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This 470 km route runs from Osaki to Hakuba, passing through Miyagi, Nagano, Niigata, and Yamagata. In the past 30 days, 172 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 38 of them. The latest sighting was reported 6 hours ago near Itoigawa, Niigata.
This is an active bear corridor. Reroute or postpone until activity quiets.
4 places within 1 km of your route, passing through Miyagi, Nagano, Niigata, Yamagata.
Observed one bear outside the baseball stadium.
Itoigawa, Niigata
Observed one cub. Moving westward.
Itoigawa, Niigata
Environment: Road / Size: Juvenile
Tendo 大字山元, Yamagata
Observed an adult bear moving in a mixed broadleaf grove. / Environment: mixed broadleaf grove / Size: adult
Yamagata Minamihango, Yamagata
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
Observed one cub. It was moving toward the mountains.
Itoigawa, Niigata
One bear sighted while walking / Environment: forest / Size: adult
Yamagata Kamisakurada, Yamagata
One bear was sighted in a wooded area in Zao Hango, Yamagata City.
Yamagata Higashihango, Yamagata
Size: adult (fully grown)
Hakuba, Nagano
Size: Adult (fully grown)
Otari Chikuni, Nagano
Size: adult
Otari Nakaotari, Nagano
Bear sighted moving west across the field south of a residence / Environment: near houses / Size: adult
Murayama 大字河島, Yamagata
Environment: Farmland / Size: Adult
Oguni Wakayama, Yamagata
Sighted one bear
Itoigawa, Niigata
Environment: riverbank / Size: adult
Takahata 大字上平柳, Yamagata
Around 5:00 on 2026-06-20, a bear was sighted in Sakamachi, Murakami City, Niigata Prefecture.
Murakami, Niigata
Three bears were sighted in Tachimori, Kaminoyama City, and ran toward the southern mountain.
Kaminoyama, Yamagata
Environment: Farmland / Size: Juvenile (young animal)
Nanyo 元中山, Yamagata
One bear was sighted. It was moving north.
Itoigawa, Niigata
Environment: Road / Size: Adult
Oguni Tsunagi-hakonoguchi, Yamagata
Environment: Roadside slope / Size: Unknown
Yamagata Hachimori, Yamagata
One bear was sighted near the prefectural road. It moved toward the mountains.
Sekikawa, Niigata
Environment: Farmland / Size: Adult
Oishida Iwagafukuro, Yamagata
Size: Adult (fully grown)
Hakuba, Nagano
Size: Adult
Hakuba, Nagano
Size: cub
Otari Nakaotari, Nagano
A bear about 1 meter long was sighted in the Shukuda area of Murakami City.
Murakami, Niigata
Size: Adult (fully grown)
Hakuba, Nagano
One bear sighted near the bus stop in the Kyōgamines 2-chome area of Itoigawa City.
Itoigawa 南寺町, Niigata
Spotted one bear on the roadway while walking / Environment: road / Size: adult
Yamagata Iwanami, Yamagata
Environment: Near human dwellings / Size: Adult
Nanyo 二色根, Yamagata
Around 1:15 PM on June 17, a bear was sighted moving in Miyamae, Sekikawa Village.
Sekikawa, Niigata
Environment: Near human dwellings / Size: Adult
Nanyo 二色根, Yamagata
Was walking on the road. Approximately 1.0 m in body length.
Nanyo 郡山, Yamagata
Environment: Around houses / Size: Unknown
Nanyo 島貫, Yamagata
Environment: Near houses / Size: Unknown
Nanyo 島貫, Yamagata
Environment: Around houses / Size: Unknown
Nanyo 郡山, Yamagata
A bear was sighted in Tsuyubashi, Nanyo City, and later culled.
Nanyo 露橋, Yamagata
A bear about 1 meter long was sighted in Nishine, Nanyo City.
Nanyo 二色根, Yamagata
A single approximately 1.2 m bear crossed the parking lot heading west and entered the brush. / Environment: parking lot / Size: adult
Yamagata Kurosawa, Yamagata
Environment: Near residences / Size: Adult
Nanyo 二色根, Yamagata
Environment: Near houses / Size: Adult
Nanyo 三間通, Yamagata
June 16
Osaki 岩出山下野目, Miyagi
Around 4:35 PM on 2026-06-16, one bear was sighted in Minamitōri, Nanyo City, Yamagata.
Nanyo 三間通, Yamagata
A bear was sighted at Chuohana Park in Mikamido, Nanyo City.
