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This 486 km route runs from Higashishirakawa to Murakami, passing through Gifu, Niigata, and Nagano. In the past 30 days, 157 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 23 of them. The latest sighting was reported 1 day ago near Joetsu, Niigata.
This is an active bear corridor. Drive through with full caution, but rerouting is the safer choice.
5 places within 1 km of your route, passing through Gifu, Niigata, Nagano.
One bear about 100 centimeters in body length was sighted in the home center parking lot in the area of Ooaza Nishitanaka.
Joetsu, Niigata
A bear was sighted in a home center parking lot in Nishitakanaka, Joetsu City.
Joetsu, Niigata
Size: juvenile
Takamori Yamabuki, Nagano
Size: Adult
Shinano Nojiri, Nagano
Size: adult (fully grown)
Nagano Toyonomachi-Toyono, Nagano
Size: juvenile
Azumino, Nagano
Size: adult (fully grown)
Tatsuno 南平, Nagano
Size: Adult
Matsumoto Nanaarashi, Nagano
While traveling on Prefectural Route Kamimasuda–Yoshikawa, I sighted one bear. It ran off to the south.
Joetsu, Niigata
Size: Unknown
Azumino 明科光, Nagano
Size: Adult
Iida 大休, Nagano
Size: Adult (fully grown)
Nagano Shinonoi-Okada, Nagano
Size: juvenile
Nagiso, Nagano
One bear was sighted about 100 meters northwest of the campsite in the Oaza Gochi Kokubu area.
Joetsu, Niigata
Size: adult (fully grown)
Ina Nishiharuchika, Nagano
Size: adult
Nagano Shinonoi-Utabi, Nagano
Around 7 PM on 2026-06-27, a bear was sighted in Hara, Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture.
Matsumoto Hara, Nagano
One bear was sighted in Gochikokubu, Joetsu City.
Joetsu, Niigata
Size: Adult
Iiyama Hachisu, Nagano
Around 2026-06-26 00:00, a bear was sighted in Kitanono, Shiojiri City, Nagano Prefecture.
Shiojiri Kitaono, Nagano
Around 14:00 on 2026-06-26, a bear was sighted in Hasu, Iiyama City, Nagano Prefecture.
Iiyama Hachisu, Nagano
Size: adult animal
Iiyama Hachisu, Nagano
While driving on Prefectural Route Suginosawa-Futamata, a single bear was observed moving across the road from the west side to the east side.
Myoko, Niigata
Around 10:00 on 2026-06-25, a bear was sighted in Toyono-machi Toyono, Nagano City.
Nagano Toyonomachi-Toyono, Nagano
Size: juvenile
Azumino, Nagano
Size: Adult (fully grown)
Nagano Yoshi, Nagano
Size: Unknown
Matsumoto Gojo, Nagano
Around 17:35 on 2026-06-23, a bear was sighted in Akashio, Iizuna Town, Nagano Prefecture.
Iizuna Akashio, Nagano
Size: Adult
Iizuna Akashio, Nagano
Size: juvenile
Takamori Izuhara, Nagano
Size: Adult
Iida 大休, Nagano
Size: Unknown
Matsumoto Nakayama, Nagano
Discovered bear tracks while doing farm work.
Nagaoka, Niigata
While driving on Prefectural Route Suginosawa-Futamata Line, (a witness) observed one bear crossing the road from east to west.
Myoko, Niigata
Around 6:30 a.m. on June 22, one beekeeping box was found broken in the yard of a private home in Kitakata, Iida City, and the honeybee nest inside was missing. The city believes a bear likely caused the damage.
Iida Kitagata, Nagano
Discovered bear tracks while on the way to cultivate the field
Nagaoka, Niigata
A bear was sighted in Soga, Shiojiri City.
Shiojiri Daimon, Nagano
Size: juvenile
Komagane, Nagano
Size: Unknown
Iida, Nagano
Size: Adult
Komagane, Nagano
Size: cub
Komagane, Nagano
A bear was sighted in Oaza Kehashizaka, Myoko.
Myoko, Niigata
While driving on Prefectural Route Suginosawa-Futamata, I witnessed one bear entering the forest on the east side of the road.
Myoko, Niigata
Around 5:00 on 2026-06-20, a bear was sighted in Sakamachi, Murakami City, Niigata Prefecture.
Murakami, Niigata
A bear was sighted on a road in Keishizaka, Myoko City.
Myoko, Niigata
Around 8:00 on June 19, two bears were reported sighted on a road in Kamigōkuroda, Iida City.
Iida Kamisatokuroda, Nagano
Size: unknown
Iida 宮ノ上, Nagano
Around 8:00 on 2026-06-19, a bear-like animal was sighted in Miyanoue, Iida City, Nagano Prefecture.
Iida 宮ノ上, Nagano
In Soga, Shiojiri City, one adult Asian black bear caught in a trap for deer and other animals was captured and culled because houses were nearby.
Shiojiri Daimon, Nagano
One bear was sighted in Nakago-ku Fujisawa, Joetsu City, Niigata.
Joetsu, Niigata
Spotted one bear while driving to the fields. It moved northwest.
