Try bear spray ? Not sure how easy it is to buy here.
Too many times son. Tell ya what, I’ll give you my number. If you see one, call me and I’ll come running to knock it out. Those bears see me coming and run a mile. The odd one will try it’s luck, get up on it’s legs and start boxing. I have a clean sheet 49 bear knock out record though.
“Should I take anything else?”
A 12 bore/gauge shotgun would be useful.
A stat on the North American Black bear:
> The 750,000 black bears of North America kill less than one person per year on the average, while men ages 18-24 are 167 times more likely to kill someone than a black bear. Most attacks by black bears are defensive reactions to a person who is too close, which is an easy situation to avoid. Injuries from these defensive reactions are usually minor.
So, I would not be hugely concerned. Take a hiking stick with you if you want to make a bit more noise. Thump it on the ground as you walk.
You can buy bear spray here (check Amazon) but I think the cops treat it like carrying a knife. You best have a good explanation for it or you’re going to spend some time at the copshop. It’s also quite pricey.
Unrelated to your situation and question, there are brown bears in Hokkaido. They are every bit as dangerous as the Grizzly bears they are related to and are not to be f’d with.
I’d suggest trying to find a big group of people to go with. There is safety in numbers when it comes to bears.
These bear warning signs are everywhere. I’ve tried really hard for the last couple of years to see one and never have. I go hiking multiple times a month, start at dawn, remote hikes and still nothing. Even hiked in Shiretoko in Northern Hokkaido.
You’ll be fine. Also the asiatic black bear is generally not aggressive. Make noise with your friend, talk etc. Bearbells are also a Japanese thing only, zero proof that they do anything other than comfort your mind.
I would only bring bear spray for hiking in Hokkaido and brown bears. Those can be aggressive for no reason sometimes.
No but I watched ‘cocaine bear’. … kind of funny
Bell should be fine. I’ve met two black bears and one brown in Hokkaido in my years hiking here. I carry bear spray in Hokkaido, never anywhere else. If you’re nervous, just chat on the trail. Major trails have so many hikers that it’s often hard to spot wildlife.
I mean….. It’s a bear…. so….
Bears aren’t lions. They don’t go for the neck or “the kill.”
They pin you down, take a bite out of you anywhere on your body.
Eat.
Then take another bite in another random spot.
Eat.
Rinse repeat until they are full, and then leave you for dead.
So…….
No bears please.
My inaka town used to have bear sighting announcements every few weeks. I suspect it was just the same bear that came down from the mountaintop.
Never heard of any attacks though. A bell should be fine, possibly in conjunction with a walking stick. Different story for Hokkaido though.
A couple times in upstate New York, they tend to take off when they hear you coming their way
I’ve encountered bears while hiking, and no they’re not aggressive. Bears have similar behavior as dogs–they can become curious and try to sniff other animals. Their hunting instinct kicks in only when something turns its back and tries to run away.
I have come across a bear one time. We didn’t even see it coming until it was almost on us because it came charging at us from the side/rear. Right before it reached us it stopped and turned around. Scared the crap out of us. We don’t go back there. Here is the place it happened if you want to avoid the area.
Shiga resident here. They’re very uncommon. Any sightings result in a sign that stays up for years so take that for what you will. Any basic precautions are probably sufficient. Have fun in Shiga!
Giant hornets kill more people than bears do in japan.
And most bear attacks are against people going right into their territory doing things like looking for Sansai.
Ive done a LOT of hiking in japan and have never met one. I might have been near one but if i was it avoided me, which is standard behavior for them. The only risks are surprising them and getting between them and cubs
Is Nara a Black Bears El Dorado?
Driving in Hokkaido we came across a small black bear sitting in the middle of the road! He quickly ran off as we approached.
Bear spray as well.
Take a bell, make sure it tinckles nicely as you walk, take spray if you are really nervous.
But to be honest both times I have seen a black bear they honestly didn’t give f*k that I was there and continued on their merry way.
Almost all attacks seem to be when people surprise them (usually collecting bush vegetables which the bears do too).
19 comments
Try bear spray ?
Not sure how easy it is to buy here.
Too many times son.
