Saves as a new trip plan. The original stays as-is.
This 656 km route runs from Itako to Towada, passing through Ibaraki, Aomori, Fukushima, Iwate, and Miyagi. In the past 30 days, 133 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 24 of them. The latest sighting was reported 2 days ago near Hanamaki Toyosawacho, Iwate.
This is an active bear corridor. Drive through with full caution, but rerouting is the safer choice.
3 places within 1 km of your route, passing through Ibaraki, Aomori, Fukushima, Iwate, Miyagi.
One bear was sighted in Sakuramachi 1-chome, Hanamaki City.
Hanamaki Toyosawacho, Iwate
On the night of 2026-05-25, one bear was sighted on a city road in Narita 8-chome, Tomiya City, Miyagi Prefecture.
Tomiya 明石, Miyagi
Around 8:30 PM on 2026-05-25, a bear was sighted in Narita, Hanamaki City, Iwate Prefecture.
Hanamaki Narita, Iwate
A bear was sighted in Kamiango, Yamada-machi, Iwaki City.
Iwaki 山田町, Fukushima
A bear was sighted in Yatsumatazawa, Tsukidate Shimomiyano, Kurihara City.
Kurihara 築館, Miyagi
A bear was sighted in Kukunome 3rd Chiwari, Hanamaki City, around 18:00 on 2026-05-24.
Hanamaki Kunuginome, Iwate
Around 7:12 PM on May 24, a bear was observed on security camera in Matsuzonocho, Hanamaki City, Iwate Prefecture.
Hanamaki Tenkada, Iwate
A bear was sighted in Shinbori 32-wari, Ishidoriya-cho, Hanamaki City.
Hanamaki Ishidoriyacho-Hachiman, Iwate
A bear broke through and damaged the wall of a house in Ishikiridokoro-Kakinokidaira, Ninohe City.
Ninohe, Iwate
A bear was sighted in Furukawa Osaki Nyo Kodate, Ōsaki City.
Osaki 古川大崎, Miyagi
A bear was sighted in Aisaka Shirakami, Towada City, around 5:10 a.m.
Towada Nishi-jurokubancho, Aomori
A bear was sighted moving in Nishijubancho, Towada City.
Towada Nishi-jugobancho, Aomori
There is information of movement toward the Aisaka/Shirakami direction.
Towada Nishi-rokubancho, Aomori
Around 11:40 on May 21, a bear was sighted at Furukawa Shimizu Narita Omotemae in Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture.
Osaki 古川清水, Miyagi
At around 10:47 on 2026-05-21, a bear was sighted in Matsuzonocho, Hanamaki City, Iwate Prefecture.
Hanamaki Tenkada, Iwate
On National Route 6 in Kawako, Kashima Ward, Minamisoma City, a caller (male) reported that while driving near the sighting location he observed one animal believed to be a bear (body length approximately 50–80 cm) attempting to cross the highway from west to east.
Minamisoma 原町区押釜, Fukushima
Around 9:00 on May 21, a bear was sighted in Saijoji, Ichinohe Town.
Ichinohe Saihoji, Iwate
A bear was sighted in Iwakiri-Higashikawara, Miyagino Ward, Sendai City.
Sendai Iwakiri, Miyagi
At around 18:10 on May 20, a bear about 1 m long was sighted on the riverbank near Iwakiri Ohashi on the Nanakita River in Iwakiri, Miyagino Ward, Sendai; within about 20 minutes there were three reports extending to the Imaichi Bridge area. After hunters set off firecrackers after 20:00, the bear emerged from a thicket and moved westward; no further sightings or damages have been confirmed.
Sendai Iwakiri, Miyagi
A bear was sighted in Furukawa Osaki Odachi, Ōsaki City, Miyagi, around 14:20 on May 20, 2026.
Osaki 古川大崎, Miyagi
A bear is climbing up and down a chestnut tree.
