Plan ID

: 61299

[Akita, Hachimantai] A tour to search for traces of Asiatic black bears in the winter forest

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Map / access information / Provide：一般財団法人自然公園財団八幡平支部（八幡平ビジターセンター）

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Beginners welcome - First try
Solo participant
Children welcome

Possible number of bookings

1～16
Participating age

10Age ～ 70 Age
Duration

2～3 hours

Plan description

This snow trekking tour searches for Asiatic black bear tracks in the winter forest. The beech forests of Hachimantai, deep in the mountains of northern Tohoku, are home to many Asiatic black bears. Explore the forest on snowshoes or skis, deep into the forest, accessible only in winter, in search of bear tracks. Through tracking, you'll learn about the trees used by the bears of Hachimantai and imagine what they were doing at different times of the year, learning how to maintain an appropriate distance from bears outdoors. You'll see various bear tracks, including claw marks in the trees, "bear shelves" where bears feed, and tree hollows (old hibernation holes). Learn about the trees used by bears through claw marks and winter buds, observe the footprints of wild birds and other animals, and experience the charm of the Hachimantai forest.

Searching for bear tracks in the winter forest

Yamagemori (1,206m above sea level) is a beautiful beech forest. There are no hiking trails, so you can only walk here in the winter when it snows heavily. Search for signs of bear activity in the forest, such as bear dens, claw marks, and old hibernation holes, in a bingo format. Those who complete the bingo will receive an original Bear Muggs gift! By observing the signs left on various trees, you can learn about the ecology of bears in Hachimantai.

Use your snow gear to get into the winter forest

Hachimantai is a heavy snow area with over 3 meters of snow in winter. If you use snow gear, you can walk through fresh snow. If you have no experience of winter mountain climbing, we recommend snowshoes. You can also enjoy skiing on foot. We recommend this for those with skiing experience.

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Selectable starting time： 09:30

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Supported language: English

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Payment methods	Online payment
Display of the Specified Commercial Transactions Act	Display of the Specified Commercial Transactions Act
Reservation cancellation fee generation date	Cancellation fee will be charged from 1 days before the event date.
About cancellation	Please note that the following cancellation fees will be charged in the event of cancellation due to customer convenience: Cancellation the day before: 50% Cancellation on the day: 100% Cancellation without notice: 100%
About event termination	Tours may not be conducted in the event of storms or rain.

Detailed information of this plan

Required minimum number of participants	1 Person(s)
Possible number of bookings	1～16
About duration	2～3 hours 120-180 minutes (experience time 100-160 minutes)
Operating period	2025/12/21〜2026/3/31 Late December to late March *The tour may not be held depending on the snow conditions.
Assembly time	Please be at 15 minutes prior to your booking time.
Booking deadline	until 16:59 7 days before

Changing room		Toilet
Shower		Parking
Locker

Dress code - Must bring items	Outerwear, hat, gloves, scarf, winter shoes (hiking boots, snow boots, etc.), sunglasses, snacks and drinks.
About rental items	Outerwear (additional charge), gloves (additional charge), snow boots (additional charge)

Matters require attention	The tour will be held in cold weather, so please wear outerwear, warm mid-layers and underwear (made of wool or quick-drying material). It is also recommended to wear a hat that covers your ears.

Plan attractions

Walking the slopes We depart from the rest house at Akita Hachimantai Ski Resort and climb up the edge of the slope while enjoying the surrounding scenery.

プランの魅力 Observing trees at the forest edge の画像

Observing trees at the forest edge We leave the slopes and gradually head into the forest. The border between the slopes and the forest is sunny and home to a variety of trees. Before entering the forest, we observe the characteristics of the trees that bears use.

Observing winter buds Winter buds are leaf and flower buds that trees prepare for spring. In winter, when many trees lose their leaves, they are one clue to identifying the tree species.

Bear claw marks Asiatic black bears are known as forest bears. They are good at climbing trees and leave many claw marks on the trees in the forest. Looking up, you can see the claw marks continuing far above your head.

Various scratches Some marks are straight, while others are curvy. Observe the marks while imagining what kind of bear made them and what they did to make them.

Observing the bear shelf① Bear dens are the remains of bears eating in trees. They break off branches, gather nuts, and then lay the branches under their bottoms after eating, creating a large lump that resembles a bird's nest.

Observing the bear shelf② There are bear ledges even at such high places... There are bear ledges on the tips of the branches of large beech trees. Looking at the trunk of the tree with the ledge, you can clearly see fresh claw marks.

Observing the bear shelf ③ You may also find bear ledges under the trees, where you can observe traces of bears nibbling on the branches and fruit.

Bear hibernation hole① In winter, when food becomes scarce in the forest, bears stop being active and hibernate until spring. Tree holes that form in large trees are one of the places bears use to hibernate. If the snow conditions are right, you can observe tree holes that are thought to have been used by bears in the past.

Bear hibernation hole② Once inside the tree hollow, it feels warm and protected from the wind.

Time schedule