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This 12 km route starts and ends around Aizuwakamatsu, passing through Fukushima. In the past 30 days, 20 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 3 of them. The latest sighting was reported 4 days ago near Bandai, Fukushima.
At this density of recent sightings, be ready to brake at any moment and avoid stopping in flagged stretches.
On Thursday, June 18 at approximately 8:25 p.m., on Prefectural Route 7 (Inawashiro-Shiogawa Line) in Gongenmori area, Sarashina, Bandai Town, a witness traveling eastbound by vehicle observed a bear (about 1 m in body length) crossing the road from south to north. The bear then left heading north toward the rice fields.
Bandai, Fukushima
On Thursday, June 18 at approximately 5:30 PM, in a field in Nagao-michi, Tsurunobe, Aizumisato Town, a witness (male, in his 30s) walking his dog observed two bears emerge from the brush in the field (approximate body lengths: about 1 m and about 50 cm). The subsequent movements of the bears are unknown.
Aizumisato 立石田, Fukushima
On Tuesday, June 16 at about 10:15 p.m., in Kamiuhara, Oaza Otani, Bandai Town, a witness on a municipal road (woman in her 50s) observed one bear (approximately 1 m in body length) crossing the municipal road from north to south while she was driving.
Bandai 大字大谷, Fukushima
On Tuesday, June 16 at around 5:30 p.m., on company premises in Dōhigashi, Ōtani, Bandai Town, a witness, while walking through the parking lot, spotted one bear (approximately 80 cm in body length) in the parking area. The bear left the company grounds and went into the grove of mixed trees north of the premises.
Bandai, Fukushima
On Monday, June 15 at approximately 10:55 p.m., in the Hanamigaoka 1-chome area of Aizuwakamatsu City, a witness (male in his 50s) while at home observed one bear (about 1 m in body length) in a vacant lot on the south side of his residence. The bear ran off to the west; its subsequent whereabouts are unknown.
Aizuwakamatsu Takaramachi, Fukushima
Around 14:00 on 2026-06-15, a bear was sighted at Takatsukayama in Minamitakano, Kawanumachi, Aizuwakamatsu City.
Aizuwakamatsu Kawahigashimachi-Minamikoya, Fukushima
On Sunday, June 7, at around 7:15 p.m., on the Tohoku Expressway (Ban-etsu Expressway) westbound near 112.6 km in Hatta, Kawahigashi-machi, Aizuwakamatsu City, a passenger car driven by a man in his 40s, while traveling in the westbound passing lane, collided with a bear (approximately 1.2 m in body length) that crossed from the right toward the left across the direction of travel. Neither the driver nor the occupants were injured. The bear died near the accident site.
Aizuwakamatsu Kawahigashimachi-Hatta, Fukushima
On Sunday, June 7 at about 5:20 p.m., a witness (male) working in a field in Makizawa area, Ishiyama, Higashiyama-machi, Aizuwakamatsu City, spotted one bear (about 1 meter in length) coming out of the forest to the south. The witness then scared the bear off with a bear-repellent firework he had; the bear turned its back on the witness and fled back into the forest.
Aizuwakamatsu Yugawaminami, Fukushima
On Sunday, June 7 at approximately 11:26 a.m., on the downhill lane of the Tohoku Expressway (Ban-etsu Expressway) near 107.2 km in Shimokawamae, Sarashina, Bandai Town, a passenger car driven by a man in his 60s, traveling in the first lane of the downhill direction, collided with a bear (about 50 cm in body length) that crossed from the right to the left of the travel direction. There were no injuries to the vehicle’s driver or other occupants. The bear was found dead near the accident site.
Bandai, Fukushima
One bear was beside National Route 49 in Hata, Kawahigashi Town, Aizuwakamatsu City.
