Saves as a new trip plan. The original stays as-is.
This 163 km route runs from Nanakura Shrine to Noheji, passing through Akita and Aomori. In the past 30 days, 134 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 13 of them. The latest sighting was reported 1 day ago near Odate, Akita.
This is an active bear corridor. Drive through with full caution, but rerouting is the safer choice.
[Report] A one-meter-tall bear was in the backyard behind a house. It ran off into the woods.
Odate, Akita
A nearby resident sighted one bear (body length approx. 1.0 m) / direction of travel: east / about 10 m from the nearest house
Odate, Akita
[Post] While driving to school, (a bear) was leaning out of the bushes with its upper body exposed.
Odate, Akita
[Post] Size resembling a bear cub
Odate, Akita
Driver observed one bear (body length 0.5 m) in the brush southwest of the road / heading southwest / 80 m south of the former Hanaoka Middle School
Odate, Akita
Around 1:00 PM on 2026-07-09, a bear was sighted in Toriuchishita, Hanaokamachi, Odate City, Akita Prefecture.
Odate, Akita
A mother bear with two cubs ran from the road toward the mountain path/area leading to the waterfall. Nearby there was a dropping that looked like it belonged to a bear.
Kosaka, Akita
Two young bears about 70 centimeters long were in a cleared lot beside a rice field. They were wandering around a cleared area adjacent to a crushed-stone storage site, then went into the woodland to the east. The mother bear was not seen. There are mulberry trees along the mountainside near here, and bears are sighted almost every year.
Kosaka, Akita
Observed one bear eating mulberries in a field near the Eirakuen satellite-style annex. It later left heading into the woods to the north.
Kitaakita Kidoishi, Akita
I witnessed one cub run into the brush.
Towada, Aomori
[Posted] Roamed around the rice field for about 15 minutes, then moved toward the Kashiwagi direction.
Odate Kodatehana, Akita
[Post]
Kosaka, Akita
A bear was sighted in Kosaka-zawa, Kosaka Town.
Kosaka, Akita
There was a one-meter-long bear in the bushes.
Towada, Aomori
A bear was sighted in Okuse, Towada City, Aomori Prefecture.
Towada, Aomori
[Post]
Kosaka Daichi, Akita
Posted: Moved from the Shimouchikawa direction toward Shirasawa Shinmei Shrine, then went northeast along the base of the shrine's slope.
Odate Shirasawa, Akita
[Post]
Odate, Akita
On 2026-07-03 around 1:29 PM, a bear was sighted in Domenai, Hanaoka-machi, Odate City, Akita Prefecture.
Odate, Akita
Observed while driving. It was in the middle of the road, but when it noticed us it ran into the bushes.
Kazuno, Akita
Driver spotted one bear (body length 1 m) in a rice field beside a municipal road / heading south / about 400 m south of Numadate processing plant
Odate, Akita
Spotted three bears (parent and cubs; body lengths unknown) on National Route 7. They crossed the road from brush on the south side and left toward the forested area on the north side. Approximately 50 meters from nearby residences.
Kitaakita Maeyama, Akita
Report: On the town road west of the rice field at Kosaka 38, Kosaka-machi, a female/male adult bear about 1.2 meters long and one cub about 70 centimeters long were sighted. After that, the adult and cub entered the forested mountain area west of the town road. They are believed to have come up from the field road near Kosaka 38, climbed the roadside embankment below the town road, and emerged onto the town road. Sightings of bears are reported in this area, which is just south of the village cemetery, every year; this is the second sighting already this year. It is thought to be one of the travel routes used when moving between the forest on the east side of the Sunagosawa River and the forest on the west side.
Kosaka, Akita
[Post] I posted this before but it wasn’t published, so I’m reposting. One bear on the north side of the prefectural road. Within 100 meters of nearby houses.
