome, Akkeshi Town, from aboard a train. The cubs left for the nearby woods; their sizes are unknown, and police have increased vigilance because the site is about 1 km from residences.
Akkeshi Yamanote, Hokkaido
Around 21:30 on April 29, 2026, a train driver spotted one bear beside the tracks near JR Hamanaka Station in Hamanaka Town. The bear approached a moving train but left immediately; there was no contact or injuries, and it is believed to be a cub. Police are monitoring the area.
Hamanaka Hamanaka Sakura Kita, Hokkaido
On April 17, 2026, a deer carcass and bear droppings were found within a residential property in Akkeshi (厚岸町), Hokkaido. The deer's body showed signs consistent with having been eaten.
Akkeshi 真栄三丁目, 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
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
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
Around 05:45 on April 14, 2026, a staff member at Miyanomori Hospital spotted a brown bear about 2.0 m long in the forest roughly 20 meters west of the hospital and security called 110. There were no injuries or damage, and the city's trace inspection found no footprints, but because Triangle Mountain Elementary School (三角山小学校) is nearby police and school staff conducted patrols and escorted students during arrival times.
Sapporo Miyanomori, Hokkaido
[No.1] Tuesday, April 14, 2026: No. Date: [No.1] Tuesday, April 14, 2026 Description: Location: Vicinity of 1274 Miyanomori, Chuo Ward (in woodland about 200 m southwest from the Miyanomori trailhead on the Sankakuyama Bankei nature trail). [The map pin shows 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/#no2649
Sapporo Miyanomori, Hokkaido
Peak activity at 16:00 with 3 incidents
Ursus arctos yesoensis
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Over the past 30 days, 26 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of this route, including 10 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 Nishino, Hokkaido; the location sits about 1056.7 km from the start of the route and 804 m off the route line.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 16:00. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk.
This 1083 km route from Otaru Canal to Otaru Canal crosses Hokkaido. Over the past 30 days, 26 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of the route, including 10 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 Nishino, Hokkaido; the location sits about 1056.7 km from the start of the route and 804 m off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 3 weeks ago at Sapporo 米里, Hokkaido, sitting about 39.2 km from the start and 177 m off the route line. At this density of recent sightings, consider rescheduling or choosing a different trail until activity quiets.
