This 151 km route runs from Karuizawa to Lake Kawaguchi, passing through Nagano and Yamanashi. In the past 30 days, 9 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 2 of them. The latest sighting was reported 3 days ago near Karuizawa 大字長倉, Nagano.
With activity this close, slow through forested stretches and stay alert at dawn and dusk when bears cross roads.
4 places within 1 km of your route, passing through Nagano, Yamanashi.
Size: juvenile
Karuizawa 大字長倉, Nagano
Size: adult
Karuizawa 軽井沢, Nagano
Size: Adult
Karuizawa 大字追分, Nagano
Size: Unknown
Koumi, Nagano
At around 01:35 on May 8, 2026, a truck driver traveling on National Route 358 in Nakabata-cho, Nakado district, Kofu City, spotted a bear-like animal about 1 m long on the road. The man reported it to the police, and the city conducted patrols and issued warnings to residents via disaster prevention radio.
Kōfu Nakabatakecho, Yamanashi
In the early morning of the 8th, a suspected bear about 1 m long was spotted on a national road in Kofu City, the city reported. The city is urging people to be cautious.
Kōfu Wakamatsucho, Yamanashi
A suspected bear about 1 meter long was sighted on a major bend of a national road near "右左口の里" in Kofu City. The man who saw it reported to the police, and the city conducted patrols and warned residents via disaster radio.
Kōfu Nakabatakecho, Yamanashi
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
Hokuto Takanecho-Kawamata, Yamanashi
Peak activity at 1:00 with 1 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, 9 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 2 of them.
The latest sighting was reported 3 days ago near Karuizawa 大字長倉, Nagano.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 1:00. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk.
This 151 km route runs from Karuizawa to Lake Kawaguchi, passing through Nagano and Yamanashi. In the past 30 days, 9 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 2 of them. The latest sighting was reported 3 days ago near Karuizawa 大字長倉, Nagano. With activity this close, slow through forested stretches and stay alert at dawn and dusk when bears cross roads.