Morioka, Iwate
At around 10:25 on May 20, 2026, a woman in her 70s encountered a bear about 1 meter long in a bamboo grove behind her home in Furukawa Shinhori, Osaki City, Miyagi. She waved a saw she was carrying and drove the bear off but fell and suffered a fractured bone in her lower back; the bear fled west.
Osaki 古川新堀, Miyagi
Early on the morning of May 20, 2026, one bear was sighted on the riverbed in Iwakiri, Miyagino Ward, Sendai. A nearby elementary school conducted group dismissal and police are on alert.
Sendai Iwakiri, Miyagi
At around 08:45 on May 20, a passerby sighted one bear south of Yahata Elementary School in Ishidoriya-cho, Hanamaki. The bear crossed Prefectural Route 265 from west to east and left the area; no damage was reported, and the police are patrolling the scene and urging residents to be cautious.
Hanamaki Ishidoriyacho-Hachiman, Iwate
A bear was sighted in Matsuzonocho, Hanamaki City, Iwate, on May 20 in the late afternoon.
Hanamaki Tenkada, Iwate
A bear appeared in Furukawa, Ōsaki City, Miyagi Prefecture, and the city carried out its first emergency shooting to cull the animal.
Osaki 古川, Miyagi
On the morning of May 19, 2026, one male bear was spotted in a grove near Furukawa Shinden, Osaki City. The city authorized emergency gun hunting for public safety and the bear was killed around 11:00 a.m. The bear was about 1.1 m long, weighed approximately 45 kg, was estimated to be four years old, and is believed to have wandered in via a nearby river.
Osaki 古川新田, Miyagi
A bear sighting of two (a parent and one offspring) was reported near Fukamochi Umeyama, Towada City, at about 10:50 AM on May 18, 2026.
Towada, Aomori
At around 6:40 AM on May 18, 2026, a single bear was sighted near 200 meters south of the Lawson Hachinohe Tagadai 1-chome store in Tagadai 1-chome, Hachinohe City, Aomori Prefecture.
Hachinohe Ichikawamachi, Aomori
At around 06:10 on the 18th, a man driving on a municipal road in Takayashiki, Tomiya City, spotted a bear about 1.5 m long and called the police. The bear ran up the west slope toward the mountain; the previous evening (17th) two other bears (about 1.5 m and 1 m) were reported about 1 km to the west in Yamatocho Morinooka 3-chome.
Tomiya 杜乃橋, Miyagi
At around 06:10 on the 18th, a 1.5-meter bear was seen walking on a slope near the Costco Wholesale Tomiya warehouse in Takayashiki, Tomiya City, by a man in a car; at about 10:00 the same day two more bears were spotted in a rice field about 1 km south of that location. There were no injuries reported, and Miyagi Prefecture announced it will continue the 'bear sighting alert' until June 18 due to the surge in sightings.
Tomiya 杜乃橋, Miyagi
A single cub was sighted near Fukamochi Umeyama in Towada City at around 20:30 on May 17, 2026.
Towada, Aomori
At around 18:20 on May 17, 2026, a resident reported seeing two bears (approximately 1.5 meters and 1 meter long) walking in a rice paddy in Mori-no-oka 3-chome, Taiwa Town, Miyagi Prefecture, and called emergency services.
Taiwa 杜の丘, Miyagi
One bear sighted near the garage of a private residence
Morioka, Iwate
Around 08:00 on May 17, a single bear was seen walking in an irrigation canal near Ota 6-chome, Morioka City. No damage from the bear has been confirmed, and the Morioka East Police Station has urged nearby residents to be cautious.
Morioka Shimoota-Sawada, Iwate
At around 03:30 on May 17, 2026, one bear was sighted near Tegake no Matsu green space at 2-19 Takamatsu, Morioka, Iwate. No human or property damage was reported.
Morioka, Iwate
At around 22:10 on the 16th, a caller driving in Higashimimae 4-chiwari 10-banchi area, Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture, spotted a bear under 1 meter long walking east along the road. The bear was reported to be about 50 meters ahead when observed.
