This 414 km route from Niigata Science Museum to Okazaki Castle crosses Niigata, Aichi, and Nagano. Over the past 30 days, 39 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of the route, including 15 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 216.5 km from the start of the route and 4.7 km off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 1 month ago at Nakano Hekida, Nagano, sitting about 150.7 km from the start and 66 m off the route line.
This is an active bear corridor. Rerouting or rescheduling your hike is strongly advised.
6 places within 1 km of your route, passing through Niigata, Aichi, Nagano.
Size: Juvenile
Matsumoto Kariyaharamachi, Nagano
Size: Juvenile
Chikuhoku, Nagano
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
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
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
Bear tracks discovered in the field
Tokamachi, Niigata
On May 1, 2026 in Minowa Town, Nagano Prefecture, a "zoning safety inspection" was held in the rain to separate bear habitat from human living areas; about 20 people including residents, police, and the hunters' association checked visibility around the boundary. The town has installed grass-cutting measures and electric fences at the boundary, and reports that since starting zoning in June 2025 bear sightings have decreased and no attacks on people have occurred.
Minowa, Nagano
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
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
Size: juvenile
Suzaka Hitaki, Nagano
Size: juvenile
Iiyama Nakasone, Nagano
Size: adult
Sakae Toyosakae, Nagano
Size: Adult
Iijima 飯島, Nagano
Size: Unknown
Sakae Hokushin, Nagano
Size: unknown
Kijimadaira Ogo, Nagano
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
Nakano, Nagano
Size: juvenile
Shiojiri Kaminishijo, Nagano
Size: Adult
Nagano Toyonomachi-Toyono, Nagano
Toyota 大内町, Aichi
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
Peak activity at 9:00 with 3 incidents
Ursus thibetanus japonicus
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For mountain rescue, call 110 (police). They will coordinate with local rescue teams.
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Over the past 30 days, 39 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of this route, including 15 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 216.5 km from the start of the route and 4.7 km off the route line.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 9:00. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk.
This 414 km route from Niigata Science Museum to Okazaki Castle crosses Niigata, Aichi, and Nagano. Over the past 30 days, 39 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of the route, including 15 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 216.5 km from the start of the route and 4.7 km off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 1 month ago at Nakano Hekida, Nagano, sitting about 150.7 km from the start and 66 m off the route line. This is an active bear corridor. Rerouting or rescheduling your hike is strongly advised.
