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This 4.5 km route runs from Karuizawa to Annaka, passing through Nagano and Gunma. In the past 30 days, 27 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 5 of them. The latest sighting was reported 1 day ago near Karuizawa 中軽井沢, Nagano.
At this density of recent sightings, consider rescheduling or choosing a different trail until activity quiets.
Location: 36.36815° N, 138.59869° E We encountered 1 adult female bear with 2 cubs. The adult bear made a bluff charge toward us (stopped around 5 meters away) while the cubs ran up the hill. They then moved away together.
Karuizawa 中軽井沢, Nagano
Size: Adult
Karuizawa 軽井沢, Nagano
Size: Adult
Karuizawa 中軽井沢, Nagano
Size: Adult (fully grown)
Karuizawa, Nagano
Size: Adult (fully grown)
Karuizawa 中軽井沢, Nagano
Around 1:00 PM on 2026-07-28, one bear was sighted in Karuizawa, Karuizawa Town, Nagano Prefecture.
Karuizawa 大字軽井沢, Nagano
Size: adult
Karuizawa, Nagano
Size: juvenile
Karuizawa 大字長倉, Nagano
Around 8:20 AM on 2026-07-24, one bear was sighted in Hatachi, Karuizawa Town, Nagano Prefecture.
Karuizawa 大字発地, Nagano
Size: juvenile
Karuizawa, Nagano
Size: Adult
Karuizawa 大字発地, Nagano
Around 8:20 on 2026-07-24, a bear was sighted in Nagakura, Karuizawa Town, Nagano Prefecture.
Karuizawa 中軽井沢, Nagano
Size: Unknown
Karuizawa 大字長倉, Nagano
A bear was sighted in Karuizawa, Karuizawa Town, Nagano.
Karuizawa 大字軽井沢, Nagano
Size: cub (young bear)
Karuizawa 中軽井沢, Nagano
Size: Juvenile
Karuizawa 大字軽井沢, Nagano
Size: cub (young animal)
Karuizawa 大字軽井沢, Nagano
Size: Adult
Karuizawa 大字軽井沢, Nagano
Size: juvenile
Karuizawa 大字長倉, Nagano
Size: adult (fully grown)
Karuizawa, Nagano
Size: adult and cub
Karuizawa, Nagano
Size: juvenile
Karuizawa 大字軽井沢, Nagano
On the way back from the Kirizumi Onsen parking lot, just before the upstream dam on the Kirizumi River, at a right-hand curve, it suddenly jumped out onto the road from the right (mountain) side and ran straight across toward the left (river) side, which is a cliff. About 5 m in front of the vehicle.
Annaka 松井田町坂本, Gunma
It looked like a large dog crossed the area, but there was no owner, and I realized it was a wild animal. It was not a boar, deer, or badger. Judging from the size, gait, and silhouette, I think it may have been a young Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus), so I am reporting it. Also, while walking nearby I found a black, glossy, flattened droppings. After examining it, I believe it is likely from a bear.
Karuizawa 大字軽井沢, Nagano
I was riding a motorcycle on a tour, and it was just at the spot where the guardrail goes into the mountain, so I didn't take any photos and the location is not exact. I was heading west and report an approximate location based on my memory that it was a left-hand curve a little past the Megane Bridge parking area, at a place with a white guardrail.
Annaka, Gunma
Size: juvenile
Karuizawa, Nagano
Size: Adult
Karuizawa, Nagano
Peak activity at 10:00 with 2 incidents
Ursus thibetanus japonicus
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In the past 30 days, 27 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 5 of them.
The latest sighting was reported 1 day ago near Karuizawa 中軽井沢, Nagano.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 10:00. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk.
This 4.5 km route runs from Karuizawa to Annaka, passing through Nagano and Gunma. In the past 30 days, 27 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 5 of them. The latest sighting was reported 1 day ago near Karuizawa 中軽井沢, Nagano. At this density of recent sightings, consider rescheduling or choosing a different trail until activity quiets.
