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This 407 km route runs from Tsumagoi to Sakata, passing through Gunma, Yamagata, Nagano, and Niigata. In the past 30 days, 141 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 18 of them. The latest sighting was reported 10 hours ago near Tsuruoka 金沢, Yamagata.
This is an active bear corridor. Drive through with full caution, but rerouting is the safer choice.
1 places within 1 km of your route, passing through Gunma, Yamagata, Nagano, Niigata.
Takada / Environment: Forest / Size: Adult
Tsuruoka 金沢, Yamagata
Environment: Farmland / Size: Unknown
Sakata 十里塚, Yamagata
Size: juvenile
Suzaka, Nagano
Size: cub (young)
Suzaka, Nagano
A bear was sighted in Niino, Nakano City, Nagano Prefecture on 2026-07-18.
Nakano Shinno, Nagano
Environment: Near residences / Size: Adult
Sakata 宮野浦, Yamagata
Around 9:00 on 2026-07-17, a bear was sighted in Kashiwabara, Shinano Town, Nagano Prefecture.
Shinano, Nagano
There have been multiple other sightings in the vicinity, believed to be the same individual. / Environment: Near houses / Size: Adult
Sakata 宮野浦, Yamagata
A single bear (body length unknown) was sighted within the Yama-Iso River area near the Atsumi government office. / Environment: Within a shrine precinct / Size: Adult
Tsuruoka 山五十川, Yamagata
At around 6:00 on 2026-07-16, one bear was sighted in a shrine precinct in Yamakogawa, Tsuruoka City.
Tsuruoka 山五十川, Yamagata
Bear sighting of one bear on a city road in Tagiri, Myoko City.
Myoko, Niigata
Discovered signs/traces of footprints
Nagaoka, Niigata
There were bear tracks (footprints) in a rice field about 200 meters toward the mountain from the Sawashimojo district office.
Nagaoka, Niigata
Tsumagoi, Gunma
Environment: Farmland / Size: Adult
Sakata 坂野辺新田, Yamagata
Tsumagoi Omae, Gunma
While traveling on Prefectural Route 187, sighted one bear entering the brush on the north side.
Myoko, Niigata
Around 6:10 PM on 2026-07-13, one bear was sighted in Sakanoheniida Chizuguyama, Sakata City, Yamagata Prefecture.
Sakata 坂野辺新田, Yamagata
Environment: Near homes / Size: Unknown
Sakata 浜中, Yamagata
Size: juvenile
Suzaka, Nagano
One bear about 100 centimeters in body length was sighted approximately 200 meters east of Joetsu Gochi Nursing Home.
Joetsu, Niigata
A nearby resident sighted one bear. It entered the grassy area to the west.
Joetsu, Niigata
One bear about 1 meter long was sighted in a residential lot in Gochi 6-chome, Joetsu City, Niigata, and left heading west.
Joetsu, Niigata
Around 4:30 a.m. on July 11, a bear about 1 meter long was spotted on the premises of a private residence in Gochi 6, Joetsu City.
Joetsu, Niigata
Around 13:15 on 2026-07-10, a bear was sighted in Oshikiri Shinden, Mikawa Town, Yamagata Prefecture.
Mikawa 大字押切新田, Yamagata
While heading north on former Route 7, I spotted an animal that appeared to be a bear cub on the riverbed. (Around 13:30) / Environment: riverbed / Size: juvenile
Mikawa 大字押切新田, Yamagata
Tsumagoi Ozasa, Gunma
Environment: Near homes / Size: Unknown
Sakata 新町, Yamagata
Size: mother and cub
Ueda Sanadamachi-Osa, Nagano
Size: Adult
Ueda, Nagano
One bear was sighted in Oshikiri-shinden, Mikawa Town, as it tried to go up from the riverbed to the embankment.
Mikawa 大字押切新田, Yamagata
Attempted to climb up the levee from the riverbed, was startled by a car and returned to the riverbed. (Sighted around 16:32) / Environment: Roadway / Size: Unknown
Mikawa 大字押切新田, Yamagata
There were footprints in the rice field. Sightings were also reported nearby on 7/7 and 7/8. The estimated date and time are unknown.
Murakami, Niigata
One bear (body length 1.0 m) was sighted near the old Aburato Tunnel (seaside exit). Its subsequent whereabouts are unknown. / Environment: Road / Size: Adult
Tsuruoka 油戸, Yamagata
At around 10:50 on July 9, one bear was seen moving in Hakoa, Shibata City, Niigata.
Shibata, Niigata
While operating the bus eastbound, a single bear was observed darting out from the south.
