This 407 km route from Tsumagoi to Sakata crosses Gunma, Yamagata, Nagano, and Niigata. Over the past 30 days, 51 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of the route, including 14 in the past week. This route runs through Asian black bear habitat (native to Honshu and Shikoku). The most recent sighting was reported 18 hours ago near Murakami, Niigata; the location sits about 306.3 km from the start of the route and 2.5 km off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 3 weeks ago at Joetsu 大字大貫, Niigata, sitting about 115.1 km from the start and 11 m off the route line.
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.
Around 21:30 on May 16, 2026, a parent-and-offspring group of three bears of unspecified length was sighted on Nitto Road in Yamabesato, Murakami City, Niigata Prefecture; the group was about 200 meters from residences, according to the Murakami police.
Murakami, Niigata
Tsumagoi, Gunma
At around 06:40 on May 16, a report was received of one bear about 100 cm long sighted near the Route 18 Fujisawa Snow Removal Station in Fujisawa, Nakago Ward, Joetsu City. The Nakago Ward office received the report and warned local residents to be cautious.
Joetsu, Niigata
While driving on National Route 18, one bear was sighted. It moved across the west-facing slope.
Joetsu, Niigata
Size: adult (fully grown)
Takayama Takai, Nagano
Nagaoka City installed drum-can style capture traps at dozens of locations in the city from May through June, placing honey inside as bait. Previously traps were set near reported sightings, but this year they will also be placed in mountain areas without sighting reports to prevent bears from entering inhabited areas.
Nagaoka, Niigata
A bear was sighted near an elementary school in Miyano-ura, Sakata City, Yamagata Prefecture at around 05:30 on May 15, 2026, triggering multiple reports. Surveillance cameras captured the bear walking near a residential area, and authorities remain on alert.
Sakata 宮野浦, Yamagata
At around 06:45 on May 14, 2026, a single bear was sighted crossing a road from west to east in front of the Tsuruoka City Fire Department West Branch in Shimokawa, Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture. The bear's body length is unknown, and the city has urged people to be cautious.
Tsuruoka 下川, Yamagata
A black bear (Tsukinowaguma) approached a camera in the mountain area of Joetsu City, Niigata Prefecture, with a beehive reported nearby. An adult bear was also confirmed on the Iwate University campus (Morioka City decided not to carry out emergency shooting and the university canceled all classes), and another individual appeared in a residential area in New Jersey, USA.
Joetsu, Niigata
Around 17:00 on May 13, 2026, a camera captured a bear walking on a road near houses in Iimoriyama, Sakata City, Yamagata Prefecture. No human injuries have been reported, but the prefecture has issued a bear sighting warning and residents are anxious.
Sakata 十里塚, Yamagata
At around 04:50 on May 13, 2026, one bear was sighted in Sakanobe Shinden, Sakata City, Yamagata Prefecture. The article does not report further details or whether there were any damages or injuries.
Sakata 坂野辺新田, Yamagata
Size: Adult
Iizuna Kurai, Nagano
Around 18:45 on May 11, an adult bear (one individual) was sighted in a grove within a residential area in Midorigaoka, Sakata City, Yamagata Prefecture. No damage to people or property has been confirmed, but nearby schools have urged students to commute accompanied by guardians.
Sakata 宮野浦, Yamagata
Around 17:45 on May 11, 2026, two bears believed to be a parent and child were sighted in Yuatsumi, Tsuruoka City. The bears later moved to the mountains to the south; their size is unknown, and the city is urging caution.
Tsuruoka 湯温海, Yamagata
Size: adult
Shinano Kumasaka, Nagano
An elderly man's body was found in the mountains of Sakata City; his identity is unknown and a bear attack is considered likely, with the cause of death determined to be bleeding from wounds. In Yamagata Prefecture, multiple bear sightings occurred on May 7 and 8, and a person was attacked while foraging in Asahi Town on the 7th.
Sakata 字下瀬, Yamagata
One bear-like animal was sighted near the summit area of the Kanayama Park lift in the Oaza Onuki area.
Joetsu, Niigata
A man's body was found in a forest in Sakata City, Yamagata Prefecture; it is believed the death may have been caused by a bear.
Sakata 字下瀬, Yamagata
Tsumagoi, Gunma
Size: Adult
Iiyama Hachisu, Nagano
On May 5 a man's body was found in a forested area of Sakata City, Yamagata Prefecture, with wounds to the head and arms. The prefectural police are investigating the possibility of a bear attack, and one bear was culled near the discovery shortly after the body was found.
Sakata 字下瀬, Yamagata
At around 07:00 on May 4, 2026, one bear was sighted near a blueberry farm in Kanemata, Myoko City. The bear's length was unknown; the sighting occurred close to houses and police warned nearby residents to be cautious.
Myoko, Niigata
While passing through the area, one bear was sighted.
Tainai, Niigata
Spotted one bear while passing through the area.
