Overview
- The Iwaobetsu trailhead formally reopened on Sunday with a mountain-opening safety prayer and a moment of silence for last summer’s victim, and climbers entered the mountain that morning.
- The trail was closed after a brown-bear attack in August 2025 that killed a male climber and prompted the yearlong restriction.
- A town–Ministry of the Environment liaison compiled recurrence-prevention measures in March 2026 to guide the reopening and ongoing risk management.
- Reopening preparations included new trailhead signage, updated website notices, and a visible bear-alert level board to give climbers real-time caution guidance.
- Local officials held a memorial-focused ceremony that drew dozens to about 200 people by some counts, and they say they will monitor usage and keep strengthening information sharing to reduce future bear encounters.