This 576 km route from JP Tower to Port of Miyako crosses Tokyo, Iwate, Chiba, Fukushima, Ibaraki, Miyagi, and Saitama. Over the past 30 days, 13 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 16 hours ago near Otsuchi Kirikiri, Iwate; the location sits about 542.2 km from the start of the route and 2.1 km off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 6 days ago at Ishinomaki 小船越, Miyagi, sitting about 394.0 km from the start and 283 m off the route line.
At this density of recent sightings, consider rescheduling or choosing a different trail until activity quiets.
24 places within 1 km of your route, passing through Tokyo, Iwate, Chiba, Fukushima, Ibaraki, Miyagi, Saitama.
At the contained large forest fire in Otsuchi Town, firefighters resumed extinguishing a heat source on May 7, 2026, located on the seaward side of the town road Rias Scenic Line in the Kirikiri district; personnel entered the mountain with members of the hunters' association around 09:45, with an infrared camera-equipped helicopter providing aerial backup. A helicopter survey on the 6th had confirmed at least three bears, so ground operations were suspended on the 6th and aerial firefighting was used.
Otsuchi Kirikiri, Iwate
A bear sighting was reported in Soma City, Fukushima Prefecture (see the article body for location details).
Soma Nakamura, Fukushima
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
On May 5, 2026, reports of sightings and footprints of bears or bear-like animals were reported repeatedly across Fukushima Prefecture, including on the Hama Kaido in Minamisoma City. According to police stations, some reports included descriptions of body length, but details are unclear.
Soma Nakamura, Fukushima
On May 2 a bear-like animal was sighted on the mountain designated as an evacuation site, so Ishinomaki Otayachi Elementary School postponed the tsunami evacuation drill for children that had been scheduled for May 7, when they would walk to the mountain.
Ishinomaki 小船越, Miyagi
On the morning of April 23, 2026, one bear was sighted in Higashimatsushima City, Miyagi Prefecture, and reported to the city office. Around 10:00 a.m., a person driving near Joge-tsutsumi in Higashimatsushima saw a bear crossing a national route north–south and reported it.
Higashimatsushima Jogetsutsumi, Miyagi
At around 05:50 on April 20, a driver observed an animal believed to be a bear about 1 meter long crossing a municipal road in Taki Kamisunaji, Tono-cho, Iwaki City, moving from the forest on the west side to the forest on the east side. No human injuries were reported, and police have urged local residents to remain vigilant.
Iwaki, Fukushima
At around 17:40 on the 15th, a patrolling police officer in a fallow field in Asamizu, Nakatacho, Tome City, spotted a bear about 1 meter long that moved away in the opposite direction from a nearby residential area. No damage has been reported, and the police continue to warn residents to be cautious.
Tome 中田町浅水, Miyagi
On the 14th in Miyagi Prefecture, three bears about 1 meter long were sighted: in Ishinomaki City Hirobuchi (around 19:10), Osaki City Furukawa Fukunuma 2-chome (around 21:50), and Sendai City Aoba-ku Futabagaoka 2-chome (around 22:40). No injuries have been reported at any of the locations, and police have stepped up patrols and warned residents to be cautious.
Ishinomaki 広渕, Miyagi
Around 10:30 on April 12, a man in his 30s hiking Mount Karō (Karōzan) in Sugime, Shinchi Town, Fukushima Prefecture, spotted one bear about 1.5 meters long. No damage has been reported in the area, and police are urging hikers to be cautious.
Shinchi Suginome, Fukushima
On the morning of April 12, 2026, a male hiker sighted one bear about 150 cm long near the trail of Mount Karō (鹿狼山) in Shinchi Town. On April 14 the town posted warning signs at the trailhead urging hikers to take precautions such as traveling in groups, carrying bells or radios, avoiding early-morning and evening hikes, and taking their trash home.
Shinchi Suginome, Fukushima
At around 15:50 on April 9, 2026, a single adult bear about 1 meter long was sighted in Ritsunecho, Ofunato City, Iwate Prefecture (near the Ritsune police post). The bear headed west toward the mountains; as of 17:00 no damage to people or buildings had been confirmed and the police have urged nearby residents to be cautious.
Ofunato Ikawacho, Iwate
At around 14:45 on the 9th, a man passing by spotted one bear walking toward the northern woodland at the Okumatsushima Park mallet golf course in Nobiru, Higashimatsushima. Police said the bear was about 1 meter long; it left the scene and no damage was reported.
Higashimatsushima Nobiru, Miyagi
Peak activity at 9:00 with 2 incidents
Ursus thibetanus japonicus
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Over the past 30 days, 13 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 16 hours ago near Otsuchi Kirikiri, Iwate; the location sits about 542.2 km from the start of the route and 2.1 km off the route line.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 9:00. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk.
This 576 km route from JP Tower to Port of Miyako crosses Tokyo, Iwate, Chiba, Fukushima, Ibaraki, Miyagi, and Saitama. Over the past 30 days, 13 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 16 hours ago near Otsuchi Kirikiri, Iwate; the location sits about 542.2 km from the start of the route and 2.1 km off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 6 days ago at Ishinomaki 小船越, Miyagi, sitting about 394.0 km from the start and 283 m off the route line. At this density of recent sightings, consider rescheduling or choosing a different trail until activity quiets.
