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This 315 km route runs from Kitaakita to Hachimantai, passing through Akita, Aomori, and Iwate. In the past 30 days, 88 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 20 of them. The latest sighting was reported 20 hours ago near Kazuno, Akita.
This is an active bear corridor. Drive through with full caution, but rerouting is the safer choice.
1 places within 1 km of your route, passing through Akita, Aomori, Iwate.
Observed one bear about 70 cm long crossing over the guardrail from the national highway into the forested area on the north side. Approximately 50 meters from nearby houses.
Kitaakita Ani-Kayakusa, Akita
Observed one bear about 1 meter in body length heading from the river, across rice fields and railroad tracks, toward the mountain. About 200 meters from nearby houses.
Kitaakita Ani-Yoshida, Akita
Spotted one bear about 0.5 m in body length near the gazebo in the riverside park.
Kitaakita Ani-Mizunashi, Akita
Observed one cub about 50 cm long remaining in a tree. Approximately 30 meters from nearby houses. Later departed to the west.
Kitaakita Ani-Mizunashi, Akita
[Report] Came down from the mountain, passed through a rice field, and headed toward the Komatagawabase. An adult approximately 1.5 m (in size).
Kitaakita Komata, Akita
Witnessed one bear about 1 m in body length in a grassy area near Komatagawa. Approximately 50 m from nearby houses. After that, it headed toward a cemetery to the southwest and left the area.
Kitaakita Komata, Akita
Observed one bear about 50 centimeters in body length. Spotted it on the road; it then left heading west toward the Ani River. It was approximately 10 meters from nearby houses.
Kitaakita Ani-Mizunashi, Akita
A 40–50 cm cub. It climbed up from the roadside and started dozing in the shade of a tree.
Kitaakita Ani-Magisawakozan, Akita
Driver sighted one bear crossing the road (body length 50 cm) / direction of travel: west
Odate, Akita
[Report] I went to my property to take care of the remains after cutting down chestnut trees. After getting out of the car, I saw a bear wandering about 80 meters away. I made noise, but it didn’t react or even look my way; it crossed my property and climbed up the slope to the south.
Kosaka, Akita
While driving on the Akita Road, three bears — a mother and two cubs — were walking in the rice fields near the Isedotai archaeological site.
Kitaakita, Akita
[Post] In Itazawa area, mountain side of Hiketsuki River
Odate Itazawa, Akita
I witnessed a single bear about 1 meter in length moving from the municipal road toward Yonaizawa Shrine. It came to within about 5 meters of a nearby house.
Kitaakita Yonaizawa, Akita
At around 11:40 a.m. on May 21, 2026, a man passing by spotted a bear about 1 meter long in roadside grass in Kurozawa, Yonaizawa, Kitaakita City, Akita Prefecture. According to the Kitaakita Police, the nearest house is about 20 meters away, and the police have warned residents to be careful.
Kitaakita Yonaizawa, Akita
A 1-meter-long bear was sighted on a city road, about 20 meters from a house.
Kitaakita Yonaizawa, Akita
[Post]
Kitaakita Komori, Akita
While driving on the expressway, I encountered a bear cub on the road about 200 meters before Kosaka Parking Area. I slowed down and honked, and it ran into the bushes on the left. The mother bear was not seen. I reported it to the police car that was ahead.
Kosaka, Akita
While running, I suddenly saw a bear about 0.5 m long come out onto the road right in front of me. It left heading toward the north side of Takao High School main gate.
Kitaakita Asahicho, Akita
At around 19:20 on the 19th, a man in his 40s who was running spotted a single bear about 50 cm long on a sidewalk in Isecho, Kitaakita City. The nearest house was about 5 meters away; Akita Hokutaka High School and the Kitaakita City Hall are nearby, and the police have warned residents to be cautious.
Kitaakita Isecho, Akita
Observed one bear about 1 meter in body length heading from the river, across rice fields and railroad tracks, toward the mountain. About 200 meters from nearby houses.
Kitaakita Ani-Yoshida, Akita
One bear about 1.5 m long was seen crossing the prefectural road from south to north.
Kitaakita Shimosugi, Akita
A member of the public traveling on a city road sighted one bear (body length unknown) in the bushes / direction of movement unknown / 250 m west of Hokuyo Junior High School.
Odate, Akita
Driver sighted one bear (body length 1.0 m) / direction of travel: southwest / approximately 20 m to the nearest facility
Odate Ikenai, Akita
Spotted one bear about 0.5 m in body length near the gazebo in the riverside park.
