We’ve lived in Hokkaido for over 10 years now, and we’ve only seen bears a couple of times in the wild here. A few of our friends and acquaintances have also seen bears, but the encounter has always ended amicibly, mainly due to distance between said friend and bear. When talking about brown bears in Hokkaido, it’s important to stress that as a hiker or general outdoor recreationalist, it’s very rare to have an encounter with a bear. See a deeper dive here.
That said, whether you’re on a bicycle in Hokkaido, taking in some quiet forestry road routes, or hiking anywhere on the island, it is best to take some basic bear precautions while traveling and camping.
- Make some noise. If a bear can hear you, they’ll quite happily leave very quickly. Carry a bear bell either on your pack, or if cycling, on your panniers or handlebars. You might want to buy one that you can turn off when traveling through more open areas – that ringing (and that of every other hiker on the trail) can get annoying after a while.
- Don’t feed the wildlife. Bears have a keen sense of smell, so don’t leave any food around, either at a campsite or on the trail.
- Keep food separate from your tent. For the vast majority of campgrounds in Hokkaido (if not all), you won’t need to to bother with hanging food or cooking away from your tent. If you’re cycling a forestry road and find yourself wild-camping far from civilization, however, you’ll want to be more vigilant. Cook away from your tent, and put foodstuffs in a bag and hang it high in a tree.
- Don’t approach a bear. Bears don’t like to feel threatened. If you see a bear, quietly and calmly return the way you came.
- The likelihood of being attacked by a bear is laughably low. A much more real threat takes the form of the Japanese giant hornet, contracting lyme disease from ticks, or getting an echinococcus parasite from drinking untreated water from streams (see our advice here). If you do happen to encounter an aggressive bear in close quarters, follow the advice of the Internet.
- Do I need bear spray? If you live in Hokkaido, it doesn’t hurt to invest in some bear spray – with a harness, you’ll pay between 10,000 to 14,000yen (this is a good brand). If you’re just visiting Hokkaido, it is possible to rent bear spray if you’d like that peace of mind (e.g. here). However, it’s not an absolute must.
Below are some photos of some happy-ish bears, and the closest most of us will ever get to a brown bear in Hokkaido, at the Sahoro Bear Mountain Research Center (the only decent, approaching-humane bear park in Hokkaido).
24 thoughts on “Bears in Hokkaido”
Hi Rob,
We’re currently bikepacking as a pair through Japan. At the moment, we’re around the Fukushima area, heading north through Honshu. Our plan is to take the ferry and spend a few weeks cycling around Hokkaido, including some national parks.
Even here in Honshu, we’ve already seen numerous warning signs about aggressive bears. We’ve spoken with some locals who say it’s a real issue, and according to media reports, bear behavior has significantly changed over the past two years, with attacks becoming more frequent. We’re usually not easily spooked, but right now we’re not feeling confident about wild camping.
What’s your take on the current situation?
Btw great Page!
Thanks so much, and best regards!
Hi Rob, great to hear you’re heading up this way. My take on the current situation is that us humans, we love a solid ‘good-vs-evil’, us-vs-them’ myth to make our lives have purpose. In Japan, where everyday life is laughably safe and certain, the uncertainty of the ‘evil flesh-eating bear waiting around the corner’ is the perfect antidote to boredom and the mundane of life. Hence the plethora of signs, with a new sign tacked to a tree every time someone sees one. I don’t mean to dismiss the reality that bear encounters are increasing. But they’re still so few and far between given how many people are out and about. If it makes you sleep better at night, just keep your food pannier/bag attached to your bikes overnight (rather than in your tent). If you tell any local in Hokkaido that you wild camp, you will, without a doubt, be told you are gambling with your life. My take on this is that you can be thankful for the concern, but feel confident that high levels of concern vastly outweigh the actual risk. I hope this helps you put your mind at ease, and you can enjoy cycling through Hokkaido!
Thanks, Rob, for the quick reply and your more Western perspective. Honestly, we also believe the actual risk is incredibly small—but with all the constant warning signs, it does start to play on your mind a bit.
We’ll probably end up getting some bear bells for the bikes soon and join in the cheerful jingling with everyone else.
Hello
Just wanting thoughts on bears in winter in Hokkaido. Are they currently asleep? I always thought they were, then mid Jan 2020 I saw bear tracks way out the back of Sapporo Kokusai ski resort. It was a warm winter that year and I have seen no evidence since. My family and I have been getting out and about off the beaten track ski touring wise and I am becoming increasingly worried about having an encounter with a bear. We make noise while we are ski touring and I have a bear bell. Should I be this worried? Has anyone else had any winter encounters with bears around Sapporo Kokusai, Asarigawaonsen or Kiroro?
Cheers
Hi Ella, indeed, there has been some evidence of increased numbers of non-hibernating bears in Hokkaido in recent years. There was a report just today from Mashike Town, north along the Rumoi Coast of bear tracks.
That said, bears are still the absolute least of a ski-tourer’s concerns in Hokkaido. Non-hibernating bears are just too much of a unicorn 🦄 rarity. I’ll be quite clear: you should not be worried. I.e., my reaction is that if one gives proportionate levels of concern to the real hazards other than meeting a bear in winter, then it would be completely illogical to go outside at all 🙂
That is to say, I’d say you’re about 10000% more likely to have one or all of your family die due to hypothermia and exposure in a whiteout than find the unicorn non-sleeping bear 😉
This is not to be dismissive of your concern, but I did want to put my two cents of anecdotal perspective in there.
I’ve seen tracks in early spring (late March) before, but never earlier than that. Hope this helps!
Dear Rob,
Please have a read on this article, today as tourists these bear cages and are saddened to see that nothing was done in support of these poor animals. They were stressed and even don’t have any food to eat, packed in small cages.
