This 258 km route from Koriyama to Yahiko Shrine crosses Fukushima and Niigata. Over the past 30 days, 48 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of the route, including 10 in the past week. This route runs through Asian black bear habitat (native to Honshu and Shikoku). The most recent sighting was reported 2 days ago near Inawashiro 大字翁沢, Fukushima; the location sits about 42.2 km from the start of the route and 2.1 km off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 2 weeks ago at Nagaoka 谷内二丁目, Niigata, sitting about 221.4 km from the start and 11 m off the route line.
This is an active bear corridor. Reroute or postpone until activity quiets.
4 places within 1 km of your route, passing through Fukushima, Niigata.
Crossed National Route 49 from the recreation park side and entered the brush on the north side.
Inawashiro 大字翁沢, Fukushima
At around 16:15 on May 15, 2026, a woman spotted one bear about 0.5 meters long at the Japanese garden Shiki-no-Sato Ryokusui-en in Iwane Kawara, Motomiya City. The bear stayed on the premises briefly but then left toward the adjacent Iokawa River, and the city placed box traps in the nearby woods along the river.
Motomiya 岩根, Fukushima
On May 15 in the Atami Elementary area of Atami-machi, Koriyama City, there were two bear sightings. Around 07:00 a bear about 0.5 m long was seen running from a field into the forest in Takadama Asozawa, and at 09:15 another bear about 1 m long was seen crossing the JR Ban'etsu West Line tracks in Takadama Hirabayashi. The Koriyama North Police are on alert.
Koriyama, Fukushima
On May 14, 2026 at about 07:40, a bear approximately 1.0 m long was sighted on the riverbank in Aizuwakamatsu-shi, Higashiyama-cho Oaza Ishiyama Innai. The same day, another ~1.0 m bear was seen in Hanamigaoka 2-chome climbing a tree, a ~0.6 m bear was seen climbing a residential fence in Hanamigaoka 1-chome, and a ~0.5 m bear was observed walking along a forest road and entering woodland in Shirakawa-shi, Daisin Masumi Oaza Ohninata — four bears were reported in total.
Aizuwakamatsu Higashiyamamachi-Ishiyama, Fukushima
On May 14, 2026, a bear was sighted climbing a residential fence in Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture. No injuries were reported and residents were warned to be cautious.
Aizuwakamatsu Outemachi, Fukushima
At about 18:45 on May 13, 2026, a single bear approximately 1 meter long was seen in Iwane Aza Nakamaeda, Motomiya City, running toward the forest and running away.
Motomiya 岩根, Fukushima
At around 14:15 on the 13th, a man in his 70s spotted a bear about 1 meter long in woodland in Higashiyama-machi, Aizuwakamatsu. The bear climbed into the forest and fled; the man was not injured.
Aizuwakamatsu Tenneijimachi, Fukushima
Just after noon on May 12, a single animal believed to be a bear about 0.5 m long was sighted in a cemetery in Kuroiwa, Kanda-machi, Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture. The animal walked toward the mountain to the east and its whereabouts are currently unknown; no injuries or damage have been confirmed. Police continue patrols by cruiser and are sharing information with Aizuwakamatsu City Hall.
Aizuwakamatsu Mondenmachi-Oyama, Fukushima
At around 06:50 on May 12, in the area of the Ban-etsu Expressway (downward 75.6 km post) in Iwane, Motomiya City, Fukushima Prefecture, a man in his 60s witnessed a bear about 80 cm long crossing the highway from north to south. The bear went up the road embankment and no human injuries were reported; police are patrolling the area and urging caution.
Motomiya 岩根, Fukushima
On May 12, 2026, a single bear about 80 cm long was seen crossing the Ban-etsu Expressway in Motomiya City, Fukushima Prefecture.
Motomiya 岩根, Fukushima
Around 11:30 AM on the 10th in Minato-machi, Aizuwakamatsu City, a man doing farm work spotted one bear about 1 meter long in a bamboo thicket. The bear entered the thicket, no injuries were reported, and police are monitoring the area.
Aizuwakamatsu Outemachi, Fukushima
Around 14:40 on the 7th, a man walking on a promenade in Kuroiwa, Motoda-machi, Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture, sighted one bear about 1 meter long. The bear then walked south along the promenade, and no damage in the surrounding area has been reported so far.
Aizuwakamatsu Higashiyamamachi-Yumoto, Fukushima
At about 14:50 on the 5th, a man in his 50s reported to the Inawashiro Police Station that he had sighted one bear about 1 meter long in a parking lot in Tsumachi, Inawashiro Town. The bear fled into the forest east of the parking lot, and the police are patrolling the area.
Inawashiro 字並杉西, Fukushima
A bear was walking south from Iwahashi Shrine.
