An outdoor museum in the village of Shirakawa, Gifu Prefecture, has called off its annual light-up event due to numerous bear sightings in the area in central Japan.

The autumn foliage illumination had been scheduled for four days, on October 25 and 26 and November 1 and 2.

The museum canceled the event to ensure the safety of visitors.

On October 5, a Spanish tourist was attacked by a bear in Shirakawa and sustained scratches on his arm.

During the current fiscal year from April, the number of bear sightings in the village has tripled from the previous fiscal year, prompting local authorities to urge caution.

The village features traditional houses with steep thatched roofs and is registered as part of a UNESCO World Heritage site.