This 30.9 km route from Morioka Castle to Hachimantai crosses Iwate. Over the past 30 days, 28 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of the route, including 4 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 Hachimantai 田頭, Iwate; the location sits about 26.7 km from the start of the route and 2.1 km off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 3 weeks ago at Morioka, Iwate, sitting about 19.4 km from the start and 175 m off the route line.
At this density of recent sightings, reroute or postpone your ride until activity quiets.
1 places within 1 km of your route, passing through Iwate.
On the morning of May 7, a woman was found unconscious in a mountain forest in Hachimantai City, Iwate Prefecture. She had injuries believed to be from an animal's claws, and police are investigating on suspicion she was attacked by a bear.
Hachimantai 田頭, Iwate
In Hachimantai City, Iwate Prefecture, a woman in her 60s who went out to pick wild plants was reported missing from May 6; during a search, her body was found in the mountains of the city on the morning of May 7 at around 8:00. The body showed signs of an animal attack, and police are investigating the cause of death, considering the possibility that she was attacked by a bear.
Hachimantai 田頭, Iwate
According to the Iwate Prefectural Police, on May 7, 2026, the body of a woman in her 60s was found in a mountain in Hachimantai City. Her face and head had scratch wounds consistent with an animal attack, and police suspect she may have been attacked by a bear; she had been missing since May 6 after going out to pick wild plants.
Hachimantai 田頭, Iwate
The body of a woman believed to be in her 60s was found in a forest in Hachimantai City, Iwate Prefecture; scratch wounds on her face suggest she may have been attacked by a bear. Reports say the woman had gone missing after going out to gather wild plants.
Hachimantai 田頭, 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
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
At around 10:50 on May 1, a single young bear was seen walking near the FamilyMart Shibutami store in Shimoda, Morioka City, and walked toward Shibutami Station. No injuries or damage were reported, and police have warned local residents to be cautious.
Morioka, Iwate
There are round footprints on the ridges I made. About 15 centimeters in diameter. Could it be a bear?
Morioka, Iwate
Bear sighted near the hot spring facility.
Takizawa 大沢舛村, Iwate
Around 17:20 on April 27, 2026, a passerby sighted one adult bear near the north-side waterway of Takizawa Minami Junior High in Ukai, Takizawa City. According to the Morioka West Police Station, no damage was confirmed. There were also daytime sightings in the surrounding area.
Takizawa 鵜飼滝向, Iwate
Around 14:00 on April 27, one bear was sighted near Mantoku, Dobuchi, Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture. The city has urged nearby residents to be cautious.
Morioka Hirakashinden, 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
At around 9:30 a.m. on April 21, an adult bear was sighted in the parking lot of a nursing home in Natsumaki, Kōma, Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture. No injuries or damage were reported, and the police conducted patrol-car warnings.
Morioka Kawasaki, Iwate
Filmed in front of Ippongi after-school care. After this, it crosses the Sunakomi River and goes into the woods.
Takizawa 柳原, Iwate
A single young bear was sighted near the staff-only parking lot of the Handmade Village.
Morioka Kawasaki, Iwate
At around 09:55 on April 18, 2026, an adult bear was sighted in Shimoda (下田字下田), Morioka City. At about 10:05 the same day, an adult bear was sighted in Oidebukuro (生出袋), Shimoda, Morioka City.
Morioka Kawasaki, Iwate
An immature bear (one) was witnessed—appears to have come down from the mountain.
Morioka Kawasaki, Iwate
There are signs the bear was fixated on the feed.
Morioka, Iwate
A bear about 1 meter long was seen moving toward the rice fields to the south.
Morioka Kuroishino 1-chome, Iwate
Around 16:00 on April 15, 2026, a schoolchild leaving school in Kuroishino 1-chome, Morioka City, spotted two bears (one large and one small) in the brush north of Midorigaoka Elementary School. Police searched the area but did not find the bears; one other sighting believed to be of the same animals was reported, and warnings and patrols are ongoing in the area.
Morioka Kuroishino 1-chome, Iwate
A single young bear was sighted near the staff-only parking lot of the Handmade Village.
Morioka Kuroishino 1-chome, Iwate
A bear about 1 m in length was sighted moving toward the rice fields to the south.
Morioka Momijigaoka, Iwate
Observed one animal believed to be a bear the size of a large dog.
Morioka Momijigaoka, Iwate
Around 22:30 on April 13, 2026, one bear cub appeared near Kamido 3-chome, Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture, and ran east toward the Kitakami River. There were no human or property damages.
Morioka Kamido 3-chome, Iwate
At around 13:05 on April 13, an adult bear appeared at the office entrance of the Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute Timber Breeding Center (Tohoku Breeding Station) in Osaki, Takizawa City; it knocked the door once and then ran into the woods to the south. No injuries or damage were reported.
Takizawa, Iwate
Footprints believed to be from a bear were observed.
Morioka Kamido 3-chome, Iwate
In Morioka (Kawame), a man in his 70s saw an adult bear enter his garage around 00:30 on April 10 after his dog barked and reported it to the police. When checked around 08:30, 3–4 apples stored in a shed had been eaten and the bear had already left; the city set box traps to attempt capture.
Morioka Konyacho, Iwate
Peak activity at 13:00 with 4 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, 28 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of this route, including 4 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 Hachimantai 田頭, Iwate; the location sits about 26.7 km from the start of the route and 2.1 km off the route line.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 13:00. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk.
This 30.9 km route from Morioka Castle to Hachimantai crosses Iwate. Over the past 30 days, 28 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of the route, including 4 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 Hachimantai 田頭, Iwate; the location sits about 26.7 km from the start of the route and 2.1 km off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 3 weeks ago at Morioka, Iwate, sitting about 19.4 km from the start and 175 m off the route line. At this density of recent sightings, reroute or postpone your ride until activity quiets.
