This 2.3 km route from Morioka Castle to Morioka Castle crosses Iwate. Over the past 30 days, 42 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of the route, including 33 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 Morioka Senbokucho, Iwate; the location sits about 39 m from the start of the route and 1.2 km off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 1 day ago at Morioka Senbokucho, Iwate, sitting about 1.6 km from the start and 105 m off the route line.
This is an active bear corridor. Reroute or postpone until activity quiets.
1 places within 1 km of your route, passing through Iwate.
One bear sighted in an apple orchard.
Morioka Senbokucho, Iwate
Around 23:55 on May 14, an adult bear was sighted on a road east of Motomiya Children's Park in Motomiya 2-chome, Morioka. Police patrolled the area by patrol car and spotted the bear near the west side of Motomiya Elementary School, but it entered a residential area and its whereabouts became unknown; no damage has been reported.
Morioka Senbokucho, Iwate
On the morning of May 14, 2026, one adult bear was sighted on the campus of Iwate University in Morioka, near the gymnasium. The university canceled all classes for the day and urged people to remain inside buildings.
Morioka, Iwate
On the morning of May 14, 2026, an apparently adult bear was sighted on the grounds of Iwate University in Morioka. The university urged people to stay inside buildings and canceled all classes for the day.
Morioka, Iwate
At around 07:40 on the 14th, a police officer spotted one adult bear near the Dōhō dormitory at Iwate University in Ueda, Morioka. The city ordered an emergency shooting operation and restricted passage within a 200-meter radius northwest of the university, but the bear hid in undergrowth and was lost so it could not be culled; the shooting operation was lifted around 17:00 and authorities switched to box traps and conducted night patrols. The university canceled classes from the second period onward that day and suspended in-person classes on the 15th, asking dormitory residents to stay indoors.
Morioka, Iwate
At around 07:40 on May 14, an adult bear was sighted on the campus of Iwate University near the dormitory in Ueda, Morioka City, and remained on campus as of 18:00. The city used drones to locate the bear and decided on an emergency shooting after 14:30, but canceled it when the bear hid in the thicket; no damage has been reported and traps were set with nighttime patrols planned.
Morioka Shimoota-Shinden, Iwate
At around 07:30 on May 14, 2026, one bear was sighted on the campus of Iwate University in Morioka (near the dormitory), and it remains on the grounds. Police and city officials are using drones to monitor the situation; some morning classes were canceled, no injuries or property damage have been reported, and the city is considering capture by tranquilizer or emergency culling.
Morioka Shimoota-Shinden, Iwate
Around 06:30 on May 14, 2026, one bear was sighted at Iwate University in Morioka City and remained on the campus into the afternoon. In response, Morioka City decided to carry out an emergency culling by gun, the first such measure in the city.
Morioka, Iwate
At around 06:30 on May 14, an adult bear was sighted near the First Gymnasium on the Iwate University campus, and about an hour later another adult bear was seen near a university dormitory. The university canceled all classes for May 14, asked dorm residents to refrain from going out and warned students to stay inside, while police and prefectural staff continued to monitor the campus. Separately, at around 05:30 the same day an adult bear was also sighted near Iwate Junior & Senior High School in Nagatacho, Morioka.
Morioka, Iwate
On May 14, 2026 at around 06:30, a bear was sighted near the First Gymnasium of Iwate University Ueda Campus in Morioka City, and at about 07:50 another sighting was reported near the Dohou student dormitory. Morioka city and the Iwate prefectural police responded, and the university canceled classes from the second period onward and urged students to go home safely.
Morioka, Iwate
On the morning of May 14 a single adult bear about 1 meter long was sighted on the Iwate University campus in Ueda, Morioka (near the dormitory). The city authorized an emergency shooting operation but could not locate the bear, switched to box traps, and the university canceled classes; no injuries or property damage were reported.
Morioka Shimoota-Shinden, Iwate
Around 05:30 on May 14, 2026, a bear was sighted near Iwate High School in Nagata-cho, Morioka. On the same day, bears were also reported on the Iwate University campus, and the university canceled some classes.
Morioka Senbokucho, Iwate
On the morning of May 14, an adult bear about 1 meter long was sighted at Iwate University Ueda Campus in Ueda, Morioka, and the university canceled classes through May 15. Police are patrolling the area and said they will take action to cull the bear if its location is confirmed.
Morioka, Iwate
Bear sightings were reported in Morioka between the 13th and the morning of the 14th; around 05:30 a bear was seen near Iwate Junior/Senior High School in Nagatacho, and around 07:40 one was seen near a dormitory on Iwate University's Ueda campus. Police officers confirmed one adult bear on the university grounds but its subsequent whereabouts are unknown; Iwate University canceled the second-period classes and urged students to stay inside.
Morioka Senbokucho, Iwate
On the morning of May 14, an adult bear was sighted on the campus of Iwate University in Morioka. Around 05:30 it was seen near Iwate High School in Nagatacho, and at 07:40 police officers sighted the bear near the university dormitory "Dohoryo". As of 13:00 the bear was believed to remain on campus, with police and a hunters' association on alert; the university canceled all classes. No injuries or damage have been reported.
Morioka Shimoota-Shinden, Iwate
On May 14, 2026, one bear appeared at Iwate University in Morioka City and remained on the campus. Morioka City decided to carry out an emergency culling and canceled classes, but the shooting was called off due to sunset.
