This 350 km route from Chikusei to Kurihara crosses Ibaraki, Miyagi, Fukushima, and Tochigi. Over the past 30 days, 106 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 7 hours ago near Nasushiobara 共墾社, Tochigi; the location sits about 99.6 km from the start of the route and 4.1 km off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 2 weeks ago at Ohira 奥田, Miyagi, sitting about 312.2 km from the start and 12 m off the route line.
This is an active bear corridor. Drive through with full caution, but rerouting is the safer choice.
3 places within 1 km of your route, passing through Ibaraki, Miyagi, Fukushima, Tochigi.
A single bear was sighted swimming in a dam in Nasushiobara, Tochigi Prefecture. The man who saw it told reporters that it swam about 300 meters.
Nasushiobara 共墾社, Tochigi
At around 14:25 on the 8th, a single bear was observed swimming in a dam in Nasushiobara City, Tochigi Prefecture. The male witness told reporters that the bear swam about 300 meters.
Nasushiobara 共墾社, Tochigi
A bear was sighted swimming in a dam in Nasushiobara City, Tochigi Prefecture. A male witness told reporters that it swam about 300 meters.
Nasushiobara 共墾社, Tochigi
On 2026-05-08, a sighting of a 'bear-like animal' walking in a rice field was reported in Sukagawa City, Fukushima Prefecture (Fukushima TV). No specific time or more detailed location was provided.
Sukagawa 加治町, Fukushima
At around 05:10 on the 7th, a man in his 40s spotted one bear (about 1 m long) in a field in Yunohigashiyama, Iizaka-machi, Fukushima City. There were no injuries, and the police are urging caution.
Fukushima Iizakamachi-Yuno, Fukushima
A bear sighting was reported in Ōtama Village, Fukushima Prefecture. The bear is believed to be a single individual, and authorities have urged caution.
Otama Tamanoi, Fukushima
Around 22:00 on May 6 a person in a car sighted a bear about 1 meter long crossing the road at the intersection in front of a shopping mall in Kamiyatagari, Izumi-ku, Sendai. Police patrolled but did not find the bear and there were no injuries. Separately, a bear was sighted on a mountain near Otayachi Elementary School in Ishinomaki on May 2, so an evacuation drill scheduled for May 7 was canceled.
Sendai Izumichuo-minami, Miyagi
Around 22:00 on May 6, 2026, a single bear about 1 meter long was sighted near the intersection of the Sendai North Ring Road (Sendai Kita Kanjosen) at Kamiyatagari-Tatewaki, Izumi Ward, Sendai; it left toward the bushes. Police patrolled the area but did not find it afterward, and Izumitakeyama High School notified parents to be cautious by email.
Sendai Chomeigaoka-higashi, Miyagi
Around 22:00 on May 6, 2026, a female driver spotted a single bear about 1 meter long on a prefectural road in Kamitayagari, Izumi Ward, Sendai. The bear crossed a crosswalk at an intersection heading south and disappeared into nearby brush; police patrolled the area but received no further sightings.
Sendai Chomeigaoka-higashi, Miyagi
On the night of the 5th, a person in a car in Moniwa Hitokurita Higashi, Taihaku Ward, Sendai, spotted a bear about 1 meter long crossing the road at around 21:30. The bear headed toward the Natori River, and at 22:10 another sighting of a bear crossing a road was reported about 600 meters north in the Nihondaira residential area; police have issued a warning.
Sendai Nihondaira, Miyagi
Around 21:30 on May 5, a person in a car saw a bear about 1 meter long crossing the road in Moniwa Hitokurada Higashi, Taihaku Ward, Sendai (near the Tohoku Expressway Sendai Minami IC). Later, at about 22:10 the same day, a bear was also seen crossing a road in a residential area in Nihondaira, roughly 600 meters north of the first sighting.
Sendai Nihondaira, Miyagi
Around 17:35 on May 5, a resident spotted a bear about 1 meter long in a green strip in Nishikigaoka 9-chome, Aoba Ward, Sendai. At 22:30 a bear, possibly the same individual, was seen sitting in green space opposite the road near the Sendai City Observatory in Nishikigaoka 5-chome; in all cases the bear left and no damage was reported.
