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Bear map of Hokkaido 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 · Rumoi

Brown bear sighted near a national road in Owada, Rumoi

Owada (near a national road about 800 m northeast of Rumoi-Owada IC on the Fukagawa-Rumoi Expressway)
2026-10-27 · Aibetsu

Brown bear sighted near a bridge on a national highway in Kanatomi, Aibetsu

Near Kanatomi Bridge along a national highway, Kanatomi district
2026-10-27 · Sapporo

Bear seen on a residential street in Fukuzumi, Toyohira Ward, Sapporo

Street near Fukuzumi 3-jo 12-chome, Toyohira Ward
2026-10-26 · Esashi

Brown bear sighted on school grounds in Esashi

School grounds in the town
2026-10-25 · Noboribetsu

Bear sighted on a sandbar of the Iburi-Horobetsu River in Sakuragi-cho, Noboribetsu

Sandbar of the Iburi-Horobetsu River in Sakuragi-cho 3-chome (near Sakura-shinbashi Bridge)
2026-10-22 · Hakodate

Brown bear about 1.5 m long sighted on a road near a baseball field in Asahioka, Hakodate

Road near a baseball field, Asahioka-cho
2026-10-21 · Yakumo

Brown bear about 1.5 m long sighted on a prefectural road in Sakurano, Yakumo

Prefectural road 573, Sakurano
2026-10-20 · Otaru

Bear on a road in a residential area of Wakatake, Otaru

Road in a residential area of Wakatake-machi
2026-10-20 · Yakumo

Brown bear footprints in a dent corn field in Hamamatsu, Yakumo

Dent corn field, Hamamatsu
2026-10-18 · Kiyosato

Brown bear apparently rummaged inside a car in Satsuru, Kiyosato

Residential grounds in Satsuru-cho
2026-10-17 · Toyoura

Bear seen crossing road in front of elementary school, Ogishi, Toyoura

Ogishi (town road in front of Ogishi Elementary School)
2026-10-17 · Otaru

Bear seen crossing Route 5 in Shioya, Otaru

Route 5 near Shioya 1-chome
2026-10-16 · Minami Ward, Sapporo

Two bears, likely mother and cub, seen near Munich Bridge, Sapporo

Road near Minami 30-jo Nishi 8-chome (near Munich Bridge)
2026-10-15 · Yubari

Bear 10 m away on returning home, Suminoe, Yubari

Near houses in Suminoe-cho
2026-10-12 · Shibetsu

Tracks of apparent adult bear in residential area, Tayori, Shibetsu

Residential area near Tayori-cho 38-sen Nishi
2026-10-12 · Shibetsu

Bear on security camera in Nishi 4-jo residential area, Shibetsu

Residential area at Nishi 4-jo 1-chome
2026-10-11 · Rumoi

Three bears, a mother and two cubs, cross road near Rumoi-Horonuka IC

Horonuka (near Rumoi-Horonuka IC on the Fukagawa-Rumoi Expressway)
2026-10-10 · Kimobetsu

Two bears on golf course in Sakae, Kimobetsu

On a golf course at Sakae
2026-09-09 · Minami Ward, Sapporo

Bear 4 m from car on Otaru-Jozankei Line

Hokkaido Route Otaru-Jozankei Line
2026-09-05 · Takinoue

Bear about 2 m long walks through residential area, Takinoue

Residential area in the town
2026-09-01 · Hakodate

Possible bear at campground in Asahioka, Hakodate; 21 evacuate

Campground in Asahioka-cho
2026-08-16 · Minami Ward, Sapporo

Bear-like animal on Route 230, Fujino, Sapporo

Sidewalk of Route 230, Fujino 3-jo 11-chome
2026-07-17 · Sarabetsu

Hunting club member injured by brown bear

Within Sarabetsu
2026-07-05 · Shinhidaka

Bear crosses a road in Shizunai Midori-cho, Shinhidaka

Road in the Shizunai Midori-cho area
2026-07-01 · Kiyota Ward, Sapporo

Bear sighted near Ariake, Kiyota Ward, Sapporo

Near Ariake
2026-06-30 · Minami Ward, Sapporo

Bear sighting reported near Jozankei, Minami Ward, Sapporo

Near Jozankei
2026-06-26 · Hakodate

Bear 30 to 50 m from homes in Shin-Hachiman-cho, Hakodate

Shin-Hachiman-cho
2026-06-23 · Chuo Ward, Sapporo

Bear sighted near Bankei, Chuo Ward, Sapporo

Near Bankei
2026-06-20 · Minami Ward, Sapporo

Bear sighted at night near Kitanosawa, Minami Ward, Sapporo

Near Kitanosawa
2026-06-18 · Eniwa

Bear sighting reported in Banjiri, Eniwa

Banjiri
2026-06-02 · Ashibetsu

Brown bear crosses Route 452 in Asahi-cho, Ashibetsu

Route 452, Asahi-cho
2026-06-02 · Asahikawa

Bear tracks found in Sakuraoka, Higashiasahikawa, Asahikawa

Sakuraoka, Higashiasahikawa-cho
2026-06-02 · Asahikawa

Brown bear sighted at ski area in Kamui, Asahikawa

Nishioka, Kamui-cho (ski area closed for the season)
2026-06-01 · Teine Ward, Sapporo

Bear-like animal in Teine Kanayama, Teine Ward, Sapporo

Teine Kanayama
2026-05-25 · Asahikawa

Repeated bear activity in Nishikagura, outskirts of Asahikawa

Nishikagura district
2026-05-25 · Asahikawa

Bear droppings found at Asahiyama Park, Asahikawa; park closed

Asahiyama Park
2026-05-23 · Kitami

Brown bear crosses prefectural road near bus stop in Tokoro, Kitami

Fukuyama, Tokoro-cho (near a bus stop on Hokkaido Route Kitami-Tokoro Line)
2026-04-26 · Shimamaki

Hunter injured by brown bear during culling

Within Shimamaki (spring culling site)
2026-04-18 · Niikappu

Junior high student waiting for bus sees bear, Nishitomari, Niikappu

Nishitomari, a slope about 30 m south of the bus stop
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 Hokkaido (FY2026)

This map shows 39 incidents and posts in Hokkaido (2 injuries, 37 sightings), each with its date, place and source. The Ministry of the Environment does not publish a sighting count for this prefecture.

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

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