Kitaakita Ani-Mizunashi, Akita
[Post]
Kitaakita Kamisugi, Akita
Observed one cub about 50 cm long remaining in a tree. Approximately 30 meters from nearby houses. Later departed to the west.
Kitaakita Ani-Mizunashi, Akita
A driver traveling on National Route 7 observed one bear (body length 1 m) in a rice field / direction of travel unknown / 100 m from the nearest residence
Odate Nagasaka, Akita
[Report] Footprints crossing the road from the east
Kosaka, Akita
A passerby sighted one bear (body length 1.0 m) crossing the road from east to west and leaving the area.
Odate Yachimachi-ushiro, Akita
A passerby sighted one bear (body length approx. 1.0 m) / direction of travel: north / about 300 m south of Shimokawa River Middle School
Odate, Akita
[Post] Ran from the residential area toward the rice field
Odate Negeto, Akita
Driver sighted one bear (body length about 1.0 m) / direction of travel unknown / approximately 300 m west of Odate Police Station
Odate, Akita
[Report] Came down from the mountain, passed through a rice field, and headed toward the Komatagawabase. An adult approximately 1.5 m (in size).
Kitaakita Komata, Akita
Witnessed one bear about 1 m in body length in a grassy area near Komatagawa. Approximately 50 m from nearby houses. After that, it headed toward a cemetery to the southwest and left the area.
Kitaakita Komata, Akita
【Post】
Odate Katayama, Akita
Seen by nearby residents / Direction of movement unknown / About 250 m south of Katsura Sakura High School
Odate, Akita
Odate, Akita
Crossed the road and went toward Katsura/Sakura High School
Odate, Akita
Odate, Akita
A local resident sighted one bear (about 1.0 m in body length) / direction of travel: south / approximately 50 m from the nearest house
Odate, Akita
Driver sighted one bear (about 1 m in length) / direction of travel: east / approximately 300 m to the nearest house
Odate, Akita
[Report] While two of us were checking a fallen tree, we found a lot of large scat that was not yet dry. When I stood up after taking photos, I smelled a strong animal odor. Looking around, I noticed a warm, animal-like breath coming from somewhere, so we ran away. About 15 m from a house.
Kazuno Towada-Kemanai, Akita
At around 08:40 on May 8, a man in his 60s working in a field in Nukazawa Nakatani-chi, Tsuzureko, Kitaakita City, spotted a bear about 1.2 meters long. The nearest building was about 10 meters away; the Kitaakita Police patrolled by patrol car and warned residents.
Kitaakita Tsuzureko, Akita
Witnessed one bear about 1 meter long in the grassy area near a railroad crossing. Approximately 60 meters from nearby houses.
Kitaakita, Akita
[Post]
Odate Kohakama, Akita
Saw it in the grass
Odate Negeto, Akita
A local resident sighted one bear (body length 1.0 m) / moving south / approximately 150 m from the nearest elementary school
Odate Negeto, Akita
[Post]
Odate Negeto, Akita
A nearby resident sighted one bear (body length 1.0 m) / moving north / approximately 30 m from the nearest house
Odate Ikenai-michiue, Akita
Walked through the premises
Odate Ikenai-michiue, Akita
Driver sighted one bear (body length 1.5 m) moving west; approximately 10 m from Ken-ei Hagino-dai housing complex.
Odate Ikenai-michiue, Akita
[Report] Crossed national highway — over 1 meter
Odate, Akita
Local resident sighted one bear (body length 1.5 m) / moving west / approximately 80 m from the nearest house
Odate, Akita
Posted: Moving west along the irrigation channel beside the rice fields. Witnessed while driving, so subsequent actions are unknown.
Odate, Akita
On a municipal road in Ikeuchi, Odate City, a woman in her 40s driving a car spotted a bear.
Odate Ikenai, Akita
Rice paddy / Body length 1 m / 200 m from a residence / 50 m from sighting Vehicle was driving on the road when a bear was discovered in the rice paddy. The bear moved west toward the direction of a waste processing facility.
Kosaka Araya, Akita
The bear headed from the national highway into the forest.
Odate, Akita
Sighted one Asiatic black bear (Tsukinowaguma) behind the Isedotai Jomon Museum. It appeared to be eating something in the grass.
Kitaakita Wakigami, Akita
Observed one bear about 50 centimeters in body length. Spotted it on the road; it then left heading west toward the Ani River. It was approximately 10 meters from nearby houses.
Kitaakita Ani-Mizunashi, Akita
[Post] Witnessed crossing the Jukai Line from south to north
Kosaka, Akita
Reported: Body approximately 1 meter. Walking in a mountain very close to the road.