Joetsu, Niigata
A bear about 1 meter long was sighted in the Shukuda area of Murakami City.
Murakami, Niigata
Around 1:15 PM on June 17, a bear was sighted moving in Miyamae, Sekikawa Village.
Sekikawa, Niigata
While traveling on National Route 292, witnessed a bear about 1 m in length crossing from east to west.
Myoko, Niigata
A bear believed to be an adult was sighted at Shiroyama Park in Matsumoto City.
Matsumoto Shinbashi, Nagano
Size: unknown
Matsumoto Shinbashi, Nagano
While driving on prefectural Route Ogata–Takayanagi, I sighted one animal believed to be a bear. It was moving west.
Joetsu, Niigata
It was in the mountains. It ran off toward the mountains.
Joetsu, Niigata
One bear was sighted in Kahara, Shinanomachi, Nagano.
Shinano, Nagano
Size: cub (young bear)
Tatsuno 南平, Nagano
Size: cub (juvenile)
Azumino, Nagano
A bear was sighted in Kamishima, Tatsuno Town, Nagano, around 18:00 on 2026-06-15.
Tatsuno 大字上島, Nagano
Size: adult
Tatsuno 大字上島, Nagano
A bear was sighted in Nakamura, Iida City, Nagano on June 15 around 7:30 PM.
Iida 中村, Nagano
Size: cub (young)
Iida, Nagano
A bear was sighted on a prefectural road in Karuigawa, Kashiwazaki City.
Kashiwazaki, Niigata
One bear was sighted in a residential area of Miyabuchi, Matsumoto City; police searched but did not find it.
Matsumoto Miyabuchi-honmura, Nagano
Around 6:00 on June 14, a bear was sighted in Nanase, Nakano City.
Nakano Nanase, Nagano
Size: Unknown
Matsumoto Shinbashi, Nagano
Size: Adult
Nagano Matsushiromachi-Iwano, Nagano
Two bear sighting reports were received from residents in Miyabuchi 3, Matsumoto City.
Matsumoto Miyabuchi-honmura, Nagano
Size: unknown
Matsumoto Miyabuchi-honmura, Nagano
Size: Adult
Nakano Nanase, Nagano
Spotted one bear on the road about 100 meters east of Kenshin-ko Budokan.
Joetsu, Niigata
While driving on the municipal Ōshika-Okeumi Road, a single bear was sighted heading into the forest.
Myoko, Niigata
While passing through the area, sighted one bear.
Tainai, Niigata
One bear was sighted heading into the mountains to the east from the area near the Joshin-etsu Expressway.
Myoko, Niigata
Around 12:20 on 2026-06-13, a bear was sighted in Shimauchi, Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture.
Matsumoto Shinbashi, Nagano
Size: Unknown
Matsumoto Anazawa, Nagano
Size: adult
Tatsuno 大字上島, Nagano
Size: adult
Matsumoto Shimauchi, Nagano
It appeared on the camera of a trap intended for wild boar.
Joetsu, Niigata
Spotted one bear while passing through the area.
Tainai, Niigata
A bear of unknown length was sighted on a city road in Niijima, Myoko City.
Myoko, Niigata
One bear seen heading toward the river to the east.
Myoko, Niigata
One bear was found trapped in a snare along a forest road in Kawagishi, Okaya City, and was culled.
Okaya Kawagishi, Nagano
Size: Adult
Iida, Nagano
Size: Adult
Okaya Kawagishi, Nagano
Size: juvenile
Iida 大休, Nagano
Observed one bear moving on National Route 292 from east to west.
Myoko, Niigata
A bear about 0.5 meters long was sighted on a road in Nirejima, Myoko City.
Myoko, Niigata
Around 17:10 on June 11, a bear was sighted in Kami-shima, Tatsuno Town.
Tatsuno 大字上島, Nagano
A bear was sighted in Okada-Shimookada, Matsumoto City.
Matsumoto Okada-Shimookada, Nagano
A 110 emergency call reported seeing a bear in Jōyama, Matsumoto City.
Matsumoto Joyama, Nagano
Nakatsugawa 福岡, Gifu
While driving on National Route 18, I sighted one bear. It crossed from west to east.
Myoko 大字上八幡新田, Niigata
A bear cub was sighted in an irrigation channel in Takidera, Joetsu City.
Joetsu, Niigata
A bear was sighted on Route 18 in Nashiki, Myoko City, and it crossed the road and left eastward.
Myoko 大字上八幡新田, Niigata
Spotted one cub in an irrigation canal 250 m west of the University-mae South intersection.
Joetsu, Niigata
Size: Adult
Iida, Nagano
Size: adult and cub
Iida, Nagano
Size: young cub
Tatsuno 大字上島, Nagano
A bear was sighted in Kanai, Shiojiri City on 2026-06-11.
Shiojiri Kanai, Nagano
Size: Adult
Matsumoto Joyama, Nagano
Size: Juvenile
Shiojiri Midoriko, Nagano
Size: juvenile
Minowa 大字中箕輪, Nagano
Observed one bear.
