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Wynna Wong

Fatal bear attacks on people in Japan have hit a record high so far this year, with 10 deaths and over 100 people injured since April.
While most victims were locals, at least one tourist was attacked earlier this month when a Spanish visitor suffered minor injuries after a cub lunged at him at a bus stop in the scenic village of Shirakawa-go, a Unesco World Heritage site in Gifu prefecture.
The incident highlights risks even at heavily visited sites.
Here, the Post examines recent cases, offers tips on how to stay safe and tells you what to do in the event of an attack.
1. Where are the latest cases?
The recent incidents in urban and residential areas indicate that attacks are no longer confined to the remote wilderness, although most events have occurred in the northeastern prefectures of Akita and Iwate.
The latest reports include an incident on Tuesday morning in Kitaakita, Akita prefecture, where a woman in her thirties encountered a bear while walking her dog.
According to Japanese media, the bear charged towards her, and the woman fell while trying to escape. She was treated at the hospital for serious injuries, including a broken hip.
Elsewhere in the prefecture, the fatal mauling of a 38-year-old man in Higashinaruse Village last week brought Japan’s death toll this year to 10 – the highest since records began in 2006 – while three others were seriously injured in the same incident.
In neighbouring Iwate prefecture, multiple deaths have been confirmed, including that of an elderly man who was picking mushrooms and a worker at a hot spring resort who went missing.
In an unusual case on October 7, a bear wandered into a grocery store in Numata, Gunma prefecture, injuring two elderly shoppers. Earlier this month, an adult bear broke into a home in Yuzawa after attacking four men in the urban area.
The scale of the crisis has led Akita’s governor to request for military assistance, to set traps and manage the culling of bears.
2. Why are bear attacks soaring this year?
Experts have pointed to a combination of environmental and social changes that have blurred the traditional boundary between human settlements and bear habitats.
A key factor is the poor yield of beechnuts and acorns, a primary food source for bears before they enter hibernation.
Hungry bears are now driven to lower altitudes and into populated areas in search of food.
As Japan’s rural population declines and ages, the traditional “satoyama” buffer zone of fields and gardens that once separated forests from homes has shrunk.
Abandoned farmlands and overgrown green corridors now extend the forest’s edge directly to residential neighbourhoods, increasing the risk of accidental encounters.
There has also been a decline in the number of active, licensed hunters due to Japan’s ageing population, leading to less control of bear populations, despite thousands being culled annually.

3. How can tourists and locals stay safe?
Websites such as kumadas.net and kumamap.com are highly useful and provide up-to-date information on bear sightings, attacks and related news.
Since bears are generally afraid of humans and will choose to flee if they can, authorities advise making noise while walking, with a bell or whistle, or simply talking and singing loudly to alert bears of your presence, especially when visibility is poor in dense brush or near rivers.
Bears are most active during the early morning, evening and at dusk, so people should avoid venturing into wooded areas or rural trails during these hours.
Never leave food, garbage or scented items outdoors.
When camping, store items in bear-resistant containers or hang them at least 3 metres (10 feet) above the ground and 3 metres away from a tree trunk.
Bear spray, usually a capsaicin-based aerosol deterrent, can be effective but it is difficult to get in Japan unlike in North America, where it is commonly used.
If you do encounter a bear from a distance, stay calm. Do not shout, run or make sudden movements. Back away slowly while keeping watch on the animal, allowing it space to retreat, but avoid direct eye contact.
It is essential not to run if a bear is already close or attacking.
A 2023 study from Akita University confirmed that defensive posturing – laying face down and clasping the hands around the back of the neck and curling up to protect the head, neck and abdomen – significantly reduced the severity of bear attack injuries.
Stay still until the bear leaves.


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In an unusual case on October 7, a bear wandered into a grocery store in Numata, Gunma prefecture, injuring two elderly shoppers. Photo: AFP

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A bear heads to a residential area from a riverbank in the city centre of Morioka in Iwate prefecture, northeastern Japan, on October 23. Photo: Kyodo

A bear is pictured on a riverbank in the city centre of Morioka in Iwate prefecture. Ten people have died from bear attacks across Japan this year. Photo: Kyodo

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With fatalities at a record high in the popular tourist destination, the Post offers tips on how to explore Japan safely and what to do if attacked


With fatalities at a record high in the popular tourist destination, the Post offers tips on how to explore Japan safely and what to do if attacked.


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.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}With fatalities at a record high in the popular tourist destination, the Post offers tips on how to explore Japan safely and what to do if attacked

1. Where are the latest cases?

With fatalities at a record high in the popular tourist destination, the Post offers tips on how to explore Japan safely and what to do if attacked