Four hikers were stranded on a mountain in northern Japan last week after coming face to face with a brown bear. They were rescued by a helicopter after waiting for more than three hours. The group was unable to move dowanwards because the bear remained on the path, forcing them to seek emergency help.The incident took place on Saturday, July 4, in Hokkaido, where one of the hikers spotted the bear while making his way down the mountain. The group decided not to risk an encounter and stayed where they were until resue teams arrived.All four hikers were eventually airlifted to safety and none of them was injured. Bear attacks in Japan are on a rise, particularly in the country’s northern regions where authorities have been urging both residents and visitors to stay alert.
The deadly encounter
According to local media Kyodo News, the first hiker noticed the animal around 2.30 pm local time. It was about 50 metres ahead on the trail.Three other hikers later caught up with him at the same spot. With the bear blocking the route, the group decided not to continue. Instead, they remained where they were and contacted emergency authorities at around 4.50 pm.The group remained stranded for around three and a half hours while rescue teams planned a safe operation. Police later said the bear was believed to be about 1.45 metres (4 feet 9 inches) long, as quoted by People’s magazine.
The rescue
The hikers were on a mountain that stands about 7,024 feet above sea level in Hokkaido. Since the bear prevented them from using the trail, authorities decided that the safest option was to carry out an aerial rescue.A helicopter was sent to the area and all four hikers were airlifted from the mountain. The rescue was completed without any injuries.
Mountain had just reopened
The rescue happened on the same day that Mount Rausu, on Hokkaido’s Shiretoko Peninsula, reopened to hikers for the first time since August 2025, according to Kyodo News. The mountain had been closed after a 26-year-old hiker was killed in a bear attack last year.A reopening ceremony was held on Sunday, July 5, with around 50 city officials and climbers attending to mark the return of hikers to the mountain.The reopening came after months of safety measures following the fatal attack, but the latest incident shows that bear sightings remain a concern in the region.
Rising bear attacks in Japan
Bear encounters have increased sharply across Japan in recent years. According to the BBC, the country recorded 238 bear-related incidents and 13 deaths in 2025, the highest ever.The growing number of attacks has prompted the Japanese government to take additional steps to deal with bears entering residential areas. Last October, the environment ministry said it would allocate funds to recruit hunters to tackle the problem.The following month, the US Embassy and Consulates in Japan also issued an advisory asking travellers, particularly those visiting northern Japan, to remain alert because of aggressive bears.