Summary

Japan is experiencing an unprecedented surge in wild bear incidents concentrated in northern and mountainous prefectures. Foreign visitors should avoid rural and forested areas where bear sightings and attacks have become frequent and restrict travel to well-populated urban centres for the time being.

What’s happening

Since April this year, Japan has seen a marked increase in bear intrusions into towns and villages, with animals appearing near schools, train stations, supermarkets and resorts. The Environment Ministry reports that more than 100 people have been injured and at least a dozen killed in bear-related incidents during the recent wave of attacks.

Why this is occurring

Experts link the surge to a mix of factors including poor mountain crop harvests that reduce natural food for bears, shifts in bear behavior, and broader environmental pressures that push wildlife closer to human settlements.

Regions with frequent bear activity (foreign visitors should avoid)

• Akita Prefecture — hotspot for daily bear intrusions into residential and tourist areas.

• Iwate Prefecture — reported concentration of dangerous encounters in mountainous communities.

• Fukushima Prefecture — increased sightings and attacks reported in rural zones.

• Other northern and mountainous prefectures where bears are moving into human settlements; err on the side of caution and avoid small towns, hiking trails, and isolated hot-spring resorts in these areas.

Travel guidance for foreign visitors

• Restrict travel to major urban centres such as Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and other large cities where incidents are extremely rare and emergency response resources are readily available.

• Avoid rural excursions: do not plan hiking, camping, mountain village visits, or hot-spring stays in the listed northern and mountainous prefectures until authorities declare the situation contained.

• Follow local advisories: if you must travel within Japan, monitor municipal and prefectural safety notices and follow guidance from local authorities and your accommodation. Reports and countermeasures are evolving rapidly.

Practical safety tips for those already in Japan

• Stay in populated areas and confirm with hotels or tour operators that your planned destinations have no active bear advisories.

• Keep emergency numbers and the location of the nearest hospital or police station handy.

• Do not approach or attempt to feed wildlife; report sightings to local authorities immediately.

Final note

This advisory is based on recent government and media reports documenting a significant spike in dangerous bear encounters across parts of northern Japan. For now, travellers should prioritise safety by limiting trips to safe urban environments until officials confirm the situation has stabilised.