Myoko, Niigata
While driving on Prefectural Road 73 toward Yasuda, the witness spotted one bear in the bushes on the right-hand side. The bear immediately retreated back into the brush and fled.
Kashiwazaki, Niigata
Atsumi government office: One bear (body length unknown) was sighted in the Nezugaseki area. / Environment: Around residences / Size: Unknown
Tsuruoka, Yamagata
Atsumi government office area: One juvenile bear (approximately 0.7 m in body length) was sighted along the river near the Nezugaseki River Bridge. / Environment: Around residential area / Size: Juvenile
Tsuruoka, Yamagata
Around 6 a.m., one cub about 70 cm long was sighted in Nezugaseki, Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture.
Tsuruoka 鼠ケ関, Yamagata
Moved from the settlement to the forested mountains (south side).
Murakami, Niigata
One bear (body length unknown) was sighted about 300 m east of Abura-to Community Center, near Nakata Bridge. Subsequent whereabouts unknown. / Environment: Road / Size: Adult
Tsuruoka 油戸, Yamagata
Around 08:50 on 2026-07-08, an animal believed to be a bear was sighted in Komabayashi, Joetsu City, Niigata Prefecture.
Joetsu, Niigata
One animal believed to be a bear, about 100 centimeters in body length, was sighted 400 meters north of the Ken-Do Joetsu-Yasuzuka-Uragawara Line.
Joetsu, Niigata
Observed moving to the west. / Environment: farmland / Size: unknown
Mikawa 大字神花, Yamagata
On 2026-07-08 around 19:30, one bear was seen moving in Nashioki, Murakami City, Niigata Prefecture.
Murakami, Niigata
Around 8:00 on 2026-07-08, one bear of unknown body length was sighted in a field in Kamihana, Mikawa Town, Yamagata Prefecture.
Mikawa 大字神花, Yamagata
A passerby spotted one bear, about 1 meter long, on National Route 292 in the Jitto area of Myoko City.
Myoko, Niigata
There was a black object that appeared to be a bear; after checking a video on a smartphone, the person reported it. / Environment: Near residential area / Size: Unknown
Tsuruoka 日枝, Yamagata
A juvenile bear was sighted about 300 m past the Mitoe/Mitse (Mise) interchange exit. Its subsequent whereabouts are unknown. / Environment: roadway / Size: juvenile
Tsuruoka 三瀬, Yamagata
Atsumi government office: A single bear (approx. 1 m in body length) was sighted within the Yu-Atsumi area. / Environment: Around residences / Size: Adult
Tsuruoka 湯温海, Yamagata
Atsumi government office: One bear (approximately 1 m body length) was sighted within the Yu-Atsumi area. / Environment: Around houses / Size: Adult
Tsuruoka 湯温海, Yamagata
One bear approximately 80 centimeters in body length was sighted 200 meters east of the former Marine Fishing Center.
Joetsu, Niigata
A bear about 0.8 meters long was sighted in Mushu Iwato, Joetsu City.
Joetsu, Niigata
A bear about 1 meter long collided with a moving passenger car on a road in Sakuramachi, Murakami City. The female driver was not injured, but part of the vehicle was damaged.
Murakami, Niigata
A vehicle traveling on National Route 113 from the Yamagata direction collided with a bear about 1.0 m in body length, and the bear ran off toward the Green Park Arakawa General Sports Park.
Murakami, Niigata
A single bear about 1.0 m in body length was roaming through the rice field.
Murakami, Niigata
One bear was spotted roaming in a rice paddy in the Sasaki area of Murakami City, Niigata.
Murakami, Niigata
One bear was sighted in Yutōnami, Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture.
Tsuruoka 湯温海, Yamagata
One bear was sighted at Koganebarahara Park in Tsuruoka City, Yamagata.
Tsuruoka 日枝, Yamagata
Size: Adult
Takayama Takai, Nagano
Around 6:30 PM on July 6, a bear was sighted in Kashiwabara, Shinano Town, Nagano Prefecture.
Shinano, Nagano
While driving on the municipal Kitazawa Road, witnessed one bear crossing the road westward.
Myoko, Niigata
Atsumi government office: A vehicle on National Route 7 collided with one bear (body length 0.8 m). The bear subsequently fled into the mountains. / Environment: Road / Size: Adult
Tsuruoka 大岩川, Yamagata
Spotted one bear near a residence. It was moving from beside the Nakago General Gymnasium toward the railway tracks.
Joetsu, Niigata
A bear was sighted in Akakura, Myoko City.
Myoko, Niigata
Atsumi Government Office area: One observer sighted a young bear (body length unknown) on the railroad tracks within the Koiwagawa vicinity. / Environment: On the railroad tracks / Size: Juvenile
Tsuruoka 小岩川, Yamagata
While traveling on Prefectural Route Myoko Kogen Park Line, a single bear was sighted crossing the road from north to south.
