Bear necessities: Rental services for bear spray have become popular among mountaineers visiting from outside Hokkaido. — The Japan News/ANN
THE business of renting out bear repellent spray, which is seeing increased demand as mountaineering equipment, is expanding in Hokkaido.
As bear spray is somewhat expensive at ¥10,000 (RM284) to ¥20,000 (RM568) per can and cannot be carried on aircraft, rental services have become popular among mountaineers visiting from outside the prefecture.
Operators say they hope carrying the spray will let their customers enjoy mountaineering with peace of mind.
Noritaka Shiraiwa, a 52-year-old company employee from Tokyo, launched bear spray rental company Yamabiyori in 2024 as a side business, targeting hikers in Hokkaido.
Hiking is his hobby, and he has been climbing the Daisetsuzan mountains in Hokkaido about five times a year for the past nine years.
He is captivated by the rich natural environment, and says he has seen bears almost every year since he first encountered one in 2019.
When Shiraiwa hikes in Hokkaido, he carries bear spray that he leaves with a friend who lives in the local city of Obihiro. It was this that gave him the inspiration to start his business.
“If people could rent this stuff, it would be easier for them to use it,” he thought.
Bear repellent spray contains chilli pepper, which bears dislike.
To prevent a bear attack, you spray it directly onto the face of the approaching bear.
As encounters with bears have grown more common nationwide, such sprays are listed in pamphlets published by the Environment Ministry as an effective tool for protecting oneself in such a situation.
Rentals are accepted through Yamabiyori’s website.
The spray can be delivered to a rental car location or accommodation facility, as specified by the user.
It can also be picked up directly from a distribution centre located in Honami Marche, a farmers’ market in Hokkaido’s Makubetsu Town, where Shiraiwa has business connections.
Prices start at ¥3,850 (RM109) a can for two days and one night, and users return the spray to the market after use.
Yamabiyori rented about 100 cans in 2024, and about 50 have been rented out as at mid-June 2025.
Half of the business’ customers, who include anglers and tourists, are from the Kanto region, and there have been users from 26 prefectures so far. Shiraiwa’s goal for the time being is to raise rentals to 200 a year.
Bears that attack people are killed. Shiraiwa said he believes that if people can protect themselves with the spray, bears and nature will be protected as well.
He plans to add more rental locations and disseminate information on how to use bear spray so people will be more aware of how to keep themselves safe in the mountains.
In addition, Mont-bell, a major mountaineering equipment retailer based in Osaka, began a bear spray rental service operating out of eight stores in Hokkaido in September 2024, and recycling store company Nandemo Recycle Big Bang started a rental service spanning 19 stores in the prefecture in May.
Other outdoor shops and tourist information centres also offer similar services. — The Japan News/ANN