Aizuwakamatsu Kawahigashimachi-Hatta, Fukushima
On Saturday, June 6 at around 6:30 p.m., in the Hatta area of Kawahigashi, Aizuwakamatsu City, a witness (male in his 30s) spotted one bear (approximately 1 meter in body length) at the roadside while riding a motorcycle on National Route 49. The bear's subsequent movements are unknown.
Aizuwakamatsu Kawahigashimachi-Hatta, Fukushima
On Friday, June 5 at around 1:00 p.m., in a field in Makizawa, Ishiyama, Higashiyama-machi, Aizuwakamatsu City, a witness (male, in his 30s) spotted three bears in the field while doing farm work (one about 1 m long and two about 50 cm long). The bears fled in the direction of the forested area to the west; their subsequent movements are unknown.
Aizuwakamatsu Yugawaminami, Fukushima
A bear was seen walking out of a facility site in Ichimachi Oaza Tsuruga, Aizuwakamatsu City.
Aizuwakamatsu Ikkimachi-Tsuruga, Fukushima
On Friday, June 5 at approximately 12:10 a.m., in the Tsuruga area of Ikki-machi, Aizuwakamatsu City, a male witness driving a vehicle spotted a bear (about 1 m in body length) walking out toward an area outside the facility grounds. The bear proceeded westward; its subsequent movements are unknown.
Aizuwakamatsu Ikkimachi-Tsuruga, Fukushima
On Wednesday, June 3 at approximately 7:38 PM, in the industrial park area of Kadota Town, Aizuwakamatsu City, on a municipal road, a witness (male, in his 50s) while driving a vehicle observed one bear (approximately 1 m in body length) traveling southbound on the municipal road. Its subsequent movements are unknown.
Aizuwakamatsu Mondenmachi-Kogyodanchi, Fukushima
One bear was on a city road in the Kadota Industrial Park, Aizuwakamatsu.
Aizuwakamatsu Mondenmachi-Kogyodanchi, Fukushima
On June 3 at around 6:50 a.m., in the area of Kamimura, Iideji, Kadota-machi, Aizuwakamatsu City, a male witness driving a vehicle observed one bear (about 1 m in body length) entering the grounds of Hiyoshi Shrine. The bear entered the shrine grounds and its subsequent movements are unknown; because there is a residential area nearby, the police are continuing to carry out public notices and patrol/warning activities.
Aizuwakamatsu Mondenmachi-Niidera, Fukushima
On Saturday, May 30 at around 6:20 p.m., in Sasayamahara, Minato-machi, Aizuwakamatsu City, a witness (male in his 70s) working in a field sighted one bear (about 80 cm in body length) walking through some brush. The bear went into the brush on the west side and its subsequent movements are unknown.
Aizuwakamatsu Minatomachi-Akai, Fukushima
On Friday, May 29 at approximately 9:40 a.m., on the Yagawa-Omachi prefectural road within Terayashiki, Yumoto, Higashiyama-machi, Aizuwakamatsu City, a witness (male, in his 60s) while driving observed one bear (about 1.5 m in body length) traveling from east to west across the road. Subsequent movements are unknown.
Aizuwakamatsu Higashiyamamachi-Yumoto, Fukushima
On Monday, May 25 at approximately 8:50 p.m., in the Keizan 2-chome area of Aizuwakamatsu City, a witness (male in his 60s) saw one bear (about 1 m in body length) in the woods from his home. The bear entered the woodland, and its subsequent movements are unknown.
Aizuwakamatsu Higashiyamamachi-Ishiyama, Fukushima
Peak activity at 17:00 with 3 incidents
Ursus thibetanus japonicus
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In the past 30 days, 20 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 3 of them.
The latest sighting was reported 4 days ago near Bandai, Fukushima.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 17:00. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk.
This 12 km route starts and ends around Aizuwakamatsu, passing through Fukushima. In the past 30 days, 20 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 3 of them. The latest sighting was reported 4 days ago near Bandai, Fukushima. At this density of recent sightings, be ready to brake at any moment and avoid stopping in flagged stretches.
