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This 536 km route runs from National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto to Takasaki, passing through Kyoto, Shiga, Aichi, Gifu, Nagano, and Gunma. In the past 30 days, 85 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 9 of them. The latest sighting was reported 2 days ago near Kiso, Nagano.
This is an active bear corridor. Reroute or postpone until activity quiets.
24 places within 1 km of your route, passing through Kyoto, Shiga, Aichi, Gifu, Nagano, Gunma.
Size: adult
Kiso, Nagano
Size: Adult
Kiso, Nagano
Size: juvenile
Nagiso Yomikaki, Nagano
Size: adult
Agematsu 旭町, Nagano
Size: adult with cub(s)
Ookuwa, Nagano
Size: Adult
Agematsu, Nagano
Size: adult
Ookuwa, Nagano
Size: Adult
Ookuwa, Nagano
Size: adult with cubs
Nagiso NAINO, Nagano
Size: juvenile
Nagiso NAINO, Nagano
Size: adult
Nagiso Azuma, Nagano
Size: juvenile
Nagiso, Nagano
Size: adult
Ookuwa, Nagano
Size: juvenile
Ookuwa, Nagano
Size: juvenile
Ookuwa, Nagano
Size: juvenile
Ookuwa, Nagano
Size: adult with cubs
Ookuwa, Nagano
Size: Unknown
Nagiso, Nagano
Size: Unknown
Nagiso, Nagano
I could see one bear below the snowfield from the hotel.
Miyada, Nagano
Two bear cubs crossing the road.
Nagiso Azuma, Nagano
Seen from the ropeway
Komagane, Nagano
Size: Adult
Ookuwa 大字殿, Nagano
Size: juvenile
Kiso, Nagano
Size: adult
Kiso, Nagano
Size: Adult
Kiso, Nagano
I could see one bear below the snowfield from the hotel.
Miyada, Nagano
Seen from the ropeway
Komagane, Nagano
Size: juvenile
Kiso, Nagano
Size: Adult
Kiso, Nagano
Size: adult (fully grown)
Minowa 大字中箕輪, Nagano
Size: Adult
Ina Masumigaoka, Nagano
Size: juvenile
Minowa, Nagano
Size: juvenile
Minowa, Nagano
Size: Adult
Minowa, Nagano
Size: Adult
Minowa, Nagano
Size: juvenile
Minowa, Nagano
Size: Adult
Minowa, Nagano
Around 20:00 on 2026-07-13, a bear was sighted in Ozawa, Ina City, Nagano Prefecture.
Ina Ozawa, Nagano
Size: Unknown
Ina Ozawa, Nagano
Size: Unknown
Kiso 大字薮原, Nagano
Around 1:30 PM on 2026-07-12, a bear was sighted in Narai, Shiojiri City.
Shiojiri, Nagano
Size: Adult
Okaya Kawagishi, Nagano
Size: juvenile
Kiso, Nagano
Size: Adult
Tatsuno 大字上島, Nagano
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
Annaka 上後閑, Gunma
A bear was sighted in Kamigokan, Annaka City, Gunma Prefecture, on 2026-08-01.
Annaka 上後閑, Gunma
Size: Adult
Karuizawa 中軽井沢, Nagano
Around 1:00 on July 31, a bear was sighted in Niibori, Matsuida-machi, Annaka City.
Annaka 松井田町新堀, Gunma
Annaka 松井田町新堀, Gunma
Size: Adult (fully grown)
Karuizawa, Nagano
Size: Adult (fully grown)
Karuizawa 中軽井沢, Nagano
Annaka 松井田町二軒在家, Gunma
A bear was sighted in Matsuidamachi Matsuida, Annaka City, Gunma Prefecture, around 12:45 on July 30.
Annaka 松井田町松井田, Gunma
Annaka 松井田町人見, Gunma
A juvenile bear about 1 meter long was spotted along Prefectural Route 43 (Momiji Line) of the Karuizawa–Shimonita route. The mother bear could not be found, but is believed to be hiding nearby.
Shimonita, 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
A bear was sighted in Goryo, Matsuidamachi, Annaka City around 8:00 on 2026-07-27.
Annaka, Gunma
Annaka, Gunma
Size: adult
Karuizawa, Nagano
Annaka 松井田町土塩, Gunma
Size: juvenile
Karuizawa 大字長倉, Nagano
Around 8:20 AM on 2026-07-24, one bear was sighted in Hatachi, Karuizawa Town, Nagano Prefecture.
Karuizawa 大字発地, Nagano
Size: juvenile
Karuizawa, 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
A bear was sighted in Mogusa, Karuizawa Town, Nagano Prefecture, around 7:15 a.m. on July 21.
Karuizawa 大字茂沢, Nagano
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
Annaka 松井田町行田, Gunma
One bear was seen moving in Matsuida-cho Gyoda, Annaka City, Gunma.
Annaka 松井田町行田, Gunma
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
Size: adult (fully grown)
Karuizawa, Nagano
Size: adult and cub
Karuizawa, Nagano
Size: juvenile
Karuizawa 大字軽井沢, Nagano
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
I was riding a motorcycle on a tour, and it was just at the spot where the guardrail goes into the mountain, so I didn't take any photos and the location is not exact. I was heading west and report an approximate location based on my memory that it was a left-hand curve a little past the Megane Bridge parking area, at a place with a white guardrail.
Annaka, Gunma
A bear was sighted in Kuwayama, Saku City.
Saku Kuwayama, Nagano
On 2026-07-10 in Shinkoda, Saku City, Nagano, a bear was sighted.
Saku Arakoda, Nagano
Peak activity at 8:00 with 3 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.
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In the past 30 days, 85 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 9 of them.
The latest sighting was reported 2 days ago near Kiso, Nagano.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 8:00. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk.
This 536 km route runs from National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto to Takasaki, passing through Kyoto, Shiga, Aichi, Gifu, Nagano, and Gunma. In the past 30 days, 85 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 9 of them. The latest sighting was reported 2 days ago near Kiso, Nagano. This is an active bear corridor. Reroute or postpone until activity quiets.
