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This 175 km route runs from Obanazawa to Hanamaki, passing through Yamagata, Iwate, and Akita. In the past 30 days, 92 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 8 of them. The latest sighting was reported 1 day ago near Hanamaki Nishihareyama, Iwate.
This is an active bear corridor. Drive through with full caution, but rerouting is the safer choice.
Around 7:05 on August 6, a bear was sighted in Yukuchi-Taya, Hanamaki City.
Hanamaki Nishihareyama, Iwate
The bear moved toward the mountains. / Environment: Farmland / Size: Juvenile
Funagata Horiuchi, Yamagata
Ran away to the east after being sighted / Environment: Soccer field / Size: Adult
Obanazawa, Yamagata
A bear was seen moving in Wagacho Yokokawame 3-chome, Kitakami City, around 19:05 on August 3.
Kitakami Wagacho-Iwasawa, Iwate
Environment: Road / Size: Adult
Sakegawa, Yamagata
Environment: Road / Size: Unknown
Mamurogawa, Yamagata
One bear was sighted on a road in Hokuzawa, Mamurogawa Town.
Mamurogawa, Yamagata
A bear was sighted moving in Waga-cho Susuman 4-chiwari, Kitakami City, around 4:45 PM on August 2.
Kitakami Wagacho-Susumago, Iwate
Environment: Forest / Size: Yearling (young bear)
Funagata, Yamagata
A bear was sighted in Kitasakurai 30 district, Kitakami City, around 05:25, and was seen moving.
Kitakami Kitaoniyanagi, Iwate
A bear was sighted in Waga-cho Fujine 1-chiwari, Kitakami City.
Kitakami Wagacho-Goto, Iwate
A bear was sighted in Waga-cho Naganuma 3-chiwari, Kitakami, Iwate on 2026-07-28.
Kitakami Wagacho-Naganuma, Iwate
Around 11:10 on July 25, a bear was sighted in Kami-Kanari 23-ku, Kitakami City, Iwate.
Kitakami Kamioniyanagi, Iwate
Just after leaving the roadside station and beginning to drive toward Akita, an adult animal crossed the Tohoku-Chuo Expressway from right to left.
Obanazawa Ashizawa, Yamagata
A bear was sighted moving around in Waga-machi Naganuma 8-chiwari, Kitakami City, around 4:30 PM.
Kitakami Wagacho-Naganuma, Iwate
A passerby sighted one adult bear in Iiide 18-chome, Kitakami City.
Kitakami Iitoyo, Iwate
A bear was sighted moving in Iitoyo 17-jiri, Kitakami City, around 07:43.
Kitakami Iitoyo, Iwate
A bear was sighted moving in Waga-cho Fujine 3-chiwari, Kitakami City, around 14:40 on July 23.
Kitakami Wagacho-Naganuma, Iwate
A bear was seen moving in Waga-cho Fujine 15-chiwari, Kitakami City, around 14:35 on July 23.
Kitakami Wagacho-Fujine, Iwate
A bear was sighted moving in Waga-cho Naganuma 5-chome, Kitakami City, around 13:55.
Kitakami Wagacho-Naganuma, Iwate
A bear was spotted moving in Waga-cho Fujine 6-chiwari, Kitakami, around 05:55 on July 23.
Kitakami Wagacho-Fujine, Iwate
A bear was sighted moving in Kami-Konyari 13-chome, Kitakami City.
Kitakami Kamioniyanagi, Iwate
A bear was sighted in Kitayokuchi 2-chiwari, Hanamaki City.
Hanamaki Kitayuguchi, Iwate
Environment: Around homes / Size: Adult
Obanazawa Tsurumakita, Yamagata
A bear cub was sighted behind a private house. Its subsequent whereabouts are unknown. Distance to the house approximately 5 meters.
Yuzawa 山田, Akita
[Post] [No description of situation]
Yokote Ōyashin-machi, Akita
A bear was sighted in Maego-Koyokotesawa, Yokote City.
Yokote Ōyashin-machi, Akita
At around 6:00 PM on 2026-07-21, a bear was sighted in Yamada-Kamidozawa, Yuzawa City, Akita Prefecture.
Yuzawa 山田, Akita
Around 3:30 PM, a bear was seen moving in Waga-cho Tatekawa-me 2-chiwari, Kitakami City.
Kitakami Wagacho-Tatekawame, Iwate
A bear was sighted moving in Ueno, Futagocho, Kitakami City.
Kitakami Futagocho, Iwate
Multiple bear sighting reports were received in a residential area of Murazaki-no, Kitakami City.
