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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, 142 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 33 of them. The latest sighting was reported 1 day ago near Joetsu, Niigata.
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.
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
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
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
At around 14:00, one bear (approximately 1.5 m in body length) was sighted on the road about 400 m southeast of Yutagawa Community Center. It moved westward and its subsequent whereabouts are unknown. / Environment: near houses / Size: adult
Tsuruoka 藤沢, Yamagata
One bear was sighted in Nakago-ku Fujisawa, Joetsu City, Niigata.
Joetsu, Niigata
Spotted one bear while driving to the fields. It moved northwest.
Joetsu, Niigata
A bear about 1 meter long was sighted in the Shukuda area of Murakami City.
Murakami, Niigata
One bear, estimated at about 1.5 meters long, was sighted in Fujisawa, Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture.
Tsuruoka 藤沢, Yamagata
About 1 m in body length. Possibly the same bear that was sighted in the Tenjindo neighborhood association in the evening. / Environment: Around human residences / Size: Adult
Mikawa 大字押切新田, Yamagata
Environment: riverbank / Size: adult (fully grown)
Mikawa 大字神花, Yamagata
Environment: Farmland / Size: Adult
Mikawa 大字猪子, Yamagata
One bear, about 1 meter long, was sighted in Iwashinden, Tsuruoka City, and crossed the Nipponkai Tohoku Expressway.
Tsuruoka 茨新田, Yamagata
Around 16:15, while driving on the Nihonkai-Tohoku Expressway from Sakata toward Tsuruoka, one bear (approximately 1.0 m in body length) was observed crossing from west to east. Subsequent whereabouts unknown. / Environment: Road / Size: Adult
Tsuruoka 茨新田, Yamagata
While traveling on National Route 292, witnessed a bear about 1 m in length crossing from east to west.
Myoko, Niigata
Tsumagoi, Gunma
While traveling on National Route 345, one bear (approximately 1.2 m in body length) was sighted near Aikōen (Aikoen) of Tsuruoka City. The bear then moved toward the park behind Aikōen. / Environment: Forest / Size: Adult
Tsuruoka 岡山, Yamagata
A bear was also sighted in Kamibana, Mikawa Town.
Mikawa 大字神花, Yamagata
Size: cub (juvenile)
Ueda, Nagano
While driving on prefectural Route Ogata–Takayanagi, I sighted one animal believed to be a bear. It was moving west.
Joetsu, Niigata
It was in the mountains. It ran off toward the mountains.
Joetsu, Niigata
One bear was sighted in Kahara, Shinanomachi, Nagano.
Shinano, Nagano
Size: juvenile
Ueda Sanadamachi-Osa, Nagano
Tsumagoi, Gunma
A bear was sighted on a prefectural road in Karuigawa, Kashiwazaki City.
Kashiwazaki, Niigata
Tsumagoi Omae, Gunma
Around 6:00 on June 14, a bear was sighted in Nanase, Nakano City.
Nakano Nanase, Nagano
Size: Adult
Nakano Nanase, Nagano
Spotted one bear on the road about 100 meters east of Kenshin-ko Budokan.
Joetsu, Niigata
While driving on the municipal Ōshika-Okeumi Road, a single bear was sighted heading into the forest.
Myoko, Niigata
While passing through the area, sighted one bear.
Tainai, Niigata
One bear was sighted heading into the mountains to the east from the area near the Joshin-etsu Expressway.
Myoko, Niigata
It appeared on the camera of a trap intended for wild boar.
Joetsu, Niigata
Spotted one bear while passing through the area.
Tainai, Niigata
A bear of unknown length was sighted on a city road in Niijima, Myoko City.
Myoko, Niigata
One bear seen heading toward the river to the east.
Myoko, Niigata
A bear was sighted in Nirē, Suzaka City, Nagano Prefecture, around 16:20 on 2026-06-12.
Suzaka Nirei, Nagano
Tsumagoi, Gunma
Size: juvenile
Suzaka Nirei, Nagano
Observed one bear moving on National Route 292 from east to west.
Myoko, Niigata
A bear about 0.5 meters long was sighted on a road in Nirejima, Myoko City.
Myoko, Niigata
An adult bear was sighted in a field in Sakanobe-Shinden, Sakata City, and the field owner reported it to police.
Sakata 坂野辺新田, Yamagata
Environment: Farmland / Size: Adult
Sakata 坂野辺新田, Yamagata
While driving on National Route 18, I sighted one bear. It crossed from west to east.
Myoko 大字上八幡新田, Niigata
A bear cub was sighted in an irrigation channel in Takidera, Joetsu City.
Joetsu, Niigata
A bear was sighted on Route 18 in Nashiki, Myoko City, and it crossed the road and left eastward.
Myoko 大字上八幡新田, Niigata
Spotted one cub in an irrigation canal 250 m west of the University-mae South intersection.
