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This 103 km route runs from Otaru Canal to Chitose within Hokkaido. In the past 30 days, 43 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 5 of them. The latest sighting was reported 3 days ago near Otaru Boyodai, Hokkaido.
This is an active bear corridor. Drive through with full caution, but rerouting is the safer choice.
Brown bear sighting information (June 8, 2026) Date and time: June 8 (Monday) — 7:40 AM (footprints), around 8:40 AM (scat) Location: Near Asarigawa Onsen 1-chome, Otaru City (footprints) Near Asarigawa Onsen 1-chome 103, Otaru City (scat)
Otaru Boyodai, Hokkaido
[17] 6/6 18:20 — At a point 1.1 km from the intersection of National Route 276 and National Route 453 toward Tomakomai, one brown bear was sighted on the road. The bear was about 2 m in length and entered the woods on the west side and left.
Tomakomai, Hokkaido
[16] 6/6 13:00 A driver traveling toward Tomakomai who had turned right from Prefectural Route 141 onto National Route 276 sighted an approximately 1 m-long brown bear. The bear crossed the road from south to north and then left the area.
Tomakomai, Hokkaido
[15] 15:18 Shimomaruyama: On Route 276, 500 m toward Tomakomai from the intersection with Route 453, a driver traveling from Tomakomai toward Lake Shikotsu stopped when a bear appeared to cross. The bear crossed the road from west to east and then left the area.
Tomakomai, Hokkaido
One brown bear was captured in a box trap and culled in Yamakegaoka, Toyohira Ward, Sapporo.
Sapporo Hitsujigaoka, Hokkaido
On 2026-06-03 around 16:40, one bear was sighted in Aoba Park, Shintomachi, Chitose City, Hokkaido.
Chitose, Hokkaido
A bear was sighted in Shinmachi, Chitose City.
Chitose, Hokkaido
[16] Mamachi, around 4:40 PM — A brown bear was sighted (one individual) about 100 m east from the Ohayou Bridge in Aoba Park, after entering the park path.
Chitose, Hokkaido
Sighting near the water treatment plant in Tenjin 2-chome
Otaru Tenjin, Hokkaido
An animal resembling a bear was sighted in Teine Kanayama, Teine Ward, Sapporo.
Sapporo Teine-Kanayama, Hokkaido
No. 17 — June 1, 2026 (Monday): Location: Untitled area of Teine Honcho (on the Teine Mountain foothill route, between approximately 1 km and 5 km from the “Teine IC” entrance toward Mount Teine). Description: Sighted an animal believed to be a brown bear. Address: https://www.google.com/maps?q=43.108911,141.215285
Sapporo Teine-Inaho, Hokkaido
A woman walking in Aoba Park in Izumisawa, Chitose, spotted one bear about 1 meter long at the soccer field.
Chitose, Hokkaido
A bear was sighted in Izumisawa, Chitose City.
Chitose, Hokkaido
[15] Izumisawa — Around 7:20 a.m. — Near Aoba Park soccer field — One bear sighted
Chitose, Hokkaido
Suimeikyō — Around 4:15 p.m.: One bear sighted on the road approximately 1.3 km toward Lake Shikotsu from the Chuo Bus Hatchery Entrance bus stop on Prefectural Route 16.
Chitose, Hokkaido
A bear was sighted in Mashu, Chitose City, Hokkaido, around 9:56 PM on May 25.
Chitose, Hokkaido
A bear was captured on a camera in Aoba Park, Chitose City.
Chitose, Hokkaido
[No.15] May 25, 2026 (Monday): Location: 1 Hitsujigaoka, Toyohira Ward (on the premises of the Hokkaido Agricultural Research Center) Description: Brown bear spotted on camera Address: https://www.google.com/maps?q=43.0051,141.42045
Sapporo Hitsujigaoka, Hokkaido
No. 15 — May 25, 2026 (Monday): Location: Yagachigaoka 1, Toyohira Ward (on the grounds of the Hokkaido Agricultural Research Center). Description: Brown bear observed on camera. Address: https://www.google.com/maps?q=43.00533,141.42045
Sapporo Hitsujigaoka, Hokkaido
Izumisawa — At approximately 9:56 PM, a single bear was sighted under the Dōō Expressway overpass near the lawn area of Aoba Park.
Chitose, Hokkaido
Around 2:49 a.m. on May 22, a bear was sighted in Yokozuka, Toyohira Ward, Sapporo, and was seen on a security camera.
