This 515 km route from Mount Fuji to Inawashiro crosses Shizuoka, Yamanashi, Fukushima, Gunma, Kanagawa, Saitama, Tochigi, and Tokyo. Over the past 30 days, 42 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of the route, including 4 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 Sano 高砂町, Tochigi; the location sits about 233.2 km from the start of the route and 3.4 km off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 2 weeks ago at Aizuwakamatsu Outemachi, Fukushima, sitting about 497.2 km from the start and 69 m off the route line.
This is an active bear corridor. Drive through with full caution, but rerouting is the safer choice.
12 places within 1 km of your route, passing through Shizuoka, Yamanashi, Fukushima, Gunma, Kanagawa, Saitama, Tochigi, Tokyo.
A bear was reported sighted in a mountain forest in Sano City, Tochigi Prefecture. The full article is behind a paywall, so further details are not available.
Sano 高砂町, Tochigi
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
A bear was reported sighted in Uenohara City, Yamanashi Prefecture. There have been no reports of injuries or capture.
Uenohara, Yamanashi
On 2026-04-26, a bear was sighted near a compulsory education school in Sano City, Tochigi Prefecture. The article reports the sighting but does not provide details such as the time of the sighting or whether there were any injuries.
Sano 葛生西三丁目, Tochigi
I saw it on the way back from Ome Railway Park to Ome Station. I heard a noise from the top of a cliff?/edge? by the road, and when I looked there was one behind a tree. In terms of distance it felt like about 10–20 meters, so I didn’t have time to take a photo.
Ōme Katsunuma, Tokyo
In Fukushima Prefecture, bear sightings were reported repeatedly from the night of April 24 to April 25, 2026, with individuals measuring about 0.5–1.5 meters observed. A bear was sighted near the Saitoyama trailhead (Saitoyama Tozanguchi) in Nagano, Onozandan, Minamiaizu Town at around 11:35 a.m. on April 25.
Minamiaizu Nagano, Fukushima
At the Saito-yama trailhead in Nagano Ozo-dan, Minamiaizu Town, Fukushima Prefecture, a male hiker spotted one animal believed to be a bear about 50 cm in body length. The man left the area immediately; no injuries or property damage have been reported, and the police have stepped up patrols and warned hikers and local residents.
Minamiaizu Nagano, Fukushima
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
Akiruno Sannai, Tokyo
A single bear was sighted on a road in Sano City, Tochigi Prefecture. Further details are reported in a paywalled article on Shimotsuke Shimbun Digital.
Sano 高砂町, Tochigi
A cub was crying from across the stream. It couldn’t be seen. Although there was no noticeable animal odor, the cries were clearly audible at a close distance.
Hachioji, Tokyo
At around 07:15 on April 16, 2026, a driver on a town road in Tabu, Minamiaizu Town, Fukushima Prefecture, sighted a juvenile bear about 0.5 m in length crossing the road from east to west. The bear left the area afterward; no injuries or damage to buildings have been reported. Police are patrolling and coordinating with the town office to warn residents.
Minamiaizu Tabe, Fukushima
At around 20:02 on April 14, 2026, a bear about 1 m long was sighted near Tanoinu Park in Tanoinu-cho, Sano City. An earlier report on April 7 at about 17:50 recorded a sighting of one cub-sized bear near Kuzuu Higashi in Sano City.
Sano 田之入町, Tochigi
Around 13:00 on April 14, 2026, a single bear about 1 meter long was sighted near the Omukai bus stop on the Otsuki-Uenohara prefectural road in Uenohara, Yamanashi Prefecture by a person driving on the road. The bear reportedly returned to the mountains afterward; the city is conducting patrols with the hunters' association and police and has issued warnings via disaster radio.
Uenohara Tsurugawa, Yamanashi
Sano 田之入町, Tochigi
Witnessed a bear running into the riverside brush. Body length approximately 60–80 cm.
Nikkō 上三依, Tochigi
At around 13:50 on May 4, a single bear about 1 meter long was spotted along Route 49 near Ogasawara Goten-yama (Ogasawa), Inawashiro Town. No human or property damage has been confirmed so far, and the police have warned the public to be cautious.
Inawashiro 大字翁沢, Fukushima
At around 09:20 on May 4, a single bear was sighted up in a tree in Kuroiwa, Monden-machi, Aizuwakamatsu City. The police have warned residents to be cautious, and no injuries or property damage have been reported so far.
