This 1632 km route from Okinawa Senseki Quasi-National Park to Tottori Castle crosses Okinawa, Tottori, Fukuoka, Hiroshima, Kagoshima, Kumamoto, Miyazaki, Saga, Shimane, and Yamaguchi. Over the past 30 days, 7 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of the route, including 5 in the past week. This route runs through Asian black bear habitat (native to Honshu and Shikoku). The most recent sighting was reported 2 days ago near Shimonoseki 菊川町大字下岡枝, Yamaguchi; the location sits about 1186.3 km from the start of the route and 3.8 km off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 1 week ago at Matsue Tamayucho-Tamatsukuri, Shimane, sitting about 1503.2 km from the start and 806 m off the route line.
With activity this close, slow through forested stretches and stay alert at dawn and dusk when bears cross roads.
24 places within 1 km of your route, passing through Okinawa, Tottori, Fukuoka, Hiroshima, Kagoshima, Kumamoto, Miyazaki, Saga, Shimane, Yamaguchi.
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
Shimonoseki 菊川町大字田部, Yamaguchi
Around 2:00 p.m. on May 5, 2026, near the Nakatanishita community hall in Utani, Kisuki Town, Unnan City, an adult bear was seen crossing a bridge and heading toward the mountains.
Unnan Kisukicho-Udani, Shimane
At around 16:50 on May 4, 2026, an adult bear was sighted at Shakunouchi Pass (Shakunouchi-toge) in Kizukicho Satokata, Unnan City, Shimane Prefecture.
Unnan Kisukicho-Kisuki, Shimane
At approximately 4:50 PM on May 4, 2026, near Shakunouchi Pass in Satokata, Kisuki Town, Unnan City, one adult bear (confirmed)...
Unnan Kamocho-Minamigamo, Shimane
On the morning of April 30, 2026, a bear sighting was reported in Tamayu, Matsue City, prompting schools to suspend club activities. It was later confirmed the animal was not a bear but a cat.
Matsue Tamayucho-Tamatsukuri, Shimane
Around 10:30 a.m. on April 27, 2026, one young bear was [sighted/encountered] near Haneuchi Bridge in Nishihito, Kisuki-cho, Unnan City.
Unnan Kisukicho-Nishihinobori, Shimane
Peak activity at 16:00 with 2 incidents
Ursus thibetanus japonicus
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Over the past 30 days, 7 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of this route, including 5 in the past week. This route runs through Asian black bear habitat (native to Honshu and Shikoku).
The most recent sighting was reported 2 days ago near Shimonoseki 菊川町大字下岡枝, Yamaguchi; the location sits about 1186.3 km from the start of the route and 3.8 km off the route line.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 16:00. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk.
This 1632 km route from Okinawa Senseki Quasi-National Park to Tottori Castle crosses Okinawa, Tottori, Fukuoka, Hiroshima, Kagoshima, Kumamoto, Miyazaki, Saga, Shimane, and Yamaguchi. Over the past 30 days, 7 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of the route, including 5 in the past week. This route runs through Asian black bear habitat (native to Honshu and Shikoku). The most recent sighting was reported 2 days ago near Shimonoseki 菊川町大字下岡枝, Yamaguchi; the location sits about 1186.3 km from the start of the route and 3.8 km off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 1 week ago at Matsue Tamayucho-Tamatsukuri, Shimane, sitting about 1503.2 km from the start and 806 m off the route line. With activity this close, slow through forested stretches and stay alert at dawn and dusk when bears cross roads.