Odate, Akita
A group of visitors walking along the trail at Nagabashiri Fūketsu Pavilion sighted one bear (approximately 80 cm in body length). Direction of travel: north. Approximately 30 m from the above facility.
Odate Nagabashiri, Akita
A nearby resident sighted one bear (body length 0.5 m) / direction of travel unknown / approximately 10 m from the nearest house
Odate, Akita
Driver sighted one bear (body length 1.0 m) / direction of travel: north / approximately 200 m to the nearest house
Odate, Akita
A nearby resident sighted one bear (body length unknown) / moving east / approximately 10 m from the nearest house
Odate, Akita
A bear was sighted in Kosaka Nigawa, Kosaka Town, Akita, around 11:15 on July 1.
Kosaka, Akita
[Post]
Kosaka, Akita
A nearby resident sighted one bear (body length 1 m) / direction of movement unknown / approximately 15 m from the nearest house
Odate Kanezaka-ushiro, Akita
[Post] One adult, two cubs
Odate, Akita
A bear was sighted in Hanakawa-cho Nanatsudate, Odate City, Akita Prefecture.
Odate, Akita
A local resident sighted one bear (body length 1 m) on the road / heading north / 120 m east of Odate Homei High School
Odate Kanezaka-ushiro, Akita
Driver sighted one bear (approx. 1 m body length) / direction of travel unknown / about 140 m from the nearest residence
Odate, Akita
A bear was sighted around 5:30 AM on July 1 in Kosubogawa, Hanaoka-cho, Odate City, Akita Prefecture.
Odate Hanaokamachi, Akita
[Post]
Kosaka Kosaka-kozan, Akita
Driver sighted one bear (approximately 1.0 m in body length) crossing the road / heading south / 200 m southeast of Niiyama settlement
Odate, Akita
[Report] A single bear about 1 meter long was on the ridge of a rice paddy at 39, Kakege, Kosaka, Kosaka Town. It ran toward the Suna kosawa River on the east side and went into the vegetation on the levee. It likely crossed the town road from the western forest, passed through the brush into the paddy, ran along the ridge, entered the brush on the right-bank levee of the Suna kosawa River, crossed the river, and moved from the eastern rice paddies back into the forest. The area around the sighting is one where bears and wild boars are seen crossing the stream every year, and it is also near the site of an encounter with a bear in May of this year that nearly resulted in personal injury.
Kosaka, Akita
One cub of unknown body length was sighted near the embankment road of the Matō River. It then left heading toward the mountains.
Kitaakita Isecho, Akita
[Posted]
Kitaakita, Akita
A nearby resident sighted one bear (body length 60 cm) / direction of travel unknown / approximately 5 m from the nearest house
Odate Kanezaka-ushiro, Akita
A staff member of a nearby junior high school observed one bear (approximately 1 m in body length) passing in front of the school's main gate / direction of travel unknown / about 50 m from the nearby junior high school
Odate Hashigeta, Akita
Odate Naganeyamashita, Akita
A single bear cub ran off toward the Nature House.
Odate Naganeyamashita, Akita
Driver sighted one bear (body length 1.0 m). Direction of travel unknown. Approximately 600 m to Odate Youth Nature House.
Odate Ipponsugi, Akita
[Post] Ran through the former residential site from the Ōmori side and exited toward the Hongō River
Odate, Akita
One cub walking through a rice field (Posted)
Kitaakita Masuzawa, Akita
While driving, I saw one bear about 80 cm long coming out of the woods on the north side. It was startled by the car and went back into the north woods.
Kitaakita Shimosugi, Akita
While driving, a cub darted out and crossed the road. It entered the grass/thicket and its subsequent whereabouts are unknown.
Kitaakita Nanukaichi, Akita
While driving from the railroad crossing toward the traffic signal, I spotted one bear about 80 cm in length crossing the road from the rice field on the left and heading toward the houses. Approximately 20 meters from nearby homes.
