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This 272 km route runs from Mishima to Itoigawa, passing through Fukushima and Niigata. In the past 30 days, 105 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 18 of them. The latest sighting was reported 12 hours ago near Itoigawa, Niigata.
This is an active bear corridor. Reroute or postpone until activity quiets.
2 places within 1 km of your route, passing through Fukushima, Niigata.
One bear was sighted heading west.
Itoigawa, Niigata
Confirmed a bear moving westward
Itoigawa 中央, Niigata
On Monday, June 29 at approximately 6:10 p.m., on the Yanagitsu–Showa main prefectural road in Nagasaka, Sunagohara, Yanagitsu Town, a witness (male in his 40s) observed a bear (about 50 cm in body length) crossing the road while driving. The bear subsequently left heading west toward the mountains.
Yanaizu Sunakohara, Fukushima
At around 2:30 p.m. on Monday, June 29, on a road in Kitamatsubara Ko, Nozawa, Nishiaizu Town, a witness (male in his 60s) observed one bear (approximately 1 m in body length) crossing the road from east to west while driving. The subsequent whereabouts of the bear are unknown.
Nishiaizu Nozawa, Fukushima
While driving on the municipal road east line of Itoigawa Junior High School, one bear was sighted. It was moving east.
Itoigawa 中央, Niigata
I drove south along National Route 49.
Aga 福取, Niigata
One bear was sighted on National Route 49 in Fukutori, Aga Town.
Aga 福取, Niigata
One bear about 60 cm long was sighted on a road in Akatani, Kamo City.
Kamo, Niigata
A single cub was sighted near houses. It moved toward the mountainous area to the east.
Kamo, Niigata
One bear was sighted about 100 meters northwest of the campsite in the Oaza Gochi Kokubu area.
Joetsu, Niigata
At around 4:20 a.m. on Saturday, June 27, in the Hinokuchihara Otsu area of Onohon, Nishiaizu Town, a witness (male in his 60s) spotted one bear (approximately 1 m in body length) while walking near the fields northeast of the former Onohon Elementary School. The subsequent whereabouts of the bear are unknown.
Nishiaizu Onomoto, Fukushima
One bear was sighted in Gochikokubu, Joetsu City.
Joetsu, Niigata
Around 6:30 PM on June 26, a bear was sighted in Nagasaka, Sunagohara, Yanaizu Town, Fukushima, and was seen moving.
Yanaizu Sunakohara, Fukushima
A bear was sighted in Kajiyashiki, Itoigawa City, Niigata, around 16:10 on June 26.
Itoigawa, Niigata
One bear was sighted near Kajiyashiki Community Center. It was moving southwest.
Itoigawa, Niigata
A traffic controller directing vehicles along National Route 49 sighted a bear (one). It ran off in the direction of the Yagiyama-Fukudori town road.
Aga 福取, Niigata
Bear feces confirmed on the premises
Itoigawa 中央, Niigata
At about 9:50 a.m. on Thursday, June 25, near Kitanosawabashi by Ibirachii in Sunagohara, Yanaizu Town, a witness (woman in her 20s) saw one bear (approximately 80 cm in body length) in the roadside grass while passing by in a vehicle.
Yanaizu Sunakohara, Fukushima
Observed one bear outside the baseball stadium.
Itoigawa, Niigata
One bear sighted near Nōu Ballpark (within the Ōheiji area of the Nōu region) attempting to climb a tree.
Itoigawa, Niigata
Observed one cub. Moving westward.
Itoigawa, Niigata
On Tuesday, June 23 at around 1:00 p.m., a witness (age unknown, male) observed one bear moving east on the road north of Nishi-Aizu High School at 256-cho Ka, Kamijo Do Higashi, Nozawa, Nishi-Aizu Town. The bear’s body length is unknown. Its subsequent whereabouts are unknown.
Nishiaizu Nozawa, Fukushima
Confirmed feces in vacant lot approximately the size consistent with a bear.
Itoigawa 横町, Niigata
One bear was sighted. It was moving toward the mountains.
Itoigawa, Niigata
One adult bear and one cub were sighted near Suwa Shrine in the Hamakiura area; they moved south.
Itoigawa, Niigata
Observed one cub. It was moving toward the mountains.
Itoigawa, Niigata
Sighted one bear
Itoigawa, Niigata
On Friday, June 19 at approximately 2:58 p.m., in Ibirada area, Sunagohara, Yanaizu Town, a witness (female) driving on Prefectural Route Yanaizu–Showa observed one bear (about 50 cm in body length) at the roadside. The bear noticed the vehicle and entered the woods to the west.
Yanaizu 居平, Fukushima
One bear was sighted. It was moving north.
