This 175 km route from Obanazawa to Hanamaki crosses Yamagata, Iwate, and Akita. Over the past 30 days, 65 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of the route, including 14 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 Yuzawa 酒蒔, Akita; the location sits about 78.8 km from the start of the route and 1.2 km off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 2 weeks ago at Yokote Fuke-ootsutsumi, Akita, sitting about 99.1 km from the start and 5 m off the route line.
This is an active bear corridor. Drive through with full caution, but rerouting is the safer choice.
Posted: It was sitting on the mountainside facing the road. When a car passed, it returned up the slope. Body length about 1 meter.
Yuzawa 酒蒔, Akita
One Asiatic black bear (Tsukinowaguma) was sighted near YUZAWA Clean Center Co., Ltd., and the police were notified. The bear ran off to the east. Police are patrolling the area. The sighting location was about 300 m from residences; the bear’s body length was 1.0 m.
Yuzawa 下関, Akita
A single Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) was sighted within a residential property in the village and reported to the police. The bear ran east from the area. Police patrolled the vicinity but did not locate it and there were no nearby damages. The sighting occurred a few meters from a house; the bear’s body length was about 1.0 m.
Yuzawa 松岡, Akita
Around 11:00 on May 17, one bear was seen entering the mountain in Fukudayama, Shinjō City, Yamagata Prefecture. Based on its size, the bear is believed to be a juvenile.
Shinjo Fukuda, Yamagata
Around 20:25 on May 15, an adult bear was sighted on a city road north of Kitakami General Sports Park in Takamaedanchi, Awasaracho, Kitakami City; the bear crossed the road from north to south and ran toward the park. No damage from the bear was reported, and police have urged nearby residents to be cautious.
Kitakami Aisaricho, Iwate
Around 17:30 on May 15, 2026, one bear was sighted on the grounds of Hanamaki Airport in Hanamaki City, Iwate Prefecture, and the runway was temporarily closed. At least four flights were affected, but no injuries or property damage were reported, and the bear later left the airport grounds.
Hanamaki Kuzu, Iwate
According to police, around 15:00 on May 15, 2026, one adult bear was sighted in the grassland north of the Hanamaki City Exchange Hall in Katsura Daisan Chiwari, Hanamaki City. Police notified the city office and nearby schools.
Hanamaki Higashimiyanome, Iwate
[Post] [No description of the situation]
Yokote Yanagida, Akita
[Report] While resting in the car, I spotted a bear heading toward the municipal baseball stadium. [Yokote City Agriculture and Forestry Maintenance Division note] The location information is clearly incorrect, so the point on the map is provisional. It is unknown whether this is the old Yokote Municipal Stadium in Yokote Park or another municipal stadium.
Yokote 1-chome, Akita
Around 09:30 on May 14, 2026, a bear about 50 cm long was sighted on a town road in Suginomiya-Shuku, Ugo Town, Akita Prefecture. The nearest house was about 20 meters away, and Yuzawa police have warned residents to be cautious.
Ugo, Akita
A juvenile bear was observed walking on the grounds of a private residence.
Ugo, Akita
A police officer on patrol spotted a bear near the restrooms in Ōtori Park. The bear went down the slope once but then returned and entered the woods inside Ōtori Park. Its body length is about 1 meter.
Yokote Shinzaka-cho, Akita
Sighted a bear crossing the Ōtorii Bridge near Asakura Elementary School. Body length about 1 m.
Yokote Yawata, Akita
A single bear about 1 m in body length was sighted in the rice field north of the Seven-Eleven Yokote Hachiman store. The distance to the nearest house is about 60 m.
Yokote Yawata, Akita
Around 18:30 on May 9, three bears were sighted in Kamisuwa, Hanamaki City, Iwate Prefecture, with no human or property damage reported. On May 10 at 15:09, a small bear was sighted on the grounds of Hanamaki Agricultural High School at 68-__ Katsura Dai-1 Chiwari, Hanamaki City.
Hanamaki Ishidoriyacho-Eso, Iwate
At around 18:30 on the 9th, three bears were sighted walking in Kamisuwa, Hanamaki City, Iwate Prefecture. No human or property damage was reported.
Hanamaki Kamisuwa, Iwate
Spotted an Asian black bear (tsukinowaguma) in the bushes. By the time police arrived after the report, it had already left. Approximately 20 meters from the residence.
Ugo 字門向, Akita
Ran behind the house
Yuzawa 字田中, Akita
Around 6:00 a.m. on May 9, one bear was sighted in the urban area of Izumida Okan Higashi, Shinjō City, Yamagata Prefecture. Based on its size, the bear appears to be an adult.
Shinjo Izumita, Yamagata
On May 9 around 05:10 and again around 06:10, a bear was sighted in Izumida, Shinjo City, observed walking in a field and crossing a road. The article excerpt does not report any injuries.
