This 71.7 km route from Shifuku-ji Temple to Date crosses Miyagi and Fukushima. Over the past 30 days, 44 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of the route, including 8 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 Sendai Izumichuo-minami, Miyagi; the location sits about 226 m from the start of the route and 3.0 km off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 2 weeks ago at Sendai Futsukamachi, Miyagi, sitting about 3.5 km from the start and 65 m off the route line.
This is an active bear corridor. Rerouting or rescheduling your hike is strongly advised.
5 places within 1 km of your route, passing through Miyagi, Fukushima.
Around 22:00 on May 6 a person in a car sighted a bear about 1 meter long crossing the road at the intersection in front of a shopping mall in Kamiyatagari, Izumi-ku, Sendai. Police patrolled but did not find the bear and there were no injuries. Separately, a bear was sighted on a mountain near Otayachi Elementary School in Ishinomaki on May 2, so an evacuation drill scheduled for May 7 was canceled.
Sendai Izumichuo-minami, Miyagi
Around 22:00 on May 6, 2026, a single bear about 1 meter long was sighted near the intersection of the Sendai North Ring Road (Sendai Kita Kanjosen) at Kamiyatagari-Tatewaki, Izumi Ward, Sendai; it left toward the bushes. Police patrolled the area but did not find it afterward, and Izumitakeyama High School notified parents to be cautious by email.
Sendai Chomeigaoka-higashi, Miyagi
Around 22:00 on May 6, 2026, a female driver spotted a single bear about 1 meter long on a prefectural road in Kamitayagari, Izumi Ward, Sendai. The bear crossed a crosswalk at an intersection heading south and disappeared into nearby brush; police patrolled the area but received no further sightings.
Sendai Chomeigaoka-higashi, Miyagi
At around 03:40 on the 5th, a resident spotted a single bear heading east on a road in Kuwabara 1-chome, Iwanuma City, Miyagi Prefecture. According to the prefectural police, the bear was about 1 meter long; officers patrolled the area but the animal had already left.
Iwanuma Honchō, Miyagi
At around 20:10 on May 4, 2026, a teenage woman returning home spotted a single bear about 1 meter long rummaging through a plastic bag on a road near Kitayama Station (JR Senzan Line) in Yamatecho, Aoba-ku, Sendai. Police arrived but the bear had already left; no injuries or damage have been reported.
Sendai Kikutamachi, Miyagi
At around 20:10 on the 4th, a bear rummaging through what looked like a plastic bag on a road in Yamatecho, Aoba Ward, Sendai was reported by a teenage woman. The bear, about 1 meter long, had already left when police arrived; no injuries or damages have been reported, and police are warning residents near Kita-Yama Station on the Senzan Line.
Sendai Yamatemachi, Miyagi
At around 11:10 a.m. on May 2, 2026, a man in a car spotted one bear (about 50 cm in length) moving north on a town road in Miyahara, Ookido, Kunimi Town, Fukushima Prefecture. No damage has been reported nearby; the police are patrolling with patrol cars and coordinating the response with the Kunimi town office.
Kunimi 大字高城, Fukushima
At around 06:55 on May 2, 2026, a man in his 70s working in a peach orchard at Kensho Momo no Sato in Koori Town spotted a bear about 1.5 meters long. The bear left the scene and its subsequent whereabouts are unknown; no injuries were reported. Police are patrolling the area and urging caution.
Koori 字堰合, Fukushima
According to police, on the morning of the 30th a man in his 30s driving on National Route 4 in Kunimi Town, Isomoda Aza Kunimimae, Fukushima Prefecture, spotted one bear (about 0.5 m long) wandering on the central median. The bear later left toward the riverbed to the east.
Kunimi 大字大木戸, Fukushima
Around 06:30 on the 30th, a man in his 30s reported a bear wandering near the central median on National Route 4 in Kunimi-machi, Ishiboda Kunimemae. There were no injuries; according to the Koori branch, the bear was about 0.5 meters long and ran toward the riverbank on the east side of the road. Around the same time a bear was also sighted on Route 4 at Ishiboda Ueno.
