This 470 km route from Osaki to Hakuba crosses Miyagi, Nagano, Niigata, and Yamagata. Over the past 30 days, 29 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of the route, including 5 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 Itoigawa 中央, Niigata; the location sits about 422.8 km from the start of the route and 135 m off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 1 week ago at Kaminoyama 北町, Yamagata, sitting about 115.7 km from the start and 19 m off the route line.
At this density of recent sightings, reroute or postpone your ride until activity quiets.
4 places within 1 km of your route, passing through Miyagi, Nagano, Niigata, Yamagata.
On May 7, 2026, a bear sighting was reported in Itoigawa City, Niigata Prefecture. The article does not give specific details on the exact location, time, or number of bears.
Itoigawa 中央, Niigata
On the 6th, the Kaminoyama Police reported that a bear was sighted in Kawaguchi, Kaminoyama City on May 5 at 16:00. Further details are not specified in the partially paywalled article.
Kaminoyama 川口, Yamagata
A supposed bear sighting before 22:30 on May 4 at a convenience-store parking lot in Kamo City (Ogocho 2) was found, after review of CCTV by the Kamo police and city, to be a leashed dog at the entrance.
Kamo, Niigata
Spotted one bear in front of the convenience store entrance. It ran off toward the northeast.
Kamo, Niigata
Kamo City reported that at around 22:25 on May 4 a roughly 1-meter bear was sighted in front of the Seven-Eleven entrance in Daigocho, Kamo, but security camera footage later showed the animal was actually a leashed dog; the city apologized on the morning of May 5 for the false report. The city continues to urge caution against bear encounters.
Kamo, Niigata
Around 00:00 on April 29, 2026, a passerby spotted one bear along Maegawa in Futsukamachi 1-chome, Kaminoyama City, Yamagata Prefecture, and reported it to the police. No damage has been reported since the sighting; the city is distributing flyers to nearby residents and issuing cautions.
Kaminoyama 北町, Yamagata
In the early morning of April 29, 2026 (around 00:00), an adult bear was sighted in the residential area of Futukamachi, Kaminoyama City, Yamagata Prefecture. No further sightings were reported; the city and police urged residents to be cautious, and the prefecture has issued a bear alert.
Kaminoyama 北町, Yamagata
In the early morning of 2026-04-29, a bear, appearing as a dark mass, was filmed along the Maegawa north of the Kaminoyama City Comprehensive Children's Center Mengoria in Futukamachi, Kaminoyama City. Sightings have been frequent across the prefecture, and the prefectural government has issued a bear warning.
Kaminoyama 北町, Yamagata
Observed one bear moving toward the river.
Itoigawa, Niigata
At around 10:30 a.m. on April 28, 2026, one bear believed to be an adult was sighted in Koiwazawa, Nanyo City, Yamagata Prefecture. Reports only describe the sighting.
Nanyo 小岩沢, Yamagata
At around 16:15 on the 27th, one bear was sighted in the Mihara-shi no Oka area of Kaminoyama City, Yamagata Prefecture. The bear reportedly ran from the west side of New Truck Kaminoyama toward the solar panel area, and the city has issued a caution.
Kaminoyama みはらしの丘, Yamagata
At around 16:10 on April 27, a single bear was sighted in Mihara, Kaminoyama City, Yamagata Prefecture.
Kaminoyama 三本松, Yamagata
Yamagata Prefecture issued its first bear-sighting advisory of the fiscal year on April 27 after a total of five bear sightings in urban areas such as Tsuruoka and Tendo during the week through April 26. At around 16:00 on April 27, one bear was observed in a residential area in Mihara-shi no Oka, Kaminoyama City.
Yamagata Kurosawa, Yamagata
One bear was sighted. Its subsequent movement route is unknown.
Niigata, Niigata
At around 07:50 this morning a single bear was sighted near Kuramashi North Community Center in Kuramashi, Tendo City, Yamagata Prefecture; the city and police are conducting patrols. The bear was reported moving within roughly 300–400 meters north of the community center; the city has urged nearby residents not to approach and to report any sightings promptly.
Tendo 大字窪野目, Yamagata
At around 07:30 on April 26, a single bear about 1 meter long was sighted in a field within a residential property in Kuramashi, Tendo City. Police and municipal staff patrolled the area but did not confirm the bear's presence; no damage to people or buildings was reported.
Tendo 大字天童, Yamagata
Hakuba, Nagano
On April 24, 2026, a bear sighting was reported in Itoigawa City. The article provides no specific location, time, or number of bears.
Itoigawa 中央, Niigata
On the morning of April 20, in Nanyo City Ueno, a moving car collided with a bear about 1 meter long; after the collision the bear entered the nearby mountain. Prefectural figures show 68 bear sightings in 2026 as of April 12, and sightings by the end of March had already exceeded three times those in 2025, so the prefecture is urging caution during farming and wild-plant gathering.
Nanyo 上野, Yamagata
At around 08:00 on April 20, 2026, an ordinary passenger car traveling on a municipal road in Ueno, Nanyo City, Yamagata Prefecture collided with a bear about 1 meter long. After the collision the bear fled into the nearby mountains.
Nanyo 上野, Yamagata
In Yamagata City, a 60-year-old woman taking part in bear extermination operations slipped and fell several dozen meters, suffering serious injuries including broken ribs. Because of sunset she could not descend and waited overnight; she was rescued the next morning by a fire department disaster-prevention helicopter.
Yamagata Tokamachi 1-chome, Yamagata
While driving a car, I spotted one bear.
Joetsu 名立区大菅, Niigata
While passing through the area, a person sighted one cub.
Tainai 松波, Niigata
Observed one bear heading toward Omi near Osawa Bridge on the Osawa-Morimoto municipal road
Itoigawa 大字大沢, Niigata
Spotted one cub while passing through the area.
Tainai 下館, Niigata
Shortly after 14:30 on April 12, 2026, a bear about 0.7 m long was sighted in the mountains beside a road in Shimodate, Tainai City. The sighting was reported to be about 300 meters from a house (Shibata Police).
Tainai 下館, Niigata
While passing through the area, observed one bear cub.
Tainai 下館, Niigata
On April 12, 2026, shortly after 14:00, a resident in Shimo-date, Tainai City, Niigata Prefecture reported seeing a bear. Responding police officers also sighted one bear about 70 cm long on a mountainside beside the road. Police have urged nearby residents to exercise caution.
Tainai 下館, Niigata
Size: adult (fully grown)
Hakuba Hokujo, Nagano
Peak activity at 16:00 with 5 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, 29 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of this route, including 5 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 Itoigawa 中央, Niigata; the location sits about 422.8 km from the start of the route and 135 m off the route line.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 16:00. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk.
This 470 km route from Osaki to Hakuba crosses Miyagi, Nagano, Niigata, and Yamagata. Over the past 30 days, 29 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of the route, including 5 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 Itoigawa 中央, Niigata; the location sits about 422.8 km from the start of the route and 135 m off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 1 week ago at Kaminoyama 北町, Yamagata, sitting about 115.7 km from the start and 19 m off the route line. At this density of recent sightings, reroute or postpone your ride until activity quiets.