Sendai Kami-Ayashi, Miyagi
On May 5, 2026 at around 17:30, a man walking in green space in Nishikigaoka 9-chome, Aoba Ward, Sendai, spotted a bear about 1 meter long. After police patrols failed to find it, at about 22:30 the same day a bear believed to be the same individual was seen again near the Sendai Observatory, and the police urged caution.
Sendai Kami-Ayashi, Miyagi
At around 17:30 on May 5, in a green area of Nishikigaoka 9-chome, Aoba Ward, Sendai, a walker sighted a bear about 1 meter long. Police patrolled but did not find it; roughly five hours later a bear of similar size was seen about 600 meters to the south in another green area, after which it fled southwest and was not seen again. Police warned it may be the same individual.
Sendai Kami-Ayashi, Miyagi
In Fukushima City's Matsukawamachi Mizuhara Minamisawa area, a single bear about 1 m long was seen standing with its paw on a guardrail. No human or property damage was reported; the bear's subsequent whereabouts are unknown and police are patrolling by patrol car.
Fukushima Matsukawamachi-Mizuhara, Fukushima
At about 11:25 on May 5, a woman driving in Mizuhara Minamisawa, Matsukawa-machi, Fukushima City, sighted a single bear about 1 meter long standing with its paws on a guardrail. No human or property damage has been reported so far.
Fukushima Matsukawamachi-Mizuhara, Fukushima
At around 20:10 on May 4, 2026, a teenage woman returning home spotted a single bear about 1 meter long rummaging through a plastic bag on a road near Kitayama Station (JR Senzan Line) in Yamatecho, Aoba-ku, Sendai. Police arrived but the bear had already left; no injuries or damage have been reported.
Sendai Kikutamachi, Miyagi
At around 20:10 on the 4th, a bear rummaging through what looked like a plastic bag on a road in Yamatecho, Aoba Ward, Sendai was reported by a teenage woman. The bear, about 1 meter long, had already left when police arrived; no injuries or damages have been reported, and police are warning residents near Kita-Yama Station on the Senzan Line.
Sendai Yamatemachi, Miyagi
Around 12:20 PM on May 2, 2026, a man in his 30s walking near the Arakawa in Niida Shimokawahara, Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture, reported seeing one animal believed to be a bear to the Fukushima police station. The police said the animal's body length is unknown, and the sighting occurred near the Fukushima Toyota Crown Arena.
Fukushima Yagita, Fukushima
At around 11:10 a.m. on May 2, 2026, a man in a car spotted one bear (about 50 cm in length) moving north on a town road in Miyahara, Ookido, Kunimi Town, Fukushima Prefecture. No damage has been reported nearby; the police are patrolling with patrol cars and coordinating the response with the Kunimi town office.
Kunimi 大字高城, Fukushima
At around 08:40 on May 2, 2026, one bear was sighted in Kozumi, Izumi Ward, Sendai City. The bear left the scene, and no damage to people or property was confirmed, according to the Izumi Police Station of Miyagi Prefectural Police.
Sendai Ogaku, Miyagi
Around 06:55 on the 2nd, a man working in an orchard at Sakashita, Matsubara, Koori Town, Fukushima Prefecture, spotted a single bear about 1.5 meters long moving west along the orchard's north side. No significant damage has been confirmed; police are patrolling the area by patrol car and coordinating the response with Date City Hall.
Koori 大字松原, Fukushima
At around 06:55 on May 2, 2026, a man in his 70s working in a peach orchard at Kensho Momo no Sato in Koori Town spotted a bear about 1.5 meters long. The bear left the scene and its subsequent whereabouts are unknown; no injuries were reported. Police are patrolling the area and urging caution.
Koori 字堰合, Fukushima
At around 06:30 on May 2, 2026, a man driving in Fukushima-shi, Iizaka-machi Higashiyuno Aza Kamioka, saw a bear about 1 meter long cross a municipal road from west to east. The bear then left heading east along a nearby irrigation canal.
Fukushima Iizakamachi-Higashiyuno, Fukushima
A bear sighting was reported in Fukushima City. The article does not provide specific details on the exact location, time, or number of bears (published: 2026-05-02).