Kitakami Murasakino, Iwate
Environment: Forest / Size: Adult
Shinjo Odashima, Yamagata
Around 2:30 PM on July 19, a bear was sighted in Waga-cho Naganuma 7-chiwari, Kitakami City, Iwate, and was observed moving.
Kitakami Wagacho-Naganuma, Iwate
A bear was sighted around 14:05 in Waga-machi Naganuma 6-chome, Kitakami City.
Kitakami Wagacho-Naganuma, Iwate
A bear was sighted in Yazawa 4-chome, Hanamaki City.
Hanamaki Tachikara, Iwate
Around 5:50 PM on July 18, a bear was seen moving in Mutsunariikari, Yokote City.
Yokote Yawata, Akita
A bear about 1.2 m long was seen wandering under a bridge near Asakura Elementary School by a local resident. It is unknown which direction it went.
Yokote Yawata, Akita
When I heard a police car on the PA, I looked outside and saw it running in the grounds beneath the apartment. It crossed the road and ran off toward the back of the houses on the north side.
Yokote Yawata, Akita
[Report] Moved from the apartment complex side toward the drainage channel
Yokote Yawata, Akita
Crossed through the yard.
Yokote 3-chome, Akita
(Post) Ran into the brush on the north side of the parking lot
Yokote Yokote-machi, Akita
Posted: Entered the Mounts property from National Route 13. Went into a warehouse, then headed toward the Hachiman Shrine.
Yokote Yawata, Akita
A single bear about 1 meter long was seen moving north toward Jouri 2-chome along a drainage channel in Jouri 1-chome, Yokote City.
Yokote 1-chome, Akita
Bear sighted near the park south of the west side of the Starbucks.
Yokote 1-chome, Akita
Observation: Spotted walking along the riverside in the park near Cosmos Ophthalmology. Was walking toward the South Government Building.
Yokote 1-chome, Akita
One bear sighted. Size unknown. It left heading north.
Yokote 1-chome, Akita
[Post] Report of a sighting of a bear entering a home's property
Yokote Yokote-machi, Akita
A single bear believed to be an adult was seen entering a residential property. A relatively large individual.
Yokote Yokote-machi, Akita
[Post] Probably a female bear was spotted at the old driving school. It was walking slowly by itself. It noticed us and slowly disappeared into the grass, but what happened afterward is unknown.
Yokote Akasaka, Akita
A bear was sighted in Ishidoriya-cho Ezo 9th district, Hanamaki City, around 07:30.
Hanamaki Ishidoriyacho-Eso, Iwate
On July 18 around 12:13, a bear was seen moving in Akasaka Kamikirimori, Yokote City.
Yokote Akasaka, Akita
A bear was sighted in Aksakauekono, Yokote City, Akita Prefecture, on 2026-07-18.
Yokote Yokote-machi, Akita
Observed a bear approximately 1.4 m in length. It left along the farm road heading west (toward the prefectural road).
Yokote Inooka, Akita
A city employee on patrol spotted a bear running through rice fields from the north toward the south. The bear entered a thicket and its whereabouts became unknown. It was an adult measuring over 1.2 m in body length.
Yokote Inooka, Akita
A city employee on patrol spotted a bear moving into the brush on the Asahi kindergarten side. Later, when the employee drove into the premises, they encountered the bear in the playground. The bear turned and returned to the brush as if startled. An adult measuring over 1.2 m in body length.
Yokote Akagawa, Akita
At around 6:40 PM on July 17, a bear was seen moving in Akagawamuranomae, Yokote City.
Yokote Akagawa, Akita
One bear was sighted in Ishidoriya-cho Totsuka 7-chome area, Hanamaki City.
Hanamaki Ishidoriyacho-Tozuka, Iwate
[Report] I heard via word of mouth that a bear was sighted (a photo was taken) near the back of Satō Civil Engineering. I’m a local resident, and since it hadn’t yet been added to the map, I’m providing this information on behalf of the community for local safety.
Yuzawa, Akita
A bear was sighted moving in Waga-cho Sennin 3-chiwari, Kitakami City.
Kitakami Wagacho-Sennin, Iwate
Around 13:40 on 2026-07-16, a bear was sighted in Yazawa 1-chiwari, Hanamaki City.
Hanamaki Kaminitanai, Iwate
A bear was sighted in Waga-cho Naganuma 14-chome, Kitakami City, Iwate, around 16:15 on July 14.
Kitakami Wagacho-Naganuma, Iwate
[Post] Crossing the road
Yokote, Akita
A bear was sighted moving in Futagocho Minamida, Kitakami City.
Kitakami Futagocho, Iwate
At around 2:30 PM on July 14, a bear was sighted moving in Yamanouchi Nango Nango, Yokote City, Akita Prefecture.
