This 226 km route from Karuizawa to Choshi crosses Nagano, Chiba, Gunma, Ibaraki, and Saitama. Over the past 30 days, 6 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of the route, including 1 in the past week. This route runs through Asian black bear habitat (native to Honshu and Shikoku). The most recent sighting was reported 20 hours ago near Annaka, Gunma; the location sits about 16.6 km from the start of the route and 492 m off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 1 month ago at Annaka, Gunma, sitting about 13.8 km from the start and 0 m off the route line.
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, Chiba, Gunma, Ibaraki, Saitama.
It was a cub about 1 meter long. It immediately went off to the left and disappeared from view. I turned back.
Annaka, Gunma
It was watching us from a distance along the Apt Trail.
Annaka, Gunma
Annaka 松井田町五料, Gunma
Karuizawa Town in Kitasaku District has temporarily shifted its policy from releasing captured bears after 'learning' to euthanizing them for a limited period. The change responds to repeated human injuries and appearances of bears in residential areas across the prefecture and concerns that bears' wide-ranging movements could cause harm to neighboring municipalities.
Karuizawa 中軽井沢, Nagano
Size: Adult
Karuizawa, Nagano
Near Megane Bridge, walking on the slope along the national highway. Estimated size about 150–170 cm. A clean black body; I could even hear the sound of it crunching fallen leaves.
Annaka, Gunma
Peak activity at 10:00 with 1 incidents
Ursus thibetanus japonicus
Safety picks and trail essentials, top-rated on Amazon and Rakuten.
For mountain rescue, call 110 (police). They will coordinate with local rescue teams.
Draw any route in Japan and get the same bear-safety report, built around the trip you're actually taking.
No comments yet.
Over the past 30 days, 6 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of this route, including 1 in the past week. This route runs through Asian black bear habitat (native to Honshu and Shikoku).
The most recent sighting was reported 20 hours ago near Annaka, Gunma; the location sits about 16.6 km from the start of the route and 492 m off the route line.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 10:00. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk.
This 226 km route from Karuizawa to Choshi crosses Nagano, Chiba, Gunma, Ibaraki, and Saitama. Over the past 30 days, 6 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of the route, including 1 in the past week. This route runs through Asian black bear habitat (native to Honshu and Shikoku). The most recent sighting was reported 20 hours ago near Annaka, Gunma; the location sits about 16.6 km from the start of the route and 492 m off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 1 month ago at Annaka, Gunma, sitting about 13.8 km from the start and 0 m off the route line. With activity this close, make noise as you hike, carry bear spray, and avoid the forest at dawn and dusk.
