This 197 km route from Parthenon Tama to Tsumagoi crosses Tokyo, Gunma, Nagano, and Saitama. Over the past 30 days, 24 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of the route, including 6 in the past week. This route runs through Asian black bear habitat (native to Honshu and Shikoku). The most recent sighting was reported 17 hours ago near Annaka, Gunma; the location sits about 145.6 km from the start of the route and 549 m off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 2 weeks ago at Karuizawa 中軽井沢, Nagano, sitting about 166.9 km from the start and 60 m off the route line.
At this density of recent sightings, be ready to brake at any moment and avoid stopping in flagged stretches.
4 places within 1 km of your route, passing through Tokyo, Gunma, Nagano, Saitama.
It was a cub about 1 meter long. It immediately went off to the left and disappeared from view. I turned back.
Annaka, Gunma
A black bear about 1 m in length appeared in Hachiōji. No feces or footprints were confirmed, and traps were set for capture.
Hachioji, Tokyo
A bear was crossing the road.
Karuizawa, Nagano
On May 10, 2026, a moon bear over 1 meter long was observed near traps and a camera in a grove in Motohachioji-cho, Hachioji, Tokyo, and the city plans to set a box trap for capture.
Hachioji, Tokyo
Tsumagoi Saikubo, Gunma
While proceeding along the Romantic Road from Mine-no-chaya, I saw a bear larger than one meter in the stand of mixed trees on my left.
Karuizawa, Nagano
It was watching us from a distance along the Apt Trail.
Annaka, Gunma
Annaka 松井田町五料, Gunma
Tsumagoi Ozasa, Gunma
Tsumagoi Ozasa, Gunma
According to the Saitama Prefectural Police, around 16:00 on April 30, 2026, a bear-like animal about 60–70 cm long was sighted in Misugidai 1-chome, Hannō City. The area includes schools, restaurants, parks and tourist spots, and police are urging people to prioritize their safety.
Hanno 大字矢颪, Saitama
Tsumagoi, Gunma
In Hachioji (Moto-Hachioji), Tokyo, at around 20:15 on April 29, a moon bear (over 1 meter long) was captured on a sensor camera approaching bait in a trap set for wild boar. No injuries have been reported, and the city plans to install a live capture box trap nearby under the nuisance wildlife capture permit.
Hachioji, Tokyo
Tsumagoi Omae, Gunma
The Tokyo metropolitan government (Hachioji City) reported on its website that a bear over 1 meter in length appeared in Hachioji. According to the city, there have been no sighting reports since April 29.
Hachioji, Tokyo
Karuizawa Town in Kitasaku District has temporarily shifted its policy from releasing captured bears after 'learning' to euthanizing them for a limited period. The change responds to repeated human injuries and appearances of bears in residential areas across the prefecture and concerns that bears' wide-ranging movements could cause harm to neighboring municipalities.
Karuizawa 中軽井沢, Nagano
Tsumagoi, Gunma
Tsumagoi, Gunma
Tsumagoi, Gunma
I saw it on the way back from Ome Railway Park to Ome Station. I heard a noise from the top of a cliff?/edge? by the road, and when I looked there was one behind a tree. In terms of distance it felt like about 10–20 meters, so I didn’t have time to take a photo.
Ōme Katsunuma, Tokyo
According to the Saitama Prefectural Police, at around 00:45 on the 20th a bear-like animal about 1 meter long was sighted under the pedestrian bridge east of Misugidai Elementary School in Misugidai 2-chome, Hannō. The face was seen from inside a car, and the gait captured on a drive recorder suggests it was a bear.
Hanno 大字前ヶ貫, Saitama
Akiruno Sannai, Tokyo
Size: Adult
Karuizawa, Nagano
Near Megane Bridge, walking on the slope along the national highway. Estimated size about 150–170 cm. A clean black body; I could even hear the sound of it crunching fallen leaves.
Annaka, Gunma
Peak activity at 13:00 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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Over the past 30 days, 24 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of this route, including 6 in the past week. This route runs through Asian black bear habitat (native to Honshu and Shikoku).
The most recent sighting was reported 17 hours ago near Annaka, Gunma; the location sits about 145.6 km from the start of the route and 549 m off the route line.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 13:00. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk.
This 197 km route from Parthenon Tama to Tsumagoi crosses Tokyo, Gunma, Nagano, and Saitama. Over the past 30 days, 24 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of the route, including 6 in the past week. This route runs through Asian black bear habitat (native to Honshu and Shikoku). The most recent sighting was reported 17 hours ago near Annaka, Gunma; the location sits about 145.6 km from the start of the route and 549 m off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 2 weeks ago at Karuizawa 中軽井沢, Nagano, sitting about 166.9 km from the start and 60 m off the route line. At this density of recent sightings, be ready to brake at any moment and avoid stopping in flagged stretches.
