➀ National Parks: Iconic Natural Environments Overlapping with Bear Habitats

When we visit national parks, we’re entering the habitat of wild animals, including bears. While bears naturally try to avoid contact with humans, unexpected encounters do occur and can lead to dangerous situations for the unprepared.

To safely enjoy Japan’s national parks, it’s essential to have a basic understanding of bears:

① Ecology: Where bears live and how they behave.
② Prevention: What rules to follow to avoid encounters.
③ Emergency Response: What to do if you see or encounter a bear.

This page provides visitors to Japan’s national parks with easy-to-understand information on bear behavior, safety tips, and emergency protocols. Please review the information before arriving to ensure a visit that’s safe, respectful of nature, and supportive of the coexistence of humans and wildlife.

② About Asiatic Black Bears and Brown Bears

Bears are among Japan's largest terrestrial mammals. Asiatic black bears can be found in Honshu and parts of Shikoku, while brown bears inhabit Hokkaido. While timing varies by regional climate, bears are generally active from March to November and hibernate from December to February.

Asiatic Black Bears (Tsukinowaguma)

Found on the islands of Honshu and Shikoku, these large forest-dwelling mammals live in rich natural environments teeming with diverse wildlife. Crescent moon-shaped chest markings and temperaments vary from bear to bear. Asiatic black bears are omnivorous, primarily eating grasses and tree nuts and fruit, but they also consume insects as part of a diet that changes seasonally. They are found at different elevations depending on the season.

Brown Bears (Higuma)

Brown bears are widely distributed across the northernmost main island of Hokkaido and can be black or reddish-brown, occasionally mixed with gray and ocher. Like the Asiatic black bear, brown bears are omnivorous, with a diet that changes by season but which centers on grasses, tree nuts and fruit, and insects. Home ranges vary, with females roaming from several to several dozen square kilometers of terrain and males from several dozen to over one thousand square kilometers.

③Preventing Encounters

• Check official prefectural websites or other sources for information on bear sightings at your destination and its surrounding area.
• Stop by your destination’s visitor center to confirm local rules, outdoor etiquette, and the latest information on bear sightings.

④ Reducing the Risk of Close Encounters

• Avoid traveling alone.
• Make your presence known to bears. (For example, make noise with bells, a radio, by clapping hands, or using your voice.)
• Exercise extra caution in areas with poor visibility, near streams, in strong winds, and during rainy weather.
• Confirm in advance where bear spray can be purchased or rented. (Note: Bear spray cannot be carried on or checked into aircraft. Please arrange to acquire it after landing.)
• In areas with low visibility, moving at high speeds can lead to sudden, dangerous encounters with bears. For your safety, please avoid running in these sections.

⑤ Managing Food and Garbage

• Never leave food, bags, or garbage unattended (including in the area around your tent).
• Store belongings in airtight containers whenever possible. (Use bear-safe food containers or lockers at campsites that provide them.)

⑥ Handling Unexpected Encounters

Startling or agitating a bear is extremely dangerous and can trigger an attack.

• Never approach a bear: Do not move closer to take photos. Stay calm and back away slowly, keeping the bear in sight. Do not force your way through; wait until the bear leaves.
• Never provoke a bear: Do not shout. Do not turn your back and run, as this triggers an instinctive chase response. Do not throw your belongings, rocks, or other objects at the bear.

⑦ What to Do If Attacked

• Lie face down and protect your neck, face, and abdomen.
• If you have bear spray, use it. (Be sure to review the instructions beforehand.)

Bears may instinctively attack to protect themselves or their young. If you are considering carrying bear spray, we strongly recommend watching this instructional video on its proper use.

Illustration : Satoko Kuriya