Yokote, Akita
One bear was seen moving in Nikocho Kaminakajima, Kitakami City.
Kitakami Futagocho, Iwate
A bear was seen moving in Waga-cho Naganuma 14, Kitakami City.
Kitakami Wagacho-Naganuma, Iwate
One bear was sighted moving in Shimonikuriyu 4-chome, Kitakami City.
Kitakami Shimooniyanagi, Iwate
Moved to the forest on the south side. Dispersed with fireworks at the Oyui police box; public announcements made in the vicinity. / Environment: forest / Size: adult and juvenile
Mamurogawa Nozoki, Yamagata
Around 8:30 a.m. on July 13, a bear was sighted in Aisukechō, Kitakami City, Iwate, and was seen moving.
Kitakami Aisaricho, Iwate
Two bears, believed to be an adult and a cub, were sighted in Nozoki, Mamurogawa Town, Yamagata Prefecture.
Mamurogawa Nozoki, Yamagata
A bear was sighted moving in Murasaki-no 14-chiwari, Kitakami City, around 09:35.
Kitakami Murasakino, Iwate
A moving bear was sighted in Tachibana 15-chome, Kitakami City.
Kitakami Tachibana, Iwate
A bear was sighted in Yumoto 1-chome, Hanamaki City.
Hanamaki Dai, Iwate
[Post] A black bear about 80 cm long was between Mishin no Asupu and Onodera Building Materials.
Yokote Maego, Akita
Witnessed a mother bear and cub behind the house. They then fled toward the mountain to the east. About 10 m from the residential area; the mother’s body length about 1.0 m, the cub about 0.8 m.
Yuzawa 字東松沢, Akita
[Report] A bear was walking outside on the grounds of my home. It appeared to be a parent with its young.
Yuzawa 字内舘町, Akita
[Post]
Yuzawa 字新町, Akita
Two bears (a mother and a cub) were sighted on the mountain side behind a house. After being seen, they ran toward the mountain behind the temple to the east. Distance from the house: 30 meters. Adult bear length: about 1 meter. Cub length: unknown.
Yuzawa 字荒町, Akita
Observed two bears (a mother and a cub) on the hillside behind the residence. After being seen, they fled toward the mountain behind the temple to the east. They were 30 m from the house. Adult approximately 1 m in body length. Cub’s body length unknown.
Yuzawa 字荒町, Akita
Environment: Farmland / Size: Unknown
Obanazawa Nitobukuro, Yamagata
Environment: Forest / Size: Unknown
Obanazawa Ashizawa, Yamagata
Two bears—a mother and a cub—were sighted in the Sun Green parking lot. They entered the mountain on the south side. Distance to nearby houses: 10 meters.
Yuzawa 字湯ノ上山, Akita
A bear was sighted in Urakamon 1-chome, Yuzawa City, Akita Prefecture, and was seen moving.
Yuzawa 字湯ノ上山, Akita
Sighted a cub crossing National Route 13 from west to east / Environment: road / Size: young
Shinjo Itsukamachi, Yamagata
On 2026-07-10 in Shimo-Konyu, Kitakami City, Iwate Prefecture, one bear was seen moving.
Kitakami Shimooniyanagi, Iwate
[Post] Not a mother with cubs — two bear cubs were walking toward a house.
Yuzawa 字東赤土山, Akita
Around 9:20 PM on July 9, a bear was sighted in Shinzusho Toisawa, Yuzawa City, Akita Prefecture, and was observed moving.
Yuzawa 字東赤土山, Akita
Observed two bears (parent and cub) near a residence. Body length and subsequent movements are unknown.
Yuzawa 字西愛染沢, Akita
Around 1:15 PM on 2026-07-09, one bear about 1 meter long was sighted by a resident in a residential area of Tokiwadai 3-chome, Kitakami, Iwate.
Kitakami Machibun, Iwate
Was heading east on National Route 13 from the west and entered a cedar forest / Environment: Road / Size: Unknown
Shinjo Torigoe, Yamagata
One bear was sighted in Torigoe, Shinjo City.
Shinjo Torigoe, Yamagata
Environment: Near residential area / Size: Adult
Shinjo Torigoe, Yamagata
Peak activity at 18:00 with 9 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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In the past 30 days, 92 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 8 of them.
The latest sighting was reported 1 day ago near Hanamaki Nishihareyama, Iwate.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 18:00. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk.
This 175 km route runs from Obanazawa to Hanamaki, passing through Yamagata, Iwate, and Akita. In the past 30 days, 92 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 8 of them. The latest sighting was reported 1 day ago near Hanamaki Nishihareyama, Iwate. This is an active bear corridor. Drive through with full caution, but rerouting is the safer choice.
