This 494 km route from Edo-Tokyo Museum to Hanamaki crosses Tokyo, Iwate, Chiba, Fukushima, Ibaraki, Miyagi, and Saitama. Over the past 30 days, 40 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of the route, including 7 in the past week. This route runs through Asian black bear habitat (native to Honshu and Shikoku). The most recent sighting was reported 1 day ago near Kitakami Aisaricho, Iwate; the location sits about 470.3 km from the start of the route and 1.6 km off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 1 month ago at Ohira 奥田, Miyagi, sitting about 370.6 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.
23 places within 1 km of your route, passing through Tokyo, Iwate, Chiba, Fukushima, Ibaraki, Miyagi, Saitama.
Around 20:25 on May 15, an adult bear was sighted on a city road north of Kitakami General Sports Park in Takamaedanchi, Awasaracho, Kitakami City; the bear crossed the road from north to south and ran toward the park. No damage from the bear was reported, and police have urged nearby residents to be cautious.
Kitakami Aisaricho, Iwate
Around 17:30 on May 15, 2026, one bear was sighted on the grounds of Hanamaki Airport in Hanamaki City, Iwate Prefecture, and the runway was temporarily closed. At least four flights were affected, but no injuries or property damage were reported, and the bear later left the airport grounds.
Hanamaki Kuzu, Iwate
According to police, around 15:00 on May 15, 2026, one adult bear was sighted in the grassland north of the Hanamaki City Exchange Hall in Katsura Daisan Chiwari, Hanamaki City. Police notified the city office and nearby schools.
Hanamaki Higashimiyanome, Iwate
Around 22:50 on May 13, a woman driving on a municipal road in Kamikitakodaira Takamatsu, Haramachi Ward, Minamisoma City, reported seeing one bear about 1 meter long to the Minamisoma police station. Sightings in the city have been occurring repeatedly since May 5.
Minamisoma 原町区北新田, Fukushima
Observed one adult bear heading north along the road.
Ōshū 水沢, Iwate
According to police, on the evening of May 10, 2026, multiple bear sightings were reported on the Namie–Kashima prefectural road in Kamikitakahira, Haramachi Ward, Minamisoma City. Around 17:40 a male driver saw a roughly 1-meter-long bear in the woods, and about 20 minutes later a female driver reported another sighting; police have stepped up patrols.
Minamisoma 原町区上北高平, Fukushima
Around 18:30 on May 9, three bears were sighted in Kamisuwa, Hanamaki City, Iwate Prefecture, with no human or property damage reported. On May 10 at 15:09, a small bear was sighted on the grounds of Hanamaki Agricultural High School at 68-__ Katsura Dai-1 Chiwari, Hanamaki City.
Hanamaki Ishidoriyacho-Eso, Iwate
At about 08:30 on May 10, 2026, a single bear approximately 1 meter in length was sighted on a walking trail in Shiki no Mori within the Prefectural Forest in Tomiya City (Akashikami-Origemoto). When the walker increased the volume of a radio they were carrying, the bear left the area; there have been no further sightings and the management office is warning visitors over the park's PA system.
Tomiya, Miyagi
At around 18:30 on the 9th, three bears were sighted walking in Kamisuwa, Hanamaki City, Iwate Prefecture. No human or property damage was reported.
Hanamaki Kamisuwa, Iwate
One juvenile bear sighted.
Ōshū 胆沢小山, Iwate
Three bears were sighted in Kamisuwa, Hanamaki City, Iwate Prefecture; no human or property damage has been confirmed.
Hanamaki Kamisuwa, Iwate
On May 9, 2026, multiple sightings of bears or bear-like animals were reported in Minamisoma City, Fukushima Prefecture. According to police stations, the observed animals were reported to be about 1–1.5 meters in length.
Minamisoma 原町区小川町, Fukushima
Around 18:30 on May 7, in a residential area of Hanamaki City, Iwate Prefecture, residents spotted a bear about one meter long walking in a private garden and on the road; security camera footage appears to show the same individual. On the day of reporting, the hunters' association responded to a bear caught in a trap at a nearby ranch.