Kitaakita Kawai, Akita
Around 11:50 on June 26, a bear was spotted in Kawai Matsuishidono, Kitaakita City, Akita Prefecture, and was seen moving.
Kitaakita Kawai, Akita
One bear of unknown body length was sighted on the road. It then entered the woods to the north. Approximately 10 meters from nearby facilities.
Kitaakita, Akita
It ran off eastward from the roadside. It looked like a cub less than one meter long.
Kosaka, Akita
A bear was sighted in Niida Terago, Ōdate City, Akita, around 5:10 a.m. on June 26, 2026.
Odate Niida, Akita
Driver sighted one bear (body length 1.0 m) heading northwest; approximately 200 m from the nearest residence.
Odate Niida, Akita
Driver sighted one bear (body length 50 cm) / Direction of travel: east / Approximately 200 m from the nearest house
Odate Ipponsugi, Akita
Driver sighted one bear (body length 1.1 m) crossing the road / heading south / 200 m from nearest house
Odate Hashigeta, Akita
A nearby resident sighted one bear (body length 1.0 m) / direction of travel unknown / approximately 50 m from the nearest house
Odate, Akita
One bear cub went into the mountains to the north.
Towada, Aomori
One cub ran into the brush.
Towada, Aomori
Observed three bears (a mother and two cubs) of unknown body length on National Route 7. They subsequently departed to the north.
Kitaakita Maeyama, Akita
An office worker spotted one bear (body length 50 cm) / traveling northeast / on company premises
Odate, Akita
I saw a cub crossing a wide two-lane road on the way from Lake Towada to Shingō Village. It seemed unsure and unable to cross the road easily, then ran into the mountain on the right.
Towada, Aomori
Was walking along the rice-field embankment heading north. Body length about 1 m. About 100 m to the nearest house.
Fujisato Yasaka, Akita
[Report] After finishing work, I spotted a bear about 50 cm in body length in the bushes beside the parking lot. It then went deeper into the thicket.
Odate, Akita
It was on the roadway, and even after seeing my car it showed no signs of fear; it slowly entered the brush at the side of the road.
Kosaka, Akita
A nearby resident sighted one bear (body length 0.7 m) / direction of travel unknown / approximately 20 m from the nearest house
Odate, Akita
Around 07:00 on 2026-06-22, a bear was sighted in Karanisawa Kitsunodai, Odate City, Akita Prefecture.
Odate, Akita
A bear was sighted in Okuze, Towada City, and was seen moving.
Towada, Aomori
Observed loitering on the Yasaki–Nukasawa prefectural road. Approximately 250 meters from the nearest house.
Fujisato Yasaka, Akita
One bear (body length 1.2 m) spotted in a private home's yard / heading north / 200 m west of Tashikomori Ballpark
Odate, Akita
Crossed the road and went into the woods.
Odate, Akita
A bear about 1 meter long was on the national highway. It ran off toward the northern mountain.
Noshiro Futatsuimachi-Kotsunagi, Akita
[Post]
Odate, Akita
[Post]
Kosaka, Akita
(Post) On the left side heading toward Odate City (formerly? some kind of fish farm), it crossed the road and ran into the mountain.
Odate, Akita
Around 15:40 on 2026-06-17, a bear was seen moving in Kosakadaisaku, Kosaka Town, Akita Prefecture.
Kosaka, Akita
[Report] On the road from Sunagosawa Water Purification Plant heading into the mountains, one bear about 1 meter was sighted. It ran off into the mountains.
Kosaka, Akita
Report: Spotted one bear about 1 meter in size on the road from Sunagosawa Water Purification Plant toward the mountain. It ran off into the mountain.
Kosaka, Akita
While driving from Takanosu toward Aikawa, a single bear approximately 80 cm in length was observed coming out from the woods on the north side onto Prefectural Route 24. It later returned to the north woods. It was about 100 m from nearby facilities.