Morioka Higashimirumae, Iwate
One bear was sighted on the opposite side across the Nedagawa (Nedagawa River).
Morioka Higashimirumae, Iwate
Around 20:25 on May 15, an adult bear was sighted on a city road north of Kitakami General Sports Park in Takamaedanchi, Awasaracho, Kitakami City; the bear crossed the road from north to south and ran toward the park. No damage from the bear was reported, and police have urged nearby residents to be cautious.
Kitakami Aisaricho, Iwate
Around 17:30 on May 15, 2026, one bear was sighted on the grounds of Hanamaki Airport in Hanamaki City, Iwate Prefecture, and the runway was temporarily closed. At least four flights were affected, but no injuries or property damage were reported, and the bear later left the airport grounds.
Hanamaki Kuzu, Iwate
According to police, around 15:00 on May 15, 2026, one adult bear was sighted in the grassland north of the Hanamaki City Exchange Hall in Katsura Daisan Chiwari, Hanamaki City. Police notified the city office and nearby schools.
Hanamaki Higashimiyanome, Iwate
One bear sighted in an apple orchard.
Morioka Senbokucho, Iwate
Around 23:55 on May 14, an adult bear was sighted on a road east of Motomiya Children's Park in Motomiya 2-chome, Morioka. Police patrolled the area by patrol car and spotted the bear near the west side of Motomiya Elementary School, but it entered a residential area and its whereabouts became unknown; no damage has been reported.
Morioka Senbokucho, Iwate
Observed one bear crossing the road.
Morioka, Iwate
On the morning of May 14, 2026, one adult bear was sighted on the campus of Iwate University in Morioka, near the gymnasium. The university canceled all classes for the day and urged people to remain inside buildings.
Morioka, Iwate
On the morning of May 14, 2026, an apparently adult bear was sighted on the grounds of Iwate University in Morioka. The university urged people to stay inside buildings and canceled all classes for the day.
Morioka, Iwate
At around 07:40 on the 14th, a police officer spotted one adult bear near the Dōhō dormitory at Iwate University in Ueda, Morioka. The city ordered an emergency shooting operation and restricted passage within a 200-meter radius northwest of the university, but the bear hid in undergrowth and was lost so it could not be culled; the shooting operation was lifted around 17:00 and authorities switched to box traps and conducted night patrols. The university canceled classes from the second period onward that day and suspended in-person classes on the 15th, asking dormitory residents to stay indoors.
Morioka, Iwate
At around 07:30 on May 14, 2026, one bear was sighted on the campus of Iwate University in Morioka (near the dormitory), and it remains on the grounds. Police and city officials are using drones to monitor the situation; some morning classes were canceled, no injuries or property damage have been reported, and the city is considering capture by tranquilizer or emergency culling.
Morioka Shimoota-Shinden, Iwate
At around 06:30 on May 14, an adult bear was sighted near the First Gymnasium on the Iwate University campus, and about an hour later another adult bear was seen near a university dormitory. The university canceled all classes for May 14, asked dorm residents to refrain from going out and warned students to stay inside, while police and prefectural staff continued to monitor the campus. Separately, at around 05:30 the same day an adult bear was also sighted near Iwate Junior & Senior High School in Nagatacho, Morioka.
Morioka, Iwate
On May 14, 2026 at around 06:30, a bear was sighted near the First Gymnasium of Iwate University Ueda Campus in Morioka City, and at about 07:50 another sighting was reported near the Dohou student dormitory. Morioka city and the Iwate prefectural police responded, and the university canceled classes from the second period onward and urged students to go home safely.
Morioka, Iwate
Bear sightings were reported in Morioka between the 13th and the morning of the 14th; around 05:30 a bear was seen near Iwate Junior/Senior High School in Nagatacho, and around 07:40 one was seen near a dormitory on Iwate University's Ueda campus. Police officers confirmed one adult bear on the university grounds but its subsequent whereabouts are unknown; Iwate University canceled the second-period classes and urged students to stay inside.