Please take your responsibility ! At least visit this place for once to see the condition they are being kept.
https://www.thejakartapost.com/life/2020/03/23/why-this-hokkaido-bear-park-is-animal-abuse-disguised-as-a-conservation-attraction.html
You will try your best !
Thank you
Abdulla Nazim
Hi Abdulla, thank you for the comment. I agree, many of the bear parks in Hokkaido are terrible. The only one that comes close to humane is the Sahoro Bear Park: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Bear+Mountain+-+Bear+Research+Centre/@43.1701079,142.789783,14.65z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x5f736faef736924b:0xb1fe975f1caa89c6!8m2!3d43.178088!4d142.8077817
Thank you so much Abdulla.
If there is any chance of the bear attack human, I would very happily bring my ex-wife so the bear can eat her.
We are planning a bike-packing trip in July with our 5 year old, likely heading north(ish) from Sapporo. Are there places to purchase bear spray? It would be incredible to see one of these bears, though I’d rather see it at a far distance. (We are from Western Canada and familiar with black bears – I encountered two this week on trail – but grizzlies are rare where we are).
You can buy bear spray at the Shugakuso outdoor store 秀岳荘 just a few blocks north of Sapporo Station (https://maps.app.goo.gl/SqRFs14XWrkSu2Z96). For a bike trip in Hokkaido where you’re mainly sticking to paved roads, I don’t consider it essential to have bear spray. Realistically you’ll be purchasing it for peace of mind (which can be important for some!).
I have a carving on my mama and baby Hokkaido bears I bought a military PX when I was in Japan for part of 1948 all of 1949 and part of 1950. It is approximately 6 inches high and 9 inches long.. I believe the stamping is of the artist. Is there any value to these oldies.? Thanks.
I have a carving of a mama and cub Hokaido bears that I bought in the PX in Japan and 1948. It is a beauty. It is totally about 6 inches high and eight or 9 inches long. Years ago on antique roadshow I saw one being displayed, that the appraiser stated that it if it had the finer hairs instead of the gouged hairs, it would be much more valuable. Mine are the finer hairs. Any thoughts on it would be appreciated.
Hi!
First of all, thank you for your very informative article. If it’s okay, I have some inquiries.
I’m a young and small solo female traveler and I’m going back to Japan this September. This time, I’m planning to hike and camp for the first time in rural Kyushu with only my backpack and tent (and some snacks and hygiene kits for the evenings). I was originally planning to keep my bag with me inside the tent for easy access on the evening. However, upon reading articles about bear encounters in Japan, do you happen to know if rural Kyushu is safe from bears? I’ve been searching online and I have yet to see an article regarding this.
I know that most bears won’t harm me but if I can avoid their common locations then that’s much better (because I honestly don’t know if I’ll have it in me to stay calm if I see them and I think I won’t win in a fight).
Also, will I be safe inside my tent or do I really have to bring some sort of weapon or bear spray?
Thank you!
Hi Katrina, the bears in the rest of Japan are Asian black bears, a different species from the Hokkaido brown bear. As far as I know there are very few, if any, left in Kyushu so no need to worry.
Thank you, that was a relief!
No problem, have a great trip!
Hello Katrina,
I just spent a little over three weeks cycling through the mountains in Kyushu. Never saw a sign, warning about bears in the area. I felt much more relaxed than when I cycled three weeks through Hokkaido. There I saw several signs regarding bear sitghings.
Most bears/ animals in general come around tents and campsites if there is an allure of food or an easy snack.. I never leave my pack in a tent !! Some small piece of food can fall into a space and be hidden from you .. bears have great sense of smell they will find it .. rule of thumb is for me 25 ft away from my tent and up in a tree you don’t have to necessarily use a rope and put it up a 30ft line but a good idea if you don’t want your pack shredded.. best to stay on side of caution and common sense I will be there in sept myself hope to see on trails.. happy hiking
Hello Rob, japan has opened up to foreign tourists again. I have already hiked many times in the northern and southern alps as well as on Yakushima. I’ve never been to hokkaido and I’ve been planning for several years, only either the weather was bad or the pandemic prevented it. I always travel with my own provisions in the form of freeze-dried pots. I have to carry the package with me all the way, but it will attract bears. How is this problem solved or what is your experience with it.
Regards Adam
Hi Adam. You don’t need to worry too much about smells from food attracting bears. Freeze-dry foods in particular are not a worry. Encounters with bears at campsites and along trails are exceedingly rare in Hokkaido. When sleeping in a tent in the backcountry, it would be wise to leave your pack under your tent fly outside your tent, and preferably cook either outside your tent or a few paces away, but other than that, I wouldn’t worry about it. Just enjoy the trails 🙂
That was my mindset 2 days ago. So i started my first hike in hokkaido and after 10 minutes, i saw a bear ^^ I was afraid first but then just backed up and the bear went away 🙂
Good to hear things ended amicably!
hi Rob,
I am planning ski-touring in the Shiretoko peninusula and Akan National Park in the period 26 febr – 4 march. Due to possible bear encounters, do you suggest to go using the precautions as per your article, or to give it up ? I have read reports of skiers who just did not dare to go ?! Are there any restrictions / prohibitions by local authorities ?
thanks,
Filippo
ITALY
Hey Filippo, spring is a fantastic time to ski in Shiretoko. Yes the bears are starting to wake up, but it’s no problem. Just take the normal precautions and you’ll be fine. In fact I would say in early March you’ll still be very lucky to see a bear (still early in the season). I say lucky, because they’re amazing creatures, and very timid. If they see you, they’ll run away if you make plenty of noise (clapping hands etc). Some ski tourers in eastern Hokkaido will start carrying bear spray from around mid-March onwards, just in case. There are no restrictions by the authorities regarding access.