Fukushima Shinobuyama, Fukushima
One bear was sighted in Kozumi (小角), Izumi Ward, Sendai City. The article reports the sighting but does not mention any injuries or capture/dispatch.
Sendai Ogaku, Miyagi
On 2026-04-30 at about 19:35, a roughly 1‑meter bear was sighted near the north side of Tate Elementary School in Sendai City's Izumi Ward and reported to police. Later that day, bears of about the same size were also reported in Izumi Ward's Misawa area at 20:10 and in Furunai at 20:15; no injuries or property damage were reported and police are patrolling the area.
Sendai 館, Miyagi
Around 19:30 on April 30, a single bear about 1 meter long was seen crossing the road on the north side of Tate Elementary School in Tate 7-chome, Izumi Ward, Sendai; it headed toward Tate Sakura Park and left the scene. There were no injuries or property damage. A sighting was also reported in the Tate area on April 23.
Sendai 館, Miyagi
Body length 1 m, was walking
Natori Sogodai-Higashi 1-chome, Miyagi
Around 10:50 a.m. on the 30th, an woman in her 80s spotted a single bear about 1 meter long on a farm road in the Harasekawara area of Nihonmatsu City. No human injuries or property damage have been confirmed.
Nihonmatsu 原セ川原, Fukushima
According to police, on the morning of the 30th a man in his 30s driving on National Route 4 in Kunimi Town, Isomoda Aza Kunimimae, Fukushima Prefecture, spotted one bear (about 0.5 m long) wandering on the central median. The bear later left toward the riverbed to the east.
Kunimi 大字大木戸, Fukushima
Around 06:30 on the 30th, a man in his 30s reported a bear wandering near the central median on National Route 4 in Kunimi-machi, Ishiboda Kunimemae. There were no injuries; according to the Koori branch, the bear was about 0.5 meters long and ran toward the riverbank on the east side of the road. Around the same time a bear was also sighted on Route 4 at Ishiboda Ueno.
Kunimi 大字大木戸, Fukushima
At around 06:30 on April 30, 2026, a man in his 30s driving on Route 4 in Kunimi Town sighted a bear about 50 cm long wandering near the central median. No one was injured; the bear later moved toward the Takigawa riverbed, and police and the town remain on alert.
Kunimi 大字大木戸, Fukushima
On April 30, 2026 at around 06:30, a man in his 30s driving on Route 4 in Kunimi Town spotted a single bear about 50 cm in body length walking near the central median. The bear was also seen near a river on the east side of the road and its whereabouts are currently unknown; no damage to people or buildings has been confirmed. Police and town officials are patrolling the area and remaining on alert.
Kunimi 大字森山, Fukushima
At around 06:28 on April 30, 2026, a single bear about 0.5 meters long was sighted near the central divider of National Route 4 in Kunimi Town, Ishiboda, Kunimemae. The bear later left toward the riverbank on the east side of the road; no injuries or damage have been reported.
Kunimi 大字大木戸, Fukushima
On April 30, 2026, a bear sighting was reported in Kunimi Town, Fukushima Prefecture. The article does not report any injuries or details of capture.
Kunimi 大字藤田, Fukushima
At about 23:10 on April 29, 2026, a kei car driving south on a municipal road in Minaminakayama 5-chome, Izumi-ku, Sendai collided with a bear that ran out from the left. The bear, about 1.5 meters long, fled into shrubbery on the west side of the road after the collision; the driver, a man in his 50s, was uninjured but the vehicle's left front light was damaged. The bear's whereabouts are currently unknown.
Sendai 西中山, Miyagi
Around 23:10 on the 29th, a single bear about 1.5 meters long collided with a light passenger car in Minamunakayama 5-chome, Izumi Ward, Sendai. The car's left front was damaged but the male driver was not injured; the bear ran out from the east side of the road and left toward the woods on the west side.
Sendai 北中山, Miyagi
Around 16:20 on April 28, a passerby spotted a single bear about 70 cm long moving in the Nishikawa river in Tomiya-bussho, Tomiya City, and called emergency services. The bear moved in the river east of Route 4 and later departed to the west; there were no injuries, and police have stepped up warnings to nearby schools and increased vigilance.