Morioka Senbokucho, Iwate
Around 05:30 on May 14, 2026, a bear was sighted near Iwate High School in Nagata-cho, Morioka. On the same day, bears were also reported on the Iwate University campus, and the university canceled some classes.
Morioka Senbokucho, Iwate
On May 14, 2026, one bear appeared at Iwate University in Morioka City and remained on the campus. Morioka City decided to carry out an emergency culling and canceled classes, but the shooting was called off due to sunset.
Morioka, Iwate
There were what appeared to be droppings of a young animal on the road.
Morioka, Iwate
Around 22:50 on May 13, a woman driving on a municipal road in Kamikitakodaira Takamatsu, Haramachi Ward, Minamisoma City, reported seeing one bear about 1 meter long to the Minamisoma police station. Sightings in the city have been occurring repeatedly since May 5.
Minamisoma 原町区北新田, Fukushima
While working in an apple pre-cooling shed in an apple orchard, a bear was sighted. Outside the shed, apple boxes and the refrigerator drain pipe were damaged.
Morioka, Iwate
Saw what appeared to be a mother bear and cub at night.
Morioka Atagoshita, Iwate
On the evening of May 13 a single bear was filmed running north across the lawn of Takamatsu Park in Morioka City. According to the city, there were six sightings around Takamatsu Park between the 13th and the morning of the 14th, and the city and police have increased patrols and warnings.
Morioka Atagoshita, Iwate
Around 16:30 on May 13, an adult bear was sighted near the Takamatsu Park rose garden in Ueda Kogamori, Morioka; it moved north toward Uedazutsumi. Police warned nearby schools and residents and patrolled the area by patrol car; no bear-related damage has been confirmed.
Morioka Atagoshita, Iwate
An adult bear was sighted near the Tsunagi multipurpose sports ground. It moved toward the Goshoko (Gosho Lake) area.
Morioka, Iwate
One adult was sighted. It was caught in a deer snare and escaped while permission to capture it was being sought, heading into the mountains.
Morioka Sanbonyanagi, Iwate
On May 13, 2026, a bear sighting was reported in Nanbu Town, Aomori Prefecture. The article did not provide specific time, exact location details, or the number of bears observed.
Nanbu Takahashi, Aomori
Numerous bear droppings were found on the property of a work shed adjacent to the residence.
Morioka Atagoshita, Iwate
While working in the fields, I spotted a small bear. It noticed me and seemed to run off toward the mountains.
Morioka Kamiota-Uwaze, Iwate
Spotted one adult bear and two cubs near the apple orchard.
Morioka Kamiota-Uwaze, Iwate
I heard the sound of a branch breaking, looked toward the slope, and saw a bear, so I backed away and ran. It was at a distance, but I think it was about 150 cm. I was panicked and did not take any photos.
Hachinohe Sakaushi, Aomori
Observed one adult bear heading north along the road.
Ōshū 水沢, Iwate
Spotted a bear near the Nakano intersection on National Route 4 that moved from west to east (toward Nakano Elementary School).
Morioka, Iwate
According to police, on the evening of May 10, 2026, multiple bear sightings were reported on the Namie–Kashima prefectural road in Kamikitakahira, Haramachi Ward, Minamisoma City. Around 17:40 a male driver saw a roughly 1-meter-long bear in the woods, and about 20 minutes later a female driver reported another sighting; police have stepped up patrols.
Minamisoma 原町区上北高平, Fukushima
One bear sighted near the garage of a residence.
Morioka Sanbonyanagi, Iwate
Around 18:30 on May 9, three bears were sighted in Kamisuwa, Hanamaki City, Iwate Prefecture, with no human or property damage reported. On May 10 at 15:09, a small bear was sighted on the grounds of Hanamaki Agricultural High School at 68-__ Katsura Dai-1 Chiwari, Hanamaki City.
