This 321 km route from Minamiuonuma to Kaneyama crosses Niigata and Yamagata. Over the past 30 days, 42 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of the route, including 13 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 Shinjo Motoaikai, Yamagata; the location sits about 294.7 km from the start of the route and 4.7 km off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 3 days ago at Kamo, Niigata, sitting about 95.6 km from the start and 29 m off the route line.
This is an active bear corridor. Rerouting or rescheduling your hike is strongly advised.
1 places within 1 km of your route, passing through Niigata, Yamagata.
Around 11:00 on May 6, an adult-sized bear was sighted on a road in Motaiami (Honaiumi), Shinjo City, Yamagata Prefecture.
Shinjo Motoaikai, Yamagata
While working in a rice paddy on Karasuga Island, observed a bear emerge from a bamboo grove.
Nagaoka, Niigata
Discovered footprints in the field
Uonuma, Niigata
A supposed bear sighting before 22:30 on May 4 at a convenience-store parking lot in Kamo City (Ogocho 2) was found, after review of CCTV by the Kamo police and city, to be a leashed dog at the entrance.
Kamo, Niigata
Spotted one bear in front of the convenience store entrance. It ran off toward the northeast.
Kamo, Niigata
Kamo City reported that at around 22:25 on May 4 a roughly 1-meter bear was sighted in front of the Seven-Eleven entrance in Daigocho, Kamo, but security camera footage later showed the animal was actually a leashed dog; the city apologized on the morning of May 5 for the false report. The city continues to urge caution against bear encounters.
Kamo, Niigata
It ran toward the tunnel from the Togaya direction.
Nagaoka 谷内二丁目, Niigata
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
Around 10:00 on May 3, 2026, a single bear about 1 meter long was sighted walking north near a pond in a rice field area in Izumidera, Minamiuonuma City. The sighting was about 150 meters from houses; the police coordinated with the city to issue warnings and carry out patrols.
Minamiuonuma, Niigata
I sighted an animal believed to be a bear about 1.5 meters long.
Minamiuonuma, Niigata
I sighted one bear about 1 m in body length entering/moving into the mountain.
Minamiuonuma, Niigata
Tracks believed to be from a bear were found in the field.
Nagaoka, Niigata
At around 10:00 a.m. on April 30, 2026, one bear believed to be an adult was sighted on a road in Tokamachi, Kaneyama Town, Yamagata Prefecture.
Kaneyama, Yamagata
Found scat on the trail heading to Fujigongen-yama
Uonuma, Niigata
According to Shinjo City, at around 7:00 AM on April 27, 2026, one bear was sighted in Masugata, Shinjo City, Yamagata Prefecture. The city conducted patrols after receiving the report but did not locate the bear, and has urged residents to be cautious.
Shinjo Masugata, Yamagata
One bear was sighted. Its subsequent movement route is unknown.
Niigata, 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
This is a photo of the footprints I took after immediately turning back upon sighting it.
Mamurogawa Kawanouchi, Yamagata
A single bear (about 1 m in body length) was seen moving west.
Uonuma Okura, 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
Multiple bear sightings were reported in Shinjō City on April 22. At around 08:50, a bear was observed crossing the road near Masugata Community Center in Masugata, Shinjō City.
Shinjo Masugata, Yamagata
While passing through the area, a person sighted one cub.
Tainai 松波, Niigata
Shortly before 17:00 on April 14, a bear was reported sighted in the Trim no Mori area of the Municipal General Sports Park in Tsukioka 4, Sanjo City. The bear's body length was unknown and the report was made to the Sanjo police station.
Sanjo 月岡四丁目, Niigata
A bear was sighted moving among the trees deep in the Trim Forest. Body length unknown. It then left into the mountains.
Sanjo 月岡, Niigata
A female bear about 1.0 m long was found caught in a drum-can trap near the Wagotagawa River in Maki-buchi 4, Nagaoka City, around 06:30. Because sightings had continued in the residential area, the city carried out an emergency shooting at 09:46 and culled the bear.
Nagaoka 巻渕四丁目, Niigata
On April 12 around 06:30, city staff in Nagaoka (Makibuchi 4) found one bear caught in a set trap. The city's wildlife damage response team, together with hunting association members, culled the bear after 09:30 the same day; its body length was about 1 meter.
Nagaoka 巻渕四丁目, Niigata
Around 06:30 on April 12, 2026, in Makibuchi, Nagaoka City, Niigata Prefecture, a female bear about 1 meter long was found caught in one of the drum-can traps. Because the site was within a human residential area, the city implemented traffic restrictions and warned residents, then carried out an emergency shooting at 09:46.
Nagaoka 巻渕四丁目, Niigata
Nagaoka City announced on the 12th that it culled one bear by emergency shooting; the bear had been appearing since the 6th. The bear had been sighted near the embankment of the Wago Dagawa River in Makibuchi 4-chome, Nagaoka City.
Nagaoka 巻渕四丁目, Niigata
Just after 16:30 on April 11, a bear about 0.5 m long was sighted on a prefectural road in Onuki, Nagaoka City; the animal was confirmed very close to houses, according to the Nagaoka Police Station.
Nagaoka 小貫, Niigata
Spotted a cub about 50 cm on Prefectural Route 138 (Tochio-Tai Line). It moved to the south-facing slope.
Nagaoka 小貫, Niigata
Bear droppings found near the underpass tunnel of National Route 17 bypass.
Uonuma Oura-shinden, Niigata
A caller reported sighting one bear cub across the river from their residence. Direction of movement unknown.
Nagaoka 巻渕, Niigata
A single bear about 50 cm long was sighted near the Wagotagawa river in Makibuchi 4, Nagaoka City at around 17:00 on April 9, and police warned local residents after receiving the report. The same individual is believed to have been seen in the same neighborhood on April 6 (about 1 m on a city road) and April 8 (about 50 cm on the riverbank).
Nagaoka 巻渕四丁目, Niigata
Shortly before 17:00 on April 9, 2026, a young bear about 50 cm long appeared behind a house in Makibuchi, Nagaoka City, and a man who filmed it reported it to the police. The city had received sightings of the same individual on April 6 and 8, and installed a capture trap on April 10 (the second trap).
Nagaoka 巻渕四丁目, Niigata
A juvenile bear approximately 50–60 cm in body length was sighted in the Kamiiida area. It later left and went into the mountains.
Sanjo 飯田, Niigata
I sighted one juvenile bear about 0.5 m in body length entering the mountains.
Minamiuonuma Urasa, Niigata
A cub was sighted climbing a cedar tree in Kamihonai. It subsequently left for the mountains.
Sanjo 上保内, Niigata
Peak activity at 10:00 with 6 incidents
Ursus thibetanus japonicus
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Over the past 30 days, 42 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of this route, including 13 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 Shinjo Motoaikai, Yamagata; the location sits about 294.7 km from the start of the route and 4.7 km off the route line.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 10:00. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk.
This 321 km route from Minamiuonuma to Kaneyama crosses Niigata and Yamagata. Over the past 30 days, 42 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of the route, including 13 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 Shinjo Motoaikai, Yamagata; the location sits about 294.7 km from the start of the route and 4.7 km off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 3 days ago at Kamo, Niigata, sitting about 95.6 km from the start and 29 m off the route line. This is an active bear corridor. Rerouting or rescheduling your hike is strongly advised.