Inawashiro 字西峰, Fukushima
At around 13:50 on May 4, a single bear about 1 meter long was spotted along Route 49 near Ogasawara Goten-yama (Ogasawa), Inawashiro Town. No human or property damage has been confirmed so far, and the police have warned the public to be cautious.
Inawashiro 大字翁沢, Fukushima
At around 09:20 on May 4, a single bear was sighted up in a tree in Kuroiwa, Monden-machi, Aizuwakamatsu City. The police have warned residents to be cautious, and no injuries or property damage have been reported so far.
Aizuwakamatsu Higashiyamamachi-Yumoto, Fukushima
Around 17:30 on April 30, a man in Hanamigaoka, Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture, sighted one bear about 50 cm long in the brush of a mountain forest. No damage has been confirmed in the area; the police are patrolling with patrol cars and coordinating with the Aizuwakamatsu City Hall to respond.
Aizuwakamatsu Takaramachi, Fukushima
At around 15:05 on April 29, 2026, a man collecting wild plants at the edge of the ski slope in the Minero area of Inawashiro Ski Resort, Nakamaruyama, Inawashiro Town, Fukushima Prefecture, sighted one bear about 1.2 meters long. The bear returned to the woods afterward, and no injuries or property damage were reported.
Inawashiro 字葉山, Fukushima
On 2026-04-29 at around 08:45, a single bear about 1 meter long was seen walking on the riverbed in Yukawaminami, Aizuwakamatsu. No damage to people or property was reported.
Aizuwakamatsu Yugawaminami, Fukushima
At a private residence in Tenneiji-machi, Aizuwakamatsu City, a woman in her 50s spotted a bear about 50 cm long in the bushes on her property. The bear's subsequent whereabouts are unknown; no injuries were reported, and police are urging nearby residents to be cautious.
Aizuwakamatsu Tenneijimachi, Fukushima
Around 18:40 on April 26, in Tenneiji-cho, Aizuwakamatsu City, a woman spotted a bear about 50 cm long walking in the brush on her property. No damage has been reported; police are patrolling the area in patrol cars and coordinating with Aizuwakamatsu City Hall to respond.
Aizuwakamatsu Tenneijimachi, Fukushima
In Aizuwakamatsu (Kawahigashi-cho, Asayama Asono), on April 24 at around 11:10 AM, a single bear about 1 m in length was seen crossing National Route 49.
Aizuwakamatsu Kawahigashimachi-Asayama, Fukushima
At around 11:10 on April 24, 2026, a male driver on National Route 49 in Asayama, Kawato-machi, Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture, spotted one bear (approximately 1 meter long) crossing the road from west to east. The bear entered the forest to the east afterward; no injuries or damage have been reported, and the police are patrolling with patrol cars and coordinating with the Aizuwakamatsu City Office.
Aizuwakamatsu Kawahigashimachi-Asayama, Fukushima
On 2026-04-24, a bear sighting was reported in Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture. The article does not specify the exact location of the sighting or whether any damage or injuries occurred.
Aizuwakamatsu Outemachi, Fukushima
In Aizuwakamatsu City, Kita-Aoki, at around 09:10 on April 23, one bear about 1 meter long was sighted in the undergrowth. No damage to people or property has been reported, and police are urging caution.
Aizuwakamatsu Tenjinmachi, Fukushima
Around noon on 2026-04-22, a man in his 40s preparing to use a campsite in Kadota-cho, Aizuwakamatsu City, spotted a single bear about 1 m long in the brush south of the site. The bear left toward the forest to the south; the man was unharmed and no other damage has been confirmed. Police are patrolling by patrol car and urging caution.
Aizuwakamatsu Mondenmachi-Oyama, Fukushima
In Aizuwakamatsu City, Kaddta-machi Oaza Kuroiwa Aza Hanamigaoka, on April 22, 2026 at about 11:55 a.m., one bear (approximately 1 m in length) was seen walking.
Aizuwakamatsu Yugawaminami, Fukushima
At around 11:55 a.m. on April 22, a man spotted one bear (about 1 meter long) in the campground area of a park in Kuroiwa, Kadota-machi, Aizuwakamatsu City. The bear then entered the forest to the south.
Aizuwakamatsu Tenjinmachi, Fukushima
In Aizuwakamatsu (Kadonota-machi, Kuroiwa Hanamigaoka), on April 22, 2026 shortly before noon a single bear about 1 meter long was sighted. No injuries or property damage have been reported so far.
Aizuwakamatsu Yugawaminami, Fukushima
On 2026-04-22 a sighting of one bear was reported in Aizuwakamatsu City. The article does not provide a specific location or time.