Hanamaki Ishidoriyacho-Eso, Iwate
A single young bear was sighted near the parking lot reserved for staff of the Handmade Village.
Morioka Higashianiwa, Iwate
At about 08:30 on May 10, 2026, a single bear approximately 1 meter in length was sighted on a walking trail in Shiki no Mori within the Prefectural Forest in Tomiya City (Akashikami-Origemoto). When the walker increased the volume of a radio they were carrying, the bear left the area; there have been no further sightings and the management office is warning visitors over the park's PA system.
Tomiya, Miyagi
At around 08:25 on May 10, a passerby reported seeing an adult bear swimming north to south across the Kitakami River near Higashi-An'niwa 2-chome in Morioka City. Police issued local warnings and no damage from the bear has been confirmed.
Morioka Higashianiwa, Iwate
At around 08:25 on May 10 a single adult bear was reported swimming north to south in the Kitakami River west of 1-30 Higashi-An'niwa 2-chome in Morioka. At about 08:50 the same bear was also seen in an apartment parking lot in the same area; police issued warnings and no injuries were reported.
Morioka Higashianiwa, Iwate
A single medium-sized bear was observed moving toward Iwayama near the Iwayama entrance on National Route 4.
Morioka Sanbonyanagi, Iwate
Empty honey boxes with the honey removed and the place where the frames were kept were ransacked.
Morioka Higashianiwa, Iwate
At around 18:30 on the 9th, three bears were sighted walking in Kamisuwa, Hanamaki City, Iwate Prefecture. No human or property damage was reported.
Hanamaki Kamisuwa, Iwate
A single young bear was sighted near the staff-only parking lot of the Handmade Village.
Morioka Kamiota-Uwaze, Iwate
One juvenile bear sighted.
Ōshū 胆沢小山, Iwate
Bear feces are on the road. There are bear tracks nearby.
Morioka Kamiota-Uwaze, Iwate
Bear in the trail on return to resort. Waited 10-15 minutes for it to leave and continued past
Hachimantai, Iwate
Three bears were sighted in Kamisuwa, Hanamaki City, Iwate Prefecture; no human or property damage has been confirmed.
Hanamaki Kamisuwa, Iwate
At around 07:10 on May 8, 2026, one bear was sighted near Nakairin, Nakairin-aza, Hachinohe City. No damage was reported; the location is about 400 meters west of Nakairin Park.
Hachinohe Nakaibayashi, Aomori
At around 07:10 on May 8, a single bear was sighted in Nakaibayashi, Hachinohe City, Aomori Prefecture (about 400 meters west of Nakaibayashi Park). No damage was reported; the city has warned local residents and the hunters' association is responding by setting box traps.
Hachinohe Nakaibayashi, Aomori
Around 07:10 on 2026-05-08, one bear was sighted in Nakairin, Hachinohe City, Aomori Prefecture. The sighting occurred in an area with homes and educational facilities; no damage was reported, and the city has warned residents and schools, deploying capture traps and maintaining vigilance.
Hachinohe Nakaibayashi, Aomori
A single young bear was sighted, believed to have come down from the mountains.
Morioka Shimokuriyagawa, Iwate
A beehive box at the apiary beside the house was knocked over, and one frame was damaged.
Morioka Shimokuriyagawa, Iwate
On May 7 between 18:15 and 18:50, multiple people observed one adult bear wandering on the road in Kōchi, Ishidoriyacho, Hanamaki City, Iwate Prefecture. No damage from the bear has been confirmed, and police are warning nearby residents to be cautious.
Hanamaki Ishidoriyacho-Kochi, Iwate
At around 12:40 on May 7, 2026, one bear was sighted in Ōsawa (Nukazuka), Hachinohe City; no damage was reported. The city has urged nearby residents and passersby to be cautious.
Hachinohe Nukazuka, Aomori
Sighted one bear crossing the roadway.
Morioka Higashimirumae, Iwate
A single juvenile bear was sighted near the staff-only parking lot at Tezukuri Village.
