This 30.3 km route from Mount Azumaya to Ueda Castle crosses Gunma and Nagano. Over the past 30 days, 2 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of the route, with no new activity in the past week. This route runs through Asian black bear habitat (native to Honshu and Shikoku). The most recent sighting was reported 3 weeks ago near Suzaka Kamegura, Nagano; the location sits about 588 m from the start of the route and 5.0 km off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 3 weeks ago at Ueda Tsuiji, Nagano, sitting about 28.7 km from the start and 2.6 km off the route line.
With activity this close, make noise as you hike, carry bear spray, and avoid the forest at dawn and dusk.
Around 18:30 on April 21, 2026, one bear was sighted walking in a yard in a residential area of Kamekura, Suzaka City, Nagano Prefecture, and a resident reported it. Police are patrolling the area and the city is broadcasting warnings over disaster prevention radio.
Suzaka Kamegura, Nagano
Size: unknown
Ueda Tsuiji, Nagano
Peak activity at 18:00 with 1 incidents
Ursus thibetanus japonicus
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Over the past 30 days, 2 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of this route, with no new activity in the past week. This route runs through Asian black bear habitat (native to Honshu and Shikoku).
The most recent sighting was reported 3 weeks ago near Suzaka Kamegura, Nagano; the location sits about 588 m from the start of the route and 5.0 km off the route line.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 18:00. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk.
This 30.3 km route from Mount Azumaya to Ueda Castle crosses Gunma and Nagano. Over the past 30 days, 2 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of the route, with no new activity in the past week. This route runs through Asian black bear habitat (native to Honshu and Shikoku). The most recent sighting was reported 3 weeks ago near Suzaka Kamegura, Nagano; the location sits about 588 m from the start of the route and 5.0 km off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 3 weeks ago at Ueda Tsuiji, Nagano, sitting about 28.7 km from the start and 2.6 km off the route line. With activity this close, make noise as you hike, carry bear spray, and avoid the forest at dawn and dusk.
