This 337 km route from Kai to Ikeda crosses Yamanashi, Fukui, Gifu, and Nagano. Over the past 30 days, 28 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 3 days ago near Nagiso, Nagano; the location sits about 160.6 km from the start of the route and 2.7 km off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 3 weeks ago at Iijima 飯島, Nagano, sitting about 106.6 km from the start and 23 m off the route line.
At this density of recent sightings, consider rescheduling or choosing a different trail until activity quiets.
8 places within 1 km of your route, passing through Yamanashi, Fukui, Gifu, Nagano.
A moon bear (Asian black bear) about 1–1.2 meters long was located about 500 meters from the Nakasendō.
Nagiso, Nagano
Two bears crossed in front of the car.
Mizunami, Gifu
It was along the roadside. When I approached by car, it ran up into the mountain.
Kani 久々利柿下入会, Gifu
News of sighting of an adult bear
Komagane Higashiina, Nagano
Size: Adult
Komagane Higashiina, Nagano
Four chickens kept at a residence in Seki City, Gifu Prefecture, were found dead and are believed to have been attacked by a bear. Around the Nagara River in the city, a resident filmed one bear on May 1, and the city has stepped up warnings.
Seki 西本郷, Gifu
Around 10:30 on May 4, 2026, a single bear about 1.10 m long appeared at a residence with a vegetable stand in the highland known as "Hoshifuru-sato" in Hara Village, Nagano. It was captured with a tranquilizer gun shortly before 14:00.
Hara, Nagano
Around 10:20 on May 4, a bear about 1.0–1.1 m long was sighted near the restaurant grounds in Nakashinden, Haramura (Suwa District), Nagano Prefecture; police and hunters responded. In the afternoon it was immobilized with a dart gun, captured and subsequently euthanized by the village authorities; no injuries or property damage were reported.
Hara, Nagano
At around 10:20 on May 4, 2026, a single adult bear (about 1.1 m long, approximately 45 kg) was sighted on the grounds of a restaurant/residence and nearby house in Shinmida, Hara Village, Suwa District, Nagano Prefecture. Police, hunting association members and village staff responded and the bear was sedated with a tranquilizer gun and captured at about 13:40; it was subsequently euthanized. No injuries or damage to buildings were reported.
Hara, Nagano
On May 4 in Hara Village, Nagano Prefecture, a bear (approximately 1.10 m in length) seen on the premises of a restaurant was sedated with a tranquilizer gun by police and hunting association members, captured, and euthanized. Reports say the bear had moved toward a nearby vegetable direct-sales stall.
Hara, Nagano
Near the Chuo Expressway Suwa-Minami interchange in Hara village, a bear was seen on a home's premises after 10:00 AM and was captured with a tranquilizer gun about four hours later on another home's grounds. The animal, about 1.1 meters long and believed to be a young individual, had repeatedly raided nearby beehives and was culled by the village after capture. No injuries were reported.
Fujimi, Nagano
On May 1 in Seki City, of six chickens kept at a residence four were found dead in the yard and two were missing. The carcasses were gone the next day, bear tracks were found nearby, and since bear sightings increased from April 28 to May 2 the city has set traps and posted signs to warn residents.
Seki 西本郷, Gifu
A presumed adult Asiatic black bear (Tsukinowaguma) about 1 meter long was repeatedly sighted along the right bank of the Nagara River in Ikejiri, Seki City, from April 28 onward. On May 1, of six chickens kept at a nearby residence four were found dead and two missing; bear tracks and dug-up traces were found nearby, and the city has stepped up precautions by installing box traps and warning signs.
Seki 池尻, Gifu
Size: Unknown
Nakagawa 片桐, Nagano
Around 15:00 on April 30, a single adult Asian black bear of about 1 meter in length was sighted near the Nagara River right bank by the Kose Ukai fishing ground in Seki City Ikejiri. On May 1, four of six chickens kept at a nearby house were found dead with bite marks, and bear tracks were discovered in woodland about 200 meters from the house.
Seki, Gifu
On April 30 at around 14:30, the owner of a restaurant near the Misayama signal intersection in Hara Village reported seeing a roughly 1-meter bear in the garage. Village staff, police and hunting association members arrived but the bear had already left; footprints and droppings were found nearby, and no damage has been confirmed.
Hara, Nagano
Around 14:30 on April 30, 2026, a single bear about 1 meter long entered the garage of Restaurant Petika in Hara village, Nagano Prefecture, destroyed a beehive box kept years earlier and left droppings. The bear got briefly caught in a garden net, freed itself and fled into the woods; the village set two box traps.
Hara, Nagano
In Seki City, Gifu Prefecture, multiple bear sightings have occurred since the end of last month, and damage to chickens has been confirmed. The city set up box traps together with the local hunters' association and is urging residents to be cautious.
Seki 西本郷, Gifu
Size: adult
Hara, Nagano
In Seki City, Gifu Prefecture, there were five bear sightings between April 28 and May 2 — four in Ikejiri and one in Hiromi. At a residence in Ikejiri, four of six kept chickens were found dead on April 29, and on April 30 the burial site was dug up and bear tracks were confirmed nearby; the city and the hunters' association have set two box traps, conducted patrols, and posted warning signs.
Seki 池尻, Gifu
Ikeda Hirose, Fukui
A bear was sighted near Gifu Family Park. Gifu Family Park will be temporarily closed for a while.
Gifu 出屋敷, Gifu
At around 07:00 on April 23, 2026, one bear was sighted near Gifu Family Park in Kitano-kita, Gifu City. The city and police have been patrolling the area, and the park was closed temporarily until safety can be confirmed.
Gifu 北野北, Gifu
On April 23 a resident in Kitano-kita, Gifu City, reported sighting a single bear-like animal, and the city temporarily closed Gifu Family Park. The park reopened on April 29, but some playground equipment and mountain walking trails remain closed.
Gifu 北野北, Gifu
At around 11:40 on April 22, 2026, one bear was sighted in Shiikura, Yamagata City, Gifu Prefecture. The city urged witnesses not to approach the bear and to report sightings to the city office or Yamagata Police Station.
Yamagata 椎倉, Gifu
Size: Adult
Iijima 飯島, Nagano
Around 10:00 on April 21, 2026, a bear approximately 80–100 cm long was sighted near Sakurao Elementary School in Yamagata City, Gifu Prefecture. Students were escorted to school by guardians, police cars patrolled the area, and the hunters' association set box traps as a countermeasure.
Yamagata 伊佐美, Gifu
On April 21, 2026, a bear about 80 cm long was spotted near an elementary school in Yamagata City, Gifu Prefecture; parents accompanied students to school and vigilance increased. The sighting was reported around 7:30 a.m.
Yamagata 高木, Gifu
Peak activity at 10:00 with 5 incidents
Ursus thibetanus japonicus
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Over the past 30 days, 28 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 3 days ago near Nagiso, Nagano; the location sits about 160.6 km from the start of the route and 2.7 km off the route line.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 10:00. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk.
This 337 km route from Kai to Ikeda crosses Yamanashi, Fukui, Gifu, and Nagano. Over the past 30 days, 28 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 3 days ago near Nagiso, Nagano; the location sits about 160.6 km from the start of the route and 2.7 km off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 3 weeks ago at Iijima 飯島, Nagano, sitting about 106.6 km from the start and 23 m off the route line. At this density of recent sightings, consider rescheduling or choosing a different trail until activity quiets.
