This 559 km route from Meiji no Mori Takao Quasi-National Park to Owani crosses Tokyo and Aomori. Over the past 30 days, 103 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of the route, including 34 in the past week. This route runs through Asian black bear habitat (native to Honshu and Shikoku). The most recent sighting was reported 9 hours ago near Nikkō 清滝丹勢町, Tochigi; the location sits about 129.5 km from the start of the route and 728 m off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 1 week ago at Hanno 大字矢颪, Saitama, sitting about 27.8 km from the start and 45 m off the route line.
This is an active bear corridor. Rerouting or rescheduling your hike is strongly advised.
13 places within 1 km of your route, passing through Tokyo, Aomori.
帰宅途中に小熊らしきもの目撃.
Nikkō 清滝丹勢町, Tochigi
A passerby sighted one bear (body length approx. 1.0 m) / direction of travel: north / about 300 m south of Shimokawa River Middle School
Odate, Akita
Crossed the national highway and left toward the north. Body length approximately 1.5 m. About 50 m from a house.
Daisen Kyowa-Mineyoshikawa, Akita
Distance to houses: 200 m. Body length: 1.0 m and 0.5 m. Went toward the south.
Yurihonjō, Akita
[Post] Ran from the residential area toward the rice field
Odate Negeto, Akita
A single bear was observed on private residential property. Body length approximately 1 m, about 20 m from the house. After that it passed through a rice field and headed toward the Showa Concrete direction.
Daisen Kushoda, Akita
[Post] Climbed onto the guardrail
Daisen Takajo, Akita
Driver sighted one bear (body length about 1.0 m) / direction of travel unknown / approximately 300 m west of Odate Police Station
Odate, Akita
[Report] Came down from the mountain, passed through a rice field, and headed toward the Komatagawabase. An adult approximately 1.5 m (in size).
Kitaakita Komata, Akita
While driving near Autoland Akita, observed one bear. It left toward the mountains. Body length about 1.5 m.
Daisen Kyowa-Funesawa, Akita
【Post】
Odate Katayama, Akita
Seen by nearby residents / Direction of movement unknown / About 250 m south of Katsura Sakura High School
Odate, Akita
Crossed the road and went toward Katsura/Sakura High School
Odate, Akita
Odate, Akita
A local resident sighted one bear (about 1.0 m in body length) / direction of travel: south / approximately 50 m from the nearest house
Odate, Akita
Distance to houses: 50 m; Bear body length: 1.5 m
Yurihonjō, Akita
At around 11:55 on May 8, 2026, an animal believed to be an Asian black bear (tsukinowaguma) was sighted on a mountain path near 1579 Tsukidani-cho, Ashikaga City (around Gyodozan Join-ji). The area is a popular hiking course.
Ashikaga 月谷町, Tochigi
[Report] Mother bear and cubs found in parking lot
Akita, Akita
While working in the field, it went into the ravine on the west side.
Yurihonjō 東由利法内, Akita
[Post]
Odate Kohakama, Akita
[Post]
Yurihonjō 東由利宿, Akita
When firecrackers were set off, the bear fled from the greenhouse toward the forest to the north. Distance to the nearest house: 40 m. Bear body length: 1.5 m.
Yurihonjō 東由利宿, Akita
Saw it in the grass
Odate Negeto, Akita
A local resident sighted one bear (body length 1.0 m) / moving south / approximately 150 m from the nearest elementary school
Odate Negeto, Akita
[Post]
Odate Negeto, Akita
Ran across the national highway from north to south. Body length about 1 meter.
Yurihonjō 小栗山, Akita
Driver witnessed a bear crossing Prefectural Route Shirasawa-Tashiro Line / 1 bear (body length 0.6 m) / direction of travel unknown / near approximately 1.5 km from Shirakawa Construction Nashizaka Quarry toward Tashiro
Odate, Akita
On the morning of May 5, 2026, a man was attacked by a bear in a rice field at Miyano-mae, Honnaishi, Higashiyuri, Yurihonjo City, Akita Prefecture; he had bleeding from his forehead and holes in his clothing. The man ran into a nearby pharmacy, where the shopkeeper gave first aid and called emergency services (119).
Yurihonjō, Akita
Body length: unknown Distance to houses: about 300 m
Yurihonjō 東由利蔵, Akita
At around 08:20 on the 5th, in Higashiyuri Hounai, Yurihonjo City, Akita Prefecture, a man in his 40s who was inspecting rice fields was attacked by a bear and sustained injuries to his face and other areas. The fire department was notified.
Yurihonjō 東由利法内, Akita
Around 08:20 on the 5th, a 48-year-old man inspecting rice fields in Higashiyuri, Yurihonjo City, was attacked by a bear and suffered injuries to his face and right arm. He ran into a nearby shop, was airlifted to a hospital by doctor helicopter, and was conscious and able to speak.
