This 200 km route from Mitsuke to Kaichi School crosses Niigata and Nagano. Over the past 30 days, 59 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of the route, including 19 in the past week. This route runs through Asian black bear habitat (native to Honshu and Shikoku). The most recent sighting was reported 1 day ago near Matsumoto Kariyaharamachi, Nagano; the location sits about 198.1 km from the start of the route and 3.6 km off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 3 weeks ago at Nagaoka 小貫, Niigata, sitting about 3.2 km from the start and 3 m off the route line.
This is an active bear corridor. Rerouting or rescheduling your hike is strongly advised.
4 places within 1 km of your route, passing through Niigata, Nagano.
Size: Juvenile
Matsumoto Kariyaharamachi, Nagano
Size: Juvenile
Chikuhoku, Nagano
While working in a rice paddy on Karasuga Island, observed a bear emerge from a bamboo grove.
Nagaoka, Niigata
One adult bear, probably a male
Nozawaonsen Toyosato, Nagano
Size: Adult
Matsumoto Gojo, Nagano
Size: Adult
Iiyama Tokisato, Nagano
Size: Unknown
Nozawaonsen Toyosato, Nagano
Size: Adult
Iiyama Hachisu, Nagano
A single bear appeared in the garden of a private home in Azumino City, Nagano Prefecture, and was captured with a tranquillizer gun. Experts warn the bear is likely awake from hibernation and searching for food.
Azumino 豊科南穂高, Nagano
It ran toward the tunnel from the Togaya direction.
Nagaoka 谷内二丁目, Niigata
Bear footprints were found in a field along Route 117 in Nakajo, Tokamachi City, on May 3, 2026 at 14:30. The location is about 300 m north of Nakajo Elementary School; the city warns people to avoid forests and thick vegetation.
Tokamachi, Niigata
On 2026-05-03, one bear appeared in the garden of a private home in Azumino City, Nagano Prefecture and remained there for about four hours before the hunting association captured it with a tranquillizer gun. The bear was an adult about one meter long; there were no injuries or property damage.
Azumino 豊科南穂高, Nagano
Size: adult
Iiyama, Nagano
Size: juvenile
Sakae Toyosakae, Nagano
Size: Adult
Iiyama Asahi, Nagano
Just after 8:00 AM on May 1, 2026, a bear about 1 meter long was sighted near a pond in Nishikawaguchi, Nagaoka City; it was approximately 100 meters from a private residence, according to Ojiya Police.
Nagaoka, Niigata
Spotted one bear beside a carp pond.
Nagaoka, Niigata
Tracks believed to be from a bear were found in the field.
Nagaoka, Niigata
Bear tracks discovered in the field
Tokamachi, Niigata
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
In the early hours of April 29, 2026, a single bear about 1.5 meters long was sighted on a road in Higashiterao, Matsushiro-cho, Nagano City; before 00:30 a passing driver honked and reported the bear left. Police searched the area but did not find the animal and no damage was reported; residents nearby were warned to be cautious.
Nagano Matsushiromachi-Higashiterao, Nagano
Size: adult
Nagano Matsushiromachi-Johoku, Nagano
Size: adult (fully grown)
Iiyama Hachisu, Nagano
Crossed the road near the summit of Kannonzaka from the mountain and moved toward the fields.
Mitsuke, Niigata
On April 28, 2026 at about 07:40, a bear was sighted near Yoshida Junior High School in Koizumi, Tokamachi City, and the Tokamachi police are on alert. Earlier the same day at around 06:00, a juvenile bear about 50 cm long was sighted in a field along Prefectural Route 528 in Takashima, Tokamachi City.
Tokamachi, Niigata
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
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
Size: juvenile
Suzaka Hitaki, Nagano
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
Size: juvenile
Iiyama Nakasone, Nagano
Size: adult
Sakae Toyosakae, Nagano
Size: Unknown
Sakae Hokushin, Nagano
Size: unknown
Kijimadaira Ogo, Nagano
On April 19 at around 10:39, one bear cub and one adult bear were sighted in woodland near a house in Muramatsu-cho, Nagaoka City. The cub was very close to the house, the adult was about 150 meters from the house and measured about 1.2 meters; the Nagaoka Police and city office have warned nearby residents to be cautious.
Nagaoka 村松町, Niigata
At around 10:30 a.m. on April 19, 2026, a cub and an adult bear about 1.2 meters long were sighted in woodland near a residence in Muramatsu-machi, Nagaoka City. The cub was seen close to the house and the adult was observed about 150 m from the house; the Nagaoka police, in cooperation with the city, are issuing warnings and conducting patrols.
Nagaoka 村松町, Niigata
Two bears (a mother and a cub) sighted near the bus turnaround
Nagaoka 村松町, Niigata
Size: Unknown
Sakae Hokushin, Nagano
Size: juvenile
Kijimadaira Kamikijima, Nagano
Size: Adult
Nagano Toyonomachi-Kawatani, Nagano
While on duty on National Route 253, I sighted one animal that appeared to be a bear. It was moving toward the mountains.
Tokamachi 八箇乙, Niigata
Size: Adult
Kijimadaira Kamikijima, Nagano
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
Nakano, Nagano
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
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
Size: Adult
Nagano Toyonomachi-Toyono, Nagano
At around 22:50 on April 8, 2026, a driver spotted and reported a single bear about 70 cm long in Kabeta, Nakano City, Nagano Prefecture. Police responded but did not locate the bear; the area includes houses and a junior high school, and police patrolled school routes on the morning of April 9.
Nakano Hekida, Nagano
A report was received of a small bear about 50 cm seen on the east side of a house. It ran across the river and escaped into the brush on the opposite bank.
Nagaoka 巻渕, Niigata
Shortly after 9:00 a.m. on April 8, 2026, a single bear about 50 cm long was sighted near the Wago River in Makibuchi 4-chome, Nagaoka City, very close to houses. The bear reportedly moved toward the mountains, and the Nagaoka Police urged residents to be cautious.
Nagaoka 巻渕四丁目, Niigata
Peak activity at 9:00 with 8 incidents
Ursus thibetanus japonicus
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Over the past 30 days, 59 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of this route, including 19 in the past week. This route runs through Asian black bear habitat (native to Honshu and Shikoku).
The most recent sighting was reported 1 day ago near Matsumoto Kariyaharamachi, Nagano; the location sits about 198.1 km from the start of the route and 3.6 km off the route line.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 9:00. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk.
This 200 km route from Mitsuke to Kaichi School crosses Niigata and Nagano. Over the past 30 days, 59 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of the route, including 19 in the past week. This route runs through Asian black bear habitat (native to Honshu and Shikoku). The most recent sighting was reported 1 day ago near Matsumoto Kariyaharamachi, Nagano; the location sits about 198.1 km from the start of the route and 3.6 km off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 3 weeks ago at Nagaoka 小貫, Niigata, sitting about 3.2 km from the start and 3 m off the route line. This is an active bear corridor. Rerouting or rescheduling your hike is strongly advised.
