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This 91 km route runs from Aizuwakamatsu to Shibata, passing through Fukushima and Niigata. In the past 30 days, 34 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 3 of them. The latest sighting was reported 2 days ago near Aizubange 大字見明, Fukushima.
This is an active bear corridor. Drive through with full caution, but rerouting is the safer choice.
At Unai Nakakozan, Aizubange Town, one bear crossed the road.
Aizubange 大字見明, Fukushima
On Sunday, June 21 at approximately 5:52 p.m., in Uchiai, Nakagoyama area, Aizubange Town, a witness (female) driving on a town road observed one bear (about 1 m in body length) crossing the road from north to south. The bear then went off to the south.
Aizubange 大字見明, 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 approximately 3:55 a.m., in an open lot in Suwanishi Ko, Nozawa, Nishi-Aizu Town, a witness (female in her 60s) observed two bears (about 1 m in body length) in the grass of the lot while passing by in a vehicle. After being seen, the bears fled into a cedar grove in the lot.
Nishiaizu Onomoto, 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
A witness, traveling on National Route 49 toward Fukushima Prefecture, observed one bear crossing National Route 49 from right to left and fleeing into the mountains.
Aga 津川, Niigata
A witness, while traveling on National Route 49 toward Niigata City, observed one bear crossing National Route 49 from right to left and fleeing into the mountains.
Aga 津川, Niigata
On Wednesday, June 10 at around 4:00 a.m., in an open lot in Nozawa, Suwanishi-ko, Nishiaizu Town, a witness (female in her 60s) spotted two bears (approximately 1 m in length) in the grass of the lot while traveling by vehicle.
Nishiaizu Onomoto, 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
One bear was beside National Route 49 in Hata, Kawahigashi Town, Aizuwakamatsu City.
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
On June 5 (Friday) at approximately 6:25 a.m., on National Route 252 within the area of Shimoharamichi-nishi甲, Oaza Yanaitsucho, a witness (a woman in her 40s) driving on Route 252 observed one bear (about 1 m in body length) crossing the road from west to east. Its destination after leaving the road to the east is unknown.
Yanaizu Kotsubaki, Fukushima
A bear was seen crossing National Route 252 in Shimohara-michi Nishi-ko, Yanaizu Town.
Yanaizu Kotsubaki, Fukushima
On June 5 (Friday) at approximately 4:26 a.m., in the Toriya area of Tsukematsu, Nishi-Aizu Town, a vehicle driver (male in his 60s) passing near the 138.4 km post on the outbound (upward) lanes of the Ban-etsu Expressway reported seeing a bear (about 1 m in body length) crossing the expressway from north to south while traveling on the outbound lanes toward Iwaki. The bear left the area via the south-side slope of the road.
Nishiaizu Tabanematsu, Fukushima
Around 04:00 on June 5, a bear was sighted in Nozawa Suwanishi-ko, Nishiaizu Town, Fukushima Prefecture.
Nishiaizu Onomoto, Fukushima
On June 5 (Friday) at around 4:00 a.m., in a vacant lot in Suwanishi Ko, Nozawa, Nishiaizu Town, a witness (female in her 60s) saw two bears (about 1.5 m and about 1 m in length) in a roadside vacant lot while driving.
Nishiaizu Onomoto, 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
Around 7:45 PM on June 4, a bear was sighted in Noguchiotsu, Teshima, Nishiaizu Town, Fukushima Prefecture.
Nishiaizu Tosejima, Fukushima
On Thursday, June 4 at approximately 7:45 p.m., on the Kitakata–Nishiaizu Prefectural Road in Noguchi Otsu area, Toyeshima, Nishi-Aizu Town, a witness (male in his 50s) saw one bear (about 1.5 m in length) on the road while driving. The bear walked south into a grassy area and its subsequent whereabouts are unknown.
Nishiaizu Tosejima, Fukushima
On June 4 at approximately 6:22 a.m., while patrolling in Yanitsu (Yanitsu-aza Shimoharamichi Nishi Ko area), police officers spotted one bear (about 1 m in body length) beside the road.
Yanaizu 椿, Fukushima
A guest at Tsugawa Onsen sighted a bear on the way back, briefly retreated, spoke with an onsen employee, and then left.
Aga 京ノ瀬, Niigata
Witnessed a bear crossing the national Route 49, heading from the Nishiku (West Ward) toward the highway near the west overpass of Route 49.
Aga 津川, Niigata
Witnessed a black object believed to be a bear moving from Minagawa Sawmill toward the Agano River.
Aga あが野北, Niigata
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
While walking toward Niigata on National Route 49, I witnessed a mother and cub crossing the road ahead from right to left.
Aga 取上, Niigata
One bear sighted in a field about 200 m north of Ōtsuki Settlement Development Center.
Shibata, Niigata
Two bears were sighted on Route 49 in Togami, Aga Town.
Aga 取上, Niigata
Sighted one cub near Himeda Bridge
Shibata, Niigata
Around 6:20 PM on 2026-05-26, one bear was sighted in the Nishi-Himeda area of Shibata City.
Shibata, Niigata
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
Around 14:40 on May 25, two bears, about 1 m and 0.5 m long, were sighted in Onohon Shitahira-ko, Nishiaizu Town, Fukushima.
Nishiaizu Onomoto, Fukushima
On Monday, May 25 at approximately 2:40 p.m., in a river in Onohon Shimodaira Ko area, Nishiaizu Town, a witness (man in his 60s) observed two bears moving southward in the river while walking. One bear was about 1.0 m in length and the other about 50 cm. The subsequent whereabouts of the bears are unknown.
Nishiaizu Onomoto, Fukushima
Peak activity at 18:00 with 5 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, 34 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 3 of them.
The latest sighting was reported 2 days ago near Aizubange 大字見明, Fukushima.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 18:00. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk.
This 91 km route runs from Aizuwakamatsu to Shibata, passing through Fukushima and Niigata. In the past 30 days, 34 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 3 of them. The latest sighting was reported 2 days ago near Aizubange 大字見明, Fukushima. This is an active bear corridor. Drive through with full caution, but rerouting is the safer choice.