Yurihonjō 東由利蔵, Akita
In a paddy field in Higashiyuri, Yurihonjo City, a man in his 40s was attacked by a bear while inspecting the fields and sustained injuries to his face and right arm. He ran to a nearby house/pharmacy for help and was airlifted to hospital by doctor helicopter; reports say he was conscious and able to speak.
Yurihonjō, Akita
On May 5, 2026 at around 08:15, a 48-year-old man patrolling rice fields in Higashiyuri Hounai, Yurihonjo City, Akita Prefecture was attacked by a single bear about 1 meter long, sustaining scratches to his right face and right arm. He returned to his car, someone nearby reported the incident, and he was airlifted by doctor helicopter to a hospital in Akita City; his life is not in danger.
Yurihonjō 東由利法内, Akita
At around 08:15 on May 5, in Miyamae, Honnaiji, Higashiyuri, Yurihonjo City, Akita Prefecture, a 48-year-old man from the city was attacked by a bear about 1 meter long and sustained injuries to his face and right arm. According to the prefectural police, this is the first bear-related human injury in the prefecture this year.
Yurihonjō, Akita
On May 5 in Higashiyuri Hounai, Yurihonjo City, a 48-year-old man inspecting rice paddies was attacked by a bear and suffered injuries to his face and right arm. He drove himself to a nearby shop to seek help and was airlifted by doctor helicopter to a hospital in Akita City. Police patroled the area near Higashiyuri Elementary School, which restricted outdoor activities and held PE indoors, and Yurihonjo City set two box traps near the incident site.
Yurihonjō 東由利法内, Akita
In Yurihonjo City (Higashiyuri Honna), a 48-year-old man inspecting rice fields was attacked by a bear about 1 meter long around 08:20; he suffered injuries to his face and right arm and was airlifted to hospital by a doctor helicopter. He was conscious and able to speak, and this is reported as the first bear-related human injury in the prefecture this year.
Yurihonjō 東由利法内, Akita
On May 3, 2026 at around 17:50, a single cub was observed crossing the national highway near the old tollbooth at the bottom of Irohazaka. The incident has been reported to emergency services (110).
Nikkō, Tochigi
Posted: When I went down the slope in Obari-no and turned right, I saw a bear running through a rice field. There were several people working in the fields nearby. It is unclear where it went afterward. It looked like a cub.
Akita, Akita
Found in a fallow rice field. When firecrackers were set off, it stood up, looked around, and then ran straight toward the mountain.
Akita, Akita
Post: The bear itself wasn't seen, but a cub was heard crying. For nearly two minutes a high-pitched voice sounded “owaah! owaah!” and it was calling around the yard of the house.
Daisen Kyowa-Funaoka, Akita
[Report] While driving on Route 13 from Omagari toward Akita, I saw a bear about 1 m tall under a cherry tree on the left. There were two holes in the embankment on the travel side that appeared to be the bear’s den.
Daisen Kyowa-Sakai, Akita
Observed one bear about 50 centimeters in body length. Spotted it on the road; it then left heading west toward the Ani River. It was approximately 10 meters from nearby houses.
Kitaakita Ani-Mizunashi, Akita
Two bear cubs came down from the mountain. The cubs then fled toward the mountain to the south.
Daisen Osawagosyuku, Akita
Two bear cubs came down from the mountain. The cubs then fled toward the mountain to the south.
Daisen Osawagosyuku, Akita
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
令和８年４月２９日（水）午後９時頃、東京都八王子市元八王子町２丁目の雑木林において、熊（体長推定１５０センチメートル）１頭の目撃情報がありました。
Hachioji Moto-Hachiojimachi 2-chome, Tokyo
While driving, one bear (about 1.0 m in length) was sighted / direction of travel: northeast / approximately 50 m to the nearest house
Odate, Akita
A 40–50 cm cub. It climbed up from the roadside and started dozing in the shade of a tree.
Kitaakita Ani-Magisawakozan, Akita
A staff member at a nearby facility sighted one bear (body length unknown) / direction of travel unknown / approximately 150 meters from the nearest facility
Odate Shakanai, Akita
In the forest at Odate City, Shakainai, at around 10:20 a.m. on the 27th, school staff spotted one bear about 50 cm in length. The nearest house is about 30 meters away and Shakainai Elementary School about 10 meters; the police notified related agencies, are patrolling the area with patrol cars, and have warned residents to be cautious.
Odate Shakanai, Akita
A bear was reported sighted at Nikko Toshogu in Nikko City, Tochigi Prefecture. The article urges that if encountered, people should stay calm, keep their distance and quietly evacuate, and that bear spray should be practiced beforehand.
