Saves as a new trip plan. The original stays as-is.
This 398 km route runs from Shinjuku Central Park to Sado, passing through Tokyo, Niigata, Gunma, and Saitama. In the past 30 days, 48 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 4 of them. The latest sighting was reported 20 hours ago near Minakami Tsukiyono, Gunma.
This is an active bear corridor. Drive through with full caution, but rerouting is the safer choice.
7 places within 1 km of your route, passing through Tokyo, Niigata, Gunma, Saitama.
Minakami Tsukiyono, Gunma
Around 08:10 on 2026-07-30, one bear was sighted in Tsukiyono, Minakami Town, Gunma Prefecture.
Minakami Tsukiyono, Gunma
One bear about 1 m (in length/height) moved east.
Nagaoka, Niigata
One cub bear sighted on the roadside shoulder of the prefectural road
Nagaoka, Niigata
Witnessed one bear (about 1 m) in the temporary parking lot of the Shibazakura Park. It then moved north.
Uonuma, Niigata
Multiple new and old footprints discovered in the field
Nagaoka, Niigata
Spotted a bear about 50 centimeters in body length. Direction of travel unknown.
Uonuma, Niigata
At around 17:35 on July 21, one bear cub was seen in Mushino, Uonuma City, Niigata Prefecture.
Uonuma, Niigata
Minakami Tsukiyono, Gunma
Minakami Gokan, Gunma
Minakami Namezawa, Gunma
Minakami Ishikura, Gunma
Minakami Fuse, Gunma
Discovered bear tracks of unknown body length in a rice paddy.
Minamiuonuma, Niigata
Sighted an animal believed to be a bear in the riverside thicket. Direction of movement unknown.
Uonuma, Niigata
At around 6:00 today, one bear about 1 meter long was sighted in the Uono River area in Daitsuchi, Yuzawa Town, Niigata.
Yuzawa Tsuchidaru, Niigata
While driving on National Route 17, I spotted one cub just before the Shibahara Tunnel (Yuzawa side). It was moving south.
Yuzawa Mitsumata, Niigata
Bear sighting of one bear in a field in Kandatsu, Yuzawa Town.
Yuzawa Kandatsu, Niigata
Discovered signs/traces of footprints
Nagaoka, Niigata
There were bear tracks (footprints) in a rice field about 200 meters toward the mountain from the Sawashimojo district office.
Nagaoka, Niigata
Minakami Kochi, Gunma
I sighted one bear about 1 m in body length moving within the ski resort slopes.
Minamiuonuma, Niigata
Black bear on the side of the road, then ran up into the brush
Yuzawa, Niigata
On 2026-07-12 in Oana, Minakami Town, Gunma Prefecture, a bear was sighted.
Minakami Oana, Gunma
While driving on National Route 17, observed one bear. It was moving westward.
Yuzawa, Niigata
Numata Sayamamachi, Gunma
Bear tracks found in a rice paddy. Direction of travel unknown.
Uonuma, Niigata
Shibukawa 北橘町下箱田, Gunma
Minakami Yubara, Gunma
One bear sighted. Crossed National Route 17 heading south.
Uonuma, Niigata
I sighted two cubs of unknown body length entering the mountain.
Minamiuonuma, Niigata
Around 13:00 on July 7, one bear (about 50 cm in body length) was sighted very close to a house in Shimojima, Uonuma City, Niigata.
Uonuma, Niigata
Minakami Kamizu, Gunma
Three bears—a mother and two cubs—were sighted at the former Nunoba Ski Resort slope. Their subsequent movements are unknown.
Yuzawa, Niigata
One bear was sighted near the Kan-Etsu Expressway Tsuchitaru parking area.
Yuzawa, Niigata
Around 10:30 on July 6, a bear was sighted in Shimozu, Minakami Town, Gunma Prefecture.
Minakami Shimozu, Gunma
Observed a cub heading toward the mountain direction (west side)
Nagaoka, Niigata
One bear, about 0.6 meter long, was sighted beside a prefectural road in Kawaguchi Tamugiyama, Nagaoka City.
