AICHI - Bears are becoming increasingly active across Japan ahead of winter, with poor acorn harvests in parts of the country raising concerns that hungry animals may venture closer to homes and tourist areas in search of food.
Footage filmed in Okoppe, Hokkaido, on September 26 showed a large brown bear with glowing eyes emerging from the darkness, with a cub visible just behind it. The animal suddenly approached the camera after apparently searching a nearby river for trout, one of its preferred foods.
Separate footage showed another large bear suddenly lowering its body into a deep puddle. Tetsuya Kurosawa of the Hokkaido Brown Bear Channel said the animal appeared extremely well-fed and may have been cooling itself after becoming hot from moving around.
Autumn bears have also been appearing in unexpected places across the country.
In Toyota, Aichi Prefecture, a bear entered the grounds of a residence and was seen slowly walking toward the house.
In Nagano, a road leading to Jizukiyama Park was temporarily blocked with a gate after a bear sighting to prevent people from approaching the area. The city temporarily closed the park but has since reopened it as usual.
Bears typically become more active in autumn as they build up energy reserves before hibernation, and the availability of acorns and other nuts is considered one of the major factors influencing where they travel.
A survey of local governments found that acorn crops in 2026 have been extremely poor in Kyoto, Hyogo and Aichi prefectures, while Gunma Prefecture has also recorded a poor harvest.
One area affected is Shimonita, Gunma Prefecture, home to the World Heritage-listed Arafune Cold Storage, a popular tourist attraction where maple trees color the rocky landscape during the autumn foliage season.
A bear appeared at the site during the summer.
Takeshi Akiike, director of the Shimonita Town History Museum, said the bear appeared to have remained in one spot eating something for around five to 10 minutes.
Following the sighting, Arafune Cold Storage was closed on weekdays, before reopening in October.
Officials have introduced a series of safety measures. Guides patrol the grounds every morning while sounding bear deterrent alarms, while walking sticks used by visitors have been fitted with bear bells.
Five devices that emit special sounds designed to repel bears have also been installed around locations including the parking area.
Officials remain concerned about the shortage of food in the surrounding mountains. Akiike said chestnut trees in the area were producing only a handful of nuts near the ends of their branches.
Experts warn, however, that even regions enjoying abundant acorn and nut crops should not assume the danger will disappear.
Takayoshi Yamauchi, an associate professor at Iwate University, said plentiful food can remain available in the mountains for longer, potentially delaying hibernation.
"When there is a good harvest, food remains in the mountains, so bears are said to take longer to enter hibernation," Yamauchi said. "Even toward the end of December, there may be more bears that have still not hibernated and are wandering around populated areas."
He said the abundant nut harvest in the Tohoku region this year could also lead to higher reproduction rates.
"Because Tohoku has had a good harvest, the number of bear cubs will probably increase," Yamauchi said. "Next year, we may see more cases of mother bears wandering around settlements with their cubs."
As Japan approaches the peak autumn foliage season, another bear appeared at a hotel in Misawa, Aomori Prefecture.
Video showed a police patrol car passing in front of the hotel before a bear suddenly ran through the parking lot. An employee standing near the entrance quickly held the door shut in an apparent attempt to prevent the animal from entering.
The bear then ran away in the direction of the patrol car.
The hotel immediately strengthened its precautions.
Masayuki Ogawa, representative of Hotel Grandhill Tsutaya, said the hotel purchased bear spray on the same day and now keeps two cans at the front desk in case a bear enters the building.
"This incident made me realize that this is not something happening somewhere far away," Ogawa said.
Source: FNN
