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MORIOKA, Japan – A continuous flow of bear attacks in the northeastern part of Japan is causing some visitors to avoid the area, significantly affecting local businesses during the typically busy season for autumn leaf viewing.

In the Tohoku area, reservations at hot spring hotels have dropped significantly, access to certain regions is frequently restricted following reports of bear sightings, and local authorities are advising tourists to remain cautious of possible bear encounters.

Without any clear indication that visitors will return to the levels experienced in past years, establishments dependent on the typically profitable season prior to winter are encountering an unpredictable outlook.

In the Gembi district of Ichinoseki, Iwate Prefecture, a man was discovered deceased near his home in late October following a fatal bear attack.

Located more than 10 kilometers away is the Gembikei canyon, a designated scenic area that is currently at its peak for admiring autumn foliage.

The manager of a tourist spot that showcases and sells glassware noted that fewer visitors were coming to the area, partly due to the bear attack, stating, “If they heard about ‘Gembi’ on the news, they might assume it occurred in this neighborhood.”

Further north in the prefecture, in Kitakami, a male hotel employee was attacked and killed by a bear while cleaning an outdoor bath in mid-October.

Motoyugeto, a traditional Japanese hot spring inn situated approximately 7 kilometers from the hotel, has experienced roughly 20 percent of its reservations being canceled after the incident, with the number of visitors using only the baths decreasing by up to around 70 percent on certain days.

“This, during a busy time, has affected us significantly,” said inn representative Hironori Takahashi.

Several hot spring businesses in the region have temporarily closed their outdoor bathing areas as a precaution.

Five individuals have been killed in bear attacks in Iwate since April — out of the 13 nationwide fatalities in similar incidents during the same period, as of Wednesday — leading some people to avoid the region completely.

Eri Aoki, a 30-year-old Tokyo-based office worker, mentioned that she canceled her trip to a hot spring destination in the region at the beginning of November.

“It’s frightening to see bears appearing in neighborhoods. I’ll reconsider the plan once the bears enter hibernation during the winter,” she stated.

In Akita, the capital of the nearby prefecture with the same name, bears were frequently seen in and near Senshu Park, a popular location for autumn leaves, leading the city government to shut it down in late October.

Two bears were caught, leading the park to reopen on Tuesday, but it was closed once more after a bear was seen a few hours later.

Four individuals have lost their lives due to bear attacks within the prefecture since April.

In the Tohoku area, Miyagi Prefecture also experienced a fatal bear attack in early October.

Several international visitors continue to explore the Narukokyo canyon located in a mountainous region close to the border between Miyagi and Yamagata Prefecture.

The Osaki city administration has installed “Beware of Bears” signs in four languages at the canyon, featuring English and Korean, while enhancing local monitoring by increasing the number of security staff.

“We plan to inform every visitor, irrespective of their country of origin, about the dangers posed by bears,” said a municipal representative.