Tomiya 富谷, Miyagi
Around 16:00 on April 28, a passerby reported to the police a bear about 70 cm long swimming in the Nishikawa in Tomiya Bussho, Tomiya City, Miyagi. The bear swam west toward forested hills; no injuries or damage to buildings have been confirmed.
Tomiya 富谷, Miyagi
At around 15:25 on April 28, 2026, a runner spotted a single bear about 1.0 m long on the Arakawa riverbank at Niida Nishi-Shimokawara in Fukushima City. No human or property damage was reported; Fukushima police increased patrols and a large walking event scheduled for the next day was canceled.
Fukushima Yoshikura, Fukushima
At around 15:23 on April 28, 2026, a man jogging along the Arakawa near Niiida Nishishimokawara in Fukushima City sighted a bear approximately 1 meter long. No injuries or damage have been reported; police and city officials are searching and keeping the area under watch.
Fukushima Yoshikura, Fukushima
At around 09:45 on April 28, 2026, a single bear about 1 meter long was sighted in the fields at Fukuroda Aza-Miya, Sukagawa City, by a person driving by; the bear then left toward fields to the north. No injuries or damage have been reported; police are patrolling by patrol car and coordinating with Sukagawa City Hall.
Sukagawa 袋田, Fukushima
At 02:45 on April 28, 2026, a roughly 1-meter-long bear was seen walking on a road in a residential area near Taihaku Park, Taihaku 1-chome, Sendai; a passing motorist reported it to police. The bear left northward into the woods; there were no injuries and police patrolled the area but did not find it.
Sendai Sahoyama, Miyagi
Around 18:30 on April 27, a single bear about 1.2 meters long was sighted on a road in Hiraiishi Aza Uehara, Fukushima City.
Fukushima Fushiogami, Fukushima
At around 17:40 on the 27th, a local resident in Kurihara City, Tsukidate-Tomebarato-no-ki, reported seeing a bear about 1.5 m long. Just after 01:00 on the 28th, another bear about 1 m long was seen crossing National Route 4 in Tsukidate-Terukoshi Eihei; no injuries were reported. Police are patrolling the area and urging caution.
Kurihara 築館字留場, Miyagi
At around 8:00 p.m. on the 26th, a single bear approximately 1.5 meters long was sighted in a rice field in Tsukidate Shinden, Kurihara City, Miyagi Prefecture. A local resident reported seeing it running north through the field; there have been no further sightings and the police are patrolling the area.
Kurihara 築館字新田東, Miyagi
At around 17:55 on April 26, 2026, a driver on Prefectural Route 16 spotted a single bear about 60 cm long sitting in a forested area in Ohira Village, Ohira Akasaka, Miyagi Prefecture. The bear later moved further into the woods and no further sightings have been reported; the police have stepped up patrols in the area.
Ohira 大衡, Miyagi
A bear was reported sighted on a road in Nasu-Shiobara City, Tochigi Prefecture. The article did not specify the exact time or location of the sighting, nor whether anyone was injured.
Nasushiobara 共墾社, Tochigi
On April 26, 2026, a bear was sighted on a road in Nasu Town, Tochigi Prefecture. The article reports the sighting; no detailed circumstances or information on injuries were provided.
Nasu 富岡, Tochigi
Stopped at a traffic light, I saw a bear crossing the road in the rearview mirror.
Tomiya ひより台二丁目, Miyagi
At around 19:30 on the 23rd, a bear about 1 meter long appeared in front of a man riding a bicycle on a municipal road in Tate 1-chome, Izumi Ward, Sendai, and then entered the woods. Tohoku High School's Izumi campus and Tate Elementary School sent mass emails to parents to warn them, and the police are urging residents to be cautious.
Sendai 館, Miyagi
At around 19:30 on April 23, a single bear about 1 meter long was sighted in front of the Sendai City Waterworks Yakata pumping station in Yakata, Izumi Ward, Sendai. A man on a bicycle saw the bear up close; it then fled south into the woods and police patrolled the area and warned residents.
Sendai 西中山, Miyagi
At about 08:00 on April 23, 2026, a single bear approximately 1.5 meters long was sighted in In (稲), Sukagawa City. No injuries or property damage were reported.
