This 448 km route from Kasugai to Akiha Ward, Niigata crosses Aichi, Niigata, Gifu, and Nagano. Over the past 30 days, 42 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 21 hours ago near Joetsu, Niigata; the location sits about 336.1 km from the start of the route and 631 m off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 3 weeks ago at Joetsu 大字大貫, Niigata, sitting about 330.2 km from the start and 11 m off the route line.
This is an active bear corridor. Drive through with full caution, but rerouting is the safer choice.
5 places within 1 km of your route, passing through Aichi, Niigata, Gifu, Nagano.
A black bear (Tsukinowaguma) approached a camera in the mountain area of Joetsu City, Niigata Prefecture, with a beehive reported nearby. An adult bear was also confirmed on the Iwate University campus (Morioka City decided not to carry out emergency shooting and the university canceled all classes), and another individual appeared in a residential area in New Jersey, USA.
Joetsu, Niigata
Size: Adult
Iizuna Kurai, Nagano
A moon bear (Asian black bear) about 1–1.2 meters long was located about 500 meters from the Nakasendō.
Nagiso, Nagano
In Shiojiri City, Nagano Prefecture, one bear ran out in front of a moving passenger car and collided with it, damaging the left front tire area and leaving the vehicle unable to drive, but there were no injuries. In Aomori Prefecture, bear sightings near inhabited areas prompted emergency shooting, and a total of two bears were culled; one of the culled adults is believed to be an Asiatic black bear about 1.5 m long and 80 kg.
Shiojiri Daimon-nanabancho, 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
Size: Adult
Azumino 明科光, Nagano
Size: adult
Shinano Kumasaka, Nagano
Size: Adult
Azumino 明科中川手, Nagano
One bear-like animal was sighted near the summit area of the Kanayama Park lift in the Oaza Onuki area.
Joetsu, Niigata
Size: Juvenile
Matsumoto Kariyaharamachi, Nagano
Size: Juvenile
Chikuhoku, Nagano
Size: Adult
Matsumoto Gojo, Nagano
Size: Adult
Iiyama Hachisu, Nagano
A supposed bear sighting before 22:30 on May 4 at a convenience-store parking lot in Kamo City (Ogocho 2) was found, after review of CCTV by the Kamo police and city, to be a leashed dog at the entrance.
Kamo, Niigata
Spotted one bear in front of the convenience store entrance. It ran off toward the northeast.
Kamo, Niigata
Kamo City reported that at around 22:25 on May 4 a roughly 1-meter bear was sighted in front of the Seven-Eleven entrance in Daigocho, Kamo, but security camera footage later showed the animal was actually a leashed dog; the city apologized on the morning of May 5 for the false report. The city continues to urge caution against bear encounters.
Kamo, Niigata
At around 07:00 on May 4, 2026, one bear was sighted near a blueberry farm in Kanemata, Myoko City. The bear's length was unknown; the sighting occurred close to houses and police warned nearby residents to be cautious.
Myoko, Niigata
Around 06:02 on May 3, 2026, a single bear about 1 meter long was sighted near the Teramachi interchange on National Route 18 in Yanaiida-machi, Myoko City, and a passerby reported it. Police and the city warned nearby residents and carried out alerting activities.
Myoko, Niigata
A passerby in the vicinity spotted one bear heading south.
Myoko, Niigata
Around 06:00 on the 3rd, a bear was reported sighted in the parking lot of Arai Shopping Center in Kurihara 4, Myoko City. According to the Myoko Police, the bear was about 1 meter long, then appeared to move toward the urban area and was also reported near municipal housing in Nakagawa before 07:00, prompting the police to urge caution.
Myoko, Niigata
On May 1, 2026 in Minowa Town, Nagano Prefecture, a "zoning safety inspection" was held in the rain to separate bear habitat from human living areas; about 20 people including residents, police, and the hunters' association checked visibility around the boundary. The town has installed grass-cutting measures and electric fences at the boundary, and reports that since starting zoning in June 2025 bear sightings have decreased and no attacks on people have occurred.
