Japan Bear Sightings & Bear Activity Map - Essential Safety Tips for Traveling Safely in Japan

Check the bear sighting maps for Hokkaido and the Tohoku region (Aomori, Akita, Iwate, Miyagi, Yamagata, and Fukushima) from the links below.

Check the bear sighting maps for the Kanto region, which covers Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, Saitama, Chiba, Tokyo, and Kanagawa, from the links below.
As of November 2025, there are no bear sighting maps for Ibaraki, Chiba, or Kanagawa.

Here are the bear sighting maps for each prefecture in the Chubu region (Yamanashi, Nagano, Gifu, Shizuoka, and Aichi).
As of November 2025, there is no bear sighting map for Aichi.

Bear sighting maps for the Hokuriku region, which includes Niigata, Toyama, Ishikawa, and Fukui, are listed below.

Here are bear sighting maps by prefecture for the Kansai region, which includes Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Hyogo, Shiga, Wakayama, and Mie.
As of November 2025, there are no bear sighting maps for Hyogo, Shiga, Wakayama, or Nara.

Check the bear sighting maps for each prefecture in the Chugoku region (Tottori, Shimane, Okayama, Hiroshima, and Yamaguchi) using the links below.
As of November 2025, there are no bear sighting maps for Okayama or Hiroshima.

In Shikoku, which consists of Tokushima, Kagawa, Ehime, and Kochi, bear sighting maps are available only for Kochi and Tokushima.

Chiba is in the southeastern part of the Kanto region, stretching out to the east of Tokyo.
Most of the prefecture is made up of the Boso Peninsula, with relatively flat terrain surrounded by the Pacific Ocean and Tokyo Bay.
It is home to Narita International Airport, Japan’s main international gateway, making it an important hub for both travelers and businesspeople from Japan and abroad.
Access from central Tokyo is excellent, and there is a wide variety of attractions, from natural scenery and leisure spots to history and culture.
You can also enjoy nature-rich spots with peace of mind, such as Nokogiriyama, known for its lush nature and historical sites, and Yoro Valley, famous for its autumn foliage. That’s another big plus.
Local gourmet food is also a draw, including fresh seafood and unique regional dishes.
Here are some of the most popular sightseeing spots in Chiba.

Shikoku is one of Japan’s four main islands, located to the southwest of Honshu between the Seto Inland Sea and the Pacific Ocean.
It is made up of four prefectures: Ehime, Kagawa, Kochi, and Tokushima.
Each area has its own charm, where untouched nature and long‑standing traditions coexist at a relaxed pace.
You can enjoy a wide range of experiences. These include local food with strong regional character, outdoor activities like hiking, cycling, and kayaking, and historic hot spring towns.
The island is relatively compact, so it is also great for a trip that goes all the way around Shikoku.
Here are three of Shikoku’s must‑see spots.

Kyushu is one of Japan’s four main islands, located to the southwest of Honshu.
Its north side faces the Sea of Japan and the Seto Inland Sea, while the south faces the East China Sea and the Pacific Ocean. It consists of seven prefectures: Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki, Oita, Kumamoto, Miyazaki, and Kagoshima.
Kyushu’s appeal lies in its rich nature and deep history and culture.
For example, Mt. Aso is famous as a volcanic area, and active volcano Sakurajima offers a powerful sense of scale. The region is also home to many of Japan’s leading hot spring resorts, such as Beppu Onsen and Yufuin Onsen.
In the port cities of Fukuoka and Nagasaki, you can enjoy local food, activities, and visits to historic sites.
Here are three popular spots, one each in Miyazaki, Kumamoto, and Fukuoka.

Okinawa lies at the southern end of the Japanese archipelago and occupies the southern half of the Nansei Islands. It consists of more than 160 large and small islands, centered on Okinawa’s main island and including the Miyako and Yaeyama Islands.
It is close to major Asian cities and plays an important role as Japan’s southern gateway.
Okinawa’s charm lies in its tropical culture, the relaxed pace of island life, and its emerald‑green sea.
There are many things to see, such as the Shurijo Castle area where the history of the Ryukyu Kingdom still remains, traditional performing arts like Eisa and Kumi Odori that are woven into daily life, and food that makes the most of the warm climate.
The clear waters also make Okinawa world‑famous for marine sports and diving, offering experiences you will not find elsewhere.
Here are some classic spots you should not miss in Okinawa.

Bears generally try to avoid people, and they have an excellent sense of hearing and smell.
If they sense human presence through sound or scent, they usually feel danger and move away. So making noise as you move is an effective way to let them know you are there.
Letting bears notice you and avoiding sudden close encounters on both sides helps prevent accidents.
Here are some specific methods.
Pay special attention at corners and in areas with poor visibility.

