Increased Bear Sightings Alarm Japan as Hibernation Ends
As bears emerge from hibernation, they are encountering humans at an unprecedented rate, surpassing the record set in 2025. Rested but hungry, these animals have been frequently spotted in urban areas of Japan's northeast, prompting authorities to advise caution for those planning to visit rural areas during the upcoming Golden Week holidays.
In 2026, there has already been a possible fatal bear attack; the body of a woman was discovered last week in Iwate prefecture shortly after a police officer was injured in a nearby bear incident.
With winter recently concluded, police have responded to reports of bears near residential buildings, warehouses, and railway stations. In Aomori prefecture, located at the northern tip of Japan’s main island, local officials issued a special warning on April 1 regarding Asiatic black bears after five were sighted within ten days. Similar alerts have been issued in the northeastern prefectures of Iwate and Fukushima, according to the Asahi Shimbun.
These sightings have heightened concerns among residents of northeast Japan and Hokkaido, the country’s northernmost main island.
Record Bear Attacks and Regional Impact
Between April of the previous year and March 2026, Japan experienced a record 238 bear attacks, resulting in 13 fatalities. Most incidents occurred within the six prefectures comprising the Tohoku region in northeast Japan.
Earlier this month, a group of twelve police officers in a town in Fukushima prefecture pursued a bear in a neighborhood where such wildlife had not previously been a concern. The bear, estimated to weigh between 100 and 120 kilograms, was involved in a prolonged standoff before being shot by a licensed hunter beneath an elevated expressway.
“I never imagined a bear would show up here,”a local woman told the Asahi.
“Where on earth did it come from?”
Residents and authorities hope for relief this year, as experts predict a better beechnut crop, which is a primary food source for bears. Last year’s poor harvest forced bears to seek alternative food sources. This scarcity tends to occur in two-year cycles, a pattern some scientists link to climate change and intense summer heat. A plentiful supply this year could reduce the number of hungry bears venturing into human settlements.
Expert Insights on Bear Behavior
Despite hopeful forecasts, Shinsuke Koike, a professor of ecology at Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, advises caution. He notes that recent sightings occurred in spring, when bears typically consume leaves and wild plants in mountainous areas after hibernation.
“Bears that previously ventured into human settlements may have learned that food can be found in places close to people,”Koike told the Mainichi Shimbun.
He added that previous encounters with people – after which the animals returned safely to their natural habitat – may mean they no longer see humans as a potential threat.
