The best time to observe wild brown bears in Shiretoko, Hokkaido.

The Shiretoko Peninsula is Japan's wildest and most pristine natural secret place, where a large number of wild brown bears live. If you want to have a 100% chance of seeing a brown bear during your trip, be sure to read this guide!
❓Why choose to go to Shiretoko in Hokkaido to see bears?
·The largest number of brown bears: Shiretoko Peninsula has one of the highest densities of brown bears in Japan
The probability of seeing bears is highest in May: from May to June every year, brown bears that have just finished hibernation will come to the coast to look for food, and the appearance rate is extremely high! This is the only place in Japan where you can see wild brown bears directly on the coastline!
· Safe bear-watching methods: You can choose to take a boat or hike to ensure close observation without disturbing wild animals.
📅 Best time to watch bears
🔹 May - June (bears are most likely to be spotted) 🐻✔
• Hibernation ends and brown bears begin to forage along the coast, becoming the most active!
• A mother bear with her cubs, you can see the cubs learning survival skills!
• Rusha Bay is the best place to watch bears in May, and you can observe them up close from the boat!
🔹 July - August (reduced activity) 🌲🐾
• During the breeding season, some brown bears will hide in the forest, and the number of bears on the coast will decrease.
• Still visible, but requires more patient observation.
🔹 September - October (second peak) 🐟🍂
• As salmon migrate, brown bears gather at river mouths to hunt.
• Good hiking trails, but you can't see bears directly on the coast like in May.
Where to see bears?
🚢 Take a boat out to sea to see bears (Rusha Bay - ルシャ湾) Highly recommended!
May is the month with the most bears, and the success rate is basically 99%
· Observe at close range without disturbing the natural life of brown bears
Suitable for all tourists. No need to hike or go deep into the jungle. You can watch brown bears hunting on the coast up close on the bear watching boat.
Operation period: April 28 to October 20
Boat trip: 2 hours
Departure time: 10:00 14:30 (minimum number of people: 7 or more)
Fee: Adults 8,000 yen Elementary school students: 4,000 yen
Rent a telescope for 300 yen to see more clearly
Reservation: It is recommended to book 2 weeks in advance, especially in the peak season in May!
🌲🐾 Bear watching hiking adventure (Shiretoko Five Lakes & Native Forest) Suitable for travelers who like adventure & hiking
From May to June and September to October, you can see traces of brown bears in the Shiretoko Five Lakes, Cape Shiretoko, and the Shiretoko Mountains Forest.
·A professional guide is required to lead the way to ensure safety
Hiking course - Shiretoko Five Lakes (a route where you can see brown bears)
· Fee: 7,700 yen (3 to 75 years old)
The fee includes the admission fee to Shiretoko Five Lakes, insurance, and Chinese tour guide fee (self-driving passengers must pay an additional 500 yen parking fee on the day)
·Number of people: Each group is limited to 8 people at most (the number of people is limited to 10 people during 5/10~7/31)
Duration: 3 hours 3 km
Departure time: 8:30~9:30 13:00~14:00
· Trip start time: Brown bear activity period (5/10~7/31)
·Entrance times and numbers are strictly controlled during this season, so please make reservations as early as possible. During the brown bear activity period, visitors must be accompanied by a certified guide to enter the park.
🚗Sapporo → Shiretoko (ウトロ)
Self-driving: about 5~6 hours (recommended!)
· Plane: New Chitose Airport ✈ Memanbetsu Airport (1.5 hours) → Rent a car or bus to Shiretoko (2 hours)
·Bus: Sapporo → Shiretoko (Night bus, about 7 hours)
📌 Travel Tips & Booking Advice
✔ Make reservations for the bear-watching boat 2 weeks in advance, as tickets are hard to come by during the peak season in May!
✔ The temperature is relatively cold from May to June, so you need to wear windproof clothing to avoid catching a cold.
✔ Sunrise and dusk are the times when bears are most active, so it is recommended to choose a morning or evening flight!
🌟 Summary: How to 100% guarantee seeing brown bears?
Best time: May-June (bears are most abundant)
Best way: Take a boat to Rusha Bay, 99% success rate!
Best location: Shiretoko Peninsula (depart from Utoro Port)
🚨 Safety Tips
·Don't go into the forest alone!
・Bring a bear bell or bear spray.
Keep your distance when you see brown bears and don’t disturb them!
If you want an unforgettable wild adventure, Shiretoko will definitely give you the most shocking brown bear encounter! 🐻✨