Shinjo Izumita, Yamagata
At around 05:00 on May 9, one bear believed to be an adult was sighted near a private house in Izumida Higashi, Shinjo City, Yamagata Prefecture.
Shinjo Izumita, Yamagata
Three bears were sighted in Kamisuwa, Hanamaki City, Iwate Prefecture; no human or property damage has been confirmed.
Hanamaki Kamisuwa, Iwate
Bear tracks believed to be from an adult were found in a field within the settlement. The tracks were heading north through the field, but their path beyond that point could not be confirmed.
Yokote 十文字町仁井田, Akita
Around 18:30 on May 7, in a residential area of Hanamaki City, Iwate Prefecture, residents spotted a bear about one meter long walking in a private garden and on the road; security camera footage appears to show the same individual. On the day of reporting, the hunters' association responded to a bear caught in a trap at a nearby ranch.
Hanamaki Kajomachi, Iwate
Bear sighting in the bamboo thicket near Sukawa Bridge, Sukawa, Aikawa, Yuzawa City. The bear fled toward the Takamatsugawa area. Body length estimated 0.8–1.0 m. No surrounding damage reported. The sighting location is about 100 m from a residence.
Yuzawa 泉沢, Akita
Witnessed one bear approximately 1 m in body length moving through rice paddies. The bear then moved southeast (Ikada-aza Kubo direction). Distance to the nearest house about 100 m.
Yokote 山内筏, Akita
[Post] (No details provided)
Yokote 増田町戸波, Akita
Around 10:30 a.m. on the 4th in Hanamaki (Ishidoriya-cho, Kitaterabayashi), caretaker Kiyoshi Sameguchi found an overturned bucket near a chicken coop with feed scattered. Family members saw one adult bear nearby and reported it to the city; police and the hunting association set a trap at 1:00 p.m. and are on alert.
Hanamaki Ishidoriyacho-Kitaterabayashi, Iwate
[Post] (No description of the situation)
Yokote Yokote-machi, Akita
Sighted a bear crossing the Yuzawa-Yokote Road eastbound near Yokote JCT (about 500 meters southwest of the tollbooth). Body length approximately 1 m.
Yokote Fuke-ootsutsumi, Akita
Witnessed a bear about 1.5 m in body length at the guardrail. Direction of departure unknown.
Yokote Fuke-ootsutsumi, Akita
Spotted a bear crossing the road. It moved south along the side of Takubo Marsh. Body length about 1.5 m.
Yokote Fuke-ootsutsumi, Akita
Spotted a bear about 1 meter long. It ran off to the west.
Yokote Yasuda, Akita
[Post] (No situation described)
Yokote Ekimae-cho, Akita
An animal believed to be a bear about 1.5 m in length was observed moving around along a route through the drugstore, Komyoji Park, and Yurinoki Street.
Yokote Tanaka-machi, Akita
A creature believed to be a bear about 1.2 m in length was sighted near the Minami (South) Government Building of Yokote City Hall. The animal crossed the road heading east.
Yokote 1-chome, Akita
On the morning of the 3rd at around 04:10, a single bear was seen crossing a road near the Yokote City Office Jouri South Branch in Jouri, Yokote City, and about 20 minutes later a bear was also seen at an intersection in Kotobuki-cho. Further sightings occurred near JR Yokote Station, and the last sighting before 07:00 was near a marsh by Fukeodai, after which the bear's whereabouts are unknown; police and the city have issued warnings.
Yokote 1-chome, Akita
On the morning of May 3 in Yokote City, Akita Prefecture, a bear about 1.2 m long was seen crossing a prefectural road at 04:10, and other bears about 1.5 m long were reported at multiple locations later in the morning. The police are patrolling the area and warning residents to be cautious.
Yokote 1-chome, Akita
[Post] Feces
Yuzawa, Akita
Was wandering around near the embankment of the marsh.
Yokote, Akita
Loitering near the banks of the marsh.
Yokote, Akita
[Post] (No description of situation) *The accuracy of information from 'Kumadas' is unknown, but because this is a high-risk area we are issuing this alert.
Yokote 2-chome, Akita
At around 10:00 a.m. on April 30, 2026, one bear believed to be an adult was sighted on a road in Tokamachi, Kaneyama Town, Yamagata Prefecture.
Kaneyama, Yamagata
One bear approximately 1 m in body length was sighted near the south side of Takubono Swamp. The bear then ran west. The distance to the nearest house is about 200 m.
Yokote Fuke-ootsutsumi, Akita
Climbed the steps of Karasumatsu-yama Shrine toward Atago-yama. An adult bear about 1.5 m in length. Approximately 20 m from a house.