Bears are crepuscular animals, meaning they are most active at dawn (around 4:00–8:00) and dusk (around 17:00–20:00).
During these times, they are more likely to come down near villages in search of food, and the risk of encounters increases in mountain areas, along rivers, and in farmland.
You should avoid being active during these hours as much as possible.
If you must go out then, take thorough precautions to stay safe.

If you find any of the following signs in the mountains, there is a high chance that a bear is nearby.
Let the bear know you are there and keep your distance, then head back to a safe place without hesitation.

Camping is one of the situations where you are more likely to encounter bears.
If you plan to camp in an area where bears appear, take the following steps so you do not attract them.

If you spot a bear far away, the most important thing is to stay calm and quietly move away from the area.
If the bear has not noticed you, make some noise to let it know you are there.
Watch how the bear reacts. Do not turn your back on it, and slowly back away while keeping a safe distance.
At this time, do not suddenly shout or start running. That could startle the bear and cause it to behave unpredictably.

If you notice a bear at close range, the most important thing is to stay calm and assess the situation.
Bears tend to chase things that run, so avoid turning your back or running away. Instead, keep your eyes on the bear and slowly back away to increase the distance.
Keep quietly talking so the bear knows where you are, and move carefully to a safe place without making any sudden movements.
Even if the bear charges at you, it may be a bluff charge meant to scare you. Try not to panic.
If it actually looks like it is going to attack, lie down on the ground and use both hands to protect your face and the back of your neck, and take a defensive posture.

If you suddenly encounter a bear at very close range, there is a high chance it will react aggressively, and there is no perfect way to defend yourself.
Bears often try to claw or bite the face and head with their forearms, so it is vital to immediately lie face down and cover your face and head with both hands to protect them.
Be prepared to be attacked, and focus on minimizing fatal injuries as much as possible.
In many cases, a backpack acts like a protective shield, and using bear spray can also help you avoid the worst‑case scenario.

If you encounter a mother bear with cubs, your top priority is to move away from the area quickly without turning your back.
Mother bears are extremely nervous and wary as they try to protect their cubs, and are more likely to behave aggressively, so you need to be especially careful.
Even if you only see the cubs, the mother is almost always nearby, and if you carelessly approach them, she may charge at you.
Depending on the situation, share information with people around you and move together to a safe area to reduce the risk of injuries.

A “bear bell” is a small bell used during activities like hiking or camping to let bears know that people are nearby.
Hang it from your backpack or belt so it rings as you walk. This helps reduce the risk of running into a bear unexpectedly.
It is especially useful where visibility is poor (bends in the trail, dense undergrowth), where your footsteps are hard to hear (along streams, forest floors covered in fallen leaves), and when you are on your own.
However, the sound is easily affected by wind direction, terrain, and time of day, so it is best to use it together with other gear.
You can buy them at mountaineering gear stores, outdoor shops (such as Montbell and Helly Hansen), electronics retailers (such as Yodobashi Camera), and online shops (such as Amazon).

A “portable radio” is another item used to let bears know that people are around, just like a bear bell.
Bears tend to dislike certain sound frequencies, and playing the radio while you walk is thought to act as a warning sound to them.
A radio is also a useful tool for getting real‑time weather and disaster information, and helps you stay safe in higher‑risk environments.
They are especially effective when used in mountainous areas and other places with poor reception, such as during hikes and camping trips.
You can buy them at electronics retailers, online shops, and outdoor stores.

“Electronic whistles” and “bear horns” are items that produce loud sounds instantly and are used to scare bears away.
Electronic whistles are lightweight and weather‑resistant. You can sound them repeatedly at the touch of a button, making them suitable in places where natural sounds are loud, such as dense undergrowth and along streams.
Bear horns use compressed gas to produce very loud sounds of up to 130 decibels, which can be heard far away and may drive bears off before they approach.
The main purpose of both is “to use sound to let bears know people are nearby and reduce sudden encounters,” so be careful how you use them.
As with bear bells, you can buy them at mountaineering gear stores, outdoor shops, and online shops.

“Bear spray” is designed to strongly irritate a bear and interfere with its vision and movement, in order to stop an attack.
It contains capsaicin derived from chili peppers as its main active ingredient. When you spray it toward a bear’s eyes, nose, and throat, it temporarily causes pain and a burning sensation, giving you time and distance to escape.
It is useful when moving around at times when bears are most active, during close encounters, and in emergencies where there is no escape route.
However, you must learn in advance how to use and carry it properly, and be aware that you generally cannot take it onto public transportation.
You can buy bear spray at mountaineering gear stores, outdoor shops, online shops, and specialized security equipment stores.