This photo shows one of the Shiretoko Goko Lakes and mountains in Shari, Hokkaido, on May 14, 2025. (Kyodo)
SAPPORO (Kyodo) — All trails around lakes in the Shiretoko World Natural Heritage Site in Japan’s northernmost main island of Hokkaido fully reopened on Monday after being closed last week due to a fatal bear attack.
Following the reopening on Sunday of electrified fence-lined elevated wooden paths at Shiretoko Goko Lakes, the Environment Ministry also decided to allow access to the area’s ground-level paths after multiple patrols to check for signs of brown bears.
Entry to Mt. Rausu, in the same Shiretoko World Natural Heritage Site, remains closed after a man in his 20s was killed when he was dragged from a mountain trail by a brown bear on Thursday.
The following day, a bear and two cubs were shot dead not far from where the man’s body was found. Authorities have yet to confirm whether the animals were responsible for the attack.
AloJapan.com