Morioka Higashimirumae, Iwate
Observed one juvenile crossing the road from south to north.
Ōshū 水沢佐倉河, Iwate
Around 18:00 on May 5, 2026, one bear was sighted near Furudate in Ichikawa-cho, Hachinohe City. The sighting was reported approximately 500 meters southwest of the Ichikawa post office.
Hachinohe, Aomori
A single young bear was sighted on the elementary school grounds.
Ōshū 江刺稲瀬, Iwate
Around 17:00 on 2026-05-05, a parent-and-cub bear appeared in the precincts (cemetery) of Ganjoji temple in Hachinohe City, Aomori Prefecture; people visiting the graves sighted the bears. Three people sheltered in a nearby hall, police arrived about ten minutes after the report, and the temple posted warnings asking visitors to take offerings home.
Hachinohe Ichikawamachi, Aomori
One juvenile bear was sighted near the business premises.
Ōshū 水沢佐倉河, Iwate
At around 03:40 on the 5th, a resident spotted a single bear heading east on a road in Kuwabara 1-chome, Iwanuma City, Miyagi Prefecture. According to the prefectural police, the bear was about 1 meter long; officers patrolled the area but the animal had already left.
Iwanuma Honchō, Miyagi
Observed one adult bear passing through rice paddies and residential areas, moving into the brush along the Isawa River.
Ōshū 水沢佐倉河, Iwate
Witnessed one adult bear moving through rice paddies and houses, heading into the brush along the Isawa River.
Ōshū 水沢卸町, Iwate
Around 10:30 a.m. on the 4th in Hanamaki (Ishidoriya-cho, Kitaterabayashi), caretaker Kiyoshi Sameguchi found an overturned bucket near a chicken coop with feed scattered. Family members saw one adult bear nearby and reported it to the city; police and the hunting association set a trap at 1:00 p.m. and are on alert.
Hanamaki Ishidoriyacho-Kitaterabayashi, Iwate
Observed one young bear jumping over the fence along the Tohoku Expressway service road and moving south.
Ōshū 水沢佐倉河, Iwate
At around 08:00 on May 4, 2026, one bear was sighted near the Yonezawa Community Center in Shimoyoshida Yonezawa, Rokunohe Town, Aomori Prefecture.
Rokunohe Shimoyoshita, Aomori
Witnessed one young bear crossing the national highway from east to west near Mizusawa Interchange.
Ōshū 水沢佐倉河, Iwate
At around 06:30 on May 4, one bear was reported sighted in Nejo-Okubo, Hachinohe City. No injuries or reports of capture were reported.
Hachinohe Sawasato, Aomori
Inside Ishidoriya Fureai Sports Park
Hanamaki Ishidoriyacho-Kitaterabayashi, Iwate
Observed one adult bear staying on the road slope for about 5 minutes.
Ōshū 水沢, Iwate
An adult bear was sighted near the garbage collection point.
Morioka Tsuchibuchi, Iwate
One bear sighted in the hot spring facility parking lot
Morioka, Iwate
Witnessed one young bear running away on the roadway.
Morioka, Iwate
One juvenile bear sighted on the road.
Ōshū 水沢佐倉河, Iwate
Rice bran had been placed beside the field the reporter rents; two bags were torn into, and bear droppings and footprints on the mulch were found.
Morioka, Iwate
An adult bear was behind the garbage collection point near the caller’s residence; it then ran off toward the forested area.
Morioka, Iwate
A black bear (about 1 m) was rummaging through apple crates looking for apples.
Morioka Kado, Iwate
The field plastic mulch was torn, and there were footprints. The compost was disturbed.
Morioka, Iwate
Hachimantai 安比高原, Iwate
On May 1, 2026, sightings of a presumed adult bear were reported multiple times in Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture. The bear was seen at 10:50 near the FamilyMart Shibutami store in Shimoda, at 13:50 wandering on the road in Tsukigaoka 2-chome, and at 18:37 knocking over apple boxes in front of a shed in Mon/Suma; no human or property damage was reported.