Kitaakita, Akita
One Asian black bear (Tsukinowaguma) crossed the road and ran west.
Odate, Akita
There were footprints in the field.
Odate, Akita
Driver sighted one bear (body length unknown) / heading east / about 100 m south of Hachikō-sō
Odate, Akita
Observed one cub of unknown length.
Towada, Aomori
Observed one cub of unknown body length.
Towada, Aomori
One bear about 1.3 m crossed the road and ran up into the mountain.
Towada, Aomori
A bear about 1 meter long was spotted on the runway at Odate-Noshiro Airport in Kitaakita, Akita, and was driven off with fireworks into brush on the south side.
Kitaakita Wakigami, Akita
A single bear about 1 meter long was sighted on the runway of Odate-Noshiro Airport. After airport staff responded, it left toward the south.
Kitaakita Wakigami, Akita
[Report] Spotted one bear (size unknown) in a field near a house. When we rang a bell, it noticed us and returned to the mountain.
Kosaka Araya, Akita
Around 10:50 on June 15, a bear was seen moving in Arayategamizawa, Kosaka Town, Akita Prefecture.
Kosaka Araya, Akita
[Post]
Kosaka Kosaka-kozan, Akita
At around 1:05 PM on June 14, a bear was sighted at Kosaka Mining Museum Furutate in Kosaka Town, Akita Prefecture.
Kosaka Kosaka-kozan, Akita
[Post]
Kosaka, Akita
Damage to crops such as potatoes
Odate, Akita
Around 11:00 on June 14, a bear was sighted in Kosakaichinoto, Kosaka Town, Akita Prefecture.
Kosaka, Akita
A single bear about 80 centimeters long was in a field at 32 Sunakosawa, Kosaka, Kosaka Town. It appeared to have come out from the wooded hill behind the house on the west side. The bear was by a pile of firewood next to the house; when it made eye contact it returned to the western woodland. The distance when eye contact was made was about 20 meters, and it was small enough to be thought a cub not yet weaned. No adult bear was seen. The neighbor was informed immediately.
Kosaka, Akita
[Post] Baby bear
Kosaka, Akita
Around 3:00 PM on June 13, a bear was sighted in Kosakamatsunaka Kosaka, Kosaka Town, Akita Prefecture.
Kosaka, Akita
I don’t know the exact location or time, but while driving from the town toward Lake Towada I saw a bear cub suddenly run into the brush on the left side of the road. It was just a moment so I didn’t get a photo, but we passed Kosaka Nanadaki Winery within two or three minutes, so I think it was in that general area.
Kosaka, Akita
Local resident sighted one bear (body length 1.2 m) / moving north / on convenience store premises
Odate Matsudate, Akita
A bear was sighted in a parking lot in Shimizu 4-chome, Odate City, Akita Prefecture.
Odate Matsudate, Akita
One bear cub headed south.
Shichinohe 花松林ノ根, Aomori
Witnessed a bear about 1 m tall.
Towada Fukamochi, Aomori
I witnessed one cub run into the brush.
Towada, Aomori
There was a one-meter-long bear in the bushes.
Towada, Aomori
Traveled westward on National Route 4 (from east to west)
Shichinohe 菩提木, Aomori
A bear was sighted in Okuse, Towada City, Aomori Prefecture.
Towada, Aomori
A bear was sighted moving in Ushirohira, Shichinohe Town.
Shichinohe 後平, Aomori
While driving up a hill, I saw a single cub at the edge of the road. When I stopped the car, it went into the bushes.
Towada, Aomori
One bear cub ran away north from the road.
Shichinohe 野崎狐久保, Aomori
One bear cub was startled by a car and ran into the woods on the north side.
Shichinohe 中岫長沢下, Aomori
Entered the mountain to the north.
Towada Okuse, Aomori
Sighted one adult bear on the roadway
Tohoku 千曳下山, Aomori
A single bear struck the side of a vehicle while it was in motion. The direction in which the bear fled is unknown.
