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Bear map of Aomori 2026

About this map and how to read the numbers

This map shows, one by one from news reports, incidents in which people were injured or killed by bears and in which bears entered houses, shops and other buildings. The colour of each prefecture is the number of sightings compiled by the Ministry of the Environment (preliminary figures). In FY2025 sightings exceeded 50,000 and attacks on people reached a record high. In FY2026 there have again been attacks from Tohoku to the Kinki and Chugoku regions.

Bear sightings are life-and-death information. This map is made so that you can see the situation across Japan at a glance and check exact locations on each prefecture's page.

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List (newest first, 39 in total)

2026-10-29 · Towada

Bear sighted in Sashikubo, Takizawa, Towada

Sashikubo, Takizawa (under a plum tree)
2026-10-29 · Towada

Bear crosses prefectural road in Zarubata, Yoneda, Towada

Towada-Sannohe prefectural road in Zarubata, Yoneda
2026-10-27 · Rokunohe

Adult bear sighted on a town road in Inuotose Gongenzawa, Rokunohe

Town road in Inuotose Gongenzawa (about 200 m northeast of the former Shichihyaku Junior High School)
2026-10-26 · Hachinohe

Bear sighted near Okubo Nagasawa, Hachinohe

Near Okubo Nagasawa (about 400 m south of the Eastern District School Lunch Center)
2026-10-22 · Fukaura

Bear sighted on National Route 101 near JR Hiroto Station, Fukaura

National Route 101 near JR Hiroto Station, Hiroto area
2026-10-20 · Hachinohe

Bear sighted opposite the Niida River waterside school area in Nango Shimamori, Hachinohe

Near the opposite bank from the Niida River "Mizube no Gakko", Nango Shimamori
2026-10-19 · Hachinohe

Bear cub sighted on a road near Kushibiki Toriageishi, Hachinohe

Near Kushibiki Toriageishi (road about 300 m southeast of the Hachinohe Cleaning Plant)
2026-10-16 · Hachinohe

Bear sighted at Korekawa Doimazawa near Nakaibayashi School

Near Korekawa Doimazawa (about 150 m northwest of Nakaibayashi Elementary School)
2026-10-14 · Hachinohe

One bear sighted near Sabunagane, Shirogane-cho

Near Sabunagane, Shirogane-cho (about 400 m southeast of Misakidai Central Park)
2026-10-14 · Towada

Bear sighted near Imokubo, Osawada, Towada

Near Imokubo, Osawada
2026-10-08 · Hachinohe

Bear sighted at Nishi-Hakusandai 2-chome near Hakusandai school

Near Nishi-Hakusandai 2-chome (about 400 m west of Hakusandai Junior High School)
2026-10-08 · Towada

Bear sighted near Ohanabeyama observatory, north of Lake Towada

Near the Ohanabeyama observatory
2026-10-08 · Misawa

Two bears sighted in a field at Misawa Ueno

In a field at Misawa Ueno
2026-10-05 · Hachinohe

One bear sighted near Honezawa, Samecho, Hachinohe

Near Honezawa, Samecho (about 200 m northwest of Okuki Park)
2026-10-05 · Hachinohe

Bear sighted at night near Kita-Hakusandai 2-chome

Near Kita-Hakusandai 2-chome (about 900 m north of Hakusandai Park)
2026-10-05 · Misawa

Bear sighted near Kamikubo 1-chome, Misawa

Near Kamikubo 1-chome
2026-10-01 · Hachinohe

Cub sighted in a rice field near Hachinohe government building

Rice field near Roppyakukari, Shiriuchi-cho (about 250 m southeast of the Hachinohe government building)
2026-10-01 · Towada

Bear sighted in woods behind Oirase Gorge Museum

Near Tochikubo, Okuse, in the woods behind the Oirase Gorge Museum
2026-09-30 · Hirakawa

Bear sighted by a road at Higasawa, Ikarigaseki, Hirakawa

Near a road at Higasawa, Ikarigaseki (a few hundred meters south of Hokkeji temple)
2026-09-30 · Shichinohe

Bear sighted near Tsubo Community Hall, Shichinohe

Near Tsubo Community Hall
2026-09-30 · Rokunohe

Bear crosses wide-area farm road at Inuotose, Rokunohe

Towada wide-area farm road, 400 m south of the Shichihyakuchi sewage treatment plant, Inuotose
2026-09-24 · Tsugaru

