This 221 km route from Akita to Shibata crosses Akita, Niigata, and Yamagata. Over the past 30 days, 71 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of the route, including 24 in the past week. This route runs through Asian black bear habitat (native to Honshu and Shikoku). The most recent sighting was reported 16 hours ago near Akita, Akita; the location sits about 4.9 km from the start of the route and 3.0 km off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 1 month ago at Akita, Akita, sitting about 3.4 km from the start and 5 m off the route line.
This is an active bear corridor. Rerouting or rescheduling your hike is strongly advised.
1 places within 1 km of your route, passing through Akita, Niigata, Yamagata.
While driving on the highway's outbound lane about 2 km from Kawabe JCT toward Daisen City, two bears were observed from a vehicle (1.0 m and 0.7 m). They ran off toward the left embankment.
Akita, Akita
[Report] A juvenile bear, estimated to be about 70–80 cm, was in front of my house. It went from the east side of my house toward the north, into the mountains.
Akita, Akita
Report: Around 9:20, a bear about 1 m in size was sighted. It crossed the road and left toward the mountain. It was about 3 m from the building.
Akita, Akita
Around 9:20 a bear about 1 m tall was sighted. It crossed the road and went off toward the mountains. It was about 3 m from the building.
Akita, Akita
Witnessed the bear crossing the road from a residence and moving toward the mountains. Bear size approximately 1 m.
Akita, Akita
Before 07:00 on May 1, 2026, a roughly 1-meter bear was spotted in a residential area of Kawabe, Akita City, and Kawabe Junior High asked parents to accompany students home. On April 29, a roughly 1-meter bear was also seen on the north breakwater of Akita Port; managers plan to use firecrackers and loudspeakers as countermeasures when the breakwater is opened.
Akita, Akita
A bear about 1 m in size was sighted on the residential property. It left to the north. 3 m from the building.
Akita, Akita
[Post] A bear was sitting at the side of the Akita Road. When I passed by, it ran off into the mountain on the left.
Akita, Akita
One bear (body length approx. 1–1.2 m) was sighted outside the fence on the north side of Akita Airport. Firecrackers were used and it fled toward the mountain side (Prefectural Central Park side).
Akita, Akita
(Posted) It was crossing the rice field heading toward the mountains.
Akita, Akita
[Post]
Akita Shimokitate-Torisawa, Akita
One bear was sighted in a rice paddy. Body length 1.0 m. Direction of departure unknown. 100 m south of the community center.
Akita, Akita
A bear over 1 meter tall was walking (was seen walking).
Akita, Akita
A bear about 1 meter long crossed the road.
Akita, Akita
[Report] Spotted one bear about 80 cm. Direction of retreat unknown.
Akita, Akita
One bear approximately 80 cm. Bear sighted. Direction of escape unknown. 150 m from building.
Akita, Akita
[Post]
Akita, Akita
At around 06:30 on April 23, 2026, a man in his 60s spotted a single bear about 1 meter long on a municipal road in Kawabe Wada Okamura, Akita City. The sighting was about 150 meters from Kawabe Elementary School, and police have warned nearby residents to be careful.
Akita, Akita
Report: Sighted one bear measuring 1 meter. Direction of escape unknown.
Akita, Akita
Spotted a bear about 1.0 m in size in a rice field. It then left heading south. 200 m from a residence.
Akita, Akita
A bear about 70–80 cm long crossed the road.
Akita, Akita
I was driving in my car when I saw one (a bear) climbing a tree.
Akita, Akita
[Post] While driving, I saw what looked like a bear in the Sarutagawa River. It was fairly large.
Akita, Akita
At Kamikitade Elementary School, one bear approximately 1.0 m in body length was sighted along the Saruda River to the northeast. It left heading northeast. Distance from the nearest facility: 150 m.
Akita, Akita
[Report] While driving, I witnessed one running across a rice paddy.
Akita, Akita
Observed one bear approximately 1.0 m in body length in front of the residence on the roadway. It departed heading south. Distance from a house: 3.0 m.
