When I was still new here in the Land of the Rising Sun, I didn't notice this at all, but in recent years I keep stumbling across very special signs. They remind me again and again that we share the forests and mountains with a few other creatures that we should perhaps avoid.

Japan is bear country, especially in the areas where I spend a lot of time. The Japanese black bear may not be as scary as an American brown bear, but it's best to stay out of its way, especially when they're hungry. There are frequent reports of bears attacking hikers, and some bears even venture into settlements and villages to cause some trouble.

So far I haven't seen a bear here in Japan, which is probably a good thing. But to be honest, I would like to see one. At least from a safe distance, it would certainly be a great experience.

But even if I haven't spotted a bear, I know that they've often not been that far away. Time and again I come across signs like this one, warning us about the furry animal. We are usually quite cautious and sometimes cancel a planned hike. In the end, you shouldn't play with your luck.

And if I'm not allowed to photograph bears, then at least I can photograph the warning signs, which come in all different shapes and designs. In the meantime, I've taken photos of all kinds of signs, and three of them have made it into today's post. I came across all three of them on our last trip to the Aizu region, and I think the second sign is probably the most striking for me.

Nowadays, those signs have become part of our excursions and I'm always curious to see if I can discover a new one. And if it is not the bear that I can take a picture of, I will just focus on the sign that is supposed to warn us about it. Believe me, that's fun too!