Saves as a new trip plan. The original stays as-is.
This 573 km route runs from Mahiru take to Odate, passing through Akita and Iwate. In the past 30 days, 121 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 27 of them. The latest sighting was reported 13 hours ago near Senboku Kakunodatemachi, Akita.
This is an active bear corridor. Drive through with full caution, but rerouting is the safer choice.
Observed one bear approximately 1 meter in length. Direction it left is unknown. About 10 meters from a nearby residence.
Senboku Kakunodatemachi, Akita
One bear approximately 1 m in body length was sighted and left heading north. Distance to the residence was about 10 m.
Senboku Kakunodatemachi, Akita
Around 16:20 on 2026-05-25, one bear crossing a prefectural road was sighted by a woman in her 70s in Mizunomezawa, Kakunodatemachi, Senboku, Akita.
Senboku Kakunodatemachi, Akita
At around 8:30 on May 25, a bear was seen moving in Ueno, Kakunodate-machi, Senboku City, Akita Prefecture.
Senboku Kakunodatemachi, Akita
(Posted) It ran along the side of the building toward the back.
Senboku Kakunodatemachi, Akita
[Report] One bear sighted; body length unknown
Senboku Tazawako-Kata, Akita
Around 06:50 on 2026-05-25, a bear was sighted in Tazawako Kataichinowatari, Semboku City, Akita Prefecture.
Senboku Tazawako-Kata, Akita
An approximately 50 cm-long animal was rummaging through the garbage at the trash collection point. Direction of departure unknown. Approximately 3 m from a residence.
Senboku Tazawako-Kata, Akita
[Post] A bear cub was running through the rice field. Diagonally across from the fire station.
Senboku Tazawako-Obonai, Akita
[Post]
Senboku Tazawako-Tazawa, Akita
A single bear about 60 cm crossed the prefectural road and ran off to the west. Distance to the nearest house: 50 m.
Daisen Toyooka, Akita
[Post] There is one adult bear in the forest
Senboku Kakunodatemachi, Akita
A bear was in a farm field. Body length unknown. It departed toward the southeast. It was about 100 meters from nearby buildings.
Senboku, Akita
A witness looked outside from their house and saw a bear on the front steps. Subsequent movements are unknown. / Body length approximately 1.0 m / About 5 m from a residence.
Misato, Akita
Posted: Spotted in the rice fields. It came from the Yokosawa area and ran off toward the Kawaguchigawa River.
Daisen Otacho-Yokosawa, Akita
A cub was crossing.
Daisen Otacho-Yokosawa, Akita
A witness saw a bear walking south on the town road from inside a building. / Body length approx. 1.0 m / About 200 m to Misato Town Chibata Elementary School.
Misato 千屋, Akita
At around 07:55 on May 16, 2026, a man in Misato Town, Akita Prefecture, spotted a bear about 1 meter long walking on a town road in Tsuchizaki, Ueno-otsu. According to the Daisen police, the location was about 200 meters east of Chihata Elementary School, and the police have urged residents to be cautious.
Misato 本堂城回, Akita
[Report] One bear sighted north of the bedroom window. It ran off to the east.
Misato 本堂城回, Akita
A witness inside a building observed a bear walking southward through a nearby park. / Body length approximately 1.0 m / About 30 m to Mahiruso (special nursing home)
Misato 本堂城回, Akita
I sighted a bear emerging from the undergrowth and heading north. Distance to the houses: 10 m.
Daisen Toyooka, Akita
Sighted a bear walking on residential property. Body length about 1 m, left heading northeast, distance to house about 1 m.
Senboku Tazawa, Akita
At around 07:15 on May 14, 2026, a woman in her 60s spotted a bear about 1 meter long on the grounds of a private house in Terashita, Tazawako Tazawa, Semboku City, Akita Prefecture. The Semboku police have urged nearby residents to be cautious.
