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This 588 km route runs from Ōtsu-juku to Itabashi-juku, passing through Shiga, Gifu, Nagano, Gunma, Saitama, and Tokyo. In the past 30 days, 35 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 8 of them. The latest sighting was reported 20 hours ago near Seki 植野, Gifu.
This is an active bear corridor. Drive through with full caution, but rerouting is the safer choice.
17 places within 1 km of your route, passing through Shiga, Gifu, Nagano, Gunma, Saitama, Tokyo.
One bear sighting reported
Seki 植野, Gifu
Around 8:00 PM on May 24, an animal believed to be a bear was sighted in Akasaka-cho, Ogaki City.
Ogaki 赤坂町, Gifu
A report was received of one bear sighted near Onda Manufacturing.
Seki 広見北町, Gifu
A report was received of one bear sighted near the Mugegawa roadside station.
Seki 植野, Gifu
On May 20, 2026 at around 16:20, a city employee found footprints believed to be from a bear (about the size of a human fist) near the Nishibu Fureai Center annex in Senbiki, Seki City. Later the same day at about 19:20, a person driving on a prefectural road in Mutegawa-cho Atobe, Seki City, sighted a single black animal that was captured on a dashcam. The police also reported a bear sighting in the area on May 11.
Seki, Gifu
At around 14:15 on May 13, 2026, a report was received that a 'large black object larger than a dog' crossed a farm road in the Miwa district of Gifu City; the city and police are patrolling. Since April there have been repeated sightings and attacks on chickens in nearby Seki City, and authorities say the same individual may be moving between the areas.
Gifu 三輪, Gifu
I heard there was a sighting.
Seki 千疋, Gifu
On May 8, 2026, Ogaki City found an adult male Asiatic black bear (95 cm) caught in a deer snare in a forested area of Akasaka-cho, captured it and euthanized it. Because there were houses and schools nearby and the snare risked coming off, the city consulted with police and dispatched a firearm to kill the bear.
Ogaki 赤坂町, Gifu
In a forested area of Akasaka-cho, Ogaki City, Gifu Prefecture, at about 06:45 on May 8, a municipal capture team found a male Asian black bear (tsukinowaguma) measuring 95 cm caught in a deer trap. Because the area was close to residences and Akasaka Junior High School and there was a risk the trap could come off, authorities consulted the police and euthanized the bear by shooting; there were no injuries.
Ogaki 赤坂町, Gifu
A single Asian black bear was caught in a deer trap in Akasaka-cho Katsuyama, Ogaki City, Gifu Prefecture; it was identified as a 95 cm adult male. Because the site is close to residential areas and releasing it into the mountains was judged difficult, it was euthanized by shooting.
Ogaki 荒尾町, Gifu
At around 06:45 on the 8th, a nuisance wildlife capture team captured one male Asian black bear about 95 cm long in a forested area of Akasaka-chō, Ōgaki City. It appeared to have just emerged from hibernation and was emaciated.
Ogaki 赤坂町, Gifu
A presumed adult Asiatic black bear (Tsukinowaguma) about 1 meter long was repeatedly sighted along the right bank of the Nagara River in Ikejiri, Seki City, from April 28 onward. On May 1, of six chickens kept at a nearby residence four were found dead and two missing; bear tracks and dug-up traces were found nearby, and the city has stepped up precautions by installing box traps and warning signs.
Seki 池尻, Gifu
Around 15:00 on April 30, a single adult Asian black bear of about 1 meter in length was sighted near the Nagara River right bank by the Kose Ukai fishing ground in Seki City Ikejiri. On May 1, four of six chickens kept at a nearby house were found dead with bite marks, and bear tracks were discovered in woodland about 200 meters from the house.
Seki, Gifu
In Seki City, Gifu Prefecture, there were five bear sightings between April 28 and May 2 — four in Ikejiri and one in Hiromi. At a residence in Ikejiri, four of six kept chickens were found dead on April 29, and on April 30 the burial site was dug up and bear tracks were confirmed nearby; the city and the hunters' association have set two box traps, conducted patrols, and posted warning signs.
Seki 池尻, Gifu
Size: Juvenile
Ina Nakanohara, Nagano
Size: adult
Okaya Minato, Nagano
In the forests of Ina City (Hirasawa and Nishiminowa), Asiatic black bears were found caught in traps early on the morning of the 20th. In Hirasawa, a roughly 9-year-old female and a nearby cub were captured; in Nishiminowa Fukiage, a roughly 9-year-old female was trapped but the cub escaped. The three captured bears were handled according to prefectural policy.
Ina Masumigaoka, Nagano
Size: Adult
Shiojiri Kyushiojiri, Nagano
Size: juvenile
Takamori Ushimaki, Nagano
At around 19:40 on May 17, 2026, a bear about 1 meter long was sighted crossing the road north of Iida Cultural Hall in Takaba-cho, Iida City, Nagano Prefecture; police arrived but the bear had already left. On the morning of the 18th, police and city officials remained on alert and warned nearby residents, and no further sightings or damage have been reported.
Iida Takahacho, Nagano
On the night of May 17, 2026, one bear was sighted on a road in Takahachimachi, Iida City, Nagano Prefecture; a driver reported seeing it cross the road just after 7:30 p.m. Police and the city urged caution and carried out patrols on the morning of the 18th to coincide with children’s school commute times.
Iida Takahacho, Nagano
Size: adult
Nagawa 大門, Nagano
Size: Adult
Iida Takahacho, Nagano
A moon bear (Asian black bear) about 1–1.2 meters long was located about 500 meters from the Nakasendō.
Nagiso, Nagano
Size: unknown
Nagawa 和田, Nagano
Size: Unknown
Nakagawa 片桐, Nagano
On May 1, 2026 in Minowa Town, Nagano Prefecture, a "zoning safety inspection" was held in the rain to separate bear habitat from human living areas; about 20 people including residents, police, and the hunters' association checked visibility around the boundary. The town has installed grass-cutting measures and electric fences at the boundary, and reports that since starting zoning in June 2025 bear sightings have decreased and no attacks on people have occurred.
Minowa, Nagano
Tomioka 妙義町諸戸, Gunma
A black bear was standing on all four paws at the roadside.
Karuizawa, Nagano
Size: Adult
Karuizawa, Nagano
It was a cub about 1 meter long. It immediately went off to the left and disappeared from view. I turned back.
Annaka, Gunma
It was watching us from a distance along the Apt Trail.
Annaka, Gunma
Annaka 松井田町五料, Gunma
Peak activity at 6:00 with 3 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, 35 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 8 of them.
The latest sighting was reported 20 hours ago near Seki 植野, Gifu.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 6:00. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk.
This 588 km route runs from Ōtsu-juku to Itabashi-juku, passing through Shiga, Gifu, Nagano, Gunma, Saitama, and Tokyo. In the past 30 days, 35 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 8 of them. The latest sighting was reported 20 hours ago near Seki 植野, Gifu. This is an active bear corridor. Drive through with full caution, but rerouting is the safer choice.
