Japan: Bear Attack Alert Rising Incidents & Safety Tips

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Why are bears killing people in Japan and around the world in recent years?

• How can I protect myself from a bear attack?

• Should I run if I see a bear in front of me?

• Is Japan a bear populated country?

When the Bears Come to Town: Living in Japan’s Wild 2025

Daniel TJ International Correspondent Tokyo,, Japan

You know how some stories sound too crazy to be real until they suddenly are? Yeah — that’s how I feel about the bear situation in Japan this year.

It started popping up in my feed a few months back. “Bear attacks hit record high.” “Bears spotted in city areas.” I kind of brushed it off at first — like, okay, rural Japan’s always had bears, right? They stay in the mountains, we stay in the cities.

But 2025… yeah, this year’s different.

Since April, there’ve already been seven deaths from bear attacks — seven! That’s the highest since records began in 2006. And it’s not just remote hiking accidents. There’ve been dozens of non-fatal attacks too — like the woman in Akita Prefecture, in her 70s, just found outside a facility after a bear attack. She wasn’t even hiking. She was just living her normal life.

And get this — over 20,000 bear sightings were reported in the first half of this fiscal year alone. That’s double, maybe triple, what used to be normal. Bears are everywhere — or at least, it feels that way.

Why now? What’s happening?

Well, like most bad things lately, it’s a mix of nature and humans.

For starters, there’s been a food shortage in the mountains — fewer acorns, fewer beech nuts. Especially up in Tōhoku and Hokkaidō. So the bears, hungry and desperate, have been wandering downhill. And what’s downhill? Us.

Then there’s rural depopulation — all those abandoned rice fields and empty farmhouses that dot the countryside now. The forests are slowly reclaiming them. Bears used to keep their distance from humans. Now there are fewer of us around to scare them off.

And of course… climate change. Bears usually hibernate through the winter, but warmer seasons mean some skip it entirely. It messes with their rhythm — and ours.

So no, it’s not just a story about “bears in the woods.” It’s a story about bears at the edge of town. Sometimes even in the city.

The moment it got real for me

I’ve gotta tell you — I’ve always loved hiking. The fresh air, the solitude, that smell of cedar and damp earth. I live in Ishikawa, near Kanazawa, so I’ve got mountains practically in my backyard.

Anyway, last spring I went up early one morning, just me and my backpack. It had rained the night before, so the trail was slick and muddy. I was about halfway up when I noticed these… footprints. Big ones. Deep.

My brain went through all the hopeful options: “dog,” “maybe a hiker’s boots,” “oh no wait that’s definitely a bear.”

My heart was hammering. I didn’t have a bell. No spray. Just my phone and a couple of onigiri — basically an all-you-can-eat buffet for any passing bear.

So yeah, I turned around. Slowly. I didn’t run — I just kept my breathing steady, trying not to trip on my own fear. I made it back fine, obviously, but that moment changed something. That “I’m being watched” kind of feeling? It sticks with you.

Now, I don’t hike without a bell. Ever.

Where you actually need to watch out

People think “bear territory” means the deep forest. Nope. In 2025, the bears have expanded their map.

• Mountain trails — Sure, this one’s obvious. Especially dawn or dusk.

• Edges of towns — That space where rice paddies fade into trees? Yeah, that’s where bears like to wander now.

• Urban fringes — Believe it or not, they’ve been seen crossing roads, near schools, near factories. Even in some mid-sized cities.

Basically: if there’s food or quiet, there’s potential for a bear to wander in.

So, how do you not die?

I’ll be blunt — you can’t “bear-proof” your life completely. But you can make yourself less of a target.

1. Make noise.
If you’re hiking, don’t be silent. Bears don’t like surprises. Bells work, but so does talking to yourself. I once read about someone who used a harmonica instead. (Lowkey genius move, right?)

2. Don’t hike alone.
Bears avoid groups. They don’t want to mess with a crowd of noisy humans.

3. Avoid dawn and dusk.
Those are bear hours. They’re hungry and active then. Not worth the risk.

4. Carry deterrents.
Bear spray isn’t super easy to find in Japan, but if you can get it, great. Otherwise, a hiking pole helps you look larger. Just don’t run. Running triggers instinct — you become prey.

5. If you actually meet one...
This is where your adrenaline lies to you. You’ll want to bolt. Don’t. Face the bear at an angle, speak calmly, back away slowly. If it charges and there’s nowhere to go — drop down, protect your head and neck. Play dead if you must.

6. If you live near the woods — clean up your act.
Literally. Don’t leave garbage or compost out. Bears have a nose a hundred times better than ours. They can smell your leftover curry from half a kilometer away.

Even city folks need to pay attention

This isn’t just a “rural Japan” problem anymore. In some towns, bears are walking straight into neighborhoods. That woman in Akita — she wasn’t in the mountains. She was by a facility, probably just going about her day.

If you see a bear warning sign, take it seriously. Avoid walking alone at night near rivers or wooded areas. And please, for the love of God, don’t try to get a selfie with it.

The Japanese government’s even changed the laws this year to allow emergency shooting of dangerous animals in populated areas. It’s that serious.

Why this hits home for me

Maybe it’s age. Maybe it’s just that I’ve lived here long enough to see how Japan’s changing — quieter countryside, warmer winters, more wildlife creeping in. Whatever it is, I’ve got this deeper respect now for nature’s unpredictability.

I don’t live in fear, but I live with awareness. I hike less impulsively. I tell someone where I’m going. I keep a bell clipped to my pack. I talk to the trees like a crazy person, but hey — it works.

It’s weird, but it’s made me feel more connected to Japan’s wild side. More awake, I guess.

Before we finish this cup of coffee...

If you take anything from this, let it be this:
Don’t stop exploring. Just go prepared.

Check for local bear alerts before hiking — especially in Tōhoku, Hokkaidō, or anywhere mountainous. Bring something noisy. If you ever feel uneasy, just turn back. Pride’s not worth the headline.

At home, keep your garbage sealed, your garden tidy, and your eyes open. Bears are adapting fast, but so can we.

Japan’s nature is stunning — the kind that heals your soul — but 2025’s been a wake-up call. The line between “wild” and “civilized” is thinner than we think.

So yeah. Respect the bears. Stay alert. And maybe, next time we hike together, I’ll bring an extra bell — just in case.

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