A sign in English warns international students about bears following sightings in and around Akita University in the city of Akita on Oct. 28. 2025. (Mainichi/Muneo Takahashi)
The season for autumn leaves has started in Japan, and many people want to go hiking. But this year, more hikers are worried about bears in the mountains.
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A new survey by Japan Meteorological Corp. asked hikers about bears. About 80% of people said they feel anxious about bears. About half of them changed their hiking plans because of bear sightings. Some people canceled or postponed their trips, or chose a different mountain.
The survey was done from Sept. 24 to Oct. 14. Over 3,500 people answered. Many said they now take extra steps to stay safe. About 38% said they use more bear countermeasures, like carrying bear bells or radios to make noise, checking for bear sighting news before hiking, or bringing bear spray.
This year, bear attacks have been a big problem. The Ministry of the Environment said 12 people were killed by bears between April and October this year, the highest number ever. More than 100 people were hurt by bears from April to September.
The ministry says hikers should check local websites for bear news before going to the mountains. If there are many bear sightings, people should think about changing their plans. Hikers should carry bells or radios, bring bear spray, stay on safe paths, and not hike alone.
(Japanese original by Ei Okada, Digital News Group)
Vocabulary:
anxious: worried or nervous
countermeasure: something you do to stop a problem
sighting: seeing something, like a bear
postpone: to delay or do something later
AloJapan.com