Kunimi 大字大木戸, Fukushima
At around 06:30 on April 30, 2026, a man in his 30s driving on Route 4 in Kunimi Town sighted a bear about 50 cm long wandering near the central median. No one was injured; the bear later moved toward the Takigawa riverbed, and police and the town remain on alert.
Kunimi 大字大木戸, Fukushima
On April 30, 2026 at around 06:30, a man in his 30s driving on Route 4 in Kunimi Town spotted a single bear about 50 cm in body length walking near the central median. The bear was also seen near a river on the east side of the road and its whereabouts are currently unknown; no damage to people or buildings has been confirmed. Police and town officials are patrolling the area and remaining on alert.
Kunimi 大字森山, Fukushima
At around 06:28 on April 30, 2026, a single bear about 0.5 meters long was sighted near the central divider of National Route 4 in Kunimi Town, Ishiboda, Kunimemae. The bear later left toward the riverbank on the east side of the road; no injuries or damage have been reported.
Kunimi 大字大木戸, Fukushima
On April 30, 2026, a bear sighting was reported in Kunimi Town, Fukushima Prefecture. The article does not report any injuries or details of capture.
Kunimi 大字藤田, Fukushima
At about 23:10 on April 29, 2026, a kei car driving south on a municipal road in Minaminakayama 5-chome, Izumi-ku, Sendai collided with a bear that ran out from the left. The bear, about 1.5 meters long, fled into shrubbery on the west side of the road after the collision; the driver, a man in his 50s, was uninjured but the vehicle's left front light was damaged. The bear's whereabouts are currently unknown.
Sendai 西中山, Miyagi
Around 23:10 on the 29th, a single bear about 1.5 meters long collided with a light passenger car in Minamunakayama 5-chome, Izumi Ward, Sendai. The car's left front was damaged but the male driver was not injured; the bear ran out from the east side of the road and left toward the woods on the west side.
Sendai 北中山, Miyagi
At around 13:40 on April 28, a report was made of a "bear-like" animal in a residential area of Tsurugaya 4-chome, Miyagino-ku, Sendai. According to the Sendai East Police Station, the animal was sighted about 300 meters northeast of Tsurugaya Kindergarten, and the station has urged caution in the surrounding area.
Sendai Jiyugaoka, Miyagi
At around 13:40 on the 28th, a 110 call reported seeing something like a bear in a residential area of Tsurugaya 4-chome, Miyagino Ward, Sendai. According to the Sendai East Police Station, the sighting occurred about 300 meters northeast of Tsurugaya Kindergarten, and the station is urging caution in the area.
Sendai Jiyugaoka, Miyagi
was walking on the ridge between the fields
Kakuda Osaka, Miyagi
On 2026-04-28, one bear was sighted near Tsurukaya Kindergarten in Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture.
Sendai Jiyugaoka, Miyagi
On 2026-04-27 at around 16:45, a male elementary-school student returning home saw a bear climbing a tree in woodland north of Izumi High Support School in Anyoji 2-chome, Miyagino Ward, Sendai, and a guardian called 110. The Sendai East Police are warning local residents and schools; the bear is about 1 meter long and may be the same individual reported in earlier sightings.
Sendai Masue, Miyagi
Around 13:55 on the 25th, five elementary school children playing near a grove in Tsurugayanorth 2-chome, Miyagino-ku, Sendai, sighted two bears about 1 meter long. The children evacuated to a friend's house with no injuries; there have been no further sightings, and police are warning residents near nearby schools (Nankodai Higashi elementary and junior high) and housing areas.
Sendai Tsurugaya, Miyagi
At around 09:20 on April 22, 2026, a single bear about 1 meter long was sighted in a residential area in Goro-roku, Aoba Ward, Sendai, and moved north. Police patrolled the area and issued warnings, and there have been no further sightings.
