This 158 km route from Semboku to Towada crosses Akita and Aomori. Over the past 30 days, 44 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of the route, including 11 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 Kazuno, Akita; the location sits about 123.8 km from the start of the route and 3.4 km off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 2 weeks ago at Kazuno, Akita, sitting about 80.9 km from the start and 2 m off the route line.
This is an active bear corridor. Rerouting or rescheduling your hike is strongly advised.
While passing by in a car, I saw it standing beside the road looking at us. When we approached, it went into the mountains.
Kazuno, Akita
Was walking near a house from the railroad tracks, body length about 1.2 m, direction of departure unknown. Distance to the house approximately 2 m.
Senboku Nishikicho-Koyamada, Akita
While driving toward the Kakunodate area, a bear about 1.2 m in body length crossed the road from left to right. It departed heading north and was about 100 m from the nearest house.
Senboku Nishikicho-Saimyoji, Akita
On my way to work I witnessed an Asian black bear (Tsukinowaguma) crossing the road and running up the embankment.
Kazuno, Akita
Bear sighted walking near the hall. Body length about 1 m. Departed toward the northwest. Distance to the building about 5 m.
Senboku Kakunodatemachi-Kawara, Akita
[Report] While driving on National Route 103 toward Lake Towada, a single Asiatic black bear (Tsukinowaguma) approximately 60–70 cm in body length was walking on the road. Upon noticing the car, the bear ran east and fled.
Kazuno, Akita
A bear was near Kojoyama Park. Body length about 1 m. Distance to the nearest buildings about 200 m. Walked off toward the west.
Senboku Kakunodatemachi, Akita
Around 15:00 on May 12, 2026, two bears were filmed about 300 meters from the Goshogake parking lot public toilet in Hachimantai. They were observed climbing trees to eat new shoots, and an individual believed to be a male approached one believed to be a female.
Kazuno, Akita
Body length about 1 m, distance to the house about 200 m, direction of departure unknown.
Senboku Kakunodatemachi-Yamayakawasaki, Akita
Body length about 1.2 m. It came down from the mountain, walked near the garbage collection area, and then returned toward the mountain.
Senboku Tazawako-Komatsu, Akita
At around 12:55 PM on May 11, 2026, a woman in her 40s driving in Tazawako Komatsu Aza Jomawari, Semboku City, Akita Prefecture, spotted a bear about 1.2 meters long on a municipal road.
Senboku Tazawako-Komatsu, Akita
Sighted near the area where the bypass to National Route 46 (toward Akita) ascends. Body length about 1 m. Direction of departure unknown.
Senboku Kakunodatemachi-Kumoshikari, Akita
Spotted a bear cub in the bushes by the roadside. Mother bear was not seen.
Senboku, Akita
Observed two bears about 0.5 m in length and one bear about 1 m in length. Direction of departure unknown. Approximately 100 m from nearby houses.
Senboku Kakunodatemachi-Sonoda, Akita
[Report] While two of us were checking a fallen tree, we found a lot of large scat that was not yet dry. When I stood up after taking photos, I smelled a strong animal odor. Looking around, I noticed a warm, animal-like breath coming from somewhere, so we ran away. About 15 m from a house.
Kazuno Towada-Kemanai, Akita
A single cub was sighted near the Onabuyama observation deck in Okuze, Towada City, at around 08:20 on May 8, 2026.
Towada, Aomori
Observed one cub climbing a tree in the northeastern parking lot on the premises of Aeon Nakasen store. It is still in the tree.
Daisen Kitanagano, Akita
On May 8, 2026, from around 07:30 for about 1.5 hours, a bear approximately 1.2 meters long stayed in a tree in the parking lot of the Aeon Nakasen store in Kita-Nagano Hakamada, Daisen City, Akita Prefecture. After police officers spotted the bear, it wandered through nearby rice fields and then left toward the west (Tamagawa); police patrolled by patrol car and warned residents.
Daisen Kitanagano, Akita
Posted: I was walking in the woods on the premises. Body length about 1 m.
Daisen Shimo-Uguisuno, Akita
Rice paddy / Body length 1 m / 200 m from a residence / 50 m from sighting Vehicle was driving on the road when a bear was discovered in the rice paddy. The bear moved west toward the direction of a waste processing facility.