Nanyo 中央東, Yamagata
Environment: Near a park / Size: Adult
Nanyo 中央東, Yamagata
Near the boundary between Kuriyama and Izumi hamlets in the Nechi area, one bear was sighted on the prefectural road. It moved toward the mountains.
Itoigawa, 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
Environment: Farmland / Size: Appears to be a cub
Tendo 大字奈良沢, Yamagata
Bear observed crossing the prefectural road from south to north / Environment: road / Size: adult
Murayama 大字田沢, Yamagata
Sighted a bear approximately 1 m in body length on the road / Environment: roadway / Size: adult
Yamagata Minamihango, Yamagata
One bear was sighted on a road in Zao-Hangou, Yamagata City.
Yamagata Higashihango, Yamagata
Moved along a small path beside a house near the intersection of National Route 13 bypass and the old road in the Kanze (Kambe?) area of Kaminoyama City toward the National Route 13 bypass. / Environment: near residences / Size: adult
Kaminoyama 東金瓶, Yamagata
A bear was seen moving from a path beside a residence toward National Route 13 in Kanakame, Kaminoyama City.
Kaminoyama 金瓶, Yamagata
Observed one bear in the field.
Itoigawa 南寺町, Niigata
Observed one bear moving north along the road. Body length approximately 1 m. / Environment: road / Size: adult
Yamagata Sugesawa, Yamagata
Environment: Road / Size: Adult (fully grown)
Nanyo 上野, Yamagata
One bear was sighted on a road in Zao-Hangou, Yamagata City.
Yamagata Higashihango, Yamagata
Spotted a bear approximately 1 meter in body length on the road / Environment: road / Size: adult
Yamagata Minamihango, Yamagata
Sighted near the old Route 13 and the Route 13 Nakayama Bypass. / Environment: Road / Size: Adult
Kaminoyama 川口, Yamagata
A bear about 1 m in body length was seen moving east along a forest road. It was not located afterward. / Environment: Forest / Size: Adult
Yamagata Hirashimizu, Yamagata
A bear about 1 m in body length was sighted moving south along the trail. Its subsequent whereabouts are unknown. / Environment: forest / Size: adult
Yamagata Hirashimizu, Yamagata
One bear was sighted in a wooded area in Sugisawa, Yamagata City.
Yamagata Sugesawa, Yamagata
Moved down the slope toward the east / Environment: mixed broadleaf forest / Size: adult
Yamagata Sugesawa, Yamagata
Size: adult (fully grown)
Hakuba, Nagano
Sighted under the field's streetlight.
Itoigawa 新鉄, Niigata
Spotted a bear about 1 m in length on farmland / Environment: farmland / Size: adult
Yamagata Komoishi, Yamagata
A bear was sighted on a prefectural road in Karuigawa, Kashiwazaki City.
Kashiwazaki, Niigata
An animal resembling a bear was sighted in farmland in the Shimo-Higashiyama area of Yamagata City.
Yamagata Shimo-Higashiyama, Yamagata
A fisherman sighted one bear. It ran off to the south.
Itoigawa 寺島, Niigata
Size: adult and cub
Otari, Nagano
Size: adult with cub(s)
Hakuba, Nagano
A bear was sighted in Terajima, Itoigawa City, around 4:10 AM on 2026-06-14.
Itoigawa 寺島, Niigata
Bear observed moving from the west side of National Route 13 toward the median / Environment: Road / Size: Unknown
Murayama 金谷, Yamagata
While passing through the area, sighted one bear.
Tainai, Niigata
Size: adult
Hakuba, Nagano
One bear was sighted in a rice field in Shimotadagawa Nakayama, Kami Town.
Kami, Miyagi
Spotted one bear while passing through the area.
Tainai, Niigata
June 12
Osaki, Miyagi
Moved from the northern mountain, crossed farmland, and entered the southern mountain / Environment: farmland / Size: adult
Yamagata Kamisakurada, Yamagata
One bear was sighted crossing a road in Iwadeyama Shimonome Sunada, Osaki City.
Osaki, Miyagi
Environment: Near residential area / Size: Adult
Nanyo, Yamagata
A bear about 50 cm to 1 m entered the mountains southeast from the parking lot. / Environment: Near houses / Size: Unknown
Yamagata Hirashimizu, Yamagata
Environment: Forest / Size: Adult
Yamagata Hirashimizu, Yamagata
While driving on National Route 113, I spotted one bear. It moved toward the river.
