This 296 km route from Akigawa River to Joetsu crosses Tokyo, Niigata, Gunma, Nagano, and Saitama. Over the past 30 days, 40 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of the route, including 11 in the past week. This route runs through Asian black bear habitat (native to Honshu and Shikoku). The most recent sighting was reported 17 hours ago near Karuizawa, Nagano; the location sits about 130.3 km from the start of the route and 2.7 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 282.1 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.
4 places within 1 km of your route, passing through Tokyo, Niigata, Gunma, Nagano, Saitama.
A black bear was standing on all four paws at the roadside.
Karuizawa, Nagano
Around 7:30 a.m. on the 16th, a resident walking in the Itopia Komoro Kogen villa area in Okubo, Komoro City, Nagano Prefecture, reported seeing one adult bear about 1 meter long and called the police. Officers arrived but the bear had already left; no further sightings or damage have been confirmed and the police are warning local residents.
Komoro Okubo, Nagano
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
A single Asian black bear (over 1 meter long) appeared on the grounds of a university in Hachioji, Tokyo, causing some classes to be canceled. An elementary school and residential area are nearby, and the city and police have stepped up response and patrols.
Hachioji, Tokyo
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
Size: Adult
Karuizawa, Nagano
Size: Adult
Iizuna Kurai, Nagano
Size: Adult
Karuizawa 大字追分, Nagano
It was a cub about 1 meter long. It immediately went off to the left and disappeared from view. I turned back.
Annaka, Gunma
Size: adult
Shinano Kumasaka, Nagano
One bear-like animal was sighted near the summit area of the Kanayama Park lift in the Oaza Onuki area.
Joetsu, Niigata
It was watching us from a distance along the Apt Trail.
Annaka, Gunma
Size: Adult
Iiyama Hachisu, Nagano
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
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
Annaka 松井田町五料, Gunma
According to the Saitama Prefectural Police, around 16:00 on April 30, 2026, a bear-like animal about 60–70 cm long was sighted in Misugidai 1-chome, Hannō City. The area includes schools, restaurants, parks and tourist spots, and police are urging people to prioritize their safety.
Hanno 大字矢颪, Saitama
At around 00:40 on April 29, a single bear approximately 1.5 meters long was spotted on the road in Higashiterao, Matsushiro, Nagano City; a passing car honked its horn and the bear ran away, according to a report. Police searched the area but did not find the animal and have urged local residents to be cautious.
Nagano Matsushiromachi-Higashiterao, Nagano
In the early hours of April 29, 2026, a single bear about 1.5 meters long was sighted on a road in Higashiterao, Matsushiro-cho, Nagano City; before 00:30 a passing driver honked and reported the bear left. Police searched the area but did not find the animal and no damage was reported; residents nearby were warned to be cautious.
Nagano Matsushiromachi-Higashiterao, Nagano
Size: adult
Nagano Matsushiromachi-Johoku, Nagano
Size: adult (fully grown)
Iiyama Hachisu, Nagano
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
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
One bear sighted near Inari Pond within the Oaza Shimobaba area.
Joetsu 大字下馬場, Niigata
Size: unknown
Ueda Tsuiji, 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
According to the Saitama Prefectural Police, at around 00:45 on the 20th a bear-like animal about 1 meter long was sighted under the pedestrian bridge east of Misugidai Elementary School in Misugidai 2-chome, Hannō. The face was seen from inside a car, and the gait captured on a drive recorder suggests it was a bear.
Hanno 大字前ヶ貫, Saitama
Size: adult
Shinano Kashiwabara, Nagano
Peak activity at 6:00 with 4 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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Over the past 30 days, 40 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of this route, including 11 in the past week. This route runs through Asian black bear habitat (native to Honshu and Shikoku).
The most recent sighting was reported 17 hours ago near Karuizawa, Nagano; the location sits about 130.3 km from the start of the route and 2.7 km off the route line.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 6:00. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk.
This 296 km route from Akigawa River to Joetsu crosses Tokyo, Niigata, Gunma, Nagano, and Saitama. Over the past 30 days, 40 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of the route, including 11 in the past week. This route runs through Asian black bear habitat (native to Honshu and Shikoku). The most recent sighting was reported 17 hours ago near Karuizawa, Nagano; the location sits about 130.3 km from the start of the route and 2.7 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 282.1 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.
