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This 228 km route runs from Inzai to Karuizawa, passing through Chiba, Nagano, Gunma, Ibaraki, and Saitama. In the past 30 days, 43 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 10 of them. The latest sighting was reported 15 hours ago near Annaka 松井田町二軒在家, Gunma.
This is an active bear corridor. Drive through with full caution, but rerouting is the safer choice.
4 places within 1 km of your route, passing through Chiba, Nagano, Gunma, Ibaraki, Saitama.
Annaka 松井田町二軒在家, Gunma
A bear was sighted in Matsuidamachi Matsuida, Annaka City, Gunma Prefecture, around 12:45 on July 30.
Annaka 松井田町松井田, Gunma
A juvenile bear about 1 meter long was spotted along Prefectural Route 43 (Momiji Line) of the Karuizawa–Shimonita route. The mother bear could not be found, but is believed to be hiding nearby.
Shimonita, Gunma
Around 1:00 PM on 2026-07-28, one bear was sighted in Karuizawa, Karuizawa Town, Nagano Prefecture.
Karuizawa 大字軽井沢, Nagano
A bear was sighted in Goryo, Matsuidamachi, Annaka City around 8:00 on 2026-07-27.
Annaka, Gunma
Annaka, Gunma
Size: adult
Karuizawa, Nagano
Annaka 松井田町土塩, Gunma
Size: juvenile
Karuizawa 大字長倉, Nagano
Around 8:20 AM on 2026-07-24, one bear was sighted in Hatachi, Karuizawa Town, Nagano Prefecture.
Karuizawa 大字発地, Nagano
Size: juvenile
Karuizawa, Nagano
Size: Adult
Karuizawa 大字発地, Nagano
Around 8:20 on 2026-07-24, a bear was sighted in Nagakura, Karuizawa Town, Nagano Prefecture.
Karuizawa 中軽井沢, Nagano
Size: Adult
Karuizawa 大字長倉, Nagano
A bear was sighted in Mogusa, Karuizawa Town, Nagano Prefecture, around 7:15 a.m. on July 21.
Karuizawa 大字茂沢, Nagano
Size: Adult
Karuizawa 大字茂沢, Nagano
Size: Unknown
Karuizawa 大字長倉, Nagano
A bear was sighted in Karuizawa, Karuizawa Town, Nagano.
Karuizawa 大字軽井沢, Nagano
Annaka 松井田町行田, Gunma
One bear was seen moving in Matsuida-cho Gyoda, Annaka City, Gunma.
Annaka 松井田町行田, Gunma
Size: cub (young bear)
Karuizawa 中軽井沢, Nagano
Size: Juvenile
Karuizawa 大字軽井沢, Nagano
Size: cub (young animal)
Karuizawa 大字軽井沢, Nagano
Size: Adult
Karuizawa 大字軽井沢, Nagano
Size: juvenile
Karuizawa 大字長倉, Nagano
Size: adult (fully grown)
Karuizawa, Nagano
Size: adult and cub
Karuizawa, Nagano
Size: juvenile
Karuizawa 大字軽井沢, Nagano
It looked like a large dog crossed the area, but there was no owner, and I realized it was a wild animal. It was not a boar, deer, or badger. Judging from the size, gait, and silhouette, I think it may have been a young Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus), so I am reporting it. Also, while walking nearby I found a black, glossy, flattened droppings. After examining it, I believe it is likely from a bear.
Karuizawa 大字軽井沢, Nagano
I was riding a motorcycle on a tour, and it was just at the spot where the guardrail goes into the mountain, so I didn't take any photos and the location is not exact. I was heading west and report an approximate location based on my memory that it was a left-hand curve a little past the Megane Bridge parking area, at a place with a white guardrail.
Annaka, Gunma
Size: juvenile
Karuizawa, Nagano
Size: Adult
Karuizawa, Nagano
A bear was sighted in Hatsuji, Karuizawa Town, Nagano, around 10:20 on July 6.
Karuizawa 大字発地, Nagano
Tomioka 妙義町上高田, Gunma
Size: adult
Karuizawa, Nagano
Size: juvenile
Karuizawa 中軽井沢, Nagano
Size: Adult (fully grown)
Karuizawa, Nagano
On 2026-07-04 afternoon, a bear was sighted in Hosshi, Karuizawa Town, Nagano Prefecture.
Karuizawa 大字発地, Nagano
A bear was sighted in Nagakura, Karuizawa Town.
Karuizawa 中軽井沢, Nagano
Around 7 PM on July 3, a bear was sighted in Nishinomaki, Shimonita Town.
Shimonita Nishinomaki, Gunma
Around 8:00 on 2026-07-03, a bear was sighted in Hotchi, Karuizawa Town, Nagano Prefecture.
Karuizawa 大字発地, Nagano
Size: Adult
Karuizawa, Nagano
A bear was sighted in Matsuida-machi Doshio, Annaka City.
Annaka 松井田町土塩, Gunma
Peak activity at 8:00 with 3 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, 43 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 10 of them.
The latest sighting was reported 15 hours ago near Annaka 松井田町二軒在家, Gunma.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 8:00. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk.
This 228 km route runs from Inzai to Karuizawa, passing through Chiba, Nagano, Gunma, Ibaraki, and Saitama. In the past 30 days, 43 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 10 of them. The latest sighting was reported 15 hours ago near Annaka 松井田町二軒在家, Gunma. This is an active bear corridor. Drive through with full caution, but rerouting is the safer choice.