Senboku Tazawa, Akita
A witness, while doing farm work, spotted a bear in a cedar grove between their property and the neighbor’s. / Body length approximately 1.0 m / About 10 m from a house.
Misato, Akita
A bear was near Kojoyama Park. Body length about 1 m. Distance to the nearest buildings about 200 m. Walked off toward the west.
Senboku Kakunodatemachi, Akita
Body length about 1.2 m. It came down from the mountain, walked near the garbage collection area, and then returned toward the mountain.
Senboku Tazawako-Komatsu, Akita
At around 12:55 PM on May 11, 2026, a woman in her 40s driving in Tazawako Komatsu Aza Jomawari, Semboku City, Akita Prefecture, spotted a bear about 1.2 meters long on a municipal road.
Senboku Tazawako-Komatsu, Akita
Small black bear seen while biking road. I turned the corner and saw the back half of the bear as it ran into the wood on the left side of the road. About 70 cm tall.
Senboku, Akita
Spotted a bear cub in the bushes by the roadside. Mother bear was not seen.
Senboku, Akita
Observed two bears about 0.5 m in length and one bear about 1 m in length. Direction of departure unknown. Approximately 100 m from nearby houses.
Senboku Kakunodatemachi-Sonoda, Akita
[Post] (Posted at 19:33, no description of circumstances)
Misato, Akita
[Post]
Daisen Otacho-Sanbon-ogi, Akita
A witness spotted a bear walking east along the embankment on the north bank of the Yajima River while working in the fields. Distance to the witness: approximately 100 m. Body length: about 1.0 m. Distance to the nearest house: about 360 m.
Daisen Otacho-Sanbon-ogi, Akita
A bear about 1 meter in body length was seen up in a tree. Direction of departure unknown. Approximately 200 meters from nearby buildings.
Senboku, Akita
On the way back from Kuroyu Onsen, just a short distance after leaving the parking lot, a mother bear with cubs crossed the road ahead.
Senboku, Akita
[Report] One bear sighted; body length unknown
Senboku Tazawako-Kata, Akita
Around 06:50 on 2026-05-25, a bear was sighted in Tazawako Kataichinowatari, Semboku City, Akita Prefecture.
Senboku Tazawako-Kata, Akita
An approximately 50 cm-long animal was rummaging through the garbage at the trash collection point. Direction of departure unknown. Approximately 3 m from a residence.
Senboku Tazawako-Kata, Akita
[Post] A bear cub was running through the rice field. Diagonally across from the fire station.
Senboku Tazawako-Obonai, Akita
[Post]
Senboku Tazawako-Tazawa, Akita
An adult bear was sighted wandering in Shimomachi, Shizukuishi Town.
Shizukuishi 町裏, Iwate
Around 07:30 on 2026-05-21, one bear was sighted in Natsusumori, Shizukuishi Town, Iwate Prefecture.
Shizukuishi 七ツ森, Iwate
Sighted a bear walking on residential property. Body length about 1 m, left heading northeast, distance to house about 1 m.
Senboku Tazawa, Akita
At around 07:15 on May 14, 2026, a woman in her 60s spotted a bear about 1 meter long on the grounds of a private house in Terashita, Tazawako Tazawa, Semboku City, Akita Prefecture. The Semboku police have urged nearby residents to be cautious.
Senboku Tazawa, Akita
Spotted a bear cub in the bushes by the roadside. Mother bear was not seen.
Senboku, Akita
A 69-year-old woman from Hachimantai went out to pick wild plants on the evening of May 6 and was found dead in the mountains of Hachimantai on the morning of May 7. Her body had scratch wounds on the face, and police suspect she was attacked by a bear; an autopsy will determine the cause of death.
Shizukuishi, Iwate
On the way back from Kuroyu Onsen, just a short distance after leaving the parking lot, a mother bear with cubs crossed the road ahead.