Sapporo Hitsujigaoka, Hokkaido
Izumisawa — Around 8:28 PM: On the roadway about 700 meters from the Karasakubai Bridge on Prefectural Route 16 toward Lake Shikotsu, one bear sighted.
Chitose, Hokkaido
Brown bear sighting report 2026-2: Around 4:45 AM on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, a brown bear was sighted.
Kitahiroshima 輪厚中央, Hokkaido
Brown bear sighting report 2026-2: Around 4:45 AM on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, a brown bear was sighted.
Kitahiroshima 輪厚中央, Hokkaido
At around 04:30 on May 20, a brown bear under 1 meter in length was sighted on a road in Shimamatsu, Kitahiroshima; police responded after a report. The bear left the road for the forest and there were no injuries. A golf course and a campsite are located nearby and police warned the public to be cautious.
Kitahiroshima 輪厚工業団地, Hokkaido
Around 04:30 on May 20, 2026, a passerby spotted a bear about 1 m long near a golf course in Shimamatsu, Kitahiroshima; responding police officers also saw a similarly sized bear on a city road near the adjacent Kitahiroshima Natural Forest Campground. The city closed the campground for this weekend and city staff and the hunters' association are investigating.
Kitahiroshima, Hokkaido
Brown bear sighting report 2026-1: Around 4:10 a.m. on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, a brown bear was sighted.
Kitahiroshima 輪厚工業団地, Hokkaido
Brown bear sighting report 2026-1: Around 4:10 a.m. on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, a brown bear was reported sighted.
Kitahiroshima 輪厚工業団地, Hokkaido
A bear attack occurred in Sapporo's Nishi Ward, and vigilance continued at an elementary school near the scene on the first school day after the incident.
Sapporo Nishimachi-kita 8-chome, Hokkaido
A brown bear less than 1 meter long appeared on a road near a golf course in Kitahiroshima City, Hokkaido. Because there is also a nearby campground, police are on alert.
Kitahiroshima 輪厚元町, Hokkaido
Since spring, there have been repeated sightings and encounters with brown bears around the Shikotsu Lake shore in Chitose city, including while people were driving cars or riding bicycles. There were no injuries to people or livestock, and the Chitose police and city are urging residents to carry bells and bear spray.
Chitose, Hokkaido
A man was attacked by a brown bear in Sapporo's Nishi Ward, and on the first school day after the incident the nearby elementary school remained on alert. At 07:00, police cars were patrolling the residential area around the site.
Sapporo Nishimachi-kita 8-chome, Hokkaido
A bear attack occurred in Sapporo's Nishi Ward. On the first school day after the incident, students of Heiwa Elementary near the scene were accompanied to school by guardians, and vigilance remains in place.
Sapporo Heiwa 3-jo 8-chome, Hokkaido
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
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火葬場から手稲へ戻る途中、太陽光パネルのエリアで、細身だけど筋肉質なヒグマが歩いているのを見ました。
Sapporo Teine-Yamaguchi, Hokkaido
A bear was reported sighted in Suimeigo, Chitose City at around 09:15 on the 14th, according to the Chitose police. The article notes that the animal may later be confirmed not to be a bear.
Chitose, 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
Suimeikyo: Around 9:15 a.m., two bears were sighted on the cycling road approximately 1 kilometer toward Lake Shikotsu from the Suimeikyo Parking area on Route 16 (Shikotsuko Park Line) in Chitose City.
Chitose, 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
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
Suimeikyō — Around 4:55 AM — On a curve near Oji Paper No. 1 Power Plant on Route 16 (Shikotsuko Park Line) — One bear sighted
Chitose, Hokkaido
At about 13:10 on May 12, 2026, two brown bears believed to be a mother and cub, about 1.5 m and 50 cm long, were sighted on the cycling road in Suimeikyo, Chitose. When the male cyclist turned back and fled, the bears disappeared in the opposite direction; there were no injuries, and police said this was the fourth sighting in the area this season and urged caution.
Chitose, Hokkaido
Peak activity at 4:00 with 6 incidents
Ursus arctos yesoensis
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For mountain rescue, call 110 (police). They will coordinate with local rescue teams.
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In the past 30 days, 43 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 5 of them.
The latest sighting was reported 3 days ago near Otaru Boyodai, Hokkaido.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 4:00. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk.
This 103 km route runs from Otaru Canal to Chitose within Hokkaido. In the past 30 days, 43 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 5 of them. The latest sighting was reported 3 days ago near Otaru Boyodai, Hokkaido. This is an active bear corridor. Drive through with full caution, but rerouting is the safer choice.
