News Black Bear Kitakami, Iwate, Iwate Oct 16, 2025

Description

On 2025-10-16 at the Sembi Onsen inn in Kitakami, Iwate, employee Katsumi Sasazaki (60) was attacked by a bear while cleaning the open-air bath and was found dead the next day in a nearby woodland. The facility subsequently closed.

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

Summary

Following a fatal bear attack on October 16 in which an employee was killed, Sembi Onsen remained closed in mourning. The owner decided to reopen on November 7 after implementing safety measures: the open-air bath will remain closed, use will be limited to indoor baths for staying guests only, and the facility will consider installing iron bars and security cameras to enhance safety.

Bear Type

Black Bear

Number of Bears

1

Provider Type

News

Date & Time

Thursday, October 16, 2025

Address

Coordinates

39.286774, 141.113154

Sources