This 158 km route from Iwakura Onsen to Saku crosses Tokyo, Saitama, Gunma, and Nagano. Over the past 30 days, 10 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of the route, including 3 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 Karuizawa, Nagano; the location sits about 129.3 km from the start of the route and 3.1 km off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 3 weeks ago at Hanno 大字前ヶ貫, Saitama, sitting about 1.9 km from the start and 81 m off the route line.
At this density of recent sightings, reroute or postpone your ride until activity quiets.
7 places within 1 km of your route, passing through Tokyo, Saitama, Gunma, Nagano.
According to the Saitama Prefectural Police, around 16:00 on April 30, 2026, a bear-like animal about 60–70 cm long was sighted in Misugidai 1-chome, Hannō City. The area includes schools, restaurants, parks and tourist spots, and police are urging people to prioritize their safety.
Hanno 大字矢颪, Saitama
According to the Saitama Prefectural Police, at around 00:45 on the 20th a bear-like animal about 1 meter long was sighted under the pedestrian bridge east of Misugidai Elementary School in Misugidai 2-chome, Hannō. The face was seen from inside a car, and the gait captured on a drive recorder suggests it was a bear.
Hanno 大字前ヶ貫, Saitama
Ōme Osoki, Tokyo
According to the Saitama Prefectural Police, around 16:00 on April 30, 2026, a bear-like animal about 60–70 cm long was sighted in Misugidai 1-chome, Hannō City. The area includes schools, restaurants, parks and tourist spots, and police are urging people to prioritize their safety.
Hanno 大字矢颪, Saitama
According to the Saitama Prefectural Police, at around 00:45 on the 20th a bear-like animal about 1 meter long was sighted under the pedestrian bridge east of Misugidai Elementary School in Misugidai 2-chome, Hannō. The face was seen from inside a car, and the gait captured on a drive recorder suggests it was a bear.
Hanno 大字前ヶ貫, Saitama
Size: Adult
Karuizawa, Nagano
Size: Adult
Karuizawa 大字追分, Nagano
It was a cub about 1 meter long. It immediately went off to the left and disappeared from view. I turned back.
Annaka, Gunma
It was watching us from a distance along the Apt Trail.
Annaka, Gunma
Annaka 松井田町五料, Gunma
Karuizawa Town in Kitasaku District has temporarily shifted its policy from releasing captured bears after 'learning' to euthanizing them for a limited period. The change responds to repeated human injuries and appearances of bears in residential areas across the prefecture and concerns that bears' wide-ranging movements could cause harm to neighboring municipalities.
Karuizawa 中軽井沢, Nagano
Peak activity at 12:00 with 3 incidents
Ursus thibetanus japonicus
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For mountain rescue, call 110 (police). They will coordinate with local rescue teams.
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Over the past 30 days, 10 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of this route, including 3 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 Karuizawa, Nagano; the location sits about 129.3 km from the start of the route and 3.1 km off the route line.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 12:00. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk.
This 158 km route from Iwakura Onsen to Saku crosses Tokyo, Saitama, Gunma, and Nagano. Over the past 30 days, 10 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of the route, including 3 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 Karuizawa, Nagano; the location sits about 129.3 km from the start of the route and 3.1 km off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 3 weeks ago at Hanno 大字前ヶ貫, Saitama, sitting about 1.9 km from the start and 81 m off the route line. At this density of recent sightings, reroute or postpone your ride until activity quiets.
