This 976 km route runs from Iizuka to Lake Yamanaka, passing through Fukuoka, Yamanashi, Aichi, Hiroshima, Hyogo, Kyoto, Mie, Okayama, Osaka, Shiga, Shizuoka, and Yamaguchi. In the past 30 days, 51 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 16 of them. The latest sighting was reported 1 day ago near Hamamatsu Inasa-cho Karishuku, Shizuoka.
This is an active bear corridor. Drive through with full caution, but rerouting is the safer choice.
24 places within 1 km of your route, passing through Fukuoka, Yamanashi, Aichi, Hiroshima, Hyogo, Kyoto, Mie, Okayama, Osaka, Shiga, Shizuoka, Yamaguchi.
On 2026-05-23, one bear was sighted in Ianzacho Karishuku, Hamana Ward, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, and was culled by the hunters' association in a forested area.
Hamamatsu Inasa-cho Karishuku, Shizuoka
A bear was sighted in a residential area of Sembokugaoka, Susono City, shortly before 3:00 PM. It was the fourth consecutive day of bear sightings in the city.
Susono Senpukugaoka, Shizuoka
Hamamatsu City culled one bear in the area around Inasa-cho, Hamana Ward, after sightings were reported there.
Hamamatsu Inasa-cho Iinoya, Shizuoka
A bear was sighted walking on a city road in Inasa-cho Karijuku, Hamana Ward, Hamamatsu City, and then went into the woods along the road.
Hamamatsu Inasa-cho Karishuku, Shizuoka
At about 08:45 on May 21, 2026, a report was received that a bear crossed a prefectural road in Miyauchi, Hatsukaichi City, Hiroshima Prefecture, and tracks believed to be from a bear were confirmed at the scene. There had been a sighting near a housing complex the previous day, and elementary and junior high schools in the school district dismissed students at the same time.
Hatsukaichi Miyauchi-kogyodanchi, Hiroshima
Reported that a bear crossed the road while driving.
Hatsukaichi Toge, Hiroshima
A caller to emergency services reported one bear-like animal on a slope between a residential area and the mountains.
Hatsukaichi Shikigaoka-kami, Hiroshima
At around 14:00 on May 20, 2026, a bear approximately 1 meter long was sighted at the parking area of the Ashitaka Tsutsuji natural colony in Suyama, Susono City, Shizuoka. A nearby management office reported it to the police; city staff, police and hunters responded, and the city — marking its fourth sighting in 2026 — urged residents to carry bells or radios.
Susono 下和田, Shizuoka
At around 08:15 on May 20, 2026, a man in a car witnessed a bear about 1 meter long crossing National Route 490 in Ono, Ube City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, roughly 3 meters ahead of his vehicle. There was no collision or injuries; police urged caution in the area.
Ube 大字小野, Yamaguchi
Ube, Yamaguchi
Near Onoshimose-to bus stop, Ube City On National Route 490 driving from Ube to Hagi, a cub about 1 m long jumped out in front of the car and moved from right to left. Two witnesses reported it to the police.
Ube, Yamaguchi
Mine Mitocho-Ono, Yamaguchi
On May 20, Susono City reported a sighting of one bear at the parking lot of the Ashitakatsutsuji primeval community in Suyama. No damage was confirmed, and the city's Agriculture and Forestry Policy Division has issued a warning.
Susono 下和田, Shizuoka
Around 17:00 on the 19th, a local resident sighted one bear along a municipal road in Kanashuku, Inasa-cho, Hamana Ward, Hamamatsu City. No human injuries were reported; the bear was about 1 meter long, and the city warned that it might be the same individual seen in Tani-sawa on the 1st.
Hamamatsu Inasa-cho Karishuku, Shizuoka
Around 22:00 on May 18, a passenger car struck a bear near the ramp of the Hatsukaichi Junction on the Sanyo Expressway/Hiroshima-Iwakuni Road (up line) in Miyauchi, Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima Prefecture, and the driver called 110. The bear died from the collision.
Hatsukaichi Miyauchi-kogyodanchi, Hiroshima
Witnessed during a morning walk
Hiroshima Asacho-Kegi, Hiroshima
At around 06:40 on May 16, a resident found a lump of feces about 10–12 cm in size on a municipal road near a household passage in Inasa-cho Tanizawa, Hamana Ward, Hamamatsu City, and contacted the local hunters' association. The area had a report on May 1 of one bear about 1 meter long, and the city is urging local residents to be cautious.
Hamamatsu Inasa-cho Yazawa, Shizuoka
Shunan 大字米光, Yamaguchi
Shortly after 19:00 on May 14, 2026, a man driving in Yonemitsu, Shunan City, spotted a bear about 60 cm long walking in a side road near National Route 489 roughly 50 meters ahead. The bear headed west and no one was injured.
