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This 159 km route runs from Minamiuonuma to Kawagoe Castle, passing through Niigata, Saitama, and Gunma. In the past 30 days, 22 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 4 of them. The latest sighting was reported 1 day ago near Yuzawa, Niigata.
At this density of recent sightings, be ready to brake at any moment and avoid stopping in flagged stretches.
4 places within 1 km of your route, passing through Niigata, Saitama, Gunma.
While driving on National Route 17, observed one bear. It was moving westward.
Yuzawa, Niigata
Three bears—a mother and two cubs—were sighted at the former Nunoba Ski Resort slope. Their subsequent movements are unknown.
Yuzawa, Niigata
One bear was sighted near the Kan-Etsu Expressway Tsuchitaru parking area.
Yuzawa, Niigata
Around 10:30 on July 6, a bear was sighted in Shimozu, Minakami Town, Gunma Prefecture.
Minakami Shimozu, Gunma
One bear was sighted near Tanigohashi Bridge. It was moving north.
Yuzawa Tsuchidaru, Niigata
Around 8:00 on July 4, a bear was sighted in Shikanosawa, Minakami Town, Gunma Prefecture.
Minakami Yoshimoto, Gunma
Shibukawa 北牧, Gunma
Spotted a Class 1 bear while traveling on National Route 17. Subsequent movement route is unknown.
Yuzawa Kandatsu, Niigata
Around 4:50 PM on June 30, a bear was sighted in Agagawa, Minakami Town, Gunma Prefecture.
Minakami, Gunma
Around 4:05 PM on 2026-06-28, one bear was sighted in Anogawa, Minakami Town, Gunma Prefecture.
Minakami, Gunma
Around 08:30 on 2026-06-28, a bear was sighted in Shibukawa, Shibukawa City, Gunma Prefecture.
Shibukawa 渋川, Gunma
One bear was sighted near the former Tsuchitaru Ski Resort.
Yuzawa, Niigata
Showa Morishita, Gunma
Discovered bear footprints and signs of crops having been damaged in a field.
Minamiuonuma, Niigata
Shibukawa 赤城町棚下, Gunma
One bear (body length unknown) was sighted while traveling on the municipal road Matsukawa-Nakako-Gawara Line. Its subsequent movement route is unknown.
Yuzawa Tsuchidaru, Niigata
Found bear tracks in the rice paddy.
Minamiuonuma, Niigata
Heard the vocalizations of an animal believed to be a bear.
Minamiuonuma, Niigata
One bear was sighted on a town road in the Tsuchidaru area of Yuzawa Town, Niigata.
Yuzawa Tsuchidaru, Niigata
While driving on the Matsukawa Nakako-gawara municipal road, one bear was sighted. It was moving from the expressway direction toward the Uono River direction.
Yuzawa Tsuchidaru, Niigata
Around 6:45 PM on June 14, a bear was sighted in Yuhara, Minakami Town, Gunma Prefecture.
Minakami Yubara, Gunma
I encountered an Asiatic black bear (Tsukinowaguma) crossing the road on a forest road heading to Mount Omine / Ōmine-numa.
Minakami, Gunma
Peak activity at 16:00 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.
Draw any route in Japan and get the same bear-safety report, built around the trip you're actually taking.
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In the past 30 days, 22 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 4 of them.
The latest sighting was reported 1 day ago near Yuzawa, Niigata.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 16:00. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk.
This 159 km route runs from Minamiuonuma to Kawagoe Castle, passing through Niigata, Saitama, and Gunma. In the past 30 days, 22 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 4 of them. The latest sighting was reported 1 day ago near Yuzawa, Niigata. At this density of recent sightings, be ready to brake at any moment and avoid stopping in flagged stretches.