Sendai Goroku, Miyagi
At about 05:40 on April 22, 2026, a resident encountered a bear on private property in Tsukinoki Higashi 2-chome, Shibata Town, Miyagi Prefecture and called emergency services. There were no injuries; police say the bear was about 1 meter long and appeared to flee east.
Shibara Tsukinoki-higashi 2-chome, Miyagi
At around 05:35 on April 22, 2026, a woman in her 70s living in a house in Tsukinoki Higashi 2-chome, Shibata Town, reported encountering a bear about 1 meter long while mowing her garden. She shouted and the bear ran off to the east; she was uninjured, and Tsukinoki Junior High School, about 100 meters northeast of the scene, has sent a mass email urging parents to drive students and will have staff patrol during arrival.
Shibara Tsukinoki-higashi 2-chome, Miyagi
At around 05:35 on April 22, in the grounds of a private home in Tsukinoki Higashi 2-chome, Shibata Town, Miyagi Prefecture, a woman in her 70s encountered a bear about 1 meter long; when she shouted the bear fled east and there were no injuries. Police patrolled the area by patrol car and searched using an infrared camera–equipped drone, and a warning was issued to nearby Tsukinoki Junior High School.
Shibara Tsukinoki-higashi 2-chome, Miyagi
On 2026-04-22 at around 05:30, a woman in her 70s in the garden of a private house in Shibata Town, Miyagi Prefecture, encountered a bear about 1 meter long. The woman was uninjured; the bear fled when she shouted, its whereabouts remain unknown, and police are patrolling the area while searching with an infrared camera–equipped drone.
Shibara 船岡中央, Miyagi
A bear that appeared in Kicho-dori 2-chome, Aoba Ward, Sendai City was captured by the city using emergency shooting. The city received a total of 12 opinions regarding that decision, including protests such as "do not cull"; 5 were negative from an animal welfare perspective, 2 supported prompt removal, and 5 were comments on bear-countermeasure policies.
Sendai Futsukamachi, Miyagi
In a residential area of Shibata Town, Miyagi Prefecture, on the morning of April 22, a woman in her 70s encountered a bear about 1 meter long in her garden; the bear fled into town after she raised her voice. The article also reports that on the 21st in Shiwa Town, Iwate Prefecture, a police officer was attacked by a bear and an adult woman's body was found nearby.
Shibara 船岡中央, Miyagi
A single adult male bear (about 1.5 m long, 125 kg) remained in the shrubbery behind an apartment building in Kichōdori 2-chome, Aoba Ward, Sendai. Contractors fired two darts with a tranquilizer gun in the early evening, and the bear was captured (and subsequently euthanized) around 19:30. No injuries were reported.
Sendai Futsukamachi, Miyagi
A single bear, believed to be the same individual sighted since the night of the 18th, remained in vegetation in Sendai's Aoba-ku, Kimachidori 2-chome from early on the 19th and, after staying for more than ten hours, was culled by an emergency shooting around 18:30 on April 19. The appearance in the city center shocked residents and prompted concern and precautions from nearby schools.
Sendai Futsukamachi, Miyagi
An adult male bear about 1.5 m long and 125 kg remained for over 10 hours in vegetation behind an apartment in central Sendai (Aoba-ku, Kichomachi-dori). The city fired two tranquilizer darts after 18:20 to sedate it and then euthanized it with an electric shock; there were no injuries.
Sendai Futsukamachi, Miyagi
On April 19, 2026, an adult male bear about 1.5 m long and weighing approximately 125 kg stayed for over 10 hours at a condominium in Komachidori 2-chome, Aoba Ward, Sendai. The city tried to capture it using a box trap but failed; shortly after 18:20 a contractor fired two darting shots that hit, and the bear was subsequently euthanized with an electric prod; there were no injuries reported.
Sendai Futsukamachi, Miyagi
A single bear about 1.5 m long remained for an extended period in the shrubs on the grounds of an apartment in Kimachidori 2-chome, Aoba-ku, Sendai. Police set up cordons and maintained surveillance while the city installed a box trap to capture the bear; no injuries have been reported.
