This 160 km route from Meiji no Mori Takao Quasi-National Park to Karuizawa crosses Tokyo, Nagano, Gunma, and Saitama. Over the past 30 days, 24 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of the route, including 5 in the past week. This route runs through Asian black bear habitat (native to Honshu and Shikoku). The most recent sighting was reported 17 hours ago near Karuizawa, Nagano; the location sits about 154.7 km from the start of the route and 1.6 km off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 2 weeks ago at Karuizawa 中軽井沢, Nagano, sitting about 159.8 km from the start and 11 m off the route line.
At this density of recent sightings, be ready to brake at any moment and avoid stopping in flagged stretches.
5 places within 1 km of your route, passing through Tokyo, Nagano, Gunma, Saitama.
A black bear was standing on all four paws at the roadside.
Karuizawa, Nagano
A mature Asian black bear over 1 meter long appeared near houses in Motohachioji, Hachioji City, Tokyo. It was reported that the bear may have come via the Tama River riverbank.
Hachioji, Tokyo
A single Asian black bear (over 1 meter long) appeared on the grounds of a university in Hachioji, Tokyo, causing some classes to be canceled. An elementary school and residential area are nearby, and the city and police have stepped up response and patrols.
Hachioji, Tokyo
Size: Adult
Karuizawa, Nagano
It was a cub about 1 meter long. It immediately went off to the left and disappeared from view. I turned back.
Annaka, Gunma
On May 10, 2026, a moon bear over 1 meter long was observed near traps and a camera in a grove in Motohachioji-cho, Hachioji, Tokyo, and the city plans to set a box trap for capture.
Hachioji, Tokyo
It was watching us from a distance along the Apt Trail.
Annaka, Gunma
Annaka 松井田町五料, Gunma
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
On the night of April 29, 2026, an adult Asian black bear (one individual) emerged from the darkness near residences in Moto-Hachioji, Hachioji City, Tokyo and was captured on video. According to the city, the bear's body length exceeded 1 meter.
Hachioji, Tokyo
On Wednesday, April 29, 2026, at approximately 9:00 PM, a bear (estimated body length 150 centimeters) was sighted in a grove of mixed trees in Motohachioji-machi 2-chome, Hachioji City, Tokyo.
Hachioji Moto-Hachiojimachi 2-chome, Tokyo
Around 20:45 on April 29, 2026, a camera set up by a resident captured an adult Asian black bear (over 1 meter) in the grove south of Shiroyama Elementary School (Motohachioji-cho 2), Hachioji, Tokyo. The city is coordinating with the Metropolitan Police to warn residents and plans to install a box trap; as of May 11 no damage had been confirmed.
Hachioji, Tokyo
In a stand of trees south of Shiroyama Elementary in Moto-Hachioji 2-chome, Hachioji City, a single adult Asiatic black bear over 1 meter long was captured on a sensor camera at around 20:45 on April 29. The city says no damage has been confirmed, has warned residents, and is taking measures including installing a live-capture box trap.
Hachioji, Tokyo
Hachioji, Tokyo
On April 29 a fully grown Asian black bear over 1 meter in length appeared in a grove in Moto-Hachioji 2-chome, Hachioji City; it was captured on a sensor camera at about 20:15 that day. No subsequent sightings, damage, footprints, or droppings have been confirmed, and the city plans to install a box trap and continue vigilance to capture the bear.
Hachioji, Tokyo
In Hachioji (Moto-Hachioji), Tokyo, at around 20:15 on April 29, a moon bear (over 1 meter long) was captured on a sensor camera approaching bait in a trap set for wild boar. No injuries have been reported, and the city plans to install a live capture box trap nearby under the nuisance wildlife capture permit.
Hachioji, Tokyo
A single adult Asian black bear (Tsukinowaguma) over 1.0 m was captured on a sensor camera in a grove in Motohachioji 2-chome, Hachioji City, Tokyo, on April 29 at about 20:15. No human injuries or further sightings have been reported; the city has set a live box trap near the site and is maintaining vigilance.
Hachioji, Tokyo
In a grove in Moto-Hachioji 2-chome, Hachioji City, a single adult Asiatic black bear (over 1 m long) was recorded by a sensor camera on April 29, 2026 at about 20:15. The city has set a box trap near the south side of Shiroyama Elementary School under a nuisance wildlife capture permit and is maintaining vigilance; no human injuries or tracks/scat have been confirmed so far.
Hachioji, Tokyo
On April 29 a video was recorded in Motohachioji-cho 2-chome, Hachioji City, showing an animal believed to be an Asian black bear over 1 m in length. The city, working with relevant agencies, is collecting sighting reports and conducting on-site investigations; no new sightings or damage reports have been confirmed since April 29, and authorities remain on alert for safety.
Hachioji, Tokyo
Karuizawa Town in Kitasaku District has temporarily shifted its policy from releasing captured bears after 'learning' to euthanizing them for a limited period. The change responds to repeated human injuries and appearances of bears in residential areas across the prefecture and concerns that bears' wide-ranging movements could cause harm to neighboring municipalities.
Karuizawa 中軽井沢, Nagano
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 late last month, a Japanese black bear (about 1 meter in length) was confirmed to have appeared near a field in Motohachioji-cho 2-chome, Hachioji City, Tokyo. According to Hachioji City, local residents had set up a trap intended to capture wild boar.
Hachioji, Tokyo
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
Peak activity at 20:00 with 8 incidents
Ursus thibetanus japonicus
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Over the past 30 days, 24 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of this route, including 5 in the past week. This route runs through Asian black bear habitat (native to Honshu and Shikoku).
The most recent sighting was reported 17 hours ago near Karuizawa, Nagano; the location sits about 154.7 km from the start of the route and 1.6 km off the route line.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 20:00. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk.
This 160 km route from Meiji no Mori Takao Quasi-National Park to Karuizawa crosses Tokyo, Nagano, Gunma, and Saitama. Over the past 30 days, 24 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of the route, including 5 in the past week. This route runs through Asian black bear habitat (native to Honshu and Shikoku). The most recent sighting was reported 17 hours ago near Karuizawa, Nagano; the location sits about 154.7 km from the start of the route and 1.6 km off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 2 weeks ago at Karuizawa 中軽井沢, Nagano, sitting about 159.8 km from the start and 11 m off the route line. At this density of recent sightings, be ready to brake at any moment and avoid stopping in flagged stretches.
