This 257 km route runs from Nagiso to Oshi Castle, passing through Nagano, Saitama, and Gunma. In the past 30 days, 8 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 2 of them. The latest sighting was reported 5 days ago near Ina Masumigaoka, Nagano.
With activity this close, make noise as you hike, carry bear spray, and avoid the forest at dawn and dusk.
5 places within 1 km of your route, passing through Nagano, Saitama, Gunma.
In the forests of Ina City (Hirasawa and Nishiminowa), Asiatic black bears were found caught in traps early on the morning of the 20th. In Hirasawa, a roughly 9-year-old female and a nearby cub were captured; in Nishiminowa Fukiage, a roughly 9-year-old female was trapped but the cub escaped. The three captured bears were handled according to prefectural policy.
Ina Masumigaoka, Nagano
Size: juvenile
Takamori Ushimaki, Nagano
At around 19:40 on May 17, 2026, a bear about 1 meter long was sighted crossing the road north of Iida Cultural Hall in Takaba-cho, Iida City, Nagano Prefecture; police arrived but the bear had already left. On the morning of the 18th, police and city officials remained on alert and warned nearby residents, and no further sightings or damage have been reported.
Iida Takahacho, Nagano
On the night of May 17, 2026, one bear was sighted on a road in Takahachimachi, Iida City, Nagano Prefecture; a driver reported seeing it cross the road just after 7:30 p.m. Police and the city urged caution and carried out patrols on the morning of the 18th to coincide with children’s school commute times.
Iida Takahacho, Nagano
Size: Adult
Iida Takahacho, 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
Size: Unknown
Nakagawa 片桐, Nagano
Peak activity at 19:00 with 2 incidents
Ursus thibetanus japonicus
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For mountain rescue, call 110 (police). They will coordinate with local rescue teams.
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In the past 30 days, 8 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 2 of them.
The latest sighting was reported 5 days ago near Ina Masumigaoka, Nagano.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 19:00. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk.
This 257 km route runs from Nagiso to Oshi Castle, passing through Nagano, Saitama, and Gunma. In the past 30 days, 8 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 2 of them. The latest sighting was reported 5 days ago near Ina Masumigaoka, Nagano. With activity this close, make noise as you hike, carry bear spray, and avoid the forest at dawn and dusk.