Kosaka Araya, Akita
On May 3, 2026, around 11:00 a.m., one bear was sighted near Shimeikei on the Oirase stream in Okuse, Towada City.
Towada, Aomori
On the morning of May 3, 2026, one bear was sighted at the Oirase Gorge in Towada City, Aomori Prefecture. There have been no reports of injuries or capture.
Towada, Aomori
[Post] Climbing up the mountainside
Kazuno, Akita
National road / body length 70 cm / 60 m from a house / approximately 50 m from the witness While driving a vehicle on the national road toward Semboku City, I saw one small bear cross the road and run toward the village.
Kazuno, Akita
A bear about 0.5 m in body length was attempting to climb from a rice field up the slope of the bypass. Distance to nearby buildings approximately 60 m. Direction of departure unknown.
Senboku Kakunodatemachi-Kumoshikari, Akita
One bear approximately 1.2 m in length was sighted and then left; its direction of departure is unknown. It was about 10 m from a nearby house.
Senboku Kakunodatemachi-Yamayakawasaki, Akita
A single bear cub was running through the bushes along the roadside.
Kosaka, Akita
It was standing on a rock in the middle of the Oyu River. While I stopped the car and was operating the camera, it walked toward the mountain on the opposite bank. It’s a cub.
Kazuno, Akita
[Post]
Kazuno 長牛, Akita
A bear approximately 1.3 m in body length was sighted. Distance and direction of departure are unknown.
Senboku Nishikicho-Koyamada, Akita
Posted: Sitting by the river
Kazuno, Akita
[Post] Was sitting along the river
Kazuno, Akita
【Post】
Senboku Kakunodatemachi-Sonoda, Akita
Field / Body length 1.2 m / 700 m from a residence / Approximately 50 m from the witness
Kazuno, Akita
A bear was sighted near the Ishigedo rest area on the Oirase Stream in Towada City, Aomori Prefecture, around midday on April 24, 2026.
Towada, Aomori
The city announced that a single cub was sighted near the Ishikedo rest area of the Oirase Stream in Towada City at around 11:50 a.m. on the 24th.
Towada, Aomori
Witnessed one bear about 1 m (at shoulder or body height) crossing the road from south to north. Distance to nearby house: 20 m.
Daisen Toyooka, Akita
It ran across the road from the field on the south side and dashed into the woods behind the houses on the north side.
Daisen Toyooka, Akita
Beside the national highway in brush/Body length ~1 m/40 m from a residence/About 5 m from the witness While passing on the national highway by vehicle, I saw a bear sitting at the edge of the mountain beside the road. Because I drove past it, I do not know which direction it left. Afterwards the police checked the area but did not find the bear.
Kazuno Osarizawa, Akita
Report: Near Ōbadani-chi (about 5.5 km from Tamagawa Onsen No.1 parking lot toward Kazuno, on the mountain side) a bear on a snowy slope noticed a car, panicked, and ran uphill toward Tamagawa Onsen to escape.
Kazuno, Akita
Towada, Aomori
It was eating grass at the roadside. Afterwards it began sleeping under a nearby tree.
Kosaka, Akita
A bear about 0.5 m in body length was in the rice field. Distance to the nearest house was about 20 m. It left heading north.
Senboku Kakunodatemachi-Kumoshikari, Akita
Crossed the road and climbed up the steep embankment on the right.
Kazuno 下長根, Akita
Peak activity at 7:00 with 4 incidents
Ursus thibetanus japonicus
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Over the past 30 days, 44 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of this route, including 11 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 Kazuno, Akita; the location sits about 123.8 km from the start of the route and 3.4 km off the route line.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 7:00. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk.
This 158 km route from Semboku to Towada crosses Akita and Aomori. Over the past 30 days, 44 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of the route, including 11 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 Kazuno, Akita; the location sits about 123.8 km from the start of the route and 3.4 km off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 2 weeks ago at Kazuno, Akita, sitting about 80.9 km from the start and 2 m off the route line. This is an active bear corridor. Rerouting or rescheduling your hike is strongly advised.
