This 172 km route from Kamaishi to Mount Hachimantai crosses Iwate. Over the past 30 days, 44 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of the route, including 9 in the past week. This route runs through Asian black bear habitat (native to Honshu and Shikoku). The most recent sighting was reported 1 day ago near Hachimantai 田頭, Iwate; the location sits about 139.2 km from the start of the route and 3.0 km off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 1 week ago at Tōno Ayaoricho-Shimoayaori, Iwate, sitting about 41.8 km from the start and 210 m off the route line.
This is an active bear corridor. Rerouting or rescheduling your hike is strongly advised.
1 places within 1 km of your route, passing through Iwate.
On the morning of May 7, a woman was found unconscious in a mountain forest in Hachimantai City, Iwate Prefecture. She had injuries believed to be from an animal's claws, and police are investigating on suspicion she was attacked by a bear.
Hachimantai 田頭, Iwate
In Hachimantai City, Iwate Prefecture, a woman in her 60s who went out to pick wild plants was reported missing from May 6; during a search, her body was found in the mountains of the city on the morning of May 7 at around 8:00. The body showed signs of an animal attack, and police are investigating the cause of death, considering the possibility that she was attacked by a bear.
Hachimantai 田頭, Iwate
According to the Iwate Prefectural Police, on May 7, 2026, the body of a woman in her 60s was found in a mountain in Hachimantai City. Her face and head had scratch wounds consistent with an animal attack, and police suspect she may have been attacked by a bear; she had been missing since May 6 after going out to pick wild plants.
Hachimantai 田頭, 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
Inside Ishidoriya Fureai Sports Park
Hanamaki Ishidoriyacho-Kitaterabayashi, Iwate
A black bear (about 1 m) was rummaging through apple crates looking for apples.
Morioka Kado, 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
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
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
was running on the sidewalk
Takizawa 篠木荒屋, Iwate
Bear sighted near the hot spring facility.
Takizawa 大沢舛村, Iwate
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 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
At around 05:40 on April 27, 2026, an adult bear was sighted near Hiijono Sports Park in Matsuzono-cho, Hanamaki City. Matsuzono Nursery is nearby; the city and police monitored the area, and no damage has been reported.
Hanamaki Matsuzonocho, Iwate
Around 13:30 on April 24, an adult bear was found perched in a tree and remaining motionless near the Seiyouen Clean Center in Shinzato, Ayahori-cho, Tono City. As of 16:00 the situation remained at an impasse, and police and municipal officials are considering how to respond.
Tōno Ayaoricho-Shimoayaori, Iwate
At around 13:30 on April 24, 2026, a single presumed adult bear was spotted up in a tree near the clean center in Ayatori-cho, Tono City, Iwate Prefecture, and remained there as of 17:00. The city plans to carry out an emergency culling once safety is confirmed; to facilitate this, the Kamaishi Expressway between Tono IC and Miyamori IC was closed in both directions.
Tōno Ayaoricho-Kamiayaori, Iwate
In Shiwa Town, Iwate Prefecture, a fire brigade member was attacked by a bear; this occurred the day before a police officer was attacked. The report notes the timing and relation of the incidents but does not specify detailed injury information.
Shiwa 日詰, Iwate
In Shiwa Town, Iwate Prefecture, a member of the fire brigade was reported to have been affected by a bear. The article states this occurred the day before a police officer was attacked.
Shiwa 日詰, Iwate
A woman's body was found near Shiwa Town, Iwate Prefecture, in circumstances that appear to be a bear attack. A police officer was also attacked nearby and suffered serious injuries.
Shiwa 日詰, Iwate
At around 10:00 on April 21, 2026, a police officer searching for a missing person in Shiwa Town, Iwate Prefecture was attacked by a bear and suffered bites to the face and arm. The bear believed to have carried out the attack was killed after several hours of search.
Shiwa 紫波中央駅前二丁目, Iwate
On the morning of April 21, 2026, in Shiwa Town, Iwate Prefecture, a police officer searching for a missing person was attacked by a bear and sustained bites to the face and arm. The officer was conscious during transport, and the bear was culled at the scene.
Shiwa 日詰, Iwate
On the morning of April 21, 2026, in a stream area of Shiwa Town, Iwate Prefecture, a male police officer searching for a missing person with hunting association members was attacked by a bear and was taken to hospital with bites to his face and arms. The bear that was killed was near the scene where the body of a missing woman was found; her body had multiple wounds and is believed to have been attacked by a bear.
Shiwa 日詰, Iwate
Signs of an attempt to enter the cowshed.