Shunan 大字米光, Yamaguchi
In Saeki Ward, Hiroshima City, sightings of an animal believed to be a bear were reported repeatedly from the night of the 13th into the morning of the 14th; at around 06:40 on the 14th a bear was seen running south near the botanical garden rotary. Police and ward officials are checking whether the sightings were of the same animal, and 10 nearby elementary and junior high schools were closed.
Hiroshima Itsukaichicho-Hoida, Hiroshima
At around 6:40 a.m. on the 14th, police received information from a witness saying, "I saw a bear running off to the south near the rotary at the botanical park." Hiroshima News TSS - 5/14 (Thu) 11:08 distribution
Hiroshima Kurashige 3-chome, Hiroshima
Mine Mitocho-Ayagi, Yamaguchi
On 2026-05-14, bear sightings continued in a residential area of Saeki Ward, Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture, and a total of 11 nearby elementary, junior high, and high schools were closed. According to police, bears were also sighted on the 13th and again on the 14th.
Hiroshima Itsukaichicho-Misuzuen, Hiroshima
Multiple sightings of an approximately 1-meter adult Asiatic black bear were reported in Sendō (Saeki Ward, Hiroshima City), with additional reports last night and this morning near Misugi and around the Hiroshima Botanical Garden. Ten local elementary and junior high schools were temporarily closed; police and ward staff are patrolling and bear rangers are conducting on-site investigations.
Hiroshima Itsukaichicho-Misuzuen, Hiroshima
Early on the morning of May 13, 2026, multiple sightings were reported in Saeki Ward, Hiroshima City, of a bear-like animal estimated at about 1 m in length. No injuries or property damage have been reported, and police have urged caution.
Hiroshima Itsukaichicho-Misuzuen, Hiroshima
At around 06:10 on May 13, a dog walker in Saeki Ward, Hiroshima City reported a bear-like animal about 1 meter long, and shortly after another person reported a bear-like animal about 70–80 cm in their yard. Police arrived but did not find the animal; one elementary school nearby was temporarily closed and police warned people not to approach if sighted.
Hiroshima Itsukaichicho-Misuzuen, Hiroshima
On the morning of May 13, 2026 around 06:10, a bear-like animal was sighted in the residential area of Sendo 1-chome, Saeki Ward, Hiroshima City; the ward office identified it as an Asian black bear (tsukinowaguma) based on droppings and footprints. Multiple reports were made, local public elementary, junior high and high schools (11 schools) were temporarily closed, and no injuries have been reported.
Hiroshima Itsukaichicho-Misuzuen, Hiroshima
A bear, likely a cub about 1 meter long, appeared in a residential area, prompting a nearby elementary school to close temporarily.
Hiroshima Sendo 1-chome, Hiroshima
Shortly after 06:00 on May 13, 2026, multiple sightings of a bear-like animal were reported in the residential area of Sendō 1-chōme, Saeki Ward, Hiroshima City; the ward identified it as an Asian black bear (tsukinowaguma) based on droppings and footprints. Nearby Itsukaichi Kannon Elementary School was closed temporarily, and no injuries were reported.
Hiroshima Itsukaichicho-Misuzuen, Hiroshima
Shortly after 06:00 on May 13, there were three reports in Saeki Ward, Hiroshima City, of a 'bear-like animal about 1 meter' and 'a bear-like animal in a garden.' Police patrolled but did not find the animal, and no injuries or property damage have been confirmed. Droppings believed to be from a bear were found in the area, a nearby elementary school was temporarily closed, and ward staff patrolled with bear bells and spray while urging caution.
Hiroshima Itsukaichicho-Misuzuen, Hiroshima
Multiple people reported seeing a bear.
Hiroshima Sendo 1-chome, Hiroshima
In Saeki Ward, Hiroshima City, between about 6:00 a.m. on the 13th and for roughly 10 minutes, there were three consecutive reports: “I saw a bear while walking my dog,” “I saw a bear about 1 meter (3 feet) tall,” and “There was a bear in my yard.”
Hiroshima Sendo 1-chome, Hiroshima
On the morning of May 13, 2026, multiple sightings of a bear-like animal were reported in a residential area of Sando, Saeki Ward, Hiroshima City; a black animal was captured on a security camera around 05:00. Ward staff and experts examined droppings and other traces, police and the ward conducted patrols and issued warnings, and one nearby elementary school closed temporarily; no injuries were reported.
Hiroshima Itsukaichicho-Misuzuen, Hiroshima
Multiple bear sightings were reported in a residential area of Saeki Ward, Hiroshima City from early morning to night on May 13. According to police, 11 nearby elementary, junior high and high schools were closed on May 14. Several sightings were reported, but the exact number of individual bears has not been confirmed.