Adult bear tracks found on farmland at Tateoka, Tsugaru

Farmland in the Kamisawabe area, Tateoka, Kizukuri
2026-09-24 · Tohoku

Bear near Misu Lifelong Learning Center, Tohoku Town

Near the Misu district Lifelong Learning Center, Gasudaira
2026-09-16 · Hirosaki

Bear sighted on a city road at Yuguchi, Hirosaki

City road near Sannosagariyama, Yuguchi
2026-09-16 · Misawa

Bear sighted around wide-area farm road at Misawa Sabishirodai

Around the wide-area farm road, Misawa Sabishirodai
2026-09-16 · Fukaura

Cub sighted near an overpass at Yokoiso, Fukaura

Near the Kofukuura overpass, Yokoiso area
2026-09-11 · Hachinohe

Cub sighted near Hamanasu medical care center

Okubo Otsuka, near the Hamanasu Medical and Rehabilitation Center
2026-09-11 · Shichinohe

Bear sighted near Kurakoshi housing complex, Shichinohe

Near the Kurakoshi housing complex, Kurakoshi area
2026-08-22 · Towada

Foreign tourist injured near Lake Towada observation deck

Near the Kankodai observation deck on the shore of Lake Towada, Okuse area
2026-06-29 · Aomori City

Person dies picking bamboo shoots, Hakkoda

In the Hakkoda mountain range
2026-06-24 · Aomori City

Person injured picking bamboo shoots, Hakkoda

Arakawa area (Hakkoda mountains)
2026-05-15 · Aomori City

Repeated bear sightings near Nagashima Elementary School, Aomori

Urban area near Nagashima Elementary School
2026-05-15 · Aomori City

Bear enters a building in central Aomori, stays for hours and is culled

A building in central Aomori
2026-05-14 · Aomori City

Bear sighted between Aomori museum and Sannai-Maruyama site

Sannai area, between the Aomori Museum of Art and the Sannai-Maruyama site
2026-05-14 · Aomori City

Cub crosses road southeast of Sannai-Maruyama site

Road about 300 m southeast of the Sannai-Maruyama site
2026-05-14 · Aomori City

Bear sighted near Maruyama Community Hall

Near Maruyama Community Hall
2026-05-14 · Aomori City

Bear sighted on convenience store grounds, Satomi 1-chome

Grounds of a convenience store, Satomi 1-chome
2026-05-14 · Aomori City

Repeated bear sightings in Namidatemaeda residential area

Residential area of Namidatemaeda
2026-05-07 · Aomori City

Possible bear footprints in Kohata, Aomori City

Near Kohata
How each prefecture is shown, with links to prefectural bear pages

What this map shows

This map shows, one at a time, incidents in which bears injured or killed people, bears entered buildings, and bears were seen in towns, based on news reports and announcements by local governments and the police.

The colour and number for each prefecture are the Ministry of the Environment's provisional sighting counts. Tap a point or an item in the list to see its date, place and source.

Questions and answers

What are the points on the map based on?

News articles and announcements by public bodies such as local governments and the police. Each item links to its source.

Where do the sighting counts by prefecture come from?

They are the Ministry of the Environment's provisional figures from its bear information page. Hokkaido does not publish a sighting count, so it has no number.

How often is the map updated?

Every morning, new reports and announcements are checked and added. The Ministry's provisional figures are reflected after the Ministry updates them.

When do bears hibernate in Japan?

According to the Ministry of the Environment, generally from December to February, with activity from March to November. Warm winters and regional differences can shift the timing.

Can bears appear in November, December or winter?

Yes. In fiscal 2025 Gunma Prefecture recorded 289 sightings in November, 57 in December and 13 in January. The prefecture says not every bear hibernates.

What should I do if I meet a bear?

The Ministry of the Environment says: do not approach it, stay calm and back away slowly while keeping the bear in sight, and do not shout, throw things, or turn your back and run.

Can I take bear spray on a plane?

No. Bear spray cannot be carried on or checked into aircraft, so find a place to buy or rent it after you land (National Parks of Japan / Ministry of the Environment).

Bears in Aomori (FY2026)

This map shows 39 incidents and posts in Aomori (1 death, 2 injuries, 1 bear entering a building, 35 sightings), each with its date, place and source. The Ministry of the Environment's provisional count for Aomori (Apr–Aug) is 1,050 sightings, the 4th highest of the prefectures that publish one.

Sources: Ministry of the Environment (Japanese), and the news or official report for each item in the list.

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