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This 41 km route runs from Karuizawa to Yanba Dam, passing through Nagano and Gunma. In the past 30 days, 48 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 6 of them. The latest sighting was reported 2 days ago near Karuizawa 大字発地, Nagano.
This is an active bear corridor. Drive through with full caution, but rerouting is the safer choice.
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: Adult
Karuizawa 大字茂沢, 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: juvenile
Karuizawa 大字長倉, Nagano
Naganohara, Gunma
Size: adult and cub
Karuizawa, Nagano
Size: juvenile
Karuizawa 大字軽井沢, Nagano
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
A bear was sighted in Oguwa, Naganohara Town, Gunma Prefecture, on the morning of 2026-07-13.
Naganohara, Gunma
Naganohara, Gunma
A bear was sighted around 7:00 AM in Kitakaruizawa, Naganohara Town.
Naganohara Kitakaruizawa, Gunma
Size: adult and cub
Karuizawa 大字追分, Nagano
Tsumagoi Saikubo, Gunma
Tsumagoi Ashiuda, Gunma
Size: Adult
Karuizawa, Nagano
Tsumagoi, Gunma
Naganohara, Gunma
Around 5:30 PM on July 5, one bear was sighted in Kitakaruizawa, Naganohara Town, Gunma Prefecture.
Naganohara Kitakaruizawa, Gunma
Naganohara, Gunma
Naganohara Hayashi, Gunma
At around 9:00 AM on July 5, a bear was sighted in Oiwake, Karuizawa Town.
Karuizawa 大字追分, Nagano
Size: juvenile
Karuizawa 中軽井沢, Nagano
Naganohara Hayashi, Gunma
A bear was sighted in Kita-Karuizawa, Naganohara Town, Gunma Prefecture.
Naganohara Kitakaruizawa, Gunma
Size: Adult (fully grown)
Karuizawa, Nagano
Around 10:00 on July 4, a bear was sighted in Kamahara, Tsumagoi Village, Gunma Prefecture.
Tsumagoi Omae, Gunma
A bear was sighted in Sugao, Higashiagatsuma Town, Gunma Prefecture.
Higashiagatsuma Sugao, Gunma
A bear was sighted in Nagakura, Karuizawa Town.
Karuizawa 中軽井沢, Nagano
Size: Adult
Karuizawa, Nagano
Tsumagoi Imai, Gunma
Tsumagoi Imai, Gunma
Naganohara Haneo, Gunma
Size: cub
Karuizawa, Nagano
On 2026-07-01 in Karuizawa, Karuizawa Town, a bear was sighted.
Karuizawa 大字軽井沢, Nagano
Size: cub (juvenile)
Karuizawa 軽井沢, Nagano
On 2026-07-01 in the afternoon, one bear was sighted in Otsu, Naganohara Town, Gunma.
Naganohara Haneo, Gunma
Tsumagoi Ashiuda, Gunma
Tsumagoi Saikubo, Gunma
Tsumagoi Saikubo, Gunma
Size: juvenile
Karuizawa 大字長倉, Nagano
Peak activity at 17:00 with 4 incidents
Ursus thibetanus japonicus
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In the past 30 days, 48 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 6 of them.
The latest sighting was reported 2 days ago near Karuizawa 大字発地, Nagano.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 17:00. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk.
This 41 km route runs from Karuizawa to Yanba Dam, passing through Nagano and Gunma. In the past 30 days, 48 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 6 of them. The latest sighting was reported 2 days ago near Karuizawa 大字発地, Nagano. This is an active bear corridor. Drive through with full caution, but rerouting is the safer choice.