Sekikawa, Niigata
One bear sighted near the Sekikawa Village Community Exchange Center Unmori (Kira) area on National Route 113. It moved toward the Oishi side.
Sekikawa, Niigata
One bear sighted near Kubobashi (Kubo Bridge).
Sekikawa, Niigata
While driving on the prefectural road along the Oishigawa in Kubo area, one bear was sighted. It moved toward the mountain side.
Sekikawa, Niigata
One bear was sighted in Iwanami, Yamagata City.
Yamagata Iwanami, Yamagata
Around 10:10 on June 12, a bear was sighted in Kubo, Sekikawa Village.
Sekikawa, Niigata
One bear was sighted in a parking lot in Hirashimizu, Yamagata City, around 3:50 PM.
Yamagata Hirashimizu, Yamagata
One bear sighted near a residence. Direction of escape unknown.
Itoigawa, Niigata
A bear was sighted in Hokujo, Hakuba Village, around 4:04 PM on June 11.
Hakuba Hokujo, Nagano
Spotted one cub in an irrigation canal 250 m west of the University-mae South intersection.
Joetsu, Niigata
Size: juvenile
Hakuba, Nagano
Observed one bear.
Tainai, Niigata
Observed one bear-like animal in the roadside drainage ditch. It ran east. / Environment: road / Size: unknown
Yamagata Jumonji, Yamagata
Scat observed at 8:00 AM on June 9. Scat and footprints observed at 7:00 AM on June 10.
Itoigawa, Niigata
A bear about 1 m in length was sighted in a grove of mixed trees. / Environment: mixed woodland / Size: adult
Yamagata Matsubara, Yamagata
One bear sighted near the Fossa Magna Museum garden. It moved into the woods on the north side.
Itoigawa 南寺町, Niigata
Discovered tracks believed to be those of a bear while working in the fields.
Tainai, Niigata
School staff discovered footprints in a field believed to be from a bear.
Tainai, Niigata
Discovered tracks believed to be bear footprints while working in the fields.
Tainai, Niigata
June 9
Osaki, Miyagi
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
Discovered footprints believed to be from a bear while doing farm work.
Tainai, Niigata
Bear footprints were found in a field near the village road.
Sekikawa, Niigata
Environment: Near residential area / Size: Unknown
Kawanishi 大字朴沢, Yamagata
One cub about 50 cm long was sighted in Nagahashi, Tainai City.
Tainai, Niigata
While passing through the area, a single bear was sighted.
Tainai, Niigata
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
Size: adult with cubs
Hakuba, Nagano
Environment: Road / Size: Unknown
Takahata 大字竹森, Yamagata
Observed walking / Environment: Agricultural land / Size: Adult
Kaminoyama 金瓶, Yamagata
Moved to the cherry orchard on the west side / Environment: farmland / Size: unknown
Higashine 大字島大堀, Yamagata
One bear was sighted on the farm road along the left bank of Shimamichigawa. It moved eastward.
Itoigawa, Niigata
Environment: Farmland / Size: Adult
Obanazawa Oshikiri, Yamagata
Size: Adult
Hakuba, Nagano
Size: Adult
Otari, Nagano
June 5
Osaki 古川清水, Miyagi
Size: adult
Hakuba, Nagano
While passing nearby, I spotted a figure that appeared to be a bear in the bushes.
Tainai, Niigata
Sighted an animal that appeared to be a bear cub on the riverbank / Environment: riverbank / Size: juvenile
Yamagata Komoishi, Yamagata
One bear sighted while traveling on National Route 113 in the Shimokawaguchi area.
Sekikawa, Niigata
A single cub was sighted near Tokugai Bridge from National Route 8.
Itoigawa, Niigata
Around 3:20 PM on June 3, a bear was sighted in Kurosawa Toridan, Shikama Town.
Shikama 黒沢, Miyagi
Spotted one bear near my house. It moved off toward the mountains.
Joetsu, Niigata
Two bear-like animals were sighted in Togami-mae, Yamagata City.
Yamagata Togamimae, Yamagata
One bear-like animal was sighted on a road in Izumicho, Yamagata City.