Akita, Akita
[Post]
Akita, Akita
Jumped out from the yard of a nearby house into the road
Akita, Akita
There was a bear about 50 cm tall.
Akita, Akita
While driving on the highway's outbound lane about 2 km from Kawabe JCT toward Daisen City, two bears were observed from a vehicle (1.0 m and 0.7 m). They ran off toward the left embankment.
Akita, Akita
While driving on the highway, I witnessed one cub (about 70 cm) crossing the road.
Nikaho Kurokawa, Akita
On the morning of May 5, 2026, a man in his 40s performing rice-field patrols in Yurihonjo City, Akita Prefecture, was attacked by a bear and injured. Prefectural and city authorities issued a bear-sighting warning and urged residents to be cautious.
Yurihonjō Taniyamakoji, Akita
Shortly before 08:30 on the 5th, a man in his 40s who was patrolling rice fields in Higashi-Yuri, Yurihonjo City, was attacked by a bear about 1 m long. He suffered injuries to his face and right arm and was taken to a hospital in Akita City; he was reported conscious during transport.
Yurihonjō Taniyamakoji, Akita
In Yurihonjo City (Higashiyuri), a man in his 40s inspecting rice fields was attacked by a bear around 08:20 and sustained injuries to his face and right arm; he was airlifted to a hospital by doctor helicopter. He was conscious and able to speak, and is believed to have run into a nearby house.
Yurihonjō Taniyamakoji, Akita
At around 08:15 this morning in Yurihonjo City, Akita Prefecture, a 48-year-old man inspecting rice fields was attacked by a bear approximately 1 meter long, suffering injuries to his right face and right arm. He was conscious and able to speak when transported.
Yurihonjō Taniyamakoji, Akita
On May 5 in Yurihonjo City, Akita Prefecture, a 48-year-old man was attacked by a bear about 1 meter long while in a rice field; he suffered injuries to his face and arm and was taken to hospital. Authorities are patrolling the area, marking this the first human injury in the prefecture this year.
Yurihonjō Taniyamakoji, Akita
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
Saw a bear cub running up the embankment at Nagaoka Community Hall
Nikaho Kisakatamachi-Nagaoka, Akita
At around 11:40 a.m. on the 4th, a bear was sighted on a slope near the Nagaoka community center in Nagaoka, Iejiri, Kisakata-cho, Nikaho City, Akita Prefecture. According to the Yurihonjo Police, the bear's body length is unknown; it was about 100 meters from the nearest house, and the police have warned residents to be cautious.
Nikaho Kisakatamachi-Nagaoka, Akita
While we had parked the car and were walking down to the beach with my family to look for things like sea glass, we found footprints that looked like a bear’s and immediately left the area.
Nikaho, Akita
sighting
Nikaho Mitsumori, Akita
[Report] Bear sighted at Kosunagawa Beach. Body length unknown.
Nikaho Kisakatamachi-Kosagawa, Akita
A cub climbed up the embankment beside the road.
Nikaho Kurokawa, Akita
[Report] A juvenile bear, estimated to be about 70–80 cm, was in front of my house. It went from the east side of my house toward the north, into the mountains.
Akita, Akita
Spotted one bear at the JR Suzu railroad crossing. Body length approximately 1 meter. It ran away toward the mountains to the east.
Nikaho Hirasawa, Akita
According to Sakata Police Station, at around 06:50 on May 2, 2026, one bear approximately 1 meter long was sighted in a field in Hodumi, Sakata City; police warned it may remain nearby and urged caution. Yamagata Prefecture issued a "bear sighting warning" on April 30, and other bear sightings in the city were reported on May 1.
Sakata 穂積, Yamagata
Report: Around 9:20, a bear about 1 m in size was sighted. It crossed the road and left toward the mountain. It was about 3 m from the building.
Akita, Akita
Around 9:20 a bear about 1 m tall was sighted. It crossed the road and went off toward the mountains. It was about 3 m from the building.