Ōshū, Iwate
Filmed in front of Ippongi after-school care. After this, it crosses the Sunakomi River and goes into the woods.
Takizawa 柳原, Iwate
Iwate Prefecture issued a warning about Asian black bear sightings. On April 21, 2026, in Shiwa Town a woman's body believed to have been attacked by a bear was found, and a police officer was seriously injured.
Shiwa 日詰, Iwate
A single juvenile bear was sighted near the staff-only parking lot of the Tezukuri Village.
Morioka Haba, Iwate
A young bear was sighted near the staff-only parking lot at the Handicraft Village.
Morioka Isari-Hatakenaka, Iwate
A single young bear was sighted near the staff-only parking lot of the Handmade Village.
Morioka Kawasaki, Iwate
At around 09:55 on April 18, 2026, an adult bear was sighted in Shimoda (下田字下田), Morioka City. At about 10:05 the same day, an adult bear was sighted in Oidebukuro (生出袋), Shimoda, Morioka City.
Morioka Kawasaki, Iwate
On April 18, 2026 at about 06:05, an adult bear was sighted in Yuzawa, Morioka City. Additional adult bear sightings occurred later in the morning in the Shimoda area of Morioka; no human or property damage was reported and police warned local residents to be cautious.
Morioka Yuzawa, Iwate
An immature bear (one) was witnessed—appears to have come down from the mountain.
Morioka Kawasaki, Iwate
Damage to feed bags; feeding traces.
Ōshū, Iwate
There are signs the bear was fixated on the feed.
Morioka, Iwate
A bear about 1 meter long was seen moving toward the rice fields to the south.
Morioka Kuroishino 1-chome, Iwate
Around 16:00 on April 15, 2026, a schoolchild leaving school in Kuroishino 1-chome, Morioka City, spotted two bears (one large and one small) in the brush north of Midorigaoka Elementary School. Police searched the area but did not find the bears; one other sighting believed to be of the same animals was reported, and warnings and patrols are ongoing in the area.
Morioka Kuroishino 1-chome, Iwate
A single young bear was sighted near the staff-only parking lot of the Handmade Village.
Morioka Kuroishino 1-chome, Iwate
Damage to feed bags; feeding traces (gnawing/feeding signs).
Ōshū, Iwate
Around 22:30 on April 13, 2026, one bear cub appeared near Kamido 3-chome, Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture, and ran east toward the Kitakami River. There were no human or property damages.
Morioka Kamido 3-chome, Iwate
At around 13:05 on April 13, an adult bear appeared at the office entrance of the Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute Timber Breeding Center (Tohoku Breeding Station) in Osaki, Takizawa City; it knocked the door once and then ran into the woods to the south. No injuries or damage were reported.
Takizawa, Iwate
Footprints believed to be from a bear were observed.
Morioka Kamido 3-chome, Iwate
In Morioka (Kawame), a man in his 70s saw an adult bear enter his garage around 00:30 on April 10 after his dog barked and reported it to the police. When checked around 08:30, 3–4 apples stored in a shed had been eaten and the bear had already left; the city set box traps to attempt capture.
Morioka Konyacho, Iwate
Observed one young bear eating feed in a cowshed.
Ōshū, Iwate
Witnessed one young bear running away on the roadway.
Morioka Higashimatsuzono 4-chome, Iwate
Peak activity at 13:00 with 6 incidents
Ursus thibetanus japonicus
Safety picks and trail essentials, top-rated on Amazon and Rakuten.
For mountain rescue, call 110 (police). They will coordinate with local rescue teams.
Draw any route in Japan and get the same bear-safety report, built around the trip you're actually taking.
No comments yet.
Over the past 30 days, 44 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of this route, including 9 in the past week. This route runs through Asian black bear habitat (native to Honshu and Shikoku).
The most recent sighting was reported 1 day ago near Hachimantai 田頭, Iwate; the location sits about 139.2 km from the start of the route and 3.0 km off the route line.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 13:00. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk.
This 172 km route from Kamaishi to Mount Hachimantai crosses Iwate. Over the past 30 days, 44 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of the route, including 9 in the past week. This route runs through Asian black bear habitat (native to Honshu and Shikoku). The most recent sighting was reported 1 day ago near Hachimantai 田頭, Iwate; the location sits about 139.2 km from the start of the route and 3.0 km off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 1 week ago at Tōno Ayaoricho-Shimoayaori, Iwate, sitting about 41.8 km from the start and 210 m off the route line. This is an active bear corridor. Rerouting or rescheduling your hike is strongly advised.