Myoko, Niigata
Atsumi government office: A person observed one bear (body length unknown) within the Yuu-Atsumi area. / Environment: riverside / Size: unknown
Tsuruoka 湯温海, Yamagata
One bear was sighted crossing the municipal Sakaizawa-Omine road from south to north.
Myoko, Niigata
One bear was observed crossing National Route 18 from east to west.
Myoko, Niigata
Size: Adult
Takayama Takai, Nagano
Size: adult
Takayama Takai, Nagano
Environment: Farmland / Size: Unknown
Sakata 関, Yamagata
A single bear (approximately 1.0 m in body length) was sighted near the Kogata Purification Center. It moved south from the seaside and was later not found. / Environment: Road / Size: Adult
Tsuruoka 堅苔沢, Yamagata
One bear about 1 meter long was sighted in Konokozawa, Tsuruoka City.
Tsuruoka 堅苔沢, Yamagata
Crossed from the east side to the west side.
Murakami, Niigata
A bear about 1 meter long was sighted on a highway in Shimoaikawa, Murakami City, Niigata.
Murakami, Niigata
A single bear about 100 centimeters long was sighted at a point approximately 200 meters northeast of the Komabayashi neighborhood hall within the Oaza Komabayashi area.
Joetsu, Niigata
One bear was sighted in Toyono, Toyono-machi, Nagano City.
Nagano Toyonomachi-Toyono, Nagano
One bear about 100 centimeters in body length was sighted in the home center parking lot in the area of Ooaza Nishitanaka.
Joetsu, Niigata
A bear was sighted in a home center parking lot in Nishitakanaka, Joetsu City.
Joetsu, Niigata
Size: Adult
Shinano Nojiri, Nagano
Size: adult (fully grown)
Nagano Toyonomachi-Toyono, Nagano
One bear (approx. 1.0 m in body length) was sighted about 300 m east of Abura-do Community Center, near Nakata Bridge. It moved south and was later not found. / Environment: Road / Size: Adult
Tsuruoka 油戸, Yamagata
While walking along the municipal road Futamata-Akakura Onsen Line, near the underpass box of the Joshin-etsu Expressway, I witnessed one bear crossing the road from south to north.
Myoko, Niigata
One cub was sighted in Koiwagawa, Tsuruoka City, coming down from the mountain to National Route 7 and then returning to the mountain when a witness called out.
Tsuruoka 小岩川, Yamagata
Atsumi government office building area: Witnessed one cub (body length unknown) that came down from the mountain onto National Route 7. When the witness called out, the cub returned to the mountain. / Environment: Near houses / Size: Juvenile
Tsuruoka 小岩川, Yamagata
A cub was sighted crossing a railway line from the mountain side to the sea side in Hayata, Tsuruoka City.
Tsuruoka 早田, Yamagata
Ainsai government office area: Observed a cub (about 0.5 m body length) crossing the tracks from the mountainside to the seaside in the Hayata area. / Environment: Around houses / Size: Juvenile
Tsuruoka 早田, Yamagata
Size: adult
Nagano Wakatsuki-Nishijo, Nagano
Tsumagoi Tashiro, Gunma
A witness observed one cub moving from the seaside toward the mountains. / Environment: Road / Size: Juvenile
Tsuruoka 小岩川, Yamagata
While traveling on Prefectural Route Kamimasuda–Yoshikawa, I sighted one bear. It ran off to the south.
Joetsu, Niigata
Size: Adult
Takayama Takai, Nagano
Atsumi government office: One bear (body length unknown) sighted in the Yu-Atsumi area. / Environment: Near houses / Size: Unknown
Tsuruoka 温海, Yamagata
Atsumi government office area: One bear (body length unknown) sighted within the Yunokami area. / Environment: Near residences / Size: Unknown
Tsuruoka 温海, Yamagata
A bear about 1 meter long was sighted at the Tsuruoka City Atsumi Forestry Association parking lot in Oiwagawa, Tsuruoka City.
Tsuruoka 大岩川, Yamagata
Atsumi government office: One bear (approximately 1 m in body length) sighted in the parking lot of the Tsuruoka City Atsumi Forest Cooperative. / Environment: business/office parking lot / Size: adult
Tsuruoka 大岩川, Yamagata
A single bear (body length 1.0 m) was sighted at a farming work hut in Nakayama area. It appeared to be eating rice. It moved away from the sighting location afterward. / Environment: Around homes / Size: Adult
Tsuruoka 矢引, Yamagata
A bear entered a farm work shed in Nakayama, Tsuruoka City, and damaged rice stored in paper bags.