Hanamaki Kajomachi, Iwate
Observed one juvenile crossing the road from south to north.
Ōshū 水沢佐倉河, Iwate
A bear sighting was reported in Soma City, Fukushima Prefecture (see the article body for location details).
Soma Nakamura, Fukushima
On 2026-05-06 in Minamisoma City, Fukushima Prefecture, an animal believed to be a bear was seen crossing a road (Fukushima Television). The article does not report any injuries or capture.
Minamisoma 原町区小川町, Fukushima
A single young bear was sighted on the elementary school grounds.
Ōshū 江刺稲瀬, Iwate
One juvenile bear was sighted near the business premises.
Ōshū 水沢佐倉河, Iwate
At around 03:40 on the 5th, a resident spotted a single bear heading east on a road in Kuwabara 1-chome, Iwanuma City, Miyagi Prefecture. According to the prefectural police, the bear was about 1 meter long; officers patrolled the area but the animal had already left.
Iwanuma Honchō, Miyagi
On May 5, 2026, reports of sightings and footprints of bears or bear-like animals were reported repeatedly across Fukushima Prefecture, including on the Hama Kaido in Minamisoma City. According to police stations, some reports included descriptions of body length, but details are unclear.
Soma Nakamura, Fukushima
Witnessed one adult bear moving through rice paddies and houses, heading into the brush along the Isawa River.
Ōshū 水沢卸町, Iwate
Observed one adult bear passing through rice paddies and residential areas, moving into the brush along the Isawa River.
Ōshū 水沢佐倉河, Iwate
Observed one young bear jumping over the fence along the Tohoku Expressway service road and moving south.
Ōshū 水沢佐倉河, Iwate
Witnessed one young bear crossing the national highway from east to west near Mizusawa Interchange.
Ōshū 水沢佐倉河, Iwate
Observed one adult bear staying on the road slope for about 5 minutes.
Ōshū 水沢, Iwate
One juvenile bear sighted on the road.
Ōshū 水沢佐倉河, Iwate
One bear sighted.
Ōshū Mizusawa-Miyashitacho, Iwate
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
One adult bear sighted.
Ōshū, Iwate
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 05:40 on April 27, 2026, an adult bear was sighted near Hiijono Sports Park in Matsuzono-cho, Hanamaki City. Matsuzono Nursery is nearby; the city and police monitored the area, and no damage has been reported.
Hanamaki Matsuzonocho, Iwate
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
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
It crossed the Sangyo Road in Futago Ueno heading west and went into the woods.
Kitakami Shimooniyanagi, Iwate
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 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 05:50 on April 20, a driver observed an animal believed to be a bear about 1 meter long crossing a municipal road in Taki Kamisunaji, Tono-cho, Iwaki City, moving from the forest on the west side to the forest on the east side. No human injuries were reported, and police have urged local residents to remain vigilant.
Iwaki, Fukushima
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
Peak activity at 8:00 with 5 incidents
Ursus thibetanus japonicus
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Over the past 30 days, 40 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of this route, including 7 in the past week. This route runs through Asian black bear habitat (native to Honshu and Shikoku).
The most recent sighting was reported 1 day ago near Kitakami Aisaricho, Iwate; the location sits about 470.3 km from the start of the route and 1.6 km off the route line.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 8:00. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk.
This 494 km route from Edo-Tokyo Museum to Hanamaki crosses Tokyo, Iwate, Chiba, Fukushima, Ibaraki, Miyagi, and Saitama. Over the past 30 days, 40 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of the route, including 7 in the past week. This route runs through Asian black bear habitat (native to Honshu and Shikoku). The most recent sighting was reported 1 day ago near Kitakami Aisaricho, Iwate; the location sits about 470.3 km from the start of the route and 1.6 km off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 1 month ago at Ohira 奥田, Miyagi, sitting about 370.6 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.