Senboku, Akita
At around 05:30 on May 8, a resident saw one adult bear crossing a prefectural road about 500 meters south of Nishine Daiichi Junior High School in Horikiri, Hachimantai City. Police have urged local residents to be cautious, and no bear-related damage has been reported.
Hachimantai 上関, Iwate
On the morning of May 7, 2026, the body of a woman in her 60s who had gone missing was found in a mountain forest near the Nitta District Community Center in Nishine Terada, Hachimantai City, Iwate Prefecture. The body had scratch-like wounds on the face and head, and police are investigating on suspicion of a bear attack.
Hachimantai 西根寺田, Iwate
A woman in her 60s who had been reported missing in Hachimantai City, Iwate Prefecture, was found collapsed in woodland near the Shinden District Community Center in Nishine Terada on May 7 at 08:13; emergency personnel confirmed her death at the scene. She had scratch wounds on her face believed to have been caused by a bear, and police are investigating the relationship between the wounds and the cause of death and whether a bear attack occurred.
Hachimantai 西根寺田, Iwate
On May 7, 2026, the body of a woman was found in woodland in Nishineda Terada, Hachimantai City while foraging for wild plants. The body was located about 100 meters from her car; she was carrying a bear bell but had scratch-like wounds on her face and head, suggesting a possible bear attack.
Hachimantai, Iwate
There is bear scat on the road. There are bear tracks nearby.
Morioka Kawasaki, Iwate
One bear sighted in the hot spring facility's parking lot
Morioka Terabayashi, Iwate
The field's mulch was torn, and there were footprints. The compost was disturbed.
Morioka Terabayashi, Iwate
Rice bran had been placed beside the field the reporter was renting, but two bags were ransacked; bear droppings and footprints were left on the mulch.
Morioka Terabayashi, Iwate
There are round footprints in the ridges I made. About 15 centimeters in diameter. Could it be a bear?
Morioka Koma, Iwate
Spotted a bear near the Nakano intersection on National Route 4 that moved from west to east (toward Nakano Elementary School).
Morioka, Iwate
One bear was sighted on the opposite side of the Neda Shigekawa River.
Morioka Tamayama-Nagai, Iwate
There are signs that the bear is fixated on the feed.
Morioka Tamayama-Nagai, Iwate
Around 15:50 on May 8, a passerby sighted one adult bear in a grassy area near a house in Kami-yama, Koma, Morioka City. No damage from the bear has been confirmed, and the Morioka East Police Station has urged nearby residents to be cautious.
Morioka Koma, Iwate
A single young bear was sighted near the staff-only parking lot of the Handmade Village.
Morioka Koma, Iwate
At around 05:30 on May 8, a resident saw one adult bear crossing a prefectural road about 500 meters south of Nishine Daiichi Junior High School in Horikiri, Hachimantai City. Police have urged local residents to be cautious, and no bear-related damage has been reported.
Hachimantai 上関, Iwate
One bee box from the apiary beside the house was missing. Bear footprints and paw prints were found nearby.
Morioka Koma, Iwate
On the morning of May 7, 2026, the body of a woman in her 60s who had gone missing was found in a mountain forest near the Nitta District Community Center in Nishine Terada, Hachimantai City, Iwate Prefecture. The body had scratch-like wounds on the face and head, and police are investigating on suspicion of a bear attack.
Hachimantai 西根寺田, Iwate
A woman in her 60s who had been reported missing in Hachimantai City, Iwate Prefecture, was found collapsed in woodland near the Shinden District Community Center in Nishine Terada on May 7 at 08:13; emergency personnel confirmed her death at the scene. She had scratch wounds on her face believed to have been caused by a bear, and police are investigating the relationship between the wounds and the cause of death and whether a bear attack occurred.
Hachimantai 西根寺田, Iwate
On May 7, 2026, the body of a woman was found in woodland in Nishineda Terada, Hachimantai City while foraging for wild plants. The body was located about 100 meters from her car; she was carrying a bear bell but had scratch-like wounds on her face and head, suggesting a possible bear attack.