Sukagawa 稲, Fukushima
A bear was sighted in Nasushiobara City, Tochigi Prefecture. The full article is behind a paywall on the Shimotsuke Shimbun, so detailed information is not accessible.
Nasushiobara 共墾社, Tochigi
On the night of April 22, 2026, three bears (believed to be a parent and cubs) were sighted in the brush of a park retention pond in Akenohira, Tomiya City, Miyagi Prefecture; city staff and police are on alert. No damage or subsequent sightings have been confirmed, and the nearby elementary school has urged students to wear bear bells and increased patrols during commutes.
Tomiya あけの平二丁目, Miyagi
Around 20:00 on April 22, 2026, a single bear about 1 meter long was sighted in Satsukisame, Sukagawa City, Fukushima Prefecture. No injuries or property damage have been reported, and the police have urged caution.
Sukagawa 五月雨, Fukushima
Around 18:15 on April 22, 2026, three bears were sighted in the bushes (near a retention pond) of a park in Akenodaira 1-chome, Tomiya City, Miyagi Prefecture; city staff and police are on alert. The bears are believed to be a parent and cubs; no damage or further sightings have been confirmed, and on April 23 the city checked for footprints and climb marks and strengthened measures at the nearby elementary school (distributed bear bells and increased patrols).
Tomiya あけの平一丁目, Miyagi
At around 13:15 on April 22, 2026, a bear about 1.5 m long was sighted on a municipal road near Inada Gakuen (a compulsory education school) in Iwabuchi, Okaya-chi, Sukagawa City, Fukushima Prefecture. Subsequent sightings occurred in the city: Samidare (around 20:00 on April 22, about 1.0 m), Ina (Akagishimo) (shortly after 08:00 on April 23, about 1.5 m), Hashirata (around 11:20 on April 23), and at a kindergarten site in neighboring Kagamiishi Town on April 21. No injuries or property damage have been confirmed so far.
Sukagawa 岩渕, Fukushima
At around 09:20 on April 22, 2026, a single bear about 1 meter long was sighted in a residential area in Goro-roku, Aoba Ward, Sendai, and moved north. Police patrolled the area and issued warnings, and there have been no further sightings.
Sendai Goroku, Miyagi
A bear that appeared in Kicho-dori 2-chome, Aoba Ward, Sendai City was captured by the city using emergency shooting. The city received a total of 12 opinions regarding that decision, including protests such as "do not cull"; 5 were negative from an animal welfare perspective, 2 supported prompt removal, and 5 were comments on bear-countermeasure policies.
Sendai Futsukamachi, Miyagi
A single bear about 1.5 meters long was sighted inside the grounds of a kindergarten in Okanochi, Kagamiishi Town by a person driving nearby. No injuries or property damage have been reported so far.
Kagamiishi 岡ノ内, Fukushima
On the night of April 21, 2026, a bear about 1.5 meters long was sighted in the parking lot of a kindergarten in Okanochi, Kagamiishi Town, Fukushima Prefecture, and footprints were found nearby. No injuries or damage to crops have been confirmed, and the police and town authorities continue to remain on alert.
Kagamiishi 岡ノ内, Fukushima
Around 20:00 on April 21, a single bear about 150 cm long was sighted on the grounds of the certified children's center Kodomo no Mori Okanochi Kindergarten in Kagamiishi Town. The bear left the area with no injuries or property damage reported; the Sukagawa Police carried out patrols and vehicle-based surveillance around the kindergarten and nearby school routes on the 22nd.
Kagamiishi 岡ノ内, Fukushima
Around 20:00 on April 21, a bear was reported inside the grounds of Okanochi Kindergarten in Okanochi, Kagamiishi Town, Fukushima Prefecture. According to Sukagawa Police, the bear was about 1.5 meters long; officers did not find it on arrival, but the kindergarten's security camera captured a dark object wandering near the parking area. There were two other sightings nearby that morning, and the police and town planned to strengthen patrols on the morning of the 22nd.
