U.S. Issues Warning for This Popular Region in Japan—What to Know

A series of deadly wildlife encounters have travelers heading to Japan on high alert. 

The United States Embassy and Consulates in Japan published an advisory this week for travelers to northern Japan following a surge of bear sightings and attacks. The warning includes the popular winter destination of Sapporo in Hokkaido.

“Bear sightings and attacks have increased in parts of Japan, especially in municipalities close to or adjacent to populated zones,” the advisory detailed, adding “authorities will generally close areas like parks if a bear has been sighted in the area.”

In fact, the embassy said Maruyama Park in Sapporo (which is adjacent to the U.S. Consulate General) was closed for two weeks following a bear sighting there.

As a result of the surge in encounters, the embassy encouraged travelers to avoid any area prone to bears, walk in groups, and report any sightings.

Since April, bear encounters have resulted in more than 100 injuries and 12 deaths, according to Reuters. Two-thirds of those occurred in the Akita and Iwate prefectures.

Some tourism operators have started to limit the sale of tickets in response, according to NHK World-Japan, like one cable car company that ceased selling one-way tickets up into the mountains to protect hikers.

The increased sightings have been attributed to a lack of food resources due to poor growing conditions and a lack of management of farmland that previously separated forest from urban areas, NHK noted. 

In Japan, Reuters reported travelers may find a combination of Japanese black bears, which can weigh up to 287 pounds; and brown bears on the island of Hokkaido, which can weigh more than 800 pounds.

Overall, if a traveler does encounter a black bear, they should try to escape to a secure place (but not up a tree because black bears are good climbers) or if escape isn’t possible, try to fight back using any object available, according to the National Park Service (NPS). Alternatively, travelers who encounter brown bears should play dead, lying “flat on your stomach with your hands clasped behind your neck.”

Despite the increased wildlife encounters, the Department of State continues to classify Japan under its lowest Level 1 advisory, telling American travelers to “exercise normal precautions” when heading there. 

In general, the State Department recommends international travelers sign up for the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), which allows the embassy to alert travelers and locate them in an emergency.