Yokote Kamiuchi-machi, Akita
At around 17:35 on April 27, 2026, a man in his 50s at home spotted a bear approximately 1 meter long on the road in Kaminai-machi, Yokote City, Akita Prefecture. The nearest house was about 20 meters away and Yokote Minami Elementary School about 500 meters; the police notified related agencies, patrolled the area by cruiser, and warned residents.
Yokote Kamiuchi-machi, Akita
According to Shinjo City, at around 7:00 AM on April 27, 2026, one bear was sighted in Masugata, Shinjo City, Yamagata Prefecture. The city conducted patrols after receiving the report but did not locate the bear, and has urged residents to be cautious.
Shinjo Masugata, Yamagata
At around 05:40 on April 27, 2026, an adult bear was sighted near Hiijono Sports Park in Matsuzono-cho, Hanamaki City. Matsuzono Nursery is nearby; the city and police monitored the area, and no damage has been reported.
Hanamaki Matsuzonocho, Iwate
While driving on Route 13 toward Ogatsu, a bear crossed the road from the left in front of me and headed toward the river.
Yuzawa 下関, Akita
One bear over 1 m in body length was sighted on the right-bank slope of the Budō River. Afterwards the bear moved into the forested area to the east. Distance to the nearest residence: approximately 50 m.
Yokote 山内平野沢, Akita
[Posted] Was walking while moving
Yokote 2-chome, Akita
A bear cub approximately 50 cm in length was sighted on the grounds of the Asahi Fureai Center. It ran east along the road in front of the center, and its subsequent whereabouts are unknown.
Yokote Inooka, Akita
Spotted one bear cub in the apartment parking lot from the third floor of the apartment building. The bear ran off toward National Route 107.
Yokote 3-chome, Akita
At a parking lot in Asahigaoka, Yokote City, a teenage male spotted one bear about 50 cm long from his home at around 15:40 on April 23. The nearest house was about 20 meters away; the Yokote police are patrolling the area and warning residents.
Yokote 3-chome, Akita
It crossed the Sangyo Road in Futago Ueno heading west and went into the woods.
Kitakami Shimooniyanagi, Iwate
Observed while driving from north to south. Reported to the police; officers patrolled the area but the animal was not found and there was no damage to surroundings. The sighting location was about 600 meters from the nearest house.
Yuzawa 酒蒔, Akita
[Post] Black animal
Yokote 十文字町十五野新田, Akita
A juvenile bear about 50 cm long was seen in a field. Its subsequent whereabouts are unknown. Distance to the nearest house: approximately 20 m.
Yokote Akasaka, Akita
At around 17:55 on April 22, 2026, a man in his 40s driving a car spotted a single bear about 50 cm long walking in a field beside the road in Yokote City, Akasaka Aza Aranuma. The nearest house was about 10 meters away, and police have issued a warning.
Yokote Akasaka, Akita
One bear over 1 m in body length was observed eating wild plants on the right-bank slope of the Budokawa River. The bear then moved into the forested area to the east. The distance to the nearest house is approximately 300 m.
Yokote 山内平野沢, Akita
Multiple bear sightings were reported in Shinjō City on April 22. At around 08:50, a bear was observed crossing the road near Masugata Community Center in Masugata, Shinjō City.
Shinjo Masugata, Yamagata
Moved west from the Saifuku-ji main hall; body length approximately 1.0 m.
Yokote Hirakamachi-Kamiyoshida, Akita
A single bear was sighted on the municipal road between Yoshida Elementary School and the Yoshida police box. The bear proceeded south toward the Yoshida nursery. Approximately 1 m in body length. About 80 m from the nearest house.
Yokote 平鹿町中吉田, Akita
At around 07:05 on the 21st, a woman in her 40s who was working spotted a bear approximately 1 meter long in Yokote City, Hiraka-cho, Kamiyoshida Aza Tanoue. The sighting occurred on a municipal road between Yoshida Elementary School and the Yoshida police box, about 70 meters from the nearest house; the police increased patrols during school commuting hours and warned residents to be cautious.
Yokote 平鹿町中吉田, Akita
While working in the fields early in the morning, footprints believed to be from a bear were discovered. The tracks crossed the rows from the south and appear to have immediately turned back.
Ugo, Akita
Peak activity at 17:00 with 8 incidents
Ursus thibetanus japonicus
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Over the past 30 days, 65 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of this route, including 14 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 Yuzawa 酒蒔, Akita; the location sits about 78.8 km from the start of the route and 1.2 km off the route line.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 17:00. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk.
This 175 km route from Obanazawa to Hanamaki crosses Yamagata, Iwate, and Akita. Over the past 30 days, 65 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of the route, including 14 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 Yuzawa 酒蒔, Akita; the location sits about 78.8 km from the start of the route and 1.2 km off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 2 weeks ago at Yokote Fuke-ootsutsumi, Akita, sitting about 99.1 km from the start and 5 m off the route line. This is an active bear corridor. Drive through with full caution, but rerouting is the safer choice.