Aizuwakamatsu Higashisakaemachi, Fukushima
Around 23:45 on April 19, an animal about 50 cm long resembling a bear was sighted on the Abukuma River riverbank at Tokusada-Kamikawahara, Tamuramachi, Koriyama City. There were no human injuries; the animal's whereabouts are unknown after the sighting, and the Koriyama police increased patrols by patrol cars and reported the information to the city.
Koriyama 笹川二丁目, Fukushima
On May 14, 2026 at about 07:40, a bear approximately 1.0 m long was sighted on the riverbank in Aizuwakamatsu-shi, Higashiyama-cho Oaza Ishiyama Innai. The same day, another ~1.0 m bear was seen in Hanamigaoka 2-chome climbing a tree, a ~0.6 m bear was seen climbing a residential fence in Hanamigaoka 1-chome, and a ~0.5 m bear was observed walking along a forest road and entering woodland in Shirakawa-shi, Daisin Masumi Oaza Ohninata — four bears were reported in total.
Aizuwakamatsu Higashiyamamachi-Ishiyama, Fukushima
On May 14, 2026, a bear was sighted climbing a residential fence in Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture. No injuries were reported and residents were warned to be cautious.
Aizuwakamatsu Outemachi, Fukushima
At around 14:15 on the 13th, a man in his 70s spotted a bear about 1 meter long in woodland in Higashiyama-machi, Aizuwakamatsu. The bear climbed into the forest and fled; the man was not injured.
Aizuwakamatsu Tenneijimachi, Fukushima
Just after noon on May 12, a single animal believed to be a bear about 0.5 m long was sighted in a cemetery in Kuroiwa, Kanda-machi, Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture. The animal walked toward the mountain to the east and its whereabouts are currently unknown; no injuries or damage have been confirmed. Police continue patrols by cruiser and are sharing information with Aizuwakamatsu City Hall.
Aizuwakamatsu Mondenmachi-Oyama, Fukushima
Around 11:30 AM on the 10th in Minato-machi, Aizuwakamatsu City, a man doing farm work spotted one bear about 1 meter long in a bamboo thicket. The bear entered the thicket, no injuries were reported, and police are monitoring the area.
Aizuwakamatsu Outemachi, Fukushima
Around 14:40 on the 7th, a man walking on a promenade in Kuroiwa, Motoda-machi, Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture, sighted one bear about 1 meter long. The bear then walked south along the promenade, and no damage in the surrounding area has been reported so far.
Aizuwakamatsu Higashiyamamachi-Yumoto, Fukushima
At around 09:20 on May 4, a single bear was sighted up in a tree in Kuroiwa, Monden-machi, Aizuwakamatsu City. The police have warned residents to be cautious, and no injuries or property damage have been reported so far.
Aizuwakamatsu Higashiyamamachi-Yumoto, Fukushima
Around 17:30 on April 30, a man in Hanamigaoka, Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture, sighted one bear about 50 cm long in the brush of a mountain forest. No damage has been confirmed in the area; the police are patrolling with patrol cars and coordinating with the Aizuwakamatsu City Hall to respond.
Aizuwakamatsu Takaramachi, Fukushima
On the morning of April 30, 2026, a bear about 1.0 m long was seen crossing a prefectural road north to south in Aizu Misato Town at around 07:20, and at about 07:30 another bear about 1.5 m long was seen crossing a nearby prefectural road north to south. Police say it is unknown whether the two sightings were of the same animal, and no human or property damage has been confirmed.
Aizumisato 福重岡, Fukushima
On 2026-04-29 at around 08:45, a single bear about 1 meter long was seen walking on the riverbed in Yukawaminami, Aizuwakamatsu. No damage to people or property was reported.
Aizuwakamatsu Yugawaminami, Fukushima
At a private residence in Tenneiji-machi, Aizuwakamatsu City, a woman in her 50s spotted a bear about 50 cm long in the bushes on her property. The bear's subsequent whereabouts are unknown; no injuries were reported, and police are urging nearby residents to be cautious.
Aizuwakamatsu Tenneijimachi, Fukushima
Around 18:40 on April 26, in Tenneiji-cho, Aizuwakamatsu City, a woman spotted a bear about 50 cm long walking in the brush on her property. No damage has been reported; police are patrolling the area in patrol cars and coordinating with Aizuwakamatsu City Hall to respond.
Aizuwakamatsu Tenneijimachi, Fukushima
On 2026-04-24, a bear sighting was reported in Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture. The article does not specify the exact location of the sighting or whether any damage or injuries occurred.
Aizuwakamatsu Outemachi, Fukushima
In Aizuwakamatsu City, Kita-Aoki, at around 09:10 on April 23, one bear about 1 meter long was sighted in the undergrowth. No damage to people or property has been reported, and police are urging caution.
