Toshiba Science Institute to Murakami Hiking Route

At around 06:45 on May 21, 2026, a bear was sighted in the Mizusawa No.3 area of Tokamachi City near Echigo-Mizusawa Station; it crossed National Route 117 and headed toward the Shinano River. A warning was issued advising people to avoid forests and thick grass nearby.

Tokamachi, Niigata

Crossed National Route 117 near Echigo-Mizusawa Station and moved toward the Shinano River.

Tokamachi, Niigata

While traveling on Prefectural Route (Ojiya–Tōkamachi–Tsunami Line), observed one bear moving toward the Shinano River.

Tokamachi, Niigata

Around 06:00 on May 21, 2026, one bear was sighted moving toward the Shinano River Sports Park area while traveling on the main prefectural road Ojiya–Tokamachi–Tsunan in the Sugata No.1 area of Tokamachi. The city warned residents to avoid forests and thickets and urged measures such as carrying bells or bear spray.

Tokamachi, Niigata

Shortly before 5:00 AM on the 21st, a single bear about 1 meter long was sighted on a national highway in Kitashinbo, Murakami City. The sighting was about 240 meters from a private residence and was confirmed by the Murakami Police.

Murakami, Niigata

One bear (approximately 70–80 cm) moved from the north (Omokuba Forest Park) toward the south (Hirabayashi Elementary School).

Murakami, Niigata

Shibukawa 川島, Gunma

At around 17:15 on May 19, 2026, a bear was sighted near the Yoshida Cross-Country Course in the Koizumi No.2 area of Tokamachi City. Residents were warned to avoid forests and tall grass.

Tokamachi, Niigata

One bear was sighted about 300 meters west of Prefectural Route Tokamachi–Kawanishi.

Tokamachi, Niigata

Bear tracks were found near the worksite.

Nagaoka, Niigata

Shibukawa 北橘町分郷八崎, Gunma

Repeatedly entering and exiting the river.

Murakami, Niigata

A staff member discovered bear tracks in a rice paddy.

Minamiuonuma, Niigata

Was moving from the cliff side toward the mountain side.

Tokamachi, Niigata

On the Nihonkai Tohoku Expressway near the Murakami-Yamanobe Sato IC northbound entrance, a mother bear and her cubs were running along the highway.

Murakami, Niigata

Around 21:30 on May 16, 2026, a parent-and-offspring group of three bears of unspecified length was sighted on Nitto Road in Yamabesato, Murakami City, Niigata Prefecture; the group was about 200 meters from residences, according to the Murakami police.

Murakami, Niigata

Bear tracks were found near a house in the Terao area.

Murakami, Niigata

a small cub

Minakami, Gunma

Nagaoka City installed drum-can style capture traps at dozens of locations in the city from May through June, placing honey inside as bait. Previously traps were set near reported sightings, but this year they will also be placed in mountain areas without sighting reports to prevent bears from entering inhabited areas.

Nagaoka, Niigata

Moved toward the mountainside.

Murakami, Niigata

There were two bears, a parent and its offspring.

Minakami, Gunma

Spotted one bear in the brush alongside National Route 17.

Yuzawa Mitsumata, Niigata

One bear was sighted in a rice paddy beside Town Road Tozawa No. 1. It fled toward the mountain to the west.

Yuzawa Kandatsu, Niigata

Was running along the roadside heading toward the Monzen River.

Murakami, Niigata

Observed one bear approximately 1.5 meters in body length.

Minamiuonuma, Niigata

Observed one bear while driving on the municipal road Chuo Line. It moved off toward the west.

Yuzawa Kandatsu, Niigata

Two bears, a mother and a cub, were sighted between Yuzawa Toei Hotel and Takizawa Park. Their subsequent movement route is unknown.

Yuzawa, Niigata

Shortly after 17:00 on May 11, 2026, two bears about 1 meter long were sighted beside a town road in Yuzawa, Yuzawa Town. The sighting was reported about 100 meters from Takizawa Park and very close to residences, according to the Minamiuonuma police.