Tainai, Niigata
One bear sighted near the police box
Myoko, Niigata
On 2026-06-10 in the morning, a bear was seen moving in Kebyōzaka, Myoko City.
Myoko, Niigata
Size: Unknown
Chikuma Mori, Nagano
Size: Unknown
Shiojiri Kaminishijo, Nagano
Size: adult with cub(s)
Iida, Nagano
Nakatsugawa 上野, Gifu
Nakatsugawa 上野, Gifu
Discovered tracks believed to be those of a bear while working in the fields.
Tainai, Niigata
School staff discovered footprints in a field believed to be from a bear.
Tainai, Niigata
Discovered tracks believed to be bear footprints while working in the fields.
Tainai, Niigata
Size: juvenile
Azumino 三郷明盛, Nagano
Size: Adult
Azumino, Nagano
One bear was sighted moving westward on National Route 292.
Myoko, Niigata
A bear about 1 meter long was sighted in a residential area in Himekawahara, Myoko City, Niigata.
Myoko, Niigata
At the bend in the mountain trail where vehicles meet head-on
Nakatsugawa, Gifu
Discovered footprints believed to be from a bear while doing farm work.
Tainai, Niigata
Bear traces (claw marks and broken branches) were confirmed on a persimmon tree within the grounds of a private residence in the Takayasu-ji area.
Sanjo, Niigata
A bear was sighted in Shimmura, Matsumoto City.
Matsumoto Niimura, Nagano
Size: Adult
Okaya Kawagishi, Nagano
Size: Adult
Okaya Kawagishi, Nagano
A bear was sighted in Wada, Matsumoto City.
Matsumoto Wada, Nagano
One cub about 50 cm long was sighted in Nagahashi, Tainai City.
Tainai, Niigata
While passing through the area, a single bear was sighted.
Tainai, Niigata
One bear approximately 70 centimeters long was sighted about 500 meters east of the Nakatawara intersection in the Oaza Nakatawara area.
Joetsu, Niigata
One bear about 100 centimeters long was sighted near the Joetsu-Takada Interchange toll booth in the Oaza Haizuka area.
Joetsu, Niigata
A toll booth worker at the Jōetsu-Takada Interchange spotted one bear near the gate. It ran off toward the mountains.
Joetsu, Niigata
A single bear about 100 centimeters in body length was sighted near the Jōetsu-Takada Interchange tollbooth within the Ōaza Haizuka area.
Joetsu, Niigata
Around 6:00 a.m. on 2026-06-07, one bear about 1 m long was sighted on the grounds of Arisawa Manufacturing Nakatahara West Plant in Nakatahara, Joetsu City, and police received a 110 emergency call.
Joetsu, Niigata
A bear about 1 meter long was sighted inside a factory site in Nakatabara, Jōetsu City.
Joetsu, Niigata
Size: adult with cubs
Iida Takinosawa, Nagano
A bear was sighted in Sasa-ga, Matsumoto City, around 5:30 a.m. on June 6.
Matsumoto, Nagano
Size: Adult
Nagano Shinonoi-Yokota, Nagano
While driving, a person spotted one bear running along a field path. It was moving west.
Joetsu, Niigata
Size: Unknown
Iida 宮ノ上, Nagano
Size: Adult
Matsumoto Azusagawa-Yamato, Nagano
Size: Adult
Shiojiri Shimonishijo, Nagano
While passing nearby, I spotted a figure that appeared to be a bear in the bushes.
Tainai, Niigata
Around 18:45 on 2026-06-04, an animal believed to be a bear was sighted in Soga, Shiojiri City, Nagano Prefecture.
Shiojiri Daimon, Nagano
A bear was sighted in Sasaga, Matsumoto City, Nagano, around 08:50 on 2026-06-04.
Matsumoto, Nagano
Size: Adult
Shiojiri Daimon-nibancho, Nagano
Size: Unknown
Nakano Kasahara, Nagano
Size: adult
Ina Nishimachi, Nagano
Size: Unknown
Matsumoto Kukohigashi, Nagano
A member of the public walking nearby sighted one bear. It moved south.
Nagaoka, Niigata
A 45-year-old farm worker woman nearby called 110 to report seeing a bear in Sasaga, Matsumoto City.
Matsumoto, Nagano
Size: Adult
Matsumoto Kukohigashi, Nagano
Size: juvenile
Ina Nishiminowa, Nagano
Size: Adult
Shinano Oi, Nagano
Size: adult with cub(s)
Iida 大休, Nagano
Size: Adult
Iizuna Kurai, Nagano
Peak activity at 15:00 with 9 incidents
Ursus thibetanus japonicus
Safety picks and trail essentials, top-rated on Amazon and Rakuten.
For mountain rescue, call 110 (police). They will coordinate with local rescue teams.
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In the past 30 days, 157 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 23 of them.
The latest sighting was reported 1 day ago near Joetsu, Niigata.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 15:00. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk.
This 486 km route runs from Higashishirakawa to Murakami, passing through Gifu, Niigata, and Nagano. In the past 30 days, 157 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 23 of them. The latest sighting was reported 1 day ago near Joetsu, Niigata. This is an active bear corridor. Drive through with full caution, but rerouting is the safer choice.
