This 595 km route runs from Wakkanai to Goryōkaku Tower within Hokkaido. In the past 30 days, 26 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 4 of them. The latest sighting was reported 1 day ago near Sapporo Hitsujigaoka, Hokkaido.
At this density of recent sightings, consider rescheduling or choosing a different trail until activity quiets.
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
[No.14] Friday, May 22, 2026: Location: Near 7-1 Hitsujigaoka, Toyohira Ward (approximately 900 m southwest of the Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute office building). *A camera in the area also confirmed one brown bear at around 3:33 a.m. the same day. Description: Brown bear confirmed on camera. Address: https://www.google.com/maps?q=42.99107,141.38383
Sapporo Hitsujigaoka, Hokkaido
A bear was sighted in Nodao, Yakumo Town.
Yakumo Nodaoi, Hokkaido
Around 20:19 on May 20, 2026, a bear-like animal about 1.5 meters long was sighted along Dodo Nukkai Port Line in Nishihama 1, Wakkanai. The city inspected the site and found no traces, but put up warning signs and urged people to avoid entering the mountains and not to leave food waste outside.
Wakkanai 西浜, Hokkaido
[No.12] May 17, 2026 (Sunday): Location: Near 27 Kogane-yu, Minami Ward (approximately 100 m southwest of the Sapporo Ainu Culture Exchange Center). Description: Sighted an animal believed to be a brown bear. Address: https://www.google.com/maps?q=42.967774,141.218294
Sapporo Koganeyu, 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
[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, 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 2026-05-13, a fixed camera at the Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute (Hokkaido branch) in Yagik?aoka, Toyohira Ward, Sapporo captured one brown bear (estimated 1.2–1.3 m) twice at about 19:30 and 21:30. The city inspected the area on the 14th, found footprints about 10 cm wide, and urged residents to follow garbage disposal rules and exercise caution.
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
No. 9 — Wednesday, May 13, 2026: Location: Near Yōgaka 7-1 (on a forest road about 1.2 km northwest from the summit of Yakeyama). Note: At approximately 19:37 the same day, one brown bear was also confirmed by a camera near the summit. Description: Brown bear confirmed on camera. Address: https://www.google.com/maps?q=42.98833,141.38799
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
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
No.7 — May 7, 2026 (Thursday): No. Date: No.7 — May 7, 2026 (Thursday) Description: Location: Near 7-1 Hitsujigaoka, Toyohira Ward (on a forest road about 1.2 km northwest from the summit of Yaki-yama) [The pin on the map indicates the surrounding area] Details: Brown bear confirmed on camera Address: https://www.city.sapporo.jp/kurashi/animal/choju/kuma/syutsubotsu/#no2655
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
In Tomamae Town, Hokkaido, a single brown bear weighing over 300 kg was captured after emerging from hibernation. The local hunting association said they were surprised at its unusually large size for a post-hibernation bear.
Tomamae, Hokkaido
In Tomamae Town, Hokkaido, at around 08:30 on April 27, a single brown bear measuring 2.15 m and weighing about 330 kg was captured in a box trap. The trap was set on April 25 after a sensor camera had recorded the bear, following consultations with the town.
Tomamae, Hokkaido
A large brown bear measuring about 2.15–2.2 m and weighing approximately 330 kg was captured and euthanized on April 27 in a box trap set in the Nagashima district of Tomamae Town, Hokkaido. Such a large individual so soon after hibernation is unusual, and hunters warn there may be other similarly sized bears nearby, so vigilance continues.
Tomamae, Hokkaido
On April 27 a brown bear about 2.2 m long and weighing approximately 330 kg entered a box trap in Nagashima district, Tomamae Town, Hokkaido, and was exterminated. Local hunting associations are warning that other similarly sized individuals may be present in the area.
Tomamae, Hokkaido
On April 26 in Tomamae Town, Hokkaido, a 330-kg brown bear was caught in a box trap and culled. According to the local hunters' association, its size was unusually large for the period just after hibernation.
Tomamae, Hokkaido
On April 25, 2026, a bear about 1 meter long was filmed along a national road in Tomamae Town, Hokkaido. The bear repeatedly looked back at the filmer while eating what appeared to be wild shoots, showing signs of being accustomed to humans.
Tomamae, 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
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.
In the past 30 days, 26 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 4 of them.
The latest sighting was reported 1 day ago near Sapporo Hitsujigaoka, Hokkaido.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 20:00. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk.
This 595 km route runs from Wakkanai to Goryōkaku Tower within Hokkaido. In the past 30 days, 26 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 4 of them. The latest sighting was reported 1 day ago near Sapporo Hitsujigaoka, Hokkaido. At this density of recent sightings, consider rescheduling or choosing a different trail until activity quiets.