Akita, Akita
Witnessed the bear crossing the road from a residence and moving toward the mountains. Bear size approximately 1 m.
Akita, Akita
Before 07:00 on May 1, 2026, a roughly 1-meter bear was spotted in a residential area of Kawabe, Akita City, and Kawabe Junior High asked parents to accompany students home. On April 29, a roughly 1-meter bear was also seen on the north breakwater of Akita Port; managers plan to use firecrackers and loudspeakers as countermeasures when the breakwater is opened.
Akita, Akita
A bear about 1 m in size was sighted on the residential property. It left to the north. 3 m from the building.
Akita, Akita
Around 2:40 a.m. on May 1, 2026, one bear was sighted on the south side of an intersection near Hikarigaoka Athletic Stadium in Sakata City, Yamagata Prefecture. The city is urging people not to approach and to report sightings to the police or city authorities.
Sakata 新町, Yamagata
Around 02:30 on May 1, 2026, a single adult bear about 1 meter long was seen by a passerby near the Hikarigaoka Athletic Stadium in Sakata City, Yamagata Prefecture, at an intersection where a national and prefectural road meet, and was reported to the city. No further sightings have been reported, and the city has urged residents to keep warehouse and garage entrances closed.
Sakata 新町, Yamagata
Spotted one bear while driving north. Body length about 1 meter. It attempted to cross the road from the west to the east but noticed the car and returned to the bushes.
Nikaho Innai, Akita
[Post] A bear was sitting at the side of the Akita Road. When I passed by, it ran off into the mountain on the left.
Akita, Akita
One bear (body length approx. 1–1.2 m) was sighted outside the fence on the north side of Akita Airport. Firecrackers were used and it fled toward the mountain side (Prefectural Central Park side).
Akita, Akita
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
While working in the field, I spotted one bear on the mountainside. Its body length was about 1.5 m. It walked off toward the north.
Akita, Akita
Body length: 0.8 m Distance to residence: 100 m
Yurihonjō 薬師堂, Akita
[Post]
Akita, Akita
On April 26, 2026, around 21:00, a woman in her 50s driving in Hirasawa, Nikaho City (Fukayachi), Akita Prefecture, sighted a bear about 1 meter long. According to the Yurihonjo Police, the bear was about 30 meters from a nearby house and the police have urged residents to be cautious.
Nikaho Mitsumori, Akita
Crossed the road leading from the east side to the west side toward the intersection near the pachinko parlor.
Nikaho Mitsumori, Akita
Around 14:00 on April 26, 2026, a parent-and-child bear was sighted near the nursing home Shoto-so in Sugasato, Yusa Town, and the town urged nearby residents to be cautious. Since late February, sightings of bears and wild boar have been frequent in Yusa Town, and there have been 74 bear sightings in the prefecture so far, an increase at a pace exceeding last year's record.
Yuza 菅里, Yamagata
One bear approximately 1 meter in body length was sighted.
Nikaho Kisakatamachi-Kodaki, Akita
Around 11:40 on April 24, 2026, one bear was filmed running through a rice paddy in Kisakata Town, Nikaho City, Akita Prefecture. The filmer said they were in a car heading from near Mototaki toward the Kisakata interchange when the bear crossed the road and went from the paddy back into the mountain.
Nikaho 田の神, Akita
A bear over 1 meter tall was walking (was seen walking).
Akita, Akita
A bear about 1 meter long crossed the road.
Akita, Akita
[Report] Spotted one bear about 80 cm. Direction of retreat unknown.
Akita, Akita
One bear approximately 80 cm. Bear sighted. Direction of escape unknown. 150 m from building.
Akita, Akita
[Post]
Akita, Akita
At around 06:30 on April 23, 2026, a man in his 60s spotted a single bear about 1 meter long on a municipal road in Kawabe Wada Okamura, Akita City. The sighting was about 150 meters from Kawabe Elementary School, and police have warned nearby residents to be careful.