Sendai Futsukamachi, Miyagi
A single male bear was sighted near an apartment in Kimachidori 2-chome, Aoba Ward, Sendai. After drone confirmation and attempts with a cage trap, two anesthetic darts were fired shortly after 18:20 and the bear was captured around 19:30. It measured about 1.5 m and weighed about 125 kg; no injuries were reported.
Sendai Futsukamachi, Miyagi
One bear that had been staying in a residential area in central Sendai was culled by emergency shooting. The measure was carried out about 14 hours after the report, and sightings around the area had been reported since the night of the 18th. No human injuries were reported.
Sendai Futsukamachi, Miyagi
Around 23:00 on April 18, a single bear about 1.5 meters long was spotted by several passersby on a city road in Tōrimachi 2-chome, Aoba Ward, Sendai, and reported to police. Multiple nearby sightings were reported; the bear was believed to have left toward the Kashiwagi area or west, and police increased patrols and warned residents.
Sendai 通町, Miyagi
At around 07:50 on April 18, a walking man reported a bear climbing a fence near the second athletic ground of Sendai Third High School in Miyagino Ward, Sendai; the bear was about 70 cm long and was seen on the east-side fence. No one was on the ground and there were no injuries; police have stepped up patrols, including in Aoba Ward where four sightings were reported between the night of the 17th and the morning of the 18th.
Sendai Masue, Miyagi
was climbing the fence of Sendai Third High School’s second ground
Sendai Tsubamesawa, Miyagi
On April 18, 2026 at around 07:20, a passerby spotted and reported one bear near the No.2 athletic ground of Sendai Third High School in Anyouji 3-chome, Miyagino-ku, Sendai; the animal was estimated at about 70–80 cm in length. There were no injuries; police say multiple sightings across the city from the night of April 17 to the morning of April 18 may involve the same individual and have stepped up patrols and warnings.
Sendai Masue, Miyagi
At around 20:45 on April 17, 2026, a bear was reported on a road in Kunimi 1-chome, Aoba Ward, Sendai. The bear was about 1.5 m long and bear droppings were found nearby; the same individual was later seen around midnight on April 18 near nearby houses and on the grounds of a Tohoku University dormitory, and at 05:35 a.m. on a city road about 100 m west of Kita-Sendai Station. Police are patrolling and searching for the bear.
Sendai Chiyodamachi, Miyagi
A bear sighting in Date City was reported on 2026-04-17. The article does not provide specific location, time, or information on any damage, so further details are unknown.
Date 保原町みずほ, Fukushima
Around 22:40 on April 14, a man riding a motorcycle spotted one bear on a road in Futabagaoka 2-chome, Aoba Ward, Sendai. Police patrolled the area and warned residents; no injuries or damage have been reported.
Sendai Fujimatsu, Miyagi
Around 05:00 on April 14, 2026, a single bear about 1 meter long was seen crossing a road near Minamiyoshinari Junior High School in Minamiyoshinari 5-chome, Aoba Ward, Sendai. The bear headed west into the nearby forest, no injuries have been reported, and police are patrolling the area and issuing cautions.
Sendai 南吉成, Miyagi
Peak activity at 5:00 with 7 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 8 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 Sendai Izumichuo-minami, Miyagi; the location sits about 226 m from the start of the route and 3.0 km off the route line.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 5:00. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk.
This 71.7 km route from Shifuku-ji Temple to Date crosses Miyagi and Fukushima. Over the past 30 days, 44 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of the route, including 8 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 Sendai Izumichuo-minami, Miyagi; the location sits about 226 m from the start of the route and 3.0 km off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 2 weeks ago at Sendai Futsukamachi, Miyagi, sitting about 3.5 km from the start and 65 m off the route line. This is an active bear corridor. Rerouting or rescheduling your hike is strongly advised.