Morioka, Iwate
There were what appeared to be droppings of a young animal on the road.
Morioka, Iwate
Heard a bear vocalizing near the baseball field.
Morioka Mitsuwari, Iwate
Saw what appeared to be a mother bear and cub at night.
Morioka Atagoshita, Iwate
On the evening of May 13 a single bear was filmed running north across the lawn of Takamatsu Park in Morioka City. According to the city, there were six sightings around Takamatsu Park between the 13th and the morning of the 14th, and the city and police have increased patrols and warnings.
Morioka Atagoshita, Iwate
Around 16:30 on May 13, an adult bear was sighted near the Takamatsu Park rose garden in Ueda Kogamori, Morioka; it moved north toward Uedazutsumi. Police warned nearby schools and residents and patrolled the area by patrol car; no bear-related damage has been confirmed.
Morioka Atagoshita, Iwate
Observed one bear running away toward Lake Gosho near the Sakura Garden in Gosho-ko Regional Park.
Morioka Atagoshita, Iwate
An adult bear was sighted near the Tsunagi multipurpose sports ground. It moved toward the Goshoko (Gosho Lake) area.
Morioka, Iwate
One bear (size unknown) was observed moving into the northern woodland.
Morioka Higashinakano, Iwate
One young bear was sighted near the road by the parking area of Oirino Wetland Botanical Garden in Gosho Lake Regional Park.
Morioka Momijigaoka, Iwate
Observed one presumed adult bear
Morioka Momijigaoka, Iwate
The site where a culled sika deer had been buried was dug up and the carcass taken. There are drag marks nearby, as well as bear tracks and scat.
Morioka Momijigaoka, Iwate
I found large bear footprints.
Morioka Higashinakano, Iwate
One bear sighted near the garage of a residence.
Morioka Sanbonyanagi, Iwate
At around 08:50 on May 10, 2026, one bear was sighted in the parking lot of an apartment near Higashi-Anniwa 2-chome, Morioka City. The Morioka East Police Station alerted nearby residents; no damage from the bear has been reported.
Morioka Higashianiwa, Iwate
At around 08:25 on May 10 a single adult bear was reported swimming north to south in the Kitakami River west of 1-30 Higashi-An'niwa 2-chome in Morioka. At about 08:50 the same bear was also seen in an apartment parking lot in the same area; police issued warnings and no injuries were reported.
Morioka Higashianiwa, Iwate
At around 08:25 on May 10, a passerby reported seeing an adult bear swimming north to south across the Kitakami River near Higashi-An'niwa 2-chome in Morioka City. Police issued local warnings and no damage from the bear has been confirmed.
Morioka Higashianiwa, Iwate
Empty honey boxes with the honey removed and the place where the frames were kept were ransacked.
Morioka Higashianiwa, Iwate
An adult bear was sighted in the woods across from the house. It ran off toward the mountains.
Morioka Higashianiwa, Iwate
Rice bran had been placed beside the field the reporter rents; two bags were torn into, and bear droppings and footprints on the mulch were found.
Morioka, Iwate
A pedestrian on a walk sighted one adult bear in Nishimatsuzono 2-chome, Morioka City. The bear left the scene heading south and no damage has been reported.
Morioka Mitsuwari, Iwate
A black bear (about 1 m) was rummaging through apple crates looking for apples.
Morioka Kado, Iwate
According to Morioka West Police, at around 13:50 on May 1, 2026, a passerby sighted one bear-like animal wandering near the municipal road east of Morioka Juvenile Prison at 15-1 Tsukigaoka 2-chome, Morioka City. The direction it went is unknown, and no human or property damage has been confirmed.
Morioka Hirakashinden, Iwate
On May 1, 2026, sightings of a presumed adult bear were reported multiple times in Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture. The bear was seen at 10:50 near the FamilyMart Shibutami store in Shimoda, at 13:50 wandering on the road in Tsukigaoka 2-chome, and at 18:37 knocking over apple boxes in front of a shed in Mon/Suma; no human or property damage was reported.
Morioka Hirakashinden, Iwate
Sighted one medium-sized bear in an apple orchard
Morioka Mitsuwari, Iwate
There are round footprints on the ridges I made. About 15 centimeters in diameter. Could it be a bear?
Morioka, Iwate
According to Iwate Prefectural Police, at around 15:00 on the 22nd an adult bear was sighted on the Nakatsugawa riverbed near the Tsunatori observation deck in Asagishi Futamori, Morioka City. It was wandering downstream along the left bank of the riverbed.
Morioka Shimoyonai, Iwate
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.
Over the past 30 days, 42 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of this route, including 33 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 Morioka Senbokucho, Iwate; the location sits about 39 m from the start of the route and 1.2 km off the route line.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 6:00. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk.
This 2.3 km route from Morioka Castle to Morioka Castle crosses Iwate. Over the past 30 days, 42 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of the route, including 33 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 Morioka Senbokucho, Iwate; the location sits about 39 m from the start of the route and 1.2 km off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 1 day ago at Morioka Senbokucho, Iwate, sitting about 1.6 km from the start and 105 m off the route line. This is an active bear corridor. Reroute or postpone until activity quiets.