Kagamiishi 岡ノ内, Fukushima
Around 14:00 on the 21st, an angler spotted a single bear about 1.5 meters long emerge from brush on the riverbed of the Shakadogawa in Nishikawa, Sukagawa City, Fukushima Prefecture. The bear crossed the road and fled into the forest to the north; no damage has been reported. Police and the city office are urging residents to be cautious.
Sukagawa 西田町, Fukushima
At around 11:40 a.m. on the 21st, a woman at the Mount Shinobu parking lot in Oyama (Hayama), Fukushima City, observed a single bear-like animal about 50 cm long crossing a mountain path. According to the Fukushima Police, the animal left toward the woods to the north.
Fukushima Oyama, Fukushima
Around 11:00 on April 21, 2026, a single bear about 150 cm long was sighted on the grounds of a private residence in Gotomaki, Kagamiishi Town. According to Sukagawa Police, the bear fled from the property toward the mountain to the north.
Kagamiishi 五斗蒔町, Fukushima
A bear sighting was reported in Kagamiishi Town, Fukushima Prefecture. The article reports the sighting but does not provide specific location, time, or whether there were any human injuries or damage.
Kagamiishi 中央, Fukushima
At approximately 05:33 on April 20, a single animal believed to be a bear about 1.5 meters long was sighted moving north from a rice field in Fukuroda (Sukagawa City). No human injuries were reported, and police have urged local residents to be cautious.
Sukagawa 袋田, Fukushima
Around 23:45 on April 19, an animal about 50 cm long resembling a bear was sighted on the Abukuma River riverbank at Tokusada-Kamikawahara, Tamuramachi, Koriyama City. There were no human injuries; the animal's whereabouts are unknown after the sighting, and the Koriyama police increased patrols by patrol cars and reported the information to the city.
Koriyama 笹川二丁目, Fukushima
A single adult male bear (about 1.5 m long, 125 kg) remained in the shrubbery behind an apartment building in Kichōdori 2-chome, Aoba Ward, Sendai. Contractors fired two darts with a tranquilizer gun in the early evening, and the bear was captured (and subsequently euthanized) around 19:30. No injuries were reported.
Sendai Futsukamachi, Miyagi
A single bear, believed to be the same individual sighted since the night of the 18th, remained in vegetation in Sendai's Aoba-ku, Kimachidori 2-chome from early on the 19th and, after staying for more than ten hours, was culled by an emergency shooting around 18:30 on April 19. The appearance in the city center shocked residents and prompted concern and precautions from nearby schools.
Sendai Futsukamachi, Miyagi
An adult male bear about 1.5 m long and 125 kg remained for over 10 hours in vegetation behind an apartment in central Sendai (Aoba-ku, Kichomachi-dori). The city fired two tranquilizer darts after 18:20 to sedate it and then euthanized it with an electric shock; there were no injuries.
Sendai Futsukamachi, Miyagi
On April 19, 2026, an adult male bear about 1.5 m long and weighing approximately 125 kg stayed for over 10 hours at a condominium in Komachidori 2-chome, Aoba Ward, Sendai. The city tried to capture it using a box trap but failed; shortly after 18:20 a contractor fired two darting shots that hit, and the bear was subsequently euthanized with an electric prod; there were no injuries reported.
Sendai Futsukamachi, Miyagi
There was a rustling sound, and when I looked at the bushes it was a bear about one meter tall. (Around the junction)
Sendai Yamada-jiyugaoka, Miyagi
On April 19 in a residential area of Aoba Ward, Sendai, one adult bear about 1.5 m long was sighted and was removed under the city's "emergency shooting" system. The bear stayed on condominium grounds for about 10 hours; a box trap failed, so authorities used a dart gun and an electric spear to dispatch it. No injuries were reported.
Sendai Mukaida, Miyagi
At around 08:30 on April 19, 2026, a kei car driven by a man in his 20s collided with a bear on the outbound lanes of the Tohoku Expressway in Ohira Village, Miyagi Prefecture. The driver was uninjured; the bear was found dead at the scene and measured about 70 cm in length.
Ohira 奥田, Miyagi
A single bear about 1.5 m long remained for an extended period in the shrubs on the grounds of an apartment in Kimachidori 2-chome, Aoba-ku, Sendai. Police set up cordons and maintained surveillance while the city installed a box trap to capture the bear; no injuries have been reported.