Aizuwakamatsu Tenjinmachi, Fukushima
Around noon on 2026-04-22, a man in his 40s preparing to use a campsite in Kadota-cho, Aizuwakamatsu City, spotted a single bear about 1 m long in the brush south of the site. The bear left toward the forest to the south; the man was unharmed and no other damage has been confirmed. Police are patrolling by patrol car and urging caution.
Aizuwakamatsu Mondenmachi-Oyama, Fukushima
In Aizuwakamatsu City, Kaddta-machi Oaza Kuroiwa Aza Hanamigaoka, on April 22, 2026 at about 11:55 a.m., one bear (approximately 1 m in length) was seen walking.
Aizuwakamatsu Yugawaminami, Fukushima
At around 11:55 a.m. on April 22, a man spotted one bear (about 1 meter long) in the campground area of a park in Kuroiwa, Kadota-machi, Aizuwakamatsu City. The bear then entered the forest to the south.
Aizuwakamatsu Tenjinmachi, Fukushima
In Aizuwakamatsu (Kadonota-machi, Kuroiwa Hanamigaoka), on April 22, 2026 shortly before noon a single bear about 1 meter long was sighted. No injuries or property damage have been reported so far.
Aizuwakamatsu Yugawaminami, Fukushima
On 2026-04-22 a sighting of one bear was reported in Aizuwakamatsu City. The article does not provide a specific location or time.
Aizuwakamatsu Higashisakaemachi, Fukushima
Around 09:00 on May 16, in Aizubange-machi Yokaezawa Aza Iinuma, Fukushima Prefecture, a resident spotted one bear about 1 meter long in their residential premises. No significant damage has been confirmed so far, but similar sightings believed to be of the same bear have been reported nearby, and the police are coordinating with the Aizubange town office in response.
Aizubange 大字八日沢, Fukushima
On the morning of April 30, 2026, a bear about 1.0 m long was seen crossing a prefectural road north to south in Aizu Misato Town at around 07:20, and at about 07:30 another bear about 1.5 m long was seen crossing a nearby prefectural road north to south. Police say it is unknown whether the two sightings were of the same animal, and no human or property damage has been confirmed.
Aizumisato 福重岡, Fukushima
At around 19:11 on April 19, 2026, a bear about 50 cm long was sighted on the premises of an office in Miyako-muranishi (Aizubange Town); the bear moved north and fled toward National Route 49. No human injuries were reported, and police urged local residents to be cautious.
Aizubange 大字宮古, Fukushima
One bear sighted near Sonae Bridge over the Chigo-Shimizu River
Nagaoka, Niigata
One bear sighted near Sonae Bridge over Chigo Shimizu River
Nagaoka, Niigata
While working in a rice paddy on Karasuga Island, observed a bear emerge from a bamboo grove.
Nagaoka, Niigata
It ran toward the tunnel from the Togaya direction.
Nagaoka 谷内二丁目, Niigata
Tracks believed to be from a bear were found in the field.
Nagaoka, Niigata
Observed one bear on National Route 252. It moved toward the Kitajima direction.
Uonuma, Niigata
Crossed the road near the summit of Kannonzaka from the mountain and moved toward the fields.
Mitsuke, Niigata
A person gathering wild mountain vegetables spotted a bear. The bear climbed up the hill behind the shrine.
Nagaoka 谷内二丁目, Niigata
While driving on Prefectural Route 442, one cub was sighted. It moved westward.
Nagaoka 水沢, Niigata
At around 07:25 on 2026-04-23, one bear was sighted on a mountain path in Aketod, Nagaoka City; the sighting location was about 100 meters from nearby houses, and the police and city issued a warning. Earlier, cub sightings had increased since April 6, and a capture trap was set on April 10.
Nagaoka 明戸, Niigata
Spotted one bear while driving on a municipal road.
Nagaoka, Niigata
While driving on a farm road, a single bear was sighted.
Nagaoka, Niigata
Footprints discovered in the field
Nagaoka, Niigata
Peak activity at 7:00 with 6 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, 48 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of this route, including 10 in the past week. This route runs through Asian black bear habitat (native to Honshu and Shikoku).
The most recent sighting was reported 2 days ago near Inawashiro 大字翁沢, Fukushima; the location sits about 42.2 km from the start of the route and 2.1 km off the route line.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 7:00. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk.
This 258 km route from Koriyama to Yahiko Shrine crosses Fukushima and Niigata. Over the past 30 days, 48 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of the route, including 10 in the past week. This route runs through Asian black bear habitat (native to Honshu and Shikoku). The most recent sighting was reported 2 days ago near Inawashiro 大字翁沢, Fukushima; the location sits about 42.2 km from the start of the route and 2.1 km off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 2 weeks ago at Nagaoka 谷内二丁目, Niigata, sitting about 221.4 km from the start and 11 m off the route line. This is an active bear corridor. Reroute or postpone until activity quiets.