Tsuruoka 中山, Yamagata
A bear was sighted at a farm work shed in Nakayama, Tsuruoka City, Yamagata, eating rice stored in the shed.
Tsuruoka 中山, Yamagata
One bear was sighted about 100 meters northwest of the campsite in the Oaza Gochi Kokubu area.
Joetsu, Niigata
Size: cub (juvenile)
Takayama, Nagano
One bear was sighted in Gochikokubu, Joetsu City.
Joetsu, Niigata
One bear (approximately 80 cm) was sighted entering the southwest mountain near the baseball field of Tsuruoka National College of Technology. Its subsequent whereabouts are unknown. / Environment: forest / Size: juvenile
Tsuruoka 井岡, Yamagata
At around 15:58 on June 26, a bear was sighted in Ioka, Tsuruoka City.
Tsuruoka 井岡, Yamagata
Tsumagoi, Gunma
Size: Adult
Iiyama Hachisu, Nagano
Around 14:00 on 2026-06-26, a bear was sighted in Hasu, Iiyama City, Nagano Prefecture.
Iiyama Hachisu, Nagano
Size: Adult
Takayama Takai, Nagano
Size: adult animal
Iiyama Hachisu, Nagano
Atsumi Government Office: A single cub (approximately 0.8 m in body length) was sighted near the Atsumi government office / Environment: Near houses / Size: Juvenile
Tsuruoka 温海, Yamagata
A cub was sighted within the Nakayama area and ran off to the north. / Environment: near houses / Size: juvenile
Tsuruoka 中山, Yamagata
While driving on Prefectural Route Suginosawa-Futamata, a single bear was observed moving across the road from the west side to the east side.
Myoko, Niigata
Around 08:00 on 2026-06-25, a bear was sighted in Kamikura, Suzaka City, Nagano Prefecture.
Suzaka Kamegura, Nagano
Around 10:00 on 2026-06-25, a bear was sighted in Toyono-machi Toyono, Nagano City.
Nagano Toyonomachi-Toyono, Nagano
Size: cub (juvenile)
Suzaka Tochigura, Nagano
Size: Adult (fully grown)
Nagano Yoshi, Nagano
Environment: Road / Size: Juvenile
Tsuruoka 温海, Yamagata
Size: Juvenile
Ueda, Nagano
Size: juvenile
Ueda, Nagano
Around 17:35 on 2026-06-23, a bear was sighted in Akashio, Iizuna Town, Nagano Prefecture.
Iizuna Akashio, Nagano
Tsumagoi, Gunma
Tsumagoi Mihara, Gunma
One bear (1 m) entered the bushes on the south side of Kamo Community Center. / Environment: near houses / Size: adult
Tsuruoka 加茂, Yamagata
Size: Adult
Iizuna Akashio, Nagano
Size: juvenile
Ueda Sugadairakogen, Nagano
Size: adult
Ueda, Nagano
Size: juvenile
Ueda, Nagano
Size: adult
Ueda, Nagano
Discovered bear tracks while doing farm work.
Nagaoka, Niigata
While driving on Prefectural Route Suginosawa-Futamata Line, (a witness) observed one bear crossing the road from east to west.
Myoko, Niigata
Discovered bear tracks while on the way to cultivate the field
Nagaoka, Niigata
Tsumagoi Mihara, Gunma
Tsumagoi, Gunma
Tsumagoi Tashiro, Gunma
A bear was sighted in Oaza Kehashizaka, Myoko.
Myoko, Niigata
While driving on Prefectural Route Suginosawa-Futamata, I witnessed one bear entering the forest on the east side of the road.
Myoko, Niigata
Around 5:00 on 2026-06-20, a bear was sighted in Sakamachi, Murakami City, Niigata Prefecture.
Murakami, Niigata
A bear was sighted on a road in Keishizaka, Myoko City.
Myoko, Niigata
Peak activity at 8:00 with 13 incidents
Ursus thibetanus japonicus
Safety picks and trail essentials, top-rated on Amazon and Rakuten.
For mountain rescue, call 110 (police). They will coordinate with local rescue teams.
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In the past 30 days, 141 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 18 of them.
The latest sighting was reported 10 hours ago near Tsuruoka 金沢, Yamagata.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 8:00. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk.
This 407 km route runs from Tsumagoi to Sakata, passing through Gunma, Yamagata, Nagano, and Niigata. In the past 30 days, 141 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 18 of them. The latest sighting was reported 10 hours ago near Tsuruoka 金沢, Yamagata. This is an active bear corridor. Drive through with full caution, but rerouting is the safer choice.
