This 415 km route from Futtsu to Takaoka Castle crosses Chiba, Toyama, Gifu, Kanagawa, Nagano, and Yamanashi. Over the past 30 days, 19 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of the route, including 8 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 Kōfu Wakamatsucho, Yamanashi; the location sits about 176.5 km from the start of the route and 804 m off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 3 weeks ago at Toyama, Toyama, sitting about 384.1 km from the start and 640 m off the route line.
At this density of recent sightings, consider rescheduling or choosing a different trail until activity quiets.
15 places within 1 km of your route, passing through Chiba, Toyama, Gifu, Kanagawa, Nagano, Yamanashi.
In the early morning of the 8th, a suspected bear about 1 m long was spotted on a national road in Kofu City, the city reported. The city is urging people to be cautious.
Kōfu Wakamatsucho, Yamanashi
There was a bear on the slope beside the first parking lot at Hirayu Great Falls. I contacted the police as a precaution.
Takayama 奥飛騨温泉郷平湯, Gifu
The trail from Mount Kyogatake to Hansobo bus stop ends and becomes a forest road along the river. On the far bank of the river, a small, very black object—likely a cub—noticed the sound of my bell and ran up the bank, fleeing.
Aikawa Tashiro, Kanagawa
It was a fairly thin bear. I spotted it about 15 meters to my side moving away toward the rear.
Matsumoto, Nagano
Around 10:20 on May 4, a bear about 1.0–1.1 m long was sighted near the restaurant grounds in Nakashinden, Haramura (Suwa District), Nagano Prefecture; police and hunters responded. In the afternoon it was immobilized with a dart gun, captured and subsequently euthanized by the village authorities; no injuries or property damage were reported.
Hara, Nagano
At around 10:20 on May 4, 2026, a single adult bear (about 1.1 m long, approximately 45 kg) was sighted on the grounds of a restaurant/residence and nearby house in Shinmida, Hara Village, Suwa District, Nagano Prefecture. Police, hunting association members and village staff responded and the bear was sedated with a tranquilizer gun and captured at about 13:40; it was subsequently euthanized. No injuries or damage to buildings were reported.
Hara, Nagano
Near the Chuo Expressway Suwa-Minami interchange in Hara village, a bear was seen on a home's premises after 10:00 AM and was captured with a tranquilizer gun about four hours later on another home's grounds. The animal, about 1.1 meters long and believed to be a young individual, had repeatedly raided nearby beehives and was culled by the village after capture. No injuries were reported.
Fujimi, Nagano
It appeared/was seen beside the national highway.
Takayama, Gifu
Size: Adult
Shiojiri, Nagano
On April 30 at around 14:30, the owner of a restaurant near the Misayama signal intersection in Hara Village reported seeing a roughly 1-meter bear in the garage. Village staff, police and hunting association members arrived but the bear had already left; footprints and droppings were found nearby, and no damage has been confirmed.
Hara, Nagano
Around 14:30 on April 30, 2026, a single bear about 1 meter long entered the garage of Restaurant Petika in Hara village, Nagano Prefecture, destroyed a beehive box kept years earlier and left droppings. The bear got briefly caught in a garden net, freed itself and fled into the woods; the village set two box traps.
Hara, Nagano
Size: adult (fully grown)
Matsumoto, Nagano
A bear was reported sighted in Uenohara City, Yamanashi Prefecture. There have been no reports of injuries or capture.
Uenohara, Yamanashi
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
A report was received of what appeared to be a cub, and officers patrolling the area confirmed the presence of the cub itself on site.
Toyama Shitabayashi, Toyama
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
A bear cub-like animal was sighted, and the bear itself was confirmed from video taken by the witness.
Toyama Shitabayashi, Toyama
On the afternoon of April 13, 2026, a bear believed to be a cub was sighted in Nishi-Osawa, Toyama City; police confirmed the sighting from a video taken by a witness. Police have increased patrols and warned people to avoid approaching the bear, evacuate to a safe place, and contact the police station or city office.
Toyama, Toyama
Size: juvenile
Shiojiri Kaminishijo, Nagano
Peak activity at 15:00 with 5 incidents
Ursus thibetanus japonicus
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For mountain rescue, call 110 (police). They will coordinate with local rescue teams.
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Over the past 30 days, 19 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of this route, including 8 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 Kōfu Wakamatsucho, Yamanashi; the location sits about 176.5 km from the start of the route and 804 m off the route line.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 15:00. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk.
This 415 km route from Futtsu to Takaoka Castle crosses Chiba, Toyama, Gifu, Kanagawa, Nagano, and Yamanashi. Over the past 30 days, 19 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of the route, including 8 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 Kōfu Wakamatsucho, Yamanashi; the location sits about 176.5 km from the start of the route and 804 m off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 3 weeks ago at Toyama, Toyama, sitting about 384.1 km from the start and 640 m off the route line. At this density of recent sightings, consider rescheduling or choosing a different trail until activity quiets.
