Bear attacks foreign tourist near Lake Towada in northeastern Japan

The man, whose right arm was bitten by the bear, was airlifted to a hospital but was able to communicate, according to the city of Towada and the local fire department.

At around 10:10 a.m., the man aged around 30 was taking a walk when he encountered the bear. He fled to a nearby accommodation facility from which an emergency call was made.

It is not immediately clear how big the bear was or if there were multiple bears.

Surrounded by mountains, the lake is known for its beautiful scenery and visitors can participate in a number of outdoor activities such as hiking and canoeing.

A sharp increase in bear encounters has alarmed authorities in various parts of Japan.

Earlier, it was reported that multiple people were injured and sent to hospital after a man sprayed a substance, believed to be bear repellent spray, inside a post office in central Japan.