Nikkō 山内, Tochigi
A juvenile bear was found in the mountains beside the road near the car stop at the curve just before Mikonosato at the Yunishigawa terminal tunnel (within about 5 meters from the road). It was about 60 cm in body length and was observed in the same spot for two days. It may have become separated from its mother.
Nikkō, Tochigi
There was a bear about 1 meter tall.
Akita, Akita
Around 18:00 on April 25, 2026, a suspected Asian black bear was sighted in Ashikaga City, near 100 m east of Kotani Benten in Honjo 1-chome. This location is about 1.7 km north of Orihime Park where a bear was seen on April 17.
Ashikaga 江川町, Tochigi
[Report] While driving near the Kyōwa roadside station, I witnessed one adult bear walking along the riverbank.
Daisen Kyowa-Arakawa, Akita
[Post] While driving near Michi-no-Eki Kyōwa, I witnessed one adult (bear) walking along the riverbank.
Daisen Kyowa-Arakawa, Akita
One bear (body length 0.5 m) seen eating something along the water channel / direction of travel: northwest / 200 m northwest of Shakainai Elementary School
Odate Shakanai, Akita
Around 12:00 on April 25, 2026, a bear approximately 50 cm long was sighted on the grounds of a private house in Aizenei(?) (Shaka-nai Aosen-dai), Odate City, Akita Prefecture. A man in his 50s working in the garden spotted it, and the Odate police are patrolling the area by patrol car and warning residents.
Odate Shakanai, Akita
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
A bear was seen walking on the national road in front of Mahoroba Nursery School. Body length about 1 m. Approximately 20 m from the nursery school.
Daisen, Akita
Local resident sighted one bear (body length 0.6 m) / direction of travel unknown / approximately 10 m from the nearest house
Odate Shakanai, Akita
At around 7:30 a.m. on the 24th, a walking man in his 30s spotted a bear about 50 cm long in a grassy area in Shakainai, Odate City, Akita Prefecture. According to the Odate police station, the nearest house is about 40 meters away, and the station has warned residents to be cautious.
Odate Shakanai, Akita
A driver sighted one bear (body length unknown) in the woods beside a city road / direction of travel unknown / 150 m south of Shakanai Elementary School
Odate, Akita
At around 15:30 on April 23, 2026, a police officer on patrol spotted one bear about 50 cm long in a grassy area in Shakainai, Odate City. The nearest house was about 40 meters away; police contacted related agencies, increased patrols by police car, and warned residents to be cautious.
Odate Shakanai, Akita
[Report] There's another bear nearby—just sighted moments ago.
Akita, Akita
[Post] There was a bear in the rice field
Akita, Akita
Around 8:40: Ran from the eastern mountain across the rice fields toward Ōsawa River. Stayed in the thicket by the Ōsawa River for a few minutes, then ran back to the mountain. Around 8:55: Similar behavior. Body length about 1.5 m. Appears thin.
Daisen Osawagotera, Akita
On 2026-04-23, a bear was reported sighted in a field in Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture. The article did not provide details of the sighting or whether there were any damages or injuries.
Ashikaga 雪輪町, Tochigi
Ashikaga, Tochigi
[Post] Little cub
Akita, Akita
A local resident sighted one bear (body length unknown) in the forest beside a municipal road / direction of travel unknown / 150 m south of Shakanai Elementary School
Odate, Akita
At around 08:20 on April 22, 2026, a bear about 50 cm long was sighted in a grass field in Shakakunai, Odate City by a woman in her 30s driving through the area. The bear was about 10 meters from the nearest house; authorities were notified and patrol cars have been warning residents and monitoring the area.
Odate Shakanai, Akita
Standing in the field. Fled at the sound of firecrackers.
Akita, Akita
A driver traveling on a municipal road sighted one bear (body length 1 m) / direction of travel: northwest / 400 m south of Odate Daiichi Junior High School
Odate Negeto, Akita
A local resident sighted one bear (body length 0.5 m) in the woods beside the municipal road / heading east / 150 m south of Shakanai Elementary School
Odate, Akita
At around 16:50 on the 21st, a woman in her 30s at home in Shakanai, Odate City, Akita Prefecture, sighted a bear about 50 cm long. According to the Odate police, the bear was about 10 meters from the nearest house, and authorities warned residents to be cautious.
Odate Shakanai, Akita
[Post] There was a cub
Odate, Akita
[Report] On the slope of the Kitaakita City-run Yuguchinai Ski Resort, it appeared to be eating something. It remained in place without moving.
Kitaakita Ani-Mizunashi, Akita
On the morning of April 21, 2026, one bear was sighted on the riverside in Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture.