Tell ya what, I’ll give you my number. If you see one, call me and I’ll come running to knock it out. Those bears see me coming and run a mile. The odd one will try it’s luck, get up on it’s legs and start boxing. I have a clean sheet 49 bear knock out record though.
“Should I take anything else?”
A 12 bore/gauge shotgun would be useful.
A stat on the North American Black bear:
> The 750,000 black bears of North America kill less than one person per year on the average, while men ages 18-24 are 167 times more likely to kill someone than a black bear. Most attacks by black bears are defensive reactions to a person who is too close, which is an easy situation to avoid. Injuries from these defensive reactions are usually minor.
So, I would not be hugely concerned. Take a hiking stick with you if you want to make a bit more noise. Thump it on the ground as you walk.
You can buy bear spray here (check Amazon) but I think the cops treat it like carrying a knife. You best have a good explanation for it or you’re going to spend some time at the copshop. It’s also quite pricey.
Unrelated to your situation and question, there are brown bears in Hokkaido. They are every bit as dangerous as the Grizzly bears they are related to and are not to be f’d with.
I’d suggest trying to find a big group of people to go with. There is safety in numbers when it comes to bears.
These bear warning signs are everywhere.
I’ve tried really hard for the last couple of years to see one and never have. I go hiking multiple times a month, start at dawn, remote hikes and still nothing. Even hiked in Shiretoko in Northern Hokkaido.
You’ll be fine. Also the asiatic black bear is generally not aggressive. Make noise with your friend, talk etc. Bearbells are also a Japanese thing only, zero proof that they do anything other than comfort your mind.
I would only bring bear spray for hiking in Hokkaido and brown bears. Those can be aggressive for no reason sometimes.
No but I watched ‘cocaine bear’. … kind of funny
Bell should be fine. I’ve met two black bears and one brown in Hokkaido in my years hiking here. I carry bear spray in Hokkaido, never anywhere else. If you’re nervous, just chat on the trail. Major trails have so many hikers that it’s often hard to spot wildlife.
I mean….. It’s a bear…. so….
Bears aren’t lions. They don’t go for the neck or “the kill.”
They pin you down, take a bite out of you anywhere on your body.
Eat.
Then take another bite in another random spot.
Eat.
Rinse repeat until they are full, and then leave you for dead.
So…….
No bears please.
My inaka town used to have bear sighting announcements every few weeks. I suspect it was just the same bear that came down from the mountaintop.
Never heard of any attacks though. A bell should be fine, possibly in conjunction with a walking stick. Different story for Hokkaido though.
A couple times in upstate New York, they tend to take off when they hear you coming their way
I’ve encountered bears while hiking, and no they’re not aggressive. Bears have similar behavior as dogs–they can become curious and try to sniff other animals. Their hunting instinct kicks in only when something turns its back and tries to run away.
I have come across a bear one time. We didn’t even see it coming until it was almost on us because it came charging at us from the side/rear. Right before it reached us it stopped and turned around. Scared the crap out of us. We don’t go back there. Here is the place it happened if you want to avoid the area.
​
[https://goo.gl/maps/ZNKePtNpVuGjgWRA7](https://goo.gl/maps/ZNKePtNpVuGjgWRA7)
Shiga resident here. They’re very uncommon. Any sightings result in a sign that stays up for years so take that for what you will. Any basic precautions are probably sufficient. Have fun in Shiga!
Giant hornets kill more people than bears do in japan.
And most bear attacks are against people going right into their territory doing things like looking for Sansai.
Ive done a LOT of hiking in japan and have never met one. I might have been near one but if i was it avoided me, which is standard behavior for them. The only risks are surprising them and getting between them and cubs
Is Nara a Black Bears El Dorado?
Driving in Hokkaido we came across a small black bear sitting in the middle of the road! He quickly ran off as we approached.
Bear spray as well.
Take a bell, make sure it tinckles nicely as you walk, take spray if you are really nervous.
But to be honest both times I have seen a black bear they honestly didn’t give f*k that I was there and continued on their merry way.
Almost all attacks seem to be when people surprise them (usually collecting bush vegetables which the bears do too).