Sendai Futsukamachi, Miyagi
A single male bear was sighted near an apartment in Kimachidori 2-chome, Aoba Ward, Sendai. After drone confirmation and attempts with a cage trap, two anesthetic darts were fired shortly after 18:20 and the bear was captured around 19:30. It measured about 1.5 m and weighed about 125 kg; no injuries were reported.
Sendai Futsukamachi, Miyagi
A bear was reported in Nishigo Village, Fukushima Prefecture. The article reports the sighting but does not specify the exact location or whether there were any damages or injuries.
Nishigo 大字熊倉, Fukushima
A bear sighting was reported in Nihonmatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture. The article was published on 2026-04-19, but the available text does not provide specific details such as the exact location or the number of bears.
Nihonmatsu 金色, Fukushima
Around 23:00 on April 18, a single bear about 1.5 meters long was spotted by several passersby on a city road in Tōrimachi 2-chome, Aoba Ward, Sendai, and reported to police. Multiple nearby sightings were reported; the bear was believed to have left toward the Kashiwagi area or west, and police increased patrols and warned residents.
Sendai 通町, Miyagi
Around 13:30 on the 18th, a man driving on a prefectural road in Kyūishihara, Nihonmatsu City, Fukushima, spotted a bear about 1 meter long crossing the road from north to south. The bear reportedly entered the forest afterward; no damage has been confirmed in the area, and police are patrolling by patrol car and urging residents to be cautious.
Nihonmatsu 休石原, Fukushima
At around 10:20 on April 18, 2026, a man driving on a prefectural road in Kumakura, Nishigo Village, Fukushima Prefecture, sighted a bear about 1 meter long crossing the road. No damage has been confirmed in the area; the police are patrolling by patrol car and, in cooperation with the Nishigo village office, are urging residents to be cautious.
Nishigo 大字熊倉, Fukushima
On April 18 at around 10:20 AM in Kumakura Okanezuka, Saigō-mura, a single bear approximately 1 m in length was seen crossing the road.
Nishigo 大字熊倉, Fukushima
At around 20:45 on April 17, 2026, a bear was reported on a road in Kunimi 1-chome, Aoba Ward, Sendai. The bear was about 1.5 m long and bear droppings were found nearby; the same individual was later seen around midnight on April 18 near nearby houses and on the grounds of a Tohoku University dormitory, and at 05:35 a.m. on a city road about 100 m west of Kita-Sendai Station. Police are patrolling and searching for the bear.
Sendai Chiyodamachi, Miyagi
At around 09:20 on April 17, a single bear about 1 meter long was sighted in woodland at Miyadoko-Yotsuji, Yamato Town, Miyagi Prefecture. Police patrolled the area after a report, but the bear had already left and no damage was reported. Miyadoko Junior High School is nearby, and the board of education has urged schools to be cautious.
Taiwa Ono, Miyagi
At around 17:45 on April 16, 2026, a man driving in Izumida, Sukagawa City reported seeing a bear about 1.3 meters long cross the road. The bear reportedly returned to the mountains afterward, and no damage has been confirmed.
Sukagawa 泉田, Fukushima
At around 17:45 on the 16th, a bear approximately 150 cm long was sighted in the forest at Ikeda Sakuta, Izumida, Sukagawa City. Later the same day at around 20:50, an animal thought to be a bear about 50 cm long was observed in the forest at Shiraishizaka, Morijuku, Sukagawa City (Sukagawa Police Station).
Sukagawa 泉田, Fukushima
On the morning of April 16, 2026, one bear about 1 meter long was sighted at Okameyama Forest Park in Tomiya City, Miyagi Prefecture. The same park had a sighting on April 10; the city has put up warning signs, urged people not to go out alone, and the police are patrolling the area.
Tomiya 大亀, Miyagi
At around 9:00 a.m. on the 16th, a single bear about 1 meter long was sighted in a forest near a residential area in Ogame, Tomiya City, Miyagi Prefecture, and the witness reported it. Police are urging nearby residents and passersby to be cautious.
Tomiya 大亀, Miyagi
Fukushima Minpo reported a bear sighting in Koriyama City. The article does not provide specific details on the location, time, or whether there were any damages or injuries.
