News Brown Bear Asahikawa–Mombetsu Expressway (Engaru Town, Old Shirataki — about 3 km before Shirataki Tunnel, on the road shoulder), Hokkaido Mar 20, 2026, 04:19 AM

Description

Around 13:19 on March 20, 2026, a driver spotted a single bear about 1.3 meters long on the shoulder of the Asahikawa–Mombetsu Expressway (Old Shirataki area, about 3 km before Shirataki Tunnel) in Engaru Town, Hokkaido. On the following day at 11:15 a.m. another sighting on the same section was reported; police have stepped up patrols and warned the public.

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

Summary

On the afternoon of March 20, a driver on the Asahikawa–Mombetsu Expressway in Engaru spotted a roughly 1.3-meter bear on the road shoulder, which a passenger quickly photographed. There was another sighting on the morning of March 21; no vehicles were involved, and police have increased patrols and warned residents as bears emerge from hibernation.

Bear Type

Brown Bear

Number of Bears

1

Provider Type

News

Date & Time

Friday, March 20, 2026 at 04:19 AM

Address

Coordinates

43.940897, 143.262676

Sources