Hachimantai, Iwate
The field plastic mulch was torn, and there were footprints. The compost was disturbed.
Morioka, Iwate
At the Kōdōyama trailhead, five hikers sighted a mother and cub bear.
Morioka, Iwate
At around 10:50 on May 1, a single young bear was seen walking near the FamilyMart Shibutami store in Shimoda, Morioka City, and walked toward Shibutami Station. No injuries or damage were reported, and police have warned local residents to be cautious.
Morioka, Iwate
There is bear scat on the road. There are bear tracks nearby.
Morioka Kawasaki, Iwate
One bear sighted in the hot spring facility's parking lot
Morioka Terabayashi, Iwate
The field's mulch was torn, and there were footprints. The compost was disturbed.
Morioka Terabayashi, Iwate
Rice bran had been placed beside the field the reporter was renting, but two bags were ransacked; bear droppings and footprints were left on the mulch.
Morioka Terabayashi, Iwate
There are round footprints in the ridges I made. About 15 centimeters in diameter. Could it be a bear?
Morioka Koma, Iwate
One bear was sighted on the opposite side of the Neda Shigekawa River.
Morioka Tamayama-Nagai, Iwate
There are signs that the bear is fixated on the feed.
Morioka Tamayama-Nagai, Iwate
Around 15:50 on May 8, a passerby sighted one adult bear in a grassy area near a house in Kami-yama, Koma, Morioka City. No damage from the bear has been confirmed, and the Morioka East Police Station has urged nearby residents to be cautious.
Morioka Koma, Iwate
A single young bear was sighted near the staff-only parking lot of the Handmade Village.
Morioka Koma, Iwate
One bee box from the apiary beside the house was missing. Bear footprints and paw prints were found nearby.
Morioka Koma, Iwate
Driver sighted one bear crossing the road (body length 50 cm) / direction of travel: west
Odate, Akita
While driving a car on Nishiyama Agricultural Road heading toward Hanawa, I witnessed a bear about 40 centimeters in height crossing the road from east to west and then walking off into the woods on the west side. The distance between the car and the bear was about 6 meters.
Kazuno, Akita
[Report] I went to my property to take care of the remains after cutting down chestnut trees. After getting out of the car, I saw a bear wandering about 80 meters away. I made noise, but it didn’t react or even look my way; it crossed my property and climbed up the slope to the south.
Kosaka, Akita
A bear broke through and damaged the wall of a house in Ishikiridokoro-Kakinokidaira, Ninohe City.
Ninohe, Iwate
While driving on the Akita Road, three bears — a mother and two cubs — were walking in the rice fields near the Isedotai archaeological site.
Kitaakita, Akita
Vacant lot / Body length 1 m / 20 m from a house / 30 m distance from eyewitness
Kazuno, Akita
At around 18:10 on May 21, 2026, a man in his 70s at home spotted a roughly 1‑meter bear in a grove in Hanawa, Kazuno City (Shintomei). According to the Kazuno police, the bear was about 30 meters from nearby houses, and the police have urged residents to be cautious.
Kazuno, Akita
On private residential property / body length 1 m / 20 m from the house / 20 m from the witness. Witness observed a bear walking toward the back of the shrine.
Kazuno, Akita
[Post] In Itazawa area, mountain side of Hiketsuki River
Odate Itazawa, Akita
Around 9:00 on May 21, a bear was sighted in Saijoji, Ichinohe Town.
Ichinohe Saihoji, Iwate
[Post]
Kitaakita Komori, Akita
Vegetable garden on private property / Body length 1 m / 15 m from house / 15 m distance from witness I observed a bear lingering in the vegetable garden on my property. I was frightened and went indoors. I have not been able to confirm what the bear did afterward.
Kazuno Towada-Nishikigi, Akita
While driving on the expressway, I encountered a bear cub on the road about 200 meters before Kosaka Parking Area. I slowed down and honked, and it ran into the bushes on the left. The mother bear was not seen. I reported it to the police car that was ahead.