Morioka Hirakashinden, Iwate
According to Morioka West Police, at around 13:50 on May 1, 2026, a passerby sighted one bear-like animal wandering near the municipal road east of Morioka Juvenile Prison at 15-1 Tsukigaoka 2-chome, Morioka City. The direction it went is unknown, and no human or property damage has been confirmed.
Morioka Hirakashinden, Iwate
At the Kōdōyama trailhead, five hikers sighted a mother and cub bear.
Morioka, Iwate
At around 10:50 on May 1, a single young bear was seen walking near the FamilyMart Shibutami store in Shimoda, Morioka City, and walked toward Shibutami Station. No injuries or damage were reported, and police have warned local residents to be cautious.
Morioka, Iwate
There are round footprints on the ridges I made. About 15 centimeters in diameter. Could it be a bear?
Morioka, Iwate
One bear sighted.
Ōshū Mizusawa-Miyashitacho, Iwate
Around 18:30 on April 29, one bear was reported sighted near Sugisawa Higashi Kobashi in Nanbu Town, Aomori Prefecture.
Nanbu Sugisawa, Aomori
was running on the sidewalk
Takizawa 篠木荒屋, Iwate
A bear sighting was reported in Nanbu Town, Aomori Prefecture on April 29, 2026. The article does not specify the time or the number of bears.
Nanbu Takahashi, Aomori
Around 16:20 on April 28, a passerby spotted a single bear about 70 cm long moving in the Nishikawa river in Tomiya-bussho, Tomiya City, and called emergency services. The bear moved in the river east of Route 4 and later departed to the west; there were no injuries, and police have stepped up warnings to nearby schools and increased vigilance.
Tomiya 富谷, Miyagi
At around 07:56 on April 28, 2026, one Asiatic black bear (Tsukinowaguma) was sighted near the west side of Korekawa Central Park in Korekawa 1-chome, Hachinohe. No damage was reported, and the city has urged nearby residents and passersby to be cautious.
Hachinohe Korekawa, Aomori
One adult bear sighted.
Ōshū, Iwate
Bear sighted near the hot spring facility.
Takizawa 大沢舛村, Iwate
At around 17:40 on the 27th, a local resident in Kurihara City, Tsukidate-Tomebarato-no-ki, reported seeing a bear about 1.5 m long. Just after 01:00 on the 28th, another bear about 1 m long was seen crossing National Route 4 in Tsukidate-Terukoshi Eihei; no injuries were reported. Police are patrolling the area and urging caution.
Kurihara 築館字留場, Miyagi
Around 17:20 on April 27, 2026, a passerby sighted one adult bear near the north-side waterway of Takizawa Minami Junior High in Ukai, Takizawa City. According to the Morioka West Police Station, no damage was confirmed. There were also daytime sightings in the surrounding area.
Takizawa 鵜飼滝向, Iwate
Around 17:00 on April 27, 2026, one adult bear was sighted in a wooded area near a farm road about 400 meters south of the municipal general waste final disposal site near Kushibiki-nyuusawa, Hachinohe.
Hachinohe Sakaushi, Aomori
Around 14:00 on April 27, one bear was sighted near Mantoku, Dobuchi, Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture. The city has urged nearby residents to be cautious.
Morioka Hirakashinden, Iwate
Peak activity at 8:00 with 13 incidents
Ursus thibetanus japonicus
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In the past 30 days, 133 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 24 of them.
The latest sighting was reported 2 days ago near Hanamaki Toyosawacho, Iwate.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 8:00. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk.
This 656 km route runs from Itako to Towada, passing through Ibaraki, Aomori, Fukushima, Iwate, and Miyagi. In the past 30 days, 133 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 24 of them. The latest sighting was reported 2 days ago near Hanamaki Toyosawacho, Iwate. This is an active bear corridor. Drive through with full caution, but rerouting is the safer choice.