Koriyama 朝日一丁目, Fukushima
Between Ōyama Elementary School and Yaya. Cub bear
Otama 木ノ下, Fukushima
Just after noon on the 15th in Nihonmatsu City (Niitaki), a woman driving a car spotted a single bear about 1 meter long crossing a municipal road. The woman left the scene and the bear's whereabouts are unknown; no injuries have been reported and police are patrolling the area and warning residents.
Nihonmatsu 二伊滝二丁目, Fukushima
A bear sighting report was issued for Nishigo Village, Fukushima Prefecture on 2026-04-15. The article body provides no specific details on the exact location, time, or number of bears.
Nishigo 大字熊倉, Fukushima
Around 22:40 on April 14, a man riding a motorcycle spotted one bear on a road in Futabagaoka 2-chome, Aoba Ward, Sendai. Police patrolled the area and warned residents; no injuries or damage have been reported.
Sendai Fujimatsu, Miyagi
Around 05:00 on April 14, 2026, a single bear about 1 meter long was seen crossing a road near Minamiyoshinari Junior High School in Minamiyoshinari 5-chome, Aoba Ward, Sendai. The bear headed west into the nearby forest, no injuries have been reported, and police are patrolling the area and issuing cautions.
Sendai 南吉成, Miyagi
On April 14, 2026, a single bear was reported sighted in Nasushiobara City, Tochigi Prefecture, according to local newspapers. The reports mention sightings on roads and in forested areas, but do not give precise locations or indicate any damage or injuries.
Nasushiobara 共墾社, Tochigi
A bear sighting notice for Sukagawa City, Fukushima Prefecture, was published on April 14, 2026. The article reports the presence of a bear but does not specify detailed location, time, or the number of bears in the text available.
Sukagawa 中町, Fukushima
On 2026-04-14, a bear sighting was reported in Motomiya City, Fukushima Prefecture. The articles indicate there were sightings, but they did not provide detailed information on the number of bears or any damage.
Motomiya 本宮, Fukushima
At around 09:30 on April 13, a woman in her 30s spotted one bear approximately 0.8 m long in the fields of Aota-maehara, Motomiya City. No human injuries were reported, and the police have urged local residents to remain cautious.
Motomiya 青田, Fukushima
At around 07:45 on April 13, 2026, a person riding a bicycle spotted one bear-like animal (about 50 cm long) in a field in Moriyado, Sukagawa City, Fukushima Prefecture. No damage has been reported; police are patrolling by patrol car and warning nearby residents to be cautious.
Sukagawa 森宿, Fukushima
A bear sighting was reported in Kōriyama City. The article contains no specifics on the exact location, time, or number of bears, so details are unknown.
Koriyama 朝日一丁目, Fukushima
Around 06:30 on April 10, 2026, a single bear about 1.5 meters long was sighted near the management office of Okameyama Forest Park in Tomiya City, Miyagi Prefecture by a person driving by. The bear left the area afterward; no injuries or damage have been reported. The park is closed until safety checks are completed.
Tomiya 大亀, Miyagi
Around 13:00 on April 9, 2026, a woman driving a car spotted a bear about 1 meter long in Sogodai Higashi, Natori City, Miyagi Prefecture, and reported it to the police. Police patrolled the area but did not find the bear and no damage has been reported; the elementary school plans for staff to monitor the school route the next morning.
Natori, Miyagi
Peak activity at 6:00 with 8 incidents
Ursus thibetanus japonicus
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Over the past 30 days, 106 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 7 hours ago near Nasushiobara 共墾社, Tochigi; the location sits about 99.6 km from the start of the route and 4.1 km off the route line.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 6:00. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk.
This 350 km route from Chikusei to Kurihara crosses Ibaraki, Miyagi, Fukushima, and Tochigi. Over the past 30 days, 106 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 7 hours ago near Nasushiobara 共墾社, Tochigi; the location sits about 99.6 km from the start of the route and 4.1 km off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 2 weeks ago at Ohira 奥田, Miyagi, sitting about 312.2 km from the start and 12 m off the route line. This is an active bear corridor. Drive through with full caution, but rerouting is the safer choice.
