This 547 km route from Museum of Ethnology Art, Chubu University to Nikko crosses Aichi, Saitama, Tochigi, Ibaraki, Gunma, Kanagawa, Shizuoka, and Tokyo. Over the past 30 days, 21 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 1 day ago near Sano 高砂町, Tochigi; the location sits about 420.6 km from the start of the route and 3.5 km off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 2 weeks ago at Kanuma, Tochigi, sitting about 530.9 km from the start and 2 m off the route line.
At this density of recent sightings, consider rescheduling or choosing a different trail until activity quiets.
15 places within 1 km of your route, passing through Aichi, Saitama, Tochigi, Ibaraki, Gunma, Kanagawa, Shizuoka, Tokyo.
At around 08:35 on May 1, a resident spotted a single bear about 1 meter long near Rokusho Shrine in Yazawa, Inasa-cho, Hamanaku, Hamamatsu City. The bear walked along the road then moved into grasses/forest; no human injuries were reported. The city, hunters' association and police are patrolling the area and urging caution.
Hamamatsu Inasa-cho Yazawa, Shizuoka
At around 08:35 on May 1, 2026, a resident spotted a single bear about 1 meter long walking on a road in Inasa-cho, Tanisawa, Hamana Ward, Hamamatsu City. The bear walked for a while and then retreated into the grass; no further sightings or human injuries have been confirmed. The city requested patrols by the hunting association and police and warned nearby residents.
Hamamatsu Inasa-cho Yazawa, Shizuoka
On May 1, 2026, a bear was sighted near Rokusho Shrine in Tani-sawa, Inasa-cho, Hamana Ward, Hamamatsu. No human injuries were confirmed.
Hamamatsu Inasa-cho Yazawa, Shizuoka
I went outside to take out the work garbage and noticed a bear entering the mountain from a distance. I didn’t have my phone, so I don’t have any photos.
Fujieda 花倉, Shizuoka
Matsuda 松田惣領, Kanagawa
On the morning of April 13, 2026, in Inasa-cho Matoba, Hamana Ward, Hamamatsu City, a parent and child on their way to school reported seeing a black bear (estimated over 1 meter long); a police officer who arrived about an hour later also saw the same animal nearby. The city and hunters are patrolling the area, and no damage has been reported.
Hamamatsu Inasa-cho Matoba, Shizuoka
While driving, a bear crossed the road. Because I was driving, there are no photos.
Hamamatsu Inasa-cho Tazawa, Shizuoka
Toyota 大内町, Aichi
A bear was reported sighted in a mountain forest in Sano City, Tochigi Prefecture. The full article is behind a paywall, so further details are not available.
Sano 高砂町, Tochigi
On 2026-04-26, a bear was sighted near a compulsory education school in Sano City, Tochigi Prefecture. The article reports the sighting but does not provide details such as the time of the sighting or whether there were any injuries.
Sano 葛生西三丁目, Tochigi
A single bear was sighted on a road in Sano City, Tochigi Prefecture. Further details are reported in a paywalled article on Shimotsuke Shimbun Digital.
Sano 高砂町, Tochigi
At around 20:02 on April 14, 2026, a bear about 1 m long was sighted near Tanoinu Park in Tanoinu-cho, Sano City. An earlier report on April 7 at about 17:50 recorded a sighting of one cub-sized bear near Kuzuu Higashi in Sano City.
Sano 田之入町, Tochigi
Sano 田之入町, Tochigi
A bear was reported sighted on a riverbed in Nikko City, Tochigi Prefecture. The article does not report any injuries or damage.
Nikkō 今市本町, Tochigi
On 2026-04-24, a bear was sighted on a walkway in Nikkō City, Tochigi Prefecture, according to Shimotsuke Shimbun. The article is behind a paywall, so detailed circumstances and whether there were any injuries or damage are not confirmed.
Nikkō 今市本町, Tochigi
At around 12:10 PM on April 21, 2026, three bears (one adult about 1.0 m and two cubs about 60 cm) were sighted in a grove near the Takeko Industrial Park in Takeko, Kanuma City, Tochigi Prefecture. Bear droppings were found at the scene, and police and city authorities are patrolling and issuing warnings asking people not to approach.
Kanuma, Tochigi
Kanuma, Tochigi
A bear cub was sighted for two consecutive days in Kanuma City, Tochigi Prefecture (article published 2026-04-16). The sightings involved at least one cub.
Kanuma 今宮町, Tochigi
Nikkō 瀬尾, Tochigi
A bear was sighted on a national road in Nikkō City, Tochigi Prefecture, and appeared again in the early morning of the same day, local papers reported. The next day there was also a sighting reported in a forested area of Nikkō.
Nikkō 今市本町, Tochigi
On 2026-04-10, a bear was sighted on a national highway in Nikko City, Tochigi Prefecture. The article provides no further details or reports of damage.
Nikkō 今市本町, Tochigi
Peak activity at 8:00 with 2 incidents
Ursus thibetanus japonicus
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Over the past 30 days, 21 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 1 day ago near Sano 高砂町, Tochigi; the location sits about 420.6 km from the start of the route and 3.5 km off the route line.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 8:00. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk.
This 547 km route from Museum of Ethnology Art, Chubu University to Nikko crosses Aichi, Saitama, Tochigi, Ibaraki, Gunma, Kanagawa, Shizuoka, and Tokyo. Over the past 30 days, 21 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 1 day ago near Sano 高砂町, Tochigi; the location sits about 420.6 km from the start of the route and 3.5 km off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 2 weeks ago at Kanuma, Tochigi, sitting about 530.9 km from the start and 2 m off the route line. At this density of recent sightings, consider rescheduling or choosing a different trail until activity quiets.
