News Brown Bear Jozankei, Minami Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido Dec 7, 2025, 02:00 PM

Description

Around 14:00 on December 7, a driver spotted a single bear about 1 meter long in a forest near National Route 230 in Jozankei, Minami Ward, Sapporo, approximately 50 meters from the road, apparently eating something. Police inspected the scene but found no tracks or other traces, and experts note that individuals lacking sufficient food may remain active instead of hibernating.

Note: Official sources provide information in Japanese only. This description has been machine translated for your convenience.

Summary

On December 7 a roughly 1-meter bear was spotted in a forest along the road in Jozankei, Minami Ward, Sapporo. A driver discovered the animal around 14:00 and police are monitoring the area, though no traces were found. Experts say bears that haven't secured enough food may skip hibernation, and because the sighting occurred about 500 meters from the nearest lodging, people in the area are being urged to be cautious.

Bear Type

Brown Bear

Number of Bears

1

Provider Type

News

Date & Time

Sunday, December 7, 2025 at 02:00 PM

Address

Coordinates

42.954127, 141.151502

Sources