The Ministry of the Environment publishes a detailed English-language bear safety page specifically for Shiretoko National Park, and it goes further than most general advice — covering what to do from a car, what happens if a bear gets close, and what to do if the worst happens. Here’s the core of it.
A note from Bear Safety Hokkaido: this page is genuinely worth reading in full before a Shiretoko trip — it’s one of the more specific official resources we’ve come across. We’ve summarized the key points below, but the source link at the bottom has the complete guidance.
Before you’re anywhere near a bear
The whole of Shiretoko National Park is bear habitat — the guide doesn’t single out specific trails as more or less risky. Its baseline advice: make noise so bears know you’re coming (hand claps, calling out, a bear bell), especially in low-visibility spots like dense brush, and check recent sighting reports before you go. Being alone raises the risk if something does happen, so hiking in a group is preferred. Early morning, dusk, and night are higher-risk times.
Never leave food or trash outdoors — bears that get used to human food become dangerous in a different way, associating people with an easy meal rather than something to avoid.
If you’re in a car
This is guidance we haven’t seen spelled out elsewhere: if you spot a bear from the road, don’t stop or get out. Stopping to watch can back up traffic and, more importantly, getting out to approach a roadside bear has led to serious injuries. Keep driving.
If you see one while hiking
At a distance, leave quietly — don’t run, don’t make noise, just go. If the bear is close, the guidance shifts: don’t turn your back, keep facing it, and back away slowly. Bears have a chase instinct, so running triggers exactly the response you don’t want. If a bear is very close, stay still and wait for it to move off on its own.
Cubs are a special case: if you see cubs, assume the mother is nearby and treat that as more dangerous, not less — approaching cubs is one of the more reliable ways to provoke an attack.
If a bear approaches you
Brown bears can run up to 50km/h and climb and swim well, so outrunning one isn’t realistic. The guide’s advice: stay calm, slowly increase distance while getting your bear spray ready, and if the bear closes to spray range, aim at its eyes and nose and discharge the full can at once — don’t hold some back.
If contact happens despite all of this, curl up on the ground and protect your head and neck with both arms.
This article summarizes official safety guidance published by Japan’s Ministry of the Environment for Shiretoko National Park as of Aug 2026. It is general information, not a substitute for local ranger or guide advice — always check current conditions before your trip.
Related Reading
→ Bear Safety in Hokkaido: Complete Guide for Hikers: https://bearsafetyhokkaido.site/bear-safety-in-hokkaido-complete-guide-for-hikers/ → Shiretoko’s Four Bear Spray Rental Counters, Compared: https://bearsafetyhokkaido.site/shiretokos-four-bear-spray-rental-counters-compared/ → Source: Ministry of the Environment, “Brown Bears: Avoiding Danger”: https://policies.env.go.jp/park/shiretoko/rausu-vc/guidetour/en/caution/
Comments