SINGAPORE – Bear encounters are on the rise in Japan, which recorded a historic high of 238 attacks and 13 deaths from April 2025 to March 2026. Bear sightings have spilled into urban areas, catching locals and travellers off guard.

Experts say the surge is driven by a mix of factors. Climate change has disrupted plant growth cycles, and poor acorn and beech nut harvests have pushed the hungry animals out of forests and into residential areas. Meanwhile, rural depopulation and abandoned farmland have created easy feeding grounds near human settlements.

As Japan enters its late spring season, bears have emerged from hibernation and early sightings have been reported. Here are three tips on how to stay safe, especially for travellers venturing beyond major cities. 

In Japan, the two main species are the smaller Asiatic black bear and the Ussuri brown bear. The black bear is more commonly found across the Tohoku region in the northern part of Japan’s main island of Honshu, while the brown bears are concentrated in Hokkaido.

Asiatic black bears tend to be more aggressive and exhibit more predatory behaviours. They can weigh up to 200kg and reach 1.9m tall.

Brown bears can be found in countries such as Canada, the United States, China and Russia, while Asiatic black bears are found across southern Iran to the Himalayas, and South-east and East Asia.

“If you face a black bear attack, you should aggressively and rigorously attack back. It’s important to do that to deter further attacks,” says Dr Paul Chen, a lecturer at Republic Polytechnic’s School of Applied Science, whose research f...