Ashikaga 雪輪町, Tochigi
Around 07:20 on April 21, 2026, an animal believed to be an Asian black bear was sighted on the riverbank in Oomae-cho, Ashikaga City. The sighting occurred about 150 m southwest of the Oomae baseball field, roughly 1.4 km west of Yamamae Station on the JR Ryomo Line; it may have come down the Matsudagawa River.
Ashikaga 大前町, Tochigi
Ashikaga 葉鹿南町, Tochigi
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 approximately 1 meter in body length was sighted on the national highway. Direction of travel is unknown. Approximately 50 meters from nearby houses.
Kitaakita Ani-Magisawakozan, Akita
At around 11:35 on the 18th, a man in his 60s driving on National Route 105 in Animizu Ani (Miyago), Kitaakita City, Akita Prefecture, spotted a bear about 1 meter long. According to the Kitaakita police, the bear was about 5 meters from nearby houses, and the police have warned residents in the area.
Kitaakita Ani-Magisawakozan, Akita
Around 18:30 on April 17, 2026, a bear believed to be an Asiatic black bear (tsukinowaguma) was sighted at Orihime Park in Tomoecho, Ashikaga City. The report was based on Ashikaga City's official X account; the sighting occurred in an urban area near Orihime Shrine and the city hall.
Ashikaga 巴町, Tochigi
A nearby resident sighted one bear (body length 0.5 m) / direction of travel unknown / inside residential property
Odate Shakanai, Akita
At around 14:00 on April 17, a single bear approximately 1.2 m long was sighted by the roadside in Gōdo Maruyama Kō, Yanaizu Town, Fukushima Prefecture.
Yanaizu Godo, Fukushima
Around 13:00 on April 17, a single bear about 1.2 m long was sighted at the roadside in Maruyama Ko (郷戸字丸山甲), Gōdo, Yanaizu Town, Fukushima Prefecture.
Yanaizu 石神, Fukushima
A nearby resident spotted one bear (body length 60 cm) / direction of travel unknown / about 10 m from the nearest house
Odate Shakanai, Akita
[Report] Nearby resident sighted one bear (body length 60 cm) / Direction of travel unknown / Approximately 10 m from the nearest house
Odate Shakanai, Akita
On April 17, 2026, a bear about 1.2 meters long was sighted in Godo, Yanaizu Town, Fukushima Prefecture. Fukushima TV is providing ongoing updates.
Yanaizu 古屋敷, Fukushima
Ashikaga 巴町, Tochigi
A passerby sighted one bear (body length 0.5 m) in the woods beside a municipal road / direction of movement unknown / 150 m south of Shakauchi Elementary School
Odate, Akita
Around 10:00 a.m. on the 16th, a male worker spotted a bear about 50 cm long in a forest in Odate City, Shakanai Aizome-dai, Akita Prefecture. According to the Odate Police, the site is about 30 meters from the nearest house; patrol cars are warning residents and monitoring the area.
Odate Shakanai, Akita
Kanuma, Tochigi
[Post]
Kitaakita Yoshida, Akita
A passerby spotted one bear (body length 0.5 m) in the woods beside a municipal road / direction of travel unknown / 150 m south of Shakauchi Elementary School
Odate, Akita
While driving on National Route 13 toward Omagari, it crossed from the rice fields toward the mountains.
Daisen Kitanome, Akita
Crossing the tracks toward Route 13
Daisen Kitanome, Akita
Kanuma, Tochigi
Crossed the national road toward the mountain side. It was over 1 meter in size and felt quite large.
Daisen Kitanome, Akita
(Posted) Appeared to be searching the ground for something. After a while it ran away toward the mountain.
Akita, Akita
Peak activity at 8:00 with 14 incidents
Ursus thibetanus japonicus
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Over the past 30 days, 103 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of this route, including 34 in the past week. This route runs through Asian black bear habitat (native to Honshu and Shikoku).
The most recent sighting was reported 9 hours ago near Nikkō 清滝丹勢町, Tochigi; the location sits about 129.5 km from the start of the route and 728 m off the route line.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 8:00. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk.
This 559 km route from Meiji no Mori Takao Quasi-National Park to Owani crosses Tokyo and Aomori. Over the past 30 days, 103 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of the route, including 34 in the past week. This route runs through Asian black bear habitat (native to Honshu and Shikoku). The most recent sighting was reported 9 hours ago near Nikkō 清滝丹勢町, Tochigi; the location sits about 129.5 km from the start of the route and 728 m off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 1 week ago at Hanno 大字矢颪, Saitama, sitting about 27.8 km from the start and 45 m off the route line. This is an active bear corridor. Rerouting or rescheduling your hike is strongly advised.