Joetsu, Niigata
Observed one bear.
Tainai, Niigata
Environment: Near houses / Size: Adult
Sakata 黒森, Yamagata
One bear sighted near the police box
Myoko, Niigata
On 2026-06-10 in the morning, a bear was seen moving in Kebyōzaka, Myoko City.
Myoko, Niigata
Size: Adult
Suzaka Tochigura, Nagano
Discovered tracks believed to be those of a bear while working in the fields.
Tainai, Niigata
School staff discovered footprints in a field believed to be from a bear.
Tainai, Niigata
Discovered tracks believed to be bear footprints while working in the fields.
Tainai, Niigata
Tsumagoi, Gunma
One bear was sighted moving westward on National Route 292.
Myoko, Niigata
A bear about 1 meter long was sighted in a residential area in Himekawahara, Myoko City, Niigata.
Myoko, Niigata
A bear (body length 1 m) was sighted south of the Kamo Community Disaster Prevention Center. It then crossed National Route 112 from east to west and went into the mountains. / Size: Adult
Tsuruoka 加茂, Yamagata
Discovered footprints believed to be from a bear while doing farm work.
Tainai, Niigata
Bear traces (claw marks and broken branches) were confirmed on a persimmon tree within the grounds of a private residence in the Takayasu-ji area.
Sanjo, Niigata
One cub about 50 cm long was sighted in Nagahashi, Tainai City.
Tainai, Niigata
While passing through the area, a single bear was sighted.
Tainai, Niigata
Environment: road / Size: young animal
Tsuruoka 下清水, Yamagata
One bear approximately 70 centimeters long was sighted about 500 meters east of the Nakatawara intersection in the Oaza Nakatawara area.
Joetsu, Niigata
One bear about 100 centimeters long was sighted near the Joetsu-Takada Interchange toll booth in the Oaza Haizuka area.
Joetsu, Niigata
A toll booth worker at the Jōetsu-Takada Interchange spotted one bear near the gate. It ran off toward the mountains.
Joetsu, Niigata
A single bear about 100 centimeters in body length was sighted near the Jōetsu-Takada Interchange tollbooth within the Ōaza Haizuka area.
Joetsu, Niigata
Around 6:00 a.m. on 2026-06-07, one bear about 1 m long was sighted on the grounds of Arisawa Manufacturing Nakatahara West Plant in Nakatahara, Joetsu City, and police received a 110 emergency call.
Joetsu, Niigata
A bear about 1 meter long was sighted inside a factory site in Nakatabara, Jōetsu City.
Joetsu, Niigata
Size: Adult
Suzaka, Nagano
Size: adult with cubs
Suzaka, Nagano
A single bear was sighted moving from the mountain side toward the sea side in the Atsumi (Atumi) area, Kuretubo, on the Atsumi government office grounds. Exact location unknown. Environment: roadway. Size: adult.
Tsuruoka 温海, Yamagata
While driving, a person spotted one bear running along a field path. It was moving west.
Joetsu, Niigata
A trail camera set up near farmland at the Atsumi government office captured one bear (about 1.3 m in length). / Environment: near residences / Size: adult
Tsuruoka 五十川, Yamagata
While passing nearby, I spotted a figure that appeared to be a bear in the bushes.
Tainai, Niigata
A bear was sighted in Nirei, Suzaka City.
Suzaka Nirei, Nagano
Size: Unknown
Suzaka Nirei, Nagano
Size: Unknown
Nakano Kasahara, Nagano
Size: Unknown
Ueda, Nagano
A member of the public walking nearby sighted one bear. It moved south.
Nagaoka, Niigata
Size: Adult
Shinano Oi, Nagano
Size: Adult
Iizuna Kurai, Nagano
Around 7:00 on June 2, a bear was sighted walking on a levee near houses in Aoyama, Mikawa Town, Yamagata Prefecture.
Mikawa 大字青山, Yamagata
Was walking on top of the embankment / Environment: riverbed / Size: unknown
Mikawa 大字青山, Yamagata
Around 6:00 on June 2, a bear about 1 meter long was sighted near a rice paddy in Yunozawa, Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture.
Tsuruoka 湯野沢, Yamagata
One bear (body length about 1 m) was sighted near rice paddies on the south side of the Yunozawa area. / Environment: around houses / Size: adult
Tsuruoka 湯野沢, Yamagata
Peak activity at 16:00 with 12 incidents
Ursus thibetanus japonicus
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For mountain rescue, call 110 (police). They will coordinate with local rescue teams.
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In the past 30 days, 142 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 33 of them.
The latest sighting was reported 1 day ago near Joetsu, Niigata.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 16:00. 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, 142 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 33 of them. The latest sighting was reported 1 day ago near Joetsu, Niigata. This is an active bear corridor. Drive through with full caution, but rerouting is the safer choice.
