A bear attacked a tourist at Shirakawago

When we first moved here, one of the main destinations I had on my Japan bucket list was a visit to Shirakawago. I'd seen it on brochures before, with the thatched roof houses and overall vibe of the village just feeling so whimsical.

That whimsical feeling was no doubt shattered a couple of days ago, with a bear attacking a tourist from Spain near the village's Wada House, a popular photo spot. 

I'll be honest, I'm careful about bears in my local area (there are some parts where I'd definitely not go walking alone because of the ever-growing risks), but I wouldn't have really considered somewhere like Shirakawago, which is so packed with people most of the time, to be the place of an attack.

Obviously I get how naive that sounds, especially since it's a village tucked away in the mountains (prime bear zone!), but it's certainly made me stop and think about how even really touristy areas aren't immune from these kinds of events. Be safe out there!