In a surprise move, the U.S. State Department has issued a safety warning for parts of Japan, a country that has long been considered one of the safest in the world to visit, because of an increase in bear attacks in the north of the country.

More than thirteen people have been killed by bears, and over 100 hundred seriously injured, so far in Japan this year. Recently, bear sighting in Maruyama Park in the northern city of Sapporo has led authorities there to close the park for two weeks. The U.S. Consulate in Sapporo, which is near Maruyama Park, issued the warning, noting that in addition to the park, bears have also been spotted in residential areas in Hokkaido and Akita prefectures.

The consulate advises U.S. citizens in the area to avoid the park during the closure (although the consulate remains open), be aware of their surroundings, and report any further sightings of bears to local authorities.

The bear warnings have not affected the travel advisory level for the country of Japan, which remains at Level 1 – Exercise Normal Precautions. This is the lowest level in the four-tier advisory system operated by the State Department, meaning that U.S. citizens visiting the country don’t need to take any additional steps outside of what they would normally do to ensure their safety and security abroad.

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