Akita, Akita
[Posted] Near the university
Yurihonjō Kawaguchi, Akita
Report: Sighted one bear measuring 1 meter. Direction of escape unknown.
Akita, Akita
Spotted a bear about 1.0 m in size in a rice field. It then left heading south. 200 m from a residence.
Akita, Akita
A bear about 70–80 cm long crossed the road.
Akita, Akita
I was driving in my car when I saw one (a bear) climbing a tree.
Akita, Akita
Body length: approximately 1.0 m; Distance to houses: approximately 800 m
Yurihonjō, Akita
[Post]
Yurihonjō 山田, Akita
[Post] While driving, I saw what looked like a bear in the Sarutagawa River. It was fairly large.
Akita, Akita
At Kamikitade Elementary School, one bear approximately 1.0 m in body length was sighted along the Saruda River to the northeast. It left heading northeast. Distance from the nearest facility: 150 m.
Akita, Akita
[Report] While driving, I witnessed one running across a rice paddy.
Akita, Akita
While passing through the area, a person sighted one cub.
Tainai 松波, Niigata
Around 06:00 on 2026-04-16, one bear (about 1 meter long, believed to be an adult) was sighted near the municipal funeral hall in Hamana, Sakata City, Yamagata. In the same area, about 50 kg of nearly-harvested strawberries were found eaten in a Shiritaka (十里塚) greenhouse on the 12th, and about 7 kg were eaten in a Sakanobe Shinden greenhouse on the morning of the 16th; the city has set box traps and installed electric fences and sensor cameras as countermeasures.
Sakata 浜中, Yamagata
At around 16:55 on April 15, 2026, one bear was sighted in Hamanaka, Sakata City, Yamagata Prefecture. The article reports only the sighting time and location and provides no further details.
Sakata 浜中, Yamagata
[Post]
Akita, Akita
[Post]
Yurihonjō 梵天谷地, Akita
One bear observed crossing from east to west.
Nikaho Kurokawa, Akita
[Post]
Yurihonjō 古川端, Akita
Posted near the university
Yurihonjō Kawaguchi, Akita
Crossed the road and entered a stand of bamboo grass.
Yurihonjō 岩城内道川, Akita
Body length: 1.5 m Distance to dwelling: approximately 25 m
Yurihonjō 岩城内道川, Akita
Distance to houses: 20 m. Body length: about 1 m and about 1 m (they are not believed to be parent and child). When a loud noise was made, they went into the scrub woods.
Yurihonjō, Akita
Around 21:30 on April 8, 2026, a man in his 30s from Yurihonjo City sighted two bears (each about 1 meter long) on a municipal road in Deto, Hamayama, Nishimecho, Yurihonjo City. The nearest house was about 15 meters away; the police patrolled the area by patrol car and warned residents.
Yurihonjō, Akita
Ran off toward the mountainside. Body length: 50 cm. Distance to the witness: 10 m.
Yurihonjō, Akita
Jumped out from the yard of a nearby house into the road
Akita, Akita
There was a bear about 50 cm tall.
Akita, Akita
Peak activity at 6:00 with 10 incidents
Ursus thibetanus japonicus
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Over the past 30 days, 71 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of this route, including 24 in the past week. This route runs through Asian black bear habitat (native to Honshu and Shikoku).
The most recent sighting was reported 16 hours ago near Akita, Akita; the location sits about 4.9 km from the start of the route and 3.0 km off the route line.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 6:00. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk.
This 221 km route from Akita to Shibata crosses Akita, Niigata, and Yamagata. Over the past 30 days, 71 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of the route, including 24 in the past week. This route runs through Asian black bear habitat (native to Honshu and Shikoku). The most recent sighting was reported 16 hours ago near Akita, Akita; the location sits about 4.9 km from the start of the route and 3.0 km off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 1 month ago at Akita, Akita, sitting about 3.4 km from the start and 5 m off the route line. This is an active bear corridor. Rerouting or rescheduling your hike is strongly advised.