Yamagata Ochiaimachi, Yamagata
Witnessed a bear-like animal on the road / Environment: near residences / Size: adult
Yamagata Ochiaimachi, Yamagata
Person seen while doing farm work; direction of escape unknown / Environment: farmland / Size: adult
Yamagata Kamisakurada, Yamagata
Environment: around human habitation / Size: unknown
Kawanishi 大字下小松, Yamagata
Went westbound on the street within Matsunami 1-chome. Body length approximately 1 m. / Environment: Road / Size: Adult
Yamagata Hirashimizu, Yamagata
Went from the roadway in Matsunami 1-chome toward the mountains to the south. Body length about 1.2 m. / Environment: Road / Size: Adult
Yamagata Hirashimizu, Yamagata
A bear was sighted in Yachimorikawakake, Kami Town, Miyagi Prefecture.
Kami 字原木舟, Miyagi
June 2
Kami 字原鶯沢, Miyagi
Environment: farmland / Size: juvenile
Obanazawa Hosono, Yamagata
A bear was sighted twice walking on a road in Matsunami, Yamagata City, around 2:15 p.m.
Yamagata Kojirakawamachi, Yamagata
June 2
Kami 字二ノ坪, Miyagi
Went toward the Ebie settlement
Murakami, Niigata
One bear was observed moving in the mountain (south) direction.
Itoigawa, Niigata
Spotted one cub while passing through the area.
Tainai, Niigata
Environment: Farmland / Size: Adult
Obanazawa Gobono, Yamagata
Observed one bear running toward the mountains in the vicinity.
Tainai, Niigata
June 1st
Osaki 岩出山下野目, Miyagi
Environment: Near residences / Size: Adult
Nanyo 宮内, Yamagata
One bear sighted near the Tosawa (Shimo-Tosawa) community center
Sekikawa, Niigata
Environment: riverbed / Size: adult
Oguni Numazawa, Yamagata
One bear cub sighted near the Ōmine Mountain trailhead
Shibata, Niigata
One bear, about 1 meter long, was sighted in Sakamachi area, Murakami City.
Murakami, Niigata
Moved toward the Tainai City direction
Murakami, Niigata
Observed one bear near the residence. It moved toward the east side of the mountain.
Joetsu, Niigata
Spotted one bear peeking out from the mountain.
Tainai, Niigata
One bear was sighted in Shimoakaya, Tainai City, and went into the mountains to the south.
Tainai, Niigata
A single bear about 100 centimeters in body length was sighted 100 meters southwest of Yoshiura Hall.
Joetsu, Niigata
Environment: Public facility / Size: Juvenile
Obanazawa, Yamagata
One bear was sighted in Sōgetsu-cho, Yamagata City.
Yamagata Sotsuki-shincho, Yamagata
In a cherry orchard in Higashine City, Yamagata Prefecture, damage believed caused by a bear was found, with branches broken and claw marks on the trunks.
Higashine 大字泉郷, Yamagata
Environment: Road / Size: Adult
Oguni Aramata, Yamagata
A single bear-like animal was captured on the security camera.
Tainai, Niigata
One bear about 1 meter long was sighted in Soegawa, Iide Town, Yamagata Prefecture.
Iide Soegawa, Yamagata
One bear was sighted on a road at Higashizawa Reservoir in Murayama City and moved into the forested area.
Murayama 楯岡東沢, Yamagata
One bear was observed walking through the rice fields from the mountain side toward the prefectural road / Environment: near houses / Size: adult
Iide Matsubara, Yamagata
One bear was sighted on the road near Higashizawa Reservoir. It moved into the forest. / Environment: Road / Size: Adult
Murayama Shieldhill East Marsh, Yamagata
Before 6:00 on 2026-05-27, a bear was reported sighted in Nagado, Yamagata City.
Yamagata Hasedo, Yamagata
Size: Juvenile
Hakuba, Nagano
While driving on the municipal road Sennō-Tsutsuishi Line, I observed one cub. It moved west.
Itoigawa, Niigata
One bear was sighted near the Izumi bus stop. It was moving toward the mountains.
Itoigawa, Niigata
Observed one bear behind the house. It moved toward the mountains.
Tainai, Niigata
Peak activity at 18:00 with 13 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, 172 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 38 of them.
The latest sighting was reported 6 hours ago near Itoigawa, Niigata.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 18:00. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk.
This 470 km route runs from Osaki to Hakuba, passing through Miyagi, Nagano, Niigata, and Yamagata. In the past 30 days, 172 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 38 of them. The latest sighting was reported 6 hours ago near Itoigawa, Niigata. This is an active bear corridor. Reroute or postpone until activity quiets.
