Chitose~지큐곶 하이킹 루트

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

Just before 20:00 on May 9, 2026, a female driver in Arashiyama, Etanbetsu, Asahikawa City, spotted a bear about 1 meter long crossing the road; it disappeared toward the Etanbetsu River afterward. Police checked the area but found no traces and plan to conduct a tracks investigation the next day with municipal staff.

Asahikawa 江丹別町嵐山, 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

Around 09:00 on May 12, 2026, on a forest road leading to the Tomuraushi mountain trail in Shintoku (Tokachi), footage taken from inside a car showed an adult bear run into the woods and seconds later suddenly charge toward the vehicle. Witnesses reported two additional small bears believed to be cubs. Separate sightings and track investigations were reported in Kitami and Sapporo, with Sapporo tracks later judged not to be from a bear.

Biei, Hokkaido

On May 6 at around 10:00, a bear in Shari (Shiretoko Peninsula) emerged from the roadside, slowly crossed the road, walked along the shoulder and disappeared into vegetation on the opposite side. No damage to people or buildings was confirmed, and the police are conducting patrols by patrol car.

Shari Hon-machi, Hokkaido

Around 21:30 on April 29, 2026, a train driver spotted one bear beside the tracks near JR Hamanaka Station in Hamanaka Town. The bear approached a moving train but left immediately; there was no contact or injuries, and it is believed to be a cub. Police are monitoring the area.

Hamanaka Hamanaka Sakura Kita, Hokkaido

At around 22:50 on May 10, 2026, a driver spotted a roughly 2-meter-long bear crossing National Route 276 in Takaoka, Tomakomai. There was no collision or injuries, and police searched the area but did not find the bear or any traces.

Tomakomai, Hokkaido

At Yufutsu River in Akebono-cho, Tomakomai City, a man fishing spotted one bear on the opposite bank and recorded it on video. The article notes that bear sightings have been increasing across Hokkaido since Golden Week and warns that this season presents a higher risk of close encounters between people and bears.

Tomakomai, Hokkaido

In Tomakomai City, Hokkaido, an angler spotted a bear on the opposite bank and the animal was captured on camera. Sightings have been increasing during the holiday period, and authorities are warning people to be cautious as encounters can occur at close range.

Tomakomai, Hokkaido