Towada, Aomori
Climbed the wall and headed west.
Shichinohe 豊間内, Aomori
(No information)
Tohoku 板橋山, Aomori
A bear was sighted in Itabashiyama, Tohoku Town, Aomori Prefecture, around 3 PM on June 29.
Tohoku 板橋山, Aomori
While driving from Yakeyama toward the Hakkoda side, an individual believed to be a cub was walking on the road. When the car slowed down, it hid in the grass and watched us, but after a few seconds it disappeared into the woods.
Towada, Aomori
Around noon on 2026-06-28, one bear was seen moving in Horyo, Towada City, Aomori Prefecture.
Towada, Aomori
Sighted while driving.
Towada, Aomori
(No information)
Shichinohe 道ノ下, Aomori
A bear was sighted moving in Araya, Shichinohe Town, Aomori Prefecture, around 07:57 on June 26.
Shichinohe 荒屋, Aomori
Sighted in a stream near Yokonagane Meeting Hall. Headed north.
Shichinohe 荒屋, Aomori
A dark mass was seen in the direction of travel, and it was in the grassy area beside the road. When I approached on a motorcycle, it ran into the woods.
Towada, Aomori
By size they were a parent and child, but the cub was fairly large, so at first glance I thought they were three adult bears. They moved from the western to the eastern side of the woods.
Towada, Aomori
One bear cub went into the mountains to the north.
Towada, Aomori
One bear cub moved northward through the parking lot and entered the bushes.
Towada, Aomori
One cub was sighted in a parking lot in Hora, Towada City.
Towada, Aomori
One cub ran into the brush.
Towada, Aomori
I saw a cub crossing a wide two-lane road on the way from Lake Towada to Shingō Village. It seemed unsure and unable to cross the road easily, then ran into the mountain on the right.
Towada, Aomori
A bear was sighted in Okuze, Towada City, and was seen moving.
Towada, Aomori
While driving, I witnessed a bear crossing the road. The bear left and went into the woods.
Shichinohe 豊間内, Aomori
While driving on the highway toward the Oirase side, I spotted a bear walking toward the road. It then ran toward us, so I drove straight forward through the area. The bear was in front of the two cars following me, but those two vehicles later avoided the bear and also passed safely. The bear's destination is unknown.
Towada, Aomori
Observed sitting on the guardrail.
Shichinohe 薬師平, Aomori
A mother bear and her cub came up the slope and went west.
Shichinohe 上町野, Aomori
I saw one cub crossing the road about 300 m before the Y-shaped junction where the road to Tsuta Onsen splits from Route 103 and Prefectural Route 256, heading from Yachi Onsen toward Tsuta Onsen. I nearly collided with it.
Towada, Aomori
Observed one cub of unknown length.
Towada, Aomori
One bear about 1.3 m crossed the road and ran up into the mountain.
Towada, Aomori
While heading from Sukayu toward Towada, about 200 meters past the golf course entrance a bear came out of the grass onto the road. A motorcycle was coming from the Towada side, so the bear immediately went back into the grass. I parked nearby and confirmed the bear through my window.
Towada, Aomori
One bear cub was observed behind the garbage collection area.
Towada, Aomori
It immediately ran off deeper into the forest.
Towada, Aomori
While driving, I saw one bear about the size of an adult cross the road from south to north and enter the forest.
Shichinohe 志茂川原, Aomori
Peak activity at 7:00 with 14 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.
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In the past 30 days, 134 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 13 of them.
The latest sighting was reported 1 day ago near Odate, Akita.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 7:00. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk.
This 163 km route runs from Nanakura Shrine to Noheji, passing through Akita and Aomori. In the past 30 days, 134 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 13 of them. The latest sighting was reported 1 day ago near Odate, Akita. This is an active bear corridor. Drive through with full caution, but rerouting is the safer choice.
