Japan Airlines is warning travelers to Hokkaido to be careful of brown bears, making the announcements on flights landing at six of the prefecture's airports, including New Chitose and Memanbetsu.
Bears have been sighted one after another in urban areas such as Sapporo, prompting Hokkaido and the airline's Hokkaido branch to join forces to caution travelers. Announcements were first made last year on some flights to Obihiro, and have now been added to more.
Flight attendants give passengers such advice as "if you encounter a bear in Shiretoko, do not get out of your car to approach it or give it food," and "do not go into nature alone, and use a bell or whistle to make noise."