Kosaka, Akita
While running, I suddenly saw a bear about 0.5 m long come out onto the road right in front of me. It left heading toward the north side of Takao High School main gate.
Kitaakita Asahicho, Akita
At around 19:20 on the 19th, a man in his 40s who was running spotted a single bear about 50 cm long on a sidewalk in Isecho, Kitaakita City. The nearest house was about 5 meters away; Akita Hokutaka High School and the Kitaakita City Hall are nearby, and the police have warned residents to be cautious.
Kitaakita Isecho, Akita
Field / body length 1 m / 150 m from a house / 200 m from a witness While driving on the national highway, (the witness) saw a bear running south through a field 200 m south of the highway.
Kazuno, Akita
Witnessed it crossing the road and entering the thicket of the forest on the east side.
Kazuno, Akita
One bear about 1.5 m long was seen crossing the prefectural road from south to north.
Kitaakita Shimosugi, Akita
A member of the public traveling on a city road sighted one bear (body length unknown) in the bushes / direction of movement unknown / 250 m west of Hokuyo Junior High School.
Odate, Akita
Driver sighted one bear (body length 1.0 m) / direction of travel: southwest / approximately 20 m to the nearest facility
Odate Ikenai, Akita
[Post]
Kitaakita Kamisugi, Akita
On my way to work I witnessed an Asian black bear (Tsukinowaguma) crossing the road and running up the embankment.
Kazuno, Akita
A driver traveling on National Route 7 observed one bear (body length 1 m) in a rice field / direction of travel unknown / 100 m from the nearest residence
Odate Nagasaka, Akita
[Report] Footprints crossing the road from the east
Kosaka, Akita
A passerby sighted one bear (body length 1.0 m) crossing the road from east to west and leaving the area.
Odate Yachimachi-ushiro, Akita
A passerby sighted one bear (body length approx. 1.0 m) / direction of travel: north / about 300 m south of Shimokawa River Middle School
Odate, Akita
[Post] Ran from the residential area toward the rice field
Odate Negeto, Akita
Driver sighted one bear (body length about 1.0 m) / direction of travel unknown / approximately 300 m west of Odate Police Station
Odate, Akita
【Post】
Odate Katayama, Akita
Seen by nearby residents / Direction of movement unknown / About 250 m south of Katsura Sakura High School
Odate, Akita
Odate, Akita
Crossed the road and went toward Katsura/Sakura High School
Odate, Akita
Odate, Akita
A local resident sighted one bear (about 1.0 m in body length) / direction of travel: south / approximately 50 m from the nearest house
Odate, Akita
Driver sighted one bear (about 1 m in length) / direction of travel: east / approximately 300 m to the nearest house
Odate, Akita
[Report] While two of us were checking a fallen tree, we found a lot of large scat that was not yet dry. When I stood up after taking photos, I smelled a strong animal odor. Looking around, I noticed a warm, animal-like breath coming from somewhere, so we ran away. About 15 m from a house.
Kazuno Towada-Kemanai, Akita
At around 08:40 on May 8, a man in his 60s working in a field in Nukazawa Nakatani-chi, Tsuzureko, Kitaakita City, spotted a bear about 1.2 meters long. The nearest building was about 10 meters away; the Kitaakita Police patrolled by patrol car and warned residents.
Kitaakita Tsuzureko, Akita
Witnessed one bear about 1 meter long in the grassy area near a railroad crossing. Approximately 60 meters from nearby houses.
Kitaakita, Akita
[Post]
Odate Kohakama, Akita
Saw it in the grass
Odate Negeto, Akita
A local resident sighted one bear (body length 1.0 m) / moving south / approximately 150 m from the nearest elementary school
Odate Negeto, Akita
[Post]
Odate Negeto, Akita
A nearby resident sighted one bear (body length 1.0 m) / moving north / approximately 30 m from the nearest house
Odate Ikenai-michiue, Akita
Walked through the premises
Odate Ikenai-michiue, Akita
Driver sighted one bear (body length 1.5 m) moving west; approximately 10 m from Ken-ei Hagino-dai housing complex.