Minowa, Nagano
Size: Unknown
Nakagawa 片桐, Nagano
At around 00:40 on April 29, a single bear approximately 1.5 meters long was spotted on the road in Higashiterao, Matsushiro, Nagano City; a passing car honked its horn and the bear ran away, according to a report. Police searched the area but did not find the animal and have urged local residents to be cautious.
Nagano Matsushiromachi-Higashiterao, Nagano
In the early hours of April 29, 2026, a single bear about 1.5 meters long was sighted on a road in Higashiterao, Matsushiro-cho, Nagano City; before 00:30 a passing driver honked and reported the bear left. Police searched the area but did not find the animal and no damage was reported; residents nearby were warned to be cautious.
Nagano Matsushiromachi-Higashiterao, Nagano
Size: adult
Nagano Matsushiromachi-Johoku, Nagano
Size: adult (fully grown)
Iiyama Hachisu, Nagano
In Myoko City (Shi) on April 27 at around 10:30 a.m., a passerby spotted a bear about 1 meter long walking through rice fields from the Yashiro River toward the settlement and reported it to the police. The sighting was about 100 meters from houses, and the police and Myoko City are patrolling the area and issuing warnings.
Myoko, Niigata
At about 10:30 a.m. on April 27, 2026, a single bear approximately 1 meter long was sighted near the Yashiro Community Sports Center area in Myoko City (Shi). The bear was seen walking through rice fields and crossing a road toward residential houses; police and the city warned residents and carried out patrols, but the bear later disappeared from view.
Myoko, Niigata
Size: Adult
Shinano Kashiwabara, Nagano
Size: juvenile
Suzaka Hitaki, Nagano
(The bear) wandered for a while between the expressway and the national highway, then moved west.
Myoko 大字上八幡新田, Niigata
Around 15:00 on April 22, 2026, a bear about 1 meter long was sighted at Michi-no-Eki Arai in Inoyama, Myoko City, Niigata Prefecture. Police have warned the public and are conducting surveillance.
Myoko, Niigata
Size: Adult
Iijima 飯島, Nagano
On 2026-04-22, one bear was sighted at Michi-no-Eki Arai in Myoko City, Niigata Prefecture. A witness said, "The door opened and a large black thing came in."
Myoko, Niigata
One bear sighted near Inari Pond within the Oaza Shimobaba area.
Joetsu 大字下馬場, Niigata
Moved along the nearby block fence and fled into the nearby woods.
Myoko 大字坂口新田, Niigata
While driving on National Route 18, it attempted to cross the highway from the west but did not cross and moved into the mountains on the west side.
Myoko 大字坂口新田, Niigata
One bear was sighted on the north side of the Kanayama Tunnel of the Joshin-etsu Expressway within the Ōaza Ōnuki area.
Joetsu 大字大貫, Niigata
Shortly after 09:00 on the 20th, a cargo truck traveling on the inbound lanes of the Joshinetsu Expressway in Onuki, Jōetsu City, collided with a bear coming from the right. The male driver was uninjured, the front of the vehicle was damaged, and the bear (about 1 meter long) ran off to the east after the collision; the site is about 500 meters from the nearest houses.
Joetsu 大貫四丁目, Niigata
Size: adult
Shinano Kashiwabara, Nagano
Size: Adult
Nagano Toyonomachi-Kawatani, Nagano
Peak activity at 6:00 with 3 incidents
Ursus thibetanus japonicus
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Over the past 30 days, 42 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 21 hours ago near Joetsu, Niigata; the location sits about 336.1 km from the start of the route and 631 m off the route line.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 6:00. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk.
This 448 km route from Kasugai to Akiha Ward, Niigata crosses Aichi, Niigata, Gifu, and Nagano. Over the past 30 days, 42 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 21 hours ago near Joetsu, Niigata; the location sits about 336.1 km from the start of the route and 631 m off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 3 weeks ago at Joetsu 大字大貫, Niigata, sitting about 330.2 km from the start and 11 m off the route line. This is an active bear corridor. Drive through with full caution, but rerouting is the safer choice.
