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How to avoid a bear encounter – and stay safe if you meet one
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Ussuri brown bears, mainly found in parts of Hokkaido, can weigh more than 400kg.
PHOTO: ADOBE STOCK
SINGAPORE – Bear encounters are on the rise in Japan, which recorded a historic high of 238 attacks and 13 deaths from April 2025 to March 2026. Bear sightings have spilled into urban areas, catching locals and travellers off guard.
Experts say the surge is driven by a mix of factors. Climate change has disrupted plant growth cycles, and poor acorn and beech nut harvests have pushed the hungry animals out of forests and into residential areas. Meanwhile, rural depopulation and abandoned farmland have created easy feeding grounds near human settlements.
