"The north-eastern town of 128,000 people is best known for its Naruko Onsen hot springs, autumn foliage and kokeshi cylindrical dolls carved from a single piece of wood. But this year it has made the headlines as a bear hotspot, as the country reels from a year of record ursine encounters and deaths, with warnings that winter will not bring immediate respite."
"In Naruko Onsen, groups of hikers equipped with suzu bells and repellent spray head into the forest to catch the last of the autumn colours, while posters at the local tourism office warn visitors in multiple languages how to protect themselves. Bells and whistles: how our reporter prepared for visiting bear hotspot video Tourist numbers are lower than in a typical year, while local ryokan inns say guests are cancelling their reservations."
"Satoru Onoma, who runs a coffee shop, admits he is experiencing bear fatigue after months of intense media coverage. It's hard to ignore the bear problem because it's been all over the news, he said, adding that he had not encountered the animals during his rare trips outside. But I've heard plenty of stories about people spotting bears in the mountains."
Osaki, a north-eastern town of 128,000, became a major bear hotspot amid a nationwide rise in bear encounters and deaths. Naruko Onsen, usually known for hot springs and kokeshi dolls, saw increased sightings and safety warnings. Local officials reported about 400 sightings this year versus fewer than 100 in 2024, and incidents included a woman in her 70s seriously injured and a dog taken. Hikers now carry suzu bells and repellent spray; multilingual posters advise visitors. Tourist numbers and ryokan bookings declined as residents experience media fatigue and heightened concern, and authorities warn winter will not offer immediate relief.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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