Tainai, Niigata
Around 06:02 on May 3, 2026, a single bear about 1 meter long was sighted near the Teramachi interchange on National Route 18 in Yanaiida-machi, Myoko City, and a passerby reported it. Police and the city warned nearby residents and carried out alerting activities.
Myoko, Niigata
A passerby in the vicinity spotted one bear heading south.
Myoko, Niigata
Around 06:00 on the 3rd, a bear was reported sighted in the parking lot of Arai Shopping Center in Kurihara 4, Myoko City. According to the Myoko Police, the bear was about 1 meter long, then appeared to move toward the urban area and was also reported near municipal housing in Nakagawa before 07:00, prompting the police to urge caution.
Myoko, Niigata
Tsumagoi Ozasa, Gunma
Tsumagoi Ozasa, Gunma
Tsumagoi, Gunma
Size: adult (fully grown)
Iiyama Hachisu, Nagano
Around 9:30 a.m. on April 28, an adult bear was sighted in the urban area of Sakanobe-Shinden, Sakata City, Yamagata Prefecture; the bear reportedly ran south toward farmland.
Sakata 坂野辺新田, Yamagata
In Myoko City (Shi) on April 27 at around 10:30 a.m., a passerby spotted a bear about 1 meter long walking through rice fields from the Yashiro River toward the settlement and reported it to the police. The sighting was about 100 meters from houses, and the police and Myoko City are patrolling the area and issuing warnings.
Myoko, Niigata
At about 10:30 a.m. on April 27, 2026, a single bear approximately 1 meter long was sighted near the Yashiro Community Sports Center area in Myoko City (Shi). The bear was seen walking through rice fields and crossing a road toward residential houses; police and the city warned residents and carried out patrols, but the bear later disappeared from view.
Myoko, Niigata
Tsumagoi, Gunma
Tsumagoi, Gunma
Tsumagoi, Gunma
Size: Adult
Shinano Kashiwabara, Nagano
Size: juvenile
Suzaka Hitaki, Nagano
(The bear) wandered for a while between the expressway and the national highway, then moved west.
Myoko 大字上八幡新田, Niigata
Around 15:00 on April 22, 2026, a bear about 1 meter long was sighted at Michi-no-Eki Arai in Inoyama, Myoko City, Niigata Prefecture. Police have warned the public and are conducting surveillance.
Myoko, Niigata
On 2026-04-22, one bear was sighted at Michi-no-Eki Arai in Myoko City, Niigata Prefecture. A witness said, "The door opened and a large black thing came in."
Myoko, Niigata
Around 18:30 on April 21, 2026, one bear was sighted walking in a yard in a residential area of Kamekura, Suzaka City, Nagano Prefecture, and a resident reported it. Police are patrolling the area and the city is broadcasting warnings over disaster prevention radio.
Suzaka Kamegura, Nagano
One bear sighted near Inari Pond within the Oaza Shimobaba area.
Joetsu 大字下馬場, Niigata
Suzaka Tochigura, Nagano
Moved along the nearby block fence and fled into the nearby woods.
Myoko 大字坂口新田, Niigata
While driving on National Route 18, it attempted to cross the highway from the west but did not cross and moved into the mountains on the west side.
Myoko 大字坂口新田, Niigata
One bear was sighted on the north side of the Kanayama Tunnel of the Joshin-etsu Expressway within the Ōaza Ōnuki area.
Joetsu 大字大貫, Niigata
Shortly after 09:00 on the 20th, a cargo truck traveling on the inbound lanes of the Joshinetsu Expressway in Onuki, Jōetsu City, collided with a bear coming from the right. The male driver was uninjured, the front of the vehicle was damaged, and the bear (about 1 meter long) ran off to the east after the collision; the site is about 500 meters from the nearest houses.
Joetsu 大貫四丁目, Niigata
Size: adult
Shinano Kashiwabara, Nagano
While passing through the area, a person sighted one cub.
Tainai 松波, Niigata
Peak activity at 6:00 with 5 incidents
Ursus thibetanus japonicus
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Over the past 30 days, 51 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of this route, including 14 in the past week. This route runs through Asian black bear habitat (native to Honshu and Shikoku).
The most recent sighting was reported 18 hours ago near Murakami, Niigata; the location sits about 306.3 km from the start of the route and 2.5 km off the route line.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 6:00. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk.
This 407 km route from Tsumagoi to Sakata crosses Gunma, Yamagata, Nagano, and Niigata. Over the past 30 days, 51 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of the route, including 14 in the past week. This route runs through Asian black bear habitat (native to Honshu and Shikoku). The most recent sighting was reported 18 hours ago near Murakami, Niigata; the location sits about 306.3 km from the start of the route and 2.5 km off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 3 weeks ago at Joetsu 大字大貫, Niigata, sitting about 115.1 km from the start and 11 m off the route line. This is an active bear corridor. Drive through with full caution, but rerouting is the safer choice.
