Saves as a new trip plan. The original stays as-is.
This 54 km route runs from Karuizawa to Mount Kusatsu-Shirane, passing through Nagano and Gunma. In the past 30 days, 34 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 7 of them. The latest sighting was reported 16 hours ago near Tsumagoi Ashiuda, Gunma.
This is an active bear corridor. Drive through with full caution, but rerouting is the safer choice.
Tsumagoi Ashiuda, Gunma
Tsumagoi Ashiuda, Gunma
A bear was sighted in Osasa, Tsumagoi Village, Gunma.
Tsumagoi Ozasa, Gunma
Size: Adult
Karuizawa 軽井沢, Nagano
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 with cubs
Karuizawa 大字長倉, Nagano
Size: Adult
Karuizawa 軽井沢, Nagano
Size: Adult
Karuizawa 中軽井沢, Nagano
Naganohara Furumori, Gunma
Size: Adult (fully grown)
Karuizawa, Nagano
Size: Adult (fully grown)
Karuizawa 中軽井沢, Nagano
Tsumagoi, Gunma
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
万座亭別館
Tsumagoi, Gunma
Size: juvenile
Karuizawa 大字長倉, 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: Adult
Karuizawa 大字長倉, Nagano
Naganohara Kitakaruizawa, Gunma
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
Naganohara, Gunma
Size: adult and cub
Karuizawa, Nagano
Size: juvenile
Karuizawa 大字軽井沢, Nagano
Tsumagoi Omae, Gunma
Naganohara Okuwa, 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
Tsumagoi Ozasa, Gunma
A bear was sighted around 7:00 AM in Kitakaruizawa, Naganohara Town.
Naganohara Kitakaruizawa, Gunma
Peak activity at 9:00 with 2 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.
In the past 30 days, 34 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 7 of them.
The latest sighting was reported 16 hours ago near Tsumagoi Ashiuda, Gunma.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 9:00. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk.
This 54 km route runs from Karuizawa to Mount Kusatsu-Shirane, passing through Nagano and Gunma. In the past 30 days, 34 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 7 of them. The latest sighting was reported 16 hours ago near Tsumagoi Ashiuda, Gunma. This is an active bear corridor. Drive through with full caution, but rerouting is the safer choice.