Yuzawa, Niigata

Maebashi 石倉町, Gunma

A single cub was sighted between Yagisawa Bus Stop and Shibahara Tunnel. Its subsequent movement route is unknown.

Yuzawa Mitsumata, Niigata

A bear sighting was reported in Yuzawa Town, Niigata Prefecture on May 11. The article does not provide details such as the number of bears or the time of the sighting.

Yuzawa, Niigata

On 2026-05-10 at around 09:30, a kei car on National Route 290 in Momokawa, Murakami City collided with a bear about 0.5 m long that ran into the road. The driver and two passengers were uninjured, but the car became undrivable and the bear fled into the mountains (about 1.5 km from the nearest house). Earlier that morning, a bear about 0.5 m long was also sighted on a prefectural road in Kuroiwa, Aga Town, about 200 m from a house.

Murakami, Niigata

Maebashi 石倉町, Gunma

Maebashi 石倉町, Gunma

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

Maebashi 石倉町, Gunma

While passing through the area, one bear was sighted.

Tainai, Niigata

A resident sighted one bear approximately 1.0 m in body length.

Minamiuonuma, Niigata

Spotted one bear while passing through the area.

Tainai, Niigata

Bear footprints were found in a field along Route 117 in Nakajo, Tokamachi City, on May 3, 2026 at 14:30. The location is about 300 m north of Nakajo Elementary School; the city warns people to avoid forests and thick vegetation.

Tokamachi, Niigata

A resident spotted one bear about 1.0 m in body length near a reservoir.

Minamiuonuma, Niigata

On the morning of the 3rd, a single bear about 1 m long was sighted in Izumimyoji, Minamiuonuma City; a report said the bear was walking north around a pond in the fields at about 10:00 AM. The sighting location was about 150 m from houses, and the police are coordinating with the city to issue notices and conduct patrols.

Minamiuonuma, Niigata

Around 10:00 on May 3, 2026, a single bear about 1 meter long was sighted walking north near a pond in a rice field area in Izumidera, Minamiuonuma City. The sighting was about 150 meters from houses; the police coordinated with the city to issue warnings and carry out patrols.

Minamiuonuma, Niigata

Just after 8:00 AM on May 1, 2026, a bear about 1 meter long was sighted near a pond in Nishikawaguchi, Nagaoka City; it was approximately 100 meters from a private residence, according to Ojiya Police.

Nagaoka, Niigata

Spotted one bear beside a carp pond.

Nagaoka, Niigata

Bear tracks discovered in the field

Tokamachi, Niigata

Footprints were found in the field.

Ojiya City, Niigata

Footprints were found in the field.

Ojiya City, Niigata

Minakami Town, Gunma Prefecture, along National Route 291 Near Doai Station, something that looked like a bear cub was running

Minakami, Gunma

While driving on Prefectural Route Ojiya-Tokamachi-Tsunan, I sighted one 'cub.'

Ojiya City, Niigata

Observed while driving. Small-sized.

Shibukawa 上白井, Gunma

While driving on National Route 17 near the Tohoku Electric Kandatsu Substation, one bear (body length unknown) was sighted. Its subsequent travel route is unknown.

Yuzawa Kandatsu, Niigata

On April 28, 2026 at about 07:40, a bear was sighted near Yoshida Junior High School in Koizumi, Tokamachi City, and the Tokamachi police are on alert. Earlier the same day at around 06:00, a juvenile bear about 50 cm long was sighted in a field along Prefectural Route 528 in Takashima, Tokamachi City.

Tokamachi, Niigata

While passing nearby, the team leader spotted one cub about 50 cm tall.

Tokamachi, Niigata

At around 06:00 on April 28, a juvenile bear about 50 cm long was sighted in farmland along Prefectural Route 528 in Takashima No.2 area of Tokamachi City, Niigata. At about 07:40 the same day, another bear was reported near Yoshida Junior High School in Koizumi, and the Tokamachi Police are warning residents and investigating whether the sightings are related.

Tokamachi, Niigata

One bear was sighted. Its subsequent movement route is unknown.

Niigata, Niigata