Itoigawa, Niigata
On Friday, June 19 at approximately 9:25 a.m., a witness (male) driving on National Route 252 in Iitani, Yanaizu Town, observed one bear (approx. 50 cm in body length) climbing a tree along the roadside.
Yanaizu Iitani, Fukushima
A bear about 0.5 meters long was sighted at a private home frontage in Toyomiotsu, Aga Town, shortly after 4 a.m.
Aga 八ツ田, Niigata
One bear sighted near the bus stop in the Kyōgamines 2-chome area of Itoigawa City.
Itoigawa 南寺町, Niigata
On Wednesday, June 17 at around 7:00 p.m., on National Route 49 in Kunioka, Kaminoyama Ko, Nishi-Aizu Town, a witness (male in his 50s) while traveling by vehicle observed one bear (about 1 m in body length) dash out from the forest beside the road. The bear returned to the forest it had come from.
Nishiaizu Muraoka, Fukushima
Two bear cubs sighted in the marsh/wetland area.
Agano, Niigata
One cub, about 0.7 meters long, was sighted in Kusamizu, Agano City, and fled into brush on the east side.
Agano, Niigata
While driving on prefectural Route Ogata–Takayanagi, I sighted one animal believed to be a bear. It was moving west.
Joetsu, Niigata
It was in the mountains. It ran off toward the mountains.
Joetsu, Niigata
On Tuesday, June 16 at approximately 3:55 a.m., in an open lot in Suwanishi Ko, Nozawa, Nishi-Aizu Town, a witness (female in her 60s) observed two bears (about 1 m in body length) in the grass of the lot while passing by in a vehicle. After being seen, the bears fled into a cedar grove in the lot.
Nishiaizu Onomoto, Fukushima
Observed one bear in the field.
Itoigawa 南寺町, Niigata
While walking, the observer sighted one bear (approximately 0.5 m in body length) roaming in the underbrush.
Yanaizu Imogoya, Fukushima
While walking, the observer sighted one bear (approximately 1 m in body length) eating mulberries in the underbrush.
Yanaizu Imogoya, Fukushima
Sighted under the field's streetlight.
Itoigawa 新鉄, Niigata
A bear was sighted on a prefectural road in Karuigawa, Kashiwazaki City.
Kashiwazaki, Niigata
A witness, traveling on National Route 49 toward Fukushima Prefecture, observed one bear crossing National Route 49 from right to left and fleeing into the mountains.
Aga 津川, Niigata
A fisherman sighted one bear. It ran off to the south.
Itoigawa 寺島, Niigata
A witness, while resting in the parking lot of the Aga-no-Sato roadside station, spotted a bear (one) in a field on the northeast side of the parking lot. When they shone a light, the bear ran off to the east.
Aga 釣浜, Niigata
One bear, about 1 meter long, was sighted in Ishima, Aga Town.
Aga 石間, Niigata
A bear was sighted in Terajima, Itoigawa City, around 4:10 AM on 2026-06-14.
Itoigawa 寺島, Niigata
A witness, while traveling on National Route 49 toward Niigata City, observed one bear crossing National Route 49 from right to left and fleeing into the mountains.
Aga 津川, Niigata
While driving a vehicle, the observer sighted one bear walking on the road (approximately 0.5 m in body length).
Yanaizu Iitani, Fukushima
On Saturday, June 13 at about 1:15 p.m., on National Route 252 in Iitani Aza Shinden Hei, Yaizu Town, a witness riding in a vehicle saw one bear (approximately 50 cm in body length) walking on the road. The bear’s subsequent whereabouts are unknown.
Yanaizu Iitani, Fukushima
It appeared on the camera of a trap intended for wild boar.
Joetsu, Niigata
One bear was sighted heading toward the mountains near Uta Shikan (Uta Community Center) in the Omi area of Itoigawa City.
Itoigawa, Niigata
A service area patron, while driving on the off-ramp, sighted one bear outside the guardrail.
Aga 熊渡, Niigata
While driving a vehicle, the observer saw one bear (approximately 1 m in body length) climbing a tree alongside the road.
Nishiaizu, Fukushima
On Thursday, June 11 at around 6:00 p.m., near National Route 252 in Iitani, Yanaizu Town (Aza Shinden Hei), a witness, while driving, observed one bear (approximately 1 m in body length) climbing a tree along the roadside. The bear’s subsequent movements are unknown.
Yanaizu Iitani, Fukushima
On Thursday, June 11 at about 5:15 p.m., on the Yanizu–Showa Prefectural Road (Main Prefectural Road Yanizu–Showa Line) in the Shimonoyu area of Gojōjiki, Yanizu Town, a witness driving a vehicle spotted one bear (approximately 1 m in body length) at the roadside. The bear then left toward the mountains to the east.
Yanaizu Gojojiki, Fukushima
While driving a vehicle, the observer saw one bear (about 1 m in body length) on the road shoulder.
Yanaizu Gojojiki, Fukushima
Spotted one cub in an irrigation canal 250 m west of the University-mae South intersection.
Joetsu, Niigata
While driving a vehicle, the witness observed one bear (approximately 0.8 m in body length) crossing the road.
Yanaizu 居平, Fukushima
On Wednesday, June 10 at around 5:00 p.m., in the Ibirada area of Sunagohara, Yanaizu Town, on a prefectural road, a witness driving a vehicle saw one bear (approximately 80 cm in body length) crossing the road. The bear then left on foot into the brush to the west.
Yanaizu 居平, Fukushima
While walking, the person spotted one bear (approximately 0.7 m in body length) in the brush.
Yanaizu 居平, Fukushima
On Wednesday, June 10 at around 4:00 p.m., a witness walking in the Ibirahira area of Sunagohara, Yanaizu Town, spotted one bear (about 70 cm in body length) in the roadside brush. The bear then moved off into the forest to the north.
Yanaizu 居平, Fukushima
A bear was sighted in Kibogaoka, Kamo City.
Kamo, Niigata
A single bear about 1 meter in body length moved into the mountains east of Kibōgaoka’s eastern hillside.
Kamo, Niigata
Scat observed at 8:00 AM on June 9. Scat and footprints observed at 7:00 AM on June 10.
Itoigawa, Niigata
Two days ago a bear was sighted eating mulberries, and a bear trap (cage) had been set. This morning at about 7:00 a.m. the Yanitsu Town Office reported to the local police post that they had captured a bear. At 9:50 a.m. the town office notified the main station that the electric fence had been damaged and that an emergency culling would be carried out. At 11:27 a.m., with the mayor absent, the deputy mayor granted shooting permission; a shot was fired at 11:30 a.m., and death was confirmed at 11:35 a.m. The bear: female, estimated 5 years old, body length 1.1 meters, weight 60 kg, no history of giving birth.
Yanaizu 居平, Fukushima
While delivering newspapers, the observer sighted two bears (each about 1 m in body length) in the grassy lot.
Nishiaizu Onomoto, Fukushima
On Wednesday, June 10 at around 4:00 a.m., in an open lot in Nozawa, Suwanishi-ko, Nishiaizu Town, a witness (female in her 60s) spotted two bears (approximately 1 m in length) in the grass of the lot while traveling by vehicle.
Nishiaizu Onomoto, Fukushima
A bear was sighted around 4 PM on June 10 in Sankohara-Ihei, Yanizu Town, Fukushima Prefecture.
Yanaizu 居平, Fukushima
One bear sighted near the Fossa Magna Museum garden. It moved into the woods on the north side.
Itoigawa 南寺町, Niigata
A traffic guide directing vehicles along National Route 49 sighted a bear (one). The bear ran toward the guide (approaching to about 30 meters), but noticed the sound of vehicles on the national highway and retreated back into the woods.
Aga 八ツ田, Niigata
One bear was sighted near the house. It moved off toward the northeast.
Joetsu, Niigata
One bear, about 1.2 meters long, was sighted in Maruta, Nadachi Ward, Joetsu City, Niigata.
Joetsu, Niigata
While a vehicle was parked, one bear (about 1 meter in body length) was observed on the road.
Yanaizu Godo, Fukushima
On Monday, June 8, at around 7:00 p.m., on a town road in Yanaizu-machi, Oaza Yanaizu, Aza Yahashomaki Ko, a witness (male in his 70s), while in a vehicle, observed one bear (approximately 1 m in body length). The bear then left and went north into the forested area.
Yanaizu Godo, Fukushima
An Aganogawa Service Area staff member spotted an adult bear and cub wandering around the employee parking lot. The bears later left heading toward the railroad tracks (Route 49).
Aga 熊渡, Niigata
A bear was sighted on a prefectural road in Imogoya, Yanaizu Town.
Yanaizu Imogoya, Fukushima
While driving a vehicle, they observed one bear (about 1 m in body length) crossing the road from north to south.
Yanaizu Imogoya, Fukushima
While at home, the observer saw one bear (about 1.5 m in body length) running west between a kura and warehouses across the road.
Nishiaizu Kaminojiri, Fukushima
On Sunday, June 7, at approximately 4:50 a.m., in the area of Kamiokinobara, Uenojiri, Nishiaizu Town, a witness (male in his 60s) observed one bear (about 1.5 m in body length) moving westward beside a roadside earthen storehouse and warehouses as he was leaving his home. The bear ran off to the west and its subsequent whereabouts are unknown.
Nishiaizu Kaminojiri, Fukushima
A single bear over 100 centimeters in body length was sighted on the Yamate side of Tanihama Park dog run, near the public restrooms.
Joetsu, Niigata
On Saturday, June 6 at around 3:00 PM, in the Nagasaka area of Sunagohara, Yanaizu Town, a witness (woman in her 70s) walking along the Yanaizu-Shōwa Prefectural Road saw two bears (each about 50 cm in length) crossing the road from east to west. Their destination after crossing is unknown.
Yanaizu Sunakohara, Fukushima
While walking, the observer sighted two bears (each about 0.5 m in body length) crossing the road from east to west.
Yanaizu Sunakohara, Fukushima
One bear was sighted on the farm road along the left bank of Shimamichigawa. It moved eastward.
Itoigawa, Niigata
Spotted one bear
Itoigawa, Niigata
While driving, the reporter sighted one bear (about 1 m in body length) crossing from west to east.
Yanaizu Kotsubaki, Fukushima
A bear was seen crossing National Route 252 in Shimohara-michi Nishi-ko, Yanaizu Town.
Yanaizu Kotsubaki, Fukushima
While driving a vehicle, the observer sighted one bear (approximately 1 m in body length) crossing the road.
Nishiaizu Tabanematsu, Fukushima
On June 5 (Friday) at approximately 4:26 a.m., in the Toriya area of Tsukematsu, Nishi-Aizu Town, a vehicle driver (male in his 60s) passing near the 138.4 km post on the outbound (upward) lanes of the Ban-etsu Expressway reported seeing a bear (about 1 m in body length) crossing the expressway from north to south while traveling on the outbound lanes toward Iwaki. The bear left the area via the south-side slope of the road.
Nishiaizu Tabanematsu, Fukushima
While driving a vehicle, the observer sighted two bears in rough terrain (one approximately 1.5 m in body length, the other about 1 m).
Nishiaizu Onomoto, Fukushima
Around 04:00 on June 5, a bear was sighted in Nozawa Suwanishi-ko, Nishiaizu Town, Fukushima Prefecture.
Nishiaizu Onomoto, Fukushima
On June 5 (Friday) at around 4:00 a.m., in a vacant lot in Suwanishi Ko, Nozawa, Nishiaizu Town, a witness (female in her 60s) saw two bears (about 1.5 m and about 1 m in length) in a roadside vacant lot while driving.
Nishiaizu Onomoto, Fukushima
Around 7:45 PM on June 4, a bear was sighted in Noguchiotsu, Teshima, Nishiaizu Town, Fukushima Prefecture.
Nishiaizu Tosejima, Fukushima
While driving a vehicle, the person sighted one bear (about 1.5 m in body length) on the road.
Nishiaizu Tosejima, Fukushima
On Thursday, June 4 at approximately 7:45 p.m., on the Kitakata–Nishiaizu Prefectural Road in Noguchi Otsu area, Toyeshima, Nishi-Aizu Town, a witness (male in his 50s) saw one bear (about 1.5 m in length) on the road while driving. The bear walked south into a grassy area and its subsequent whereabouts are unknown.
Nishiaizu Tosejima, Fukushima
While the witness was driving on the Ban-etsu Expressway heading toward Niigata and was taking the road from the main line into the Agano River service area, a bear with cubs emerged from the right. Startled by the witness’s vehicle, they turned back and went into the woods.
Aga 熊渡, Niigata
A bear was sighted in Yanaizu, Yanaizu Town, Fukushima.
Yanaizu, Fukushima
While driving, the driver spotted one bear (approximately 1 m in body length) within the premises. The bear then entered the brush on the west side of the location.
Yanaizu Kotsubaki, Fukushima
A single cub was sighted near Tokugai Bridge from National Route 8.
Itoigawa, Niigata
On the Ban-etsu Expressway, a small bear (one individual) was sighted inside the construction yard of Ryūgatake Tunnel. It then ran off into the nearby forested area.
Aga 福取, Niigata
Spotted one bear near my house. It moved off toward the mountains.
Joetsu, Niigata
A guest at Tsugawa Onsen sighted a bear on the way back, briefly retreated, spoke with an onsen employee, and then left.
Aga 京ノ瀬, Niigata
Witnessed a bear crossing the national Route 49, heading from the Nishiku (West Ward) toward the highway near the west overpass of Route 49.
Aga 津川, Niigata
Witnessed a black object believed to be a bear moving from Minagawa Sawmill toward the Agano River.
Aga あが野北, Niigata
Peak activity at 4:00 with 12 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, 105 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 18 of them.
The latest sighting was reported 12 hours ago near Itoigawa, Niigata.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 4:00. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk.
This 272 km route runs from Mishima to Itoigawa, passing through Fukushima and Niigata. In the past 30 days, 105 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 18 of them. The latest sighting was reported 12 hours ago near Itoigawa, Niigata. This is an active bear corridor. Reroute or postpone until activity quiets.