Odate Ikenai-michiue, Akita
[Report] Crossed national highway — over 1 meter
Odate, Akita
Local resident sighted one bear (body length 1.5 m) / moving west / approximately 80 m from the nearest house
Odate, Akita
Posted: Moving west along the irrigation channel beside the rice fields. Witnessed while driving, so subsequent actions are unknown.
Odate, Akita
On a municipal road in Ikeuchi, Odate City, a woman in her 40s driving a car spotted a bear.
Odate Ikenai, Akita
Rice paddy / Body length 1 m / 200 m from a residence / 50 m from sighting Vehicle was driving on the road when a bear was discovered in the rice paddy. The bear moved west toward the direction of a waste processing facility.
Kosaka Araya, Akita
The bear headed from the national highway into the forest.
Odate, Akita
Sighted one Asiatic black bear (Tsukinowaguma) behind the Isedotai Jomon Museum. It appeared to be eating something in the grass.
Kitaakita Wakigami, Akita
[Post] Witnessed crossing the Jukai Line from south to north
Kosaka, Akita
Reported: Body approximately 1 meter. Walking in a mountain very close to the road.
Odate, Akita
Spotted one bear about 1.2 m in length in the grassy area near the facility. It then moved south. Approximately 30 m from the nearby facility.
Kitaakita Isecho, Akita
Spotted one bear of unknown body length in a grassy area. Approximately 10 meters from a house. Subsequent direction of departure unknown.
Kitaakita Wakigami, Akita
A single bear walked south between the houses. About 5 meters from a residence.
Kitaakita Miyamaecho, Akita
At around 11:20 on April 28, 2026, a bear about 80 cm long was sighted in the grounds of a vacant house in Akagawadai, Wakigami, Kitaakita City, Akita Prefecture by a woman in her 60s living next door. The Kitaakita police said the nearest house was about 20 meters away and urged residents to be cautious.
Kitaakita Wakigami, Akita
[Post] Spotted a bear cub alone on the highway
Kosaka, Akita
[Post]
Kazuno 長牛, Akita
While a vehicle was in motion, one bear (approximately 1.0 m in body length) was sighted / Direction of travel: east / Approximately 50 m to the nearest residence
Odate, Akita
At around 16:50 on April 27, 2026, a man in his 30s driving in Odate City, Karasawa Inariyama-shimo, spotted one bear about 1 meter long on the road. The nearest house is about 50 meters away and there is a hospital in the area; the police are patrolling the vicinity and urging residents to be cautious.
Odate Karasawa, Akita
A staff member at a nearby facility sighted one bear (body length unknown) / direction of travel unknown / approximately 150 meters from the nearest facility
Odate Shakanai, Akita
In the forest at Odate City, Shakainai, at around 10:20 a.m. on the 27th, school staff spotted one bear about 50 cm in length. The nearest house is about 30 meters away and Shakainai Elementary School about 10 meters; the police notified related agencies, are patrolling the area with patrol cars, and have warned residents to be cautious.
Odate Shakanai, Akita
A single bear (body length 1.0 m) was sighted by nearby residents / moving east / approximately 100 m from the nearest house
Odate Niida, Akita
Peak activity at 7:00 with 15 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, 121 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 27 of them.
The latest sighting was reported 13 hours ago near Senboku Kakunodatemachi, Akita.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 7:00. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk.
This 573 km route runs from Mahiru take to Odate, passing through Akita and Iwate. In the past 30 days, 121 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 27 of them. The latest sighting was reported 13 hours ago near Senboku Kakunodatemachi, Akita. This is an active bear corridor. Drive through with full caution, but rerouting is the safer choice.