Aizuwakamatsu Higashiyamamachi-Yumoto, Fukushima
Around 17:30 on April 30, a man in Hanamigaoka, Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture, sighted one bear about 50 cm long in the brush of a mountain forest. No damage has been confirmed in the area; the police are patrolling with patrol cars and coordinating with the Aizuwakamatsu City Hall to respond.
Aizuwakamatsu Takaramachi, Fukushima
On the morning of April 30, 2026, a bear about 1.0 m long was seen crossing a prefectural road north to south in Aizu Misato Town at around 07:20, and at about 07:30 another bear about 1.5 m long was seen crossing a nearby prefectural road north to south. Police say it is unknown whether the two sightings were of the same animal, and no human or property damage has been confirmed.
Aizumisato 福重岡, Fukushima
On 2026-04-29 at around 08:45, a single bear about 1 meter long was seen walking on the riverbed in Yukawaminami, Aizuwakamatsu. No damage to people or property was reported.
Aizuwakamatsu Yugawaminami, Fukushima
At a private residence in Tenneiji-machi, Aizuwakamatsu City, a woman in her 50s spotted a bear about 50 cm long in the bushes on her property. The bear's subsequent whereabouts are unknown; no injuries were reported, and police are urging nearby residents to be cautious.
Aizuwakamatsu Tenneijimachi, Fukushima
Around 18:40 on April 26, in Tenneiji-cho, Aizuwakamatsu City, a woman spotted a bear about 50 cm long walking in the brush on her property. No damage has been reported; police are patrolling the area in patrol cars and coordinating with Aizuwakamatsu City Hall to respond.
Aizuwakamatsu Tenneijimachi, Fukushima
In Fukushima Prefecture, bear sightings were reported repeatedly from the night of April 24 to April 25, 2026, with individuals measuring about 0.5–1.5 meters observed. A bear was sighted near the Saitoyama trailhead (Saitoyama Tozanguchi) in Nagano, Onozandan, Minamiaizu Town at around 11:35 a.m. on April 25.
Minamiaizu Nagano, Fukushima
At the Saito-yama trailhead in Nagano Ozo-dan, Minamiaizu Town, Fukushima Prefecture, a male hiker spotted one animal believed to be a bear about 50 cm in body length. The man left the area immediately; no injuries or property damage have been reported, and the police have stepped up patrols and warned hikers and local residents.
Minamiaizu Nagano, Fukushima
In Aizuwakamatsu (Kawahigashi-cho, Asayama Asono), on April 24 at around 11:10 AM, a single bear about 1 m in length was seen crossing National Route 49.
Aizuwakamatsu Kawahigashimachi-Asayama, Fukushima
At around 11:10 on April 24, 2026, a male driver on National Route 49 in Asayama, Kawato-machi, Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture, spotted one bear (approximately 1 meter long) crossing the road from west to east. The bear entered the forest to the east afterward; no injuries or damage have been reported, and the police are patrolling with patrol cars and coordinating with the Aizuwakamatsu City Office.
Aizuwakamatsu Kawahigashimachi-Asayama, Fukushima
On 2026-04-24, a bear sighting was reported in Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture. The article does not specify the exact location of the sighting or whether any damage or injuries occurred.
Aizuwakamatsu Outemachi, Fukushima
In Aizuwakamatsu City, Kita-Aoki, at around 09:10 on April 23, one bear about 1 meter long was sighted in the undergrowth. No damage to people or property has been reported, and police are urging caution.
Aizuwakamatsu Tenjinmachi, Fukushima
Around noon on 2026-04-22, a man in his 40s preparing to use a campsite in Kadota-cho, Aizuwakamatsu City, spotted a single bear about 1 m long in the brush south of the site. The bear left toward the forest to the south; the man was unharmed and no other damage has been confirmed. Police are patrolling by patrol car and urging caution.
Aizuwakamatsu Mondenmachi-Oyama, Fukushima
In Aizuwakamatsu City, Kaddta-machi Oaza Kuroiwa Aza Hanamigaoka, on April 22, 2026 at about 11:55 a.m., one bear (approximately 1 m in length) was seen walking.
Aizuwakamatsu Yugawaminami, Fukushima
At around 11:55 a.m. on April 22, a man spotted one bear (about 1 meter long) in the campground area of a park in Kuroiwa, Kadota-machi, Aizuwakamatsu City. The bear then entered the forest to the south.
Aizuwakamatsu Tenjinmachi, Fukushima
In Aizuwakamatsu (Kadonota-machi, Kuroiwa Hanamigaoka), on April 22, 2026 shortly before noon a single bear about 1 meter long was sighted. No injuries or property damage have been reported so far.