Odate, Akita
Spotted one bear about 1.2 m in length in the grassy area near the facility. It then moved south. Approximately 30 m from the nearby facility.
Kitaakita Isecho, Akita
Spotted one bear of unknown body length in a grassy area. Approximately 10 meters from a house. Subsequent direction of departure unknown.
Kitaakita Wakigami, Akita
A single bear walked south between the houses. About 5 meters from a residence.
Kitaakita Miyamaecho, Akita
At around 11:20 on April 28, 2026, a bear about 80 cm long was sighted in the grounds of a vacant house in Akagawadai, Wakigami, Kitaakita City, Akita Prefecture by a woman in her 60s living next door. The Kitaakita police said the nearest house was about 20 meters away and urged residents to be cautious.
Kitaakita Wakigami, Akita
A 40–50 cm cub. It climbed up from the roadside and started dozing in the shade of a tree.
Kitaakita Ani-Magisawakozan, Akita
[Post] Spotted a bear cub alone on the highway
Kosaka, Akita
While a vehicle was in motion, one bear (approximately 1.0 m in body length) was sighted / Direction of travel: east / Approximately 50 m to the nearest residence
Odate, Akita
At around 16:50 on April 27, 2026, a man in his 30s driving in Odate City, Karasawa Inariyama-shimo, spotted one bear about 1 meter long on the road. The nearest house is about 50 meters away and there is a hospital in the area; the police are patrolling the vicinity and urging residents to be cautious.
Odate Karasawa, Akita
A staff member at a nearby facility sighted one bear (body length unknown) / direction of travel unknown / approximately 150 meters from the nearest facility
Odate Shakanai, Akita
In the forest at Odate City, Shakainai, at around 10:20 a.m. on the 27th, school staff spotted one bear about 50 cm in length. The nearest house is about 30 meters away and Shakainai Elementary School about 10 meters; the police notified related agencies, are patrolling the area with patrol cars, and have warned residents to be cautious.
Odate Shakanai, Akita
A single bear (body length 1.0 m) was sighted by nearby residents / moving east / approximately 100 m from the nearest house
Odate Niida, Akita
At around 13:40 on May 21, 2026, one Asiatic black bear (Tsukinowaguma) of unknown body length was sighted at Samidare-no-Nagare on the Oirase Gorge in Okuse, Towada City. No human injuries have been reported. A prefectural warning for Asiatic black bear appearances has been issued across Aomori Prefecture.
Towada, Aomori
While driving on the expressway, I encountered a bear cub on the road about 200 meters before Kosaka Parking Area. I slowed down and honked, and it ran into the bushes on the left. The mother bear was not seen. I reported it to the police car that was ahead.
Kosaka, Akita
On May 19 at about 07:40, a cub was sighted at the Shiragin stretch of the Oirase Stream in Towada City and headed toward Yasumiya. At about 08:00, a bear approximately 1 meter long was seen near Dounai Toyora, crossing an agricultural road and heading north, the city reported.
Towada, Aomori
While passing by in a car, I saw it standing beside the road looking at us. When we approached, it went into the mountains.
Kazuno, Akita
[Report] Footprints crossing the road from the east
Kosaka, Akita
A single cub was sighted near the Onabuyama observation deck in Okuze, Towada City, at around 08:20 on May 8, 2026.
Towada, Aomori
On May 3, 2026, around 11:00 a.m., one bear was sighted near Shimeikei on the Oirase stream in Okuse, Towada City.
Towada, Aomori
On the morning of May 3, 2026, one bear was sighted at the Oirase Gorge in Towada City, Aomori Prefecture. There have been no reports of injuries or capture.
Towada, Aomori
A single bear cub was running through the bushes along the roadside.
Kosaka, Akita
It was standing on a rock in the middle of the Oyu River. While I stopped the car and was operating the camera, it walked toward the mountain on the opposite bank. It’s a cub.
Kazuno, Akita
On the national road sidewalk / body length 1 m / 20 m from a private house / 20 m from the witness. A bear was sighted on the sidewalk of the national road.
Kazuno, Akita
While driving a car on Nishiyama Agricultural Road heading toward Hanawa, I witnessed a bear about 40 centimeters in height crossing the road from east to west and then walking off into the woods on the west side. The distance between the car and the bear was about 6 meters.
Kazuno, Akita
Vacant lot / Body length 1 m / 20 m from a house / 30 m distance from eyewitness
Kazuno, Akita
At around 18:10 on May 21, 2026, a man in his 70s at home spotted a roughly 1‑meter bear in a grove in Hanawa, Kazuno City (Shintomei). According to the Kazuno police, the bear was about 30 meters from nearby houses, and the police have urged residents to be cautious.
