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This 80 km route runs from Hanamaki to Hachimantai within Iwate. In the past 30 days, 47 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 9 of them. The latest sighting was reported 2 days ago near Kitakami Iitoyo, Iwate.
This is an active bear corridor. Drive through with full caution, but rerouting is the safer choice.
A passerby sighted one adult bear in Iiide 18-chome, Kitakami City.
Kitakami Iitoyo, Iwate
A bear was sighted moving in Iitoyo 17-jiri, Kitakami City, around 07:43.
Kitakami Iitoyo, Iwate
A cub was sighted on the road near the parking lot of Oirino Wetland Botanical Garden in Goshoko Wide-Area Park.
Morioka Shimokuriyagawa, Iwate
One bear (size unknown) was observed moving into the northern woodland.
Morioka, Iwate
A bear is climbing up and down a chestnut tree.
Morioka Shimokuriyagawa, Iwate
A bear was sighted in Kitayokuchi 2-chiwari, Hanamaki City.
Hanamaki Kitayuguchi, Iwate
Residents reported sightings; due to bear appearances, the Shiwa Town Office’s public announcement vehicle issued a warning.
Shiwa 日詰, Iwate
Observed one animal believed to be an adult bear.
Morioka, Iwate
I found large bear footprints.
Morioka, Iwate
A bear was sighted in Ishidoriya-cho Ezo 9th district, Hanamaki City, around 07:30.
Hanamaki Ishidoriyacho-Eso, Iwate
Empty honey boxes and the place where brood frames were stored were disturbed.
Morioka Mitsuwari, Iwate
Observed one bear crossing the road.
Morioka Shimoota-Shimokawara, Iwate
Around 09:25 on 2026-07-15, a bear was sighted in Ato, Takizawa City, Iwate Prefecture.
Takizawa 後, Iwate
Spotted an adult bear in the woods across from the house. It ran off toward the mountain.
Morioka Shimoota-Shimokawara, Iwate
A bear was sighted in Higashi-midorigaoka, Morioka City.
Morioka Mitsuwari, Iwate
A bear was sighted in Yumoto 1-chome, Hanamaki City.
Hanamaki Dai, Iwate
A bear was sighted in Okamakamori, Takizawa City.
Takizawa 大釜高森, Iwate
One bear was sighted in bushes within Takada 12th district, Yahaba Town, Iwate.
Yahaba 大字高田, Iwate
The field plastic mulch was torn and there were footprints. The compost was disturbed.
Morioka Tsushida, Iwate
Observed one adult bear and two juvenile bears on the riverbed of the Otobe River.
Morioka Isari-Omichi, Iwate
A bear was sighted in Inosari Tamenogi, Morioka City.
Morioka 猪去田面野木, Iwate
Spotted one young bear near the staff-only parking lot of the Handmade Village.
Morioka Higashianiwa, Iwate
While the reporter was working in a rice field, they spotted a medium-sized bear along the base of the mountain behind them. They scared it off with a rocket firework, and it ran back into the mountain.
Morioka Mukainakano, Iwate
Apples stored in a shed used for farm work and storage had been eaten/raided. There were also numerous droppings that appeared to be from a bear both inside and outside the shed.
Morioka Mukainakano, Iwate
Observed one medium-sized bear in an apple orchard
Morioka Higashianiwa, Iwate
A bear was observed near Route 4 Nakano intersection, moving from the west to the east (toward Nakano Elementary School).
Morioka Haba, Iwate
Observed one adult and two cubs near the apple orchard.
Morioka Isari-Sekiai, Iwate
There are round footprints on the ridge I made. About 15 cm in diameter. Could it be a bear?
Morioka Mukainakano, Iwate
A bear entered the Morioka City School Lunch Center in Nakanokita, Morioka, through the front gate and moved around the premises.
Morioka Kawasaki, Iwate
A bear was sighted in Iito 19-ku, Kitakami City.
Kitakami Iitoyo, Iwate
One animal believed to be a bear about one size larger than a large dog was observed moving toward the Kitakami River.
Morioka Shimokuriyagawa, Iwate
One large animal, believed to be a bear about the size of a large dog, was sighted.
Morioka Shimokuriyagawa, Iwate
A cub was sighted walking on the edge of the Tohoku Shinkansen viaduct in Kutsukawa 4-chome, Morioka City.
Morioka Shimokuriyagawa, Iwate
Witnessed one young bear running away on the roadway.
Morioka Higashimirumae, Iwate
Around 10:10 on 2026-07-02, one bear was sighted in Sugo, Takizawa City, Iwate Prefecture.
Takizawa 巣子, Iwate
Around 5:30 PM on June 30, a bear was sighted in Kita-terabayashi 2-chome, Ishidoriya-cho, Hanamaki City.
Hanamaki Ishidoriyacho-Daikoji, Iwate
A large tree was knocked down. I think it was a bear.
Morioka, Iwate
Bear tracks confirmed in the fields around the house
Morioka, Iwate
One bear was sighted in Kuroishino 3-chome, Morioka City.
Morioka Shimokuriyagawa, Iwate
An adult bear was sighted near the shed at the residence. (Direction of movement unknown)
Morioka, Iwate
I saw a young bear near a roadside station under construction, not far from Shibutami Nursery School.
Morioka, Iwate
Spotted a mother bear and her cubs moving
Morioka Higashianiwa, Iwate
A bear about 60 cm was sighted near Jokoji Temple. It ran off into the mountains.
Morioka Higashianiwa, Iwate
A bear was sighted in Higashi-Anba 3-chome, Morioka City, around 09:05 on June 28.
Morioka Higashianiwa, Iwate
One adult bear sighted on the grounds of the Iwate Prefectural Museum
Morioka Senbokucho, Iwate
Around 12:09 on 2026-06-27, one adult bear was seen by a passerby in a residential area of Ueda, Morioka City, Iwate. The bear left to the east, and no damage to people or property was confirmed.
Morioka, Iwate
There was what appeared to be bear droppings on the premises.
Morioka Senbokucho, Iwate
Peak activity at 7:00 with 5 incidents
Ursus thibetanus japonicus
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In the past 30 days, 47 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 9 of them.
The latest sighting was reported 2 days ago near Kitakami Iitoyo, Iwate.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 7:00. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk.
This 80 km route runs from Hanamaki to Hachimantai within Iwate. In the past 30 days, 47 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 9 of them. The latest sighting was reported 2 days ago near Kitakami Iitoyo, Iwate. This is an active bear corridor. Drive through with full caution, but rerouting is the safer choice.