Aizuwakamatsu Yugawaminami, Fukushima
On 2026-04-22 a sighting of one bear was reported in Aizuwakamatsu City. The article does not provide a specific location or time.
Aizuwakamatsu Higashisakaemachi, Fukushima
At around 07:15 on April 16, 2026, a driver on a town road in Tabu, Minamiaizu Town, Fukushima Prefecture, sighted a juvenile bear about 0.5 m in length crossing the road from east to west. The bear left the area afterward; no injuries or damage to buildings have been reported. Police are patrolling and coordinating with the town office to warn residents.
Minamiaizu Tabe, Fukushima
Around 12:40 PM on the 15th, a teenage woman spotted one bear about 1 meter long on a road in Ashimaki, Oto-machi, Aizu-Wakamatsu. The bear entered the mountains afterward; no injuries were reported, and police and the city office are patrolling and urging caution.
Aizuwakamatsu Otomachi-Kamimiyorikashu, Fukushima
At around 12:40 PM on April 15, 2026, a single bear about 1 meter long was sighted on a road in Otocho, Aizuwakamatsu City; it later entered the mountain. No injuries were reported, and police patrolled the area by patrol car and warned residents to be cautious.
Aizuwakamatsu Otomachi-Ashinomaki, Fukushima
At around 15:40 on April 14, in Funaba, Aizumisato Town, Fukushima Prefecture, a man driving a vehicle spotted a bear about 50 cm long climbing a tree. The bear later left the area; no human or property damage has been confirmed, and the police and Aizumisato town office are cooperating to patrol the area and warn residents.
Aizumisato 字三日町上, Fukushima
At around 11:30 on April 13 a single bear about 1 meter long was sighted on the grounds of a temple in Kita-Aoki, Aizuwakamatsu City. The bear moved into the mountain east of the temple thereafter; no human injuries were reported and police are patrolling the area.
Aizuwakamatsu Tenjinmachi, Fukushima
Shortly before 22:00 on April 11, a driver spotted a single bear approximately 1.5 meters long standing on a road in Aizuwakamatsu City, Ikki-machi Matsunaga. No injuries were reported, and police are conducting patrols with patrol cars.
Aizuwakamatsu Ikkimachi-Matsunaga 4-chome, Fukushima
Before 10:00 PM on the 11th, a man driving a car in Aizuwakamatsu City, Ikkimachi Matsunaga, sighted a single bear standing on the road (about 1.5 meters long). No injuries were reported, and police are conducting patrols with patrol cars.
Aizuwakamatsu Ikkimachi-Matsunaga 4-chome, Fukushima
At around 21:40 on the 11th, a male driver spotted a single bear (about 1.5 meters long) standing on the road in Ikkimachi, Aizuwakamatsu. The bear's subsequent movements are unknown, no damage has been reported, and police are patrolling the area by patrol car and advising residents to be cautious.
Aizuwakamatsu Iimori 1-chome, Fukushima
Around 15:00 on April 11, 2026, a single bear about 80 cm long was sighted crossing a prefectural road (Major Local Road Inawashiro-Shiogawa Line) north to south in Sarashina, Bandai Town, Fukushima. The bear went into rice fields on the south side of the road and its whereabouts are unknown; no injuries or property damage have been reported. Police have shared information with the town, are patrolling the area by patrol car, and have urged residents to be cautious.
Bandai 大字更科, Fukushima
On April 11 at around 15:00, a single bear (approximately 0.8 m in length) was sighted crossing the main local road Inawashiro-Shiokawa Line in Sarashina-mae, Bandai Town.
Bandai 大字更科, Fukushima
Peak activity at 11:00 with 7 incidents
Ursus thibetanus japonicus
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Over the past 30 days, 42 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of this route, including 4 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 Sano 高砂町, Tochigi; the location sits about 233.2 km from the start of the route and 3.4 km off the route line.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 11:00. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk.
This 515 km route from Mount Fuji to Inawashiro crosses Shizuoka, Yamanashi, Fukushima, Gunma, Kanagawa, Saitama, Tochigi, and Tokyo. Over the past 30 days, 42 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of the route, including 4 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 Sano 高砂町, Tochigi; the location sits about 233.2 km from the start of the route and 3.4 km off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 2 weeks ago at Aizuwakamatsu Outemachi, Fukushima, sitting about 497.2 km from the start and 69 m off the route line. This is an active bear corridor. Drive through with full caution, but rerouting is the safer choice.