Kazuno, Akita
On private residential property / body length 1 m / 20 m from the house / 20 m from the witness. Witness observed a bear walking toward the back of the shrine.
Kazuno, Akita
At around 13:40 on May 21, 2026, one Asiatic black bear (Tsukinowaguma) of unknown body length was sighted at Samidare-no-Nagare on the Oirase Gorge in Okuse, Towada City. No human injuries have been reported. A prefectural warning for Asiatic black bear appearances has been issued across Aomori Prefecture.
Towada, Aomori
At around 19:43 on 2026-05-20, one bear was seen moving in Towadaoyuoyu, Kazuno City, Akita Prefecture.
Kazuno, Akita
Prefectural road / Body length 1 m / 5 m from a private house / 30 m distance to the witness — While walking on the road, the witness observed a bear crossing the road from south to north.
Kazuno, Akita
Vegetable garden on private property / Body length 1 m / 15 m from house / 15 m distance from witness I observed a bear lingering in the vegetable garden on my property. I was frightened and went indoors. I have not been able to confirm what the bear did afterward.
Kazuno Towada-Nishikigi, Akita
While a vehicle was in motion, one bear about 80 centimeters in body length was observed walking along the rice-field embankment from east to west, then moving into the woods to the south.
Kazuno Towada-Kusagi, Akita
On May 19 at about 07:40, a cub was sighted at the Shiragin stretch of the Oirase Stream in Towada City and headed toward Yasumiya. At about 08:00, a bear approximately 1 meter long was seen near Dounai Toyora, crossing an agricultural road and heading north, the city reported.
Towada, Aomori
Field / body length 1 m / 150 m from a house / 200 m from a witness While driving on the national highway, (the witness) saw a bear running south through a field 200 m south of the highway.
Kazuno, Akita
Witnessed it crossing the road and entering the thicket of the forest on the east side.
Kazuno, Akita
While passing by in a car, I saw it standing beside the road looking at us. When we approached, it went into the mountains.
Kazuno, Akita
On my way to work I witnessed an Asian black bear (Tsukinowaguma) crossing the road and running up the embankment.
Kazuno, Akita
[Report] While driving on National Route 103 toward Lake Towada, a single Asiatic black bear (Tsukinowaguma) approximately 60–70 cm in body length was walking on the road. Upon noticing the car, the bear ran east and fled.
Kazuno, Akita
[Report] While two of us were checking a fallen tree, we found a lot of large scat that was not yet dry. When I stood up after taking photos, I smelled a strong animal odor. Looking around, I noticed a warm, animal-like breath coming from somewhere, so we ran away. About 15 m from a house.
Kazuno Towada-Kemanai, Akita
A single cub was sighted near the Onabuyama observation deck in Okuze, Towada City, at around 08:20 on May 8, 2026.
Towada, Aomori
On May 7, 2026, the body of a woman was found in woodland in Nishineda Terada, Hachimantai City while foraging for wild plants. The body was located about 100 meters from her car; she was carrying a bear bell but had scratch-like wounds on her face and head, suggesting a possible bear attack.
Hachimantai, Iwate
Rice paddy / Body length 1 m / 200 m from a residence / 50 m from sighting Vehicle was driving on the road when a bear was discovered in the rice paddy. The bear moved west toward the direction of a waste processing facility.
Kosaka Araya, Akita
On May 3, 2026, around 11:00 a.m., one bear was sighted near Shimeikei on the Oirase stream in Okuse, Towada City.
Towada, Aomori
On the morning of May 3, 2026, one bear was sighted at the Oirase Gorge in Towada City, Aomori Prefecture. There have been no reports of injuries or capture.
Towada, Aomori
A single bear cub was running through the bushes along the roadside.
Kosaka, Akita
It was standing on a rock in the middle of the Oyu River. While I stopped the car and was operating the camera, it walked toward the mountain on the opposite bank. It’s a cub.
Kazuno, Akita
[Post]
Kazuno 長牛, Akita
Peak activity at 17:00 with 14 incidents
Ursus thibetanus japonicus
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In the past 30 days, 88 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 20 of them.
The latest sighting was reported 20 hours ago near Kazuno, Akita.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 17:00. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk.
This 315 km route runs from Kitaakita to Hachimantai, passing through Akita, Aomori, and Iwate. In the past 30 days, 88 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 20 of them. The latest sighting was reported 20 hours ago near Kazuno, Akita. This is an active bear corridor. Drive through with full caution, but rerouting is the safer choice.