Hiroshima Itsukaichicho-Misuzuen, Hiroshima
Multiple bear sightings were reported in a residential area of Saeki Ward, Hiroshima City between May 13 and 14, 2026. Nearby elementary, junior high and high schools were temporarily closed; a day-service facility switched its automatic door to manual, and residents are taking measures such as using bear bells.
Hiroshima Itsukaichicho-Hoida, Hiroshima
Shunan, Yamaguchi
A large truck driver was waiting at a roadside pullout near Asahigaoka to time the departure of another company's large truck coming out of a factory. About 3–5 meters in front of him, a black bear that looked like a large, well-fed dog curled up ran across from the river side (Gongenyama) to the mountain on the Asaminami Ward side across the road. He said it was the first time he had seen one in this area. The driver’s sighting was reported to the Asakita Police Station duty officer at 18:20.
Hiroshima Asacho-Ushiroyama, Hiroshima
A single bear was reported sighted in Kikugawa, Shimonoseki City, Yamaguchi Prefecture. The article is subscriber-only and does not provide detailed time or circumstances of the sighting.
Shimonoseki 菊川町大字下岡枝, Yamaguchi
On that day, while playing on the Kagosaka course, a bear appeared, so we were instructed to wait in the clubhouse. It seems this has not yet been reported, so I am reporting it.
Oyama, Shizuoka
Shimonoseki 菊川町大字田部, Yamaguchi
A bear has been spotted
Ōtake Boroku, Hiroshima
Waki Seta, Yamaguchi
At around 08:35 on May 1, a resident spotted a single bear about 1 meter long near Rokusho Shrine in Yazawa, Inasa-cho, Hamanaku, Hamamatsu City. The bear walked along the road then moved into grasses/forest; no human injuries were reported. The city, hunters' association and police are patrolling the area and urging caution.
Hamamatsu Inasa-cho Yazawa, Shizuoka
At around 08:35 on May 1, 2026, a resident spotted a single bear about 1 meter long walking on a road in Inasa-cho, Tanisawa, Hamana Ward, Hamamatsu City. The bear walked for a while and then retreated into the grass; no further sightings or human injuries have been confirmed. The city requested patrols by the hunting association and police and warned nearby residents.
Hamamatsu Inasa-cho Yazawa, Shizuoka
On May 1, 2026, a bear was sighted near Rokusho Shrine in Tani-sawa, Inasa-cho, Hamana Ward, Hamamatsu. No human injuries were confirmed.
Hamamatsu Inasa-cho Yazawa, Shizuoka
I went outside to take out the work garbage and noticed a bear entering the mountain from a distance. I didn’t have my phone, so I don’t have any photos.
Fujieda 花倉, Shizuoka
Hofu 大字西佐波令, Yamaguchi
A bear estimated at about 1.5–2.0 meters in length was sighted on a prefectural road in the Isenji area of Yamaguchi City, Yamaguchi Prefecture. Police are patrolling the vicinity of the sighting.
Yamaguchi 鋳銭司, Yamaguchi
At around 22:20 on April 26, 2026, a woman in her 20s returning home by car sighted a single bear about 1.5–2 meters long on the slope beside a prefectural road in Izenji, Yamaguchi City, and reported it to the police. Police checked the site but did not find the bear; no injuries were reported, and patrols and school-time warnings are being carried out in the area.
Yamaguchi 鋳銭司, Yamaguchi
Around 22:15 on the 26th, a single bear about 1.5–2.0 m long was sighted on a slope along the Yamaguchi-Akiho prefectural road in Yamaguchi City's Iuzenshi area, in front of the prefectural fire school. No injuries were reported; police notified the city and the board of education and have stepped up patrols near the site.
Yamaguchi, Yamaguchi
Yamaguchi, Yamaguchi
Peak activity at 6:00 with 11 incidents
Ursus thibetanus japonicus
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In the past 30 days, 51 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 16 of them.
The latest sighting was reported 1 day ago near Hamamatsu Inasa-cho Karishuku, Shizuoka.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 6:00. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk.
This 976 km route runs from Iizuka to Lake Yamanaka, passing through Fukuoka, Yamanashi, Aichi, Hiroshima, Hyogo, Kyoto, Mie, Okayama, Osaka, Shiga, Shizuoka, and Yamaguchi. In the past 30 days, 51 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 16 of them. The latest sighting was reported 1 day ago near Hamamatsu Inasa-cho Karishuku, Shizuoka. This is an active bear corridor. Drive through with full caution, but rerouting is the safer choice.
