Saves as a new trip plan. The original stays as-is.
This 150 km route runs from Minamiuonuma to Hakuba, passing through Niigata and Nagano. In the past 30 days, 46 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 9 of them. The latest sighting was reported 1 day ago near Iiyama Toyoda, Nagano.
This is an active bear corridor. Drive through with full caution, but rerouting is the safer choice.
2 places within 1 km of your route, passing through Niigata, Nagano.
Size: Adult
Iiyama Toyoda, Nagano
Moved from Kamagawa, passed through rice fields, and headed toward the mountains.
Tokamachi, Niigata
Around 10:30 on 2026-05-25, a bear was sighted in Shigechi, Tokamachi City, Niigata Prefecture.
Tokamachi, Niigata
Size: Unknown
Sakae Toyosakae, Nagano
Size: Juvenile
Hakuba, Nagano
At around 06:45 on May 21, 2026, a bear was sighted in the Mizusawa No.3 area of Tokamachi City near Echigo-Mizusawa Station; it crossed National Route 117 and headed toward the Shinano River. A warning was issued advising people to avoid forests and thick grass nearby.
Tokamachi, Niigata
Crossed National Route 117 near Echigo-Mizusawa Station and moved toward the Shinano River.
Tokamachi, Niigata
At around 09:50 on May 20, footprints of a bear were found in a field near the Takasu Ground in the Obara settlement, Tokamachi City. The city is urging nearby residents and agricultural workers to exercise caution.
Tokamachi, Niigata
Bear tracks sighted; trail indicates movement toward the southeast.
Tokamachi, Niigata
Size: adult (fully grown)
Iiyama Minamimachi, Nagano
Size: juvenile
Hakuba Hokujo, Nagano
Size: Adult
Nagano Matsushiromachi-Higashijo, Nagano
A staff member discovered bear tracks in a rice paddy.
Minamiuonuma, Niigata
Size: Adult
Suzaka, Nagano
Size: juvenile
Takayama, Nagano
Size: Adult
Takayama, Nagano
Size: adult (fully grown)
Takayama Takai, Nagano
Size: Unknown
Nozawaonsen Maezaka, Nagano
Size: Unknown
Kijimadaira Ogo, Nagano
I sighted one bear about 1 meter in body length near the 7th–8th station area of the Sakadoyama Castle Saka Course.
Minamiuonuma, Niigata
Size: Adult
Iizuna Kurai, Nagano
Walking up to the Aketaki trail in the coniferous part of the forest, i heard the rustling noises of something moving away from me but saw nothing. This was about 3pm. On the way down in the same location I heard the same noises. I looked up and saw 2 dark outlines of animals, both sat on their hind legs looking at me, about 50m higher up. I backed away and continued walking and they didn't follow. I'm 90% sure it was 2 bears, a mother and a cub, but I didn't wait around to take photos!
Nozawaonsen Toyosato, Nagano
Size: Unknown
Nozawaonsen Maezaka, Nagano
Size: adult (fully grown)
Iiyama Toyoda, Nagano
Size: unknown
Sakae Toyosakae, Nagano
A resident discovered bear tracks in a field.
Minamiuonuma, Niigata
One adult bear, probably a male
Nozawaonsen Toyosato, Nagano
Size: Adult
Iiyama Tokisato, Nagano
Size: Unknown
Nozawaonsen Toyosato, Nagano
Size: Adult
Iiyama Hachisu, Nagano
A resident sighted one bear approximately 1.0 m in body length.
Minamiuonuma, Niigata
A resident spotted one bear about 1.0 m in body length near a reservoir.
Minamiuonuma, Niigata
On the morning of the 3rd, a single bear about 1 m long was sighted in Izumimyoji, Minamiuonuma City; a report said the bear was walking north around a pond in the fields at about 10:00 AM. The sighting location was about 150 m from houses, and the police are coordinating with the city to issue notices and conduct patrols.
Minamiuonuma, Niigata
I sighted an animal believed to be a bear about 1.5 meters long.
Minamiuonuma, Niigata
Size: adult
Iiyama, Nagano
Size: juvenile
Sakae Toyosakae, Nagano
Size: juvenile
Hakuba Kamishiro, Nagano
I sighted one bear about 1 m in body length entering/moving into the mountain.
Minamiuonuma, Niigata
Size: Adult
Iiyama Asahi, Nagano
Size: juvenile
Hakuba, Nagano
Size: juvenile
Hakuba, Nagano
At around 00:40 on April 29, a single bear approximately 1.5 meters long was spotted on the road in Higashiterao, Matsushiro, Nagano City; a passing car honked its horn and the bear ran away, according to a report. Police searched the area but did not find the animal and have urged local residents to be cautious.
Nagano Matsushiromachi-Higashiterao, Nagano
Size: adult (fully grown)
Iiyama Hachisu, Nagano
Size: adult
Nagano Matsushiromachi-Johoku, Nagano
While passing nearby, the team leader spotted one cub about 50 cm tall.
Tokamachi, Niigata
At around 06:00 on April 28, a juvenile bear about 50 cm long was sighted in farmland along Prefectural Route 528 in Takashima No.2 area of Tokamachi City, Niigata. At about 07:40 the same day, another bear was reported near Yoshida Junior High School in Koizumi, and the Tokamachi Police are warning residents and investigating whether the sightings are related.
Tokamachi, Niigata
Peak activity at 6:00 with 5 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, 46 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 9 of them.
The latest sighting was reported 1 day ago near Iiyama Toyoda, Nagano.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 6:00. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk.
This 150 km route runs from Minamiuonuma to Hakuba, passing through Niigata and Nagano. In the past 30 days, 46 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 9 of them. The latest sighting was reported 1 day ago near Iiyama Toyoda, Nagano. This is an active bear corridor. Drive through with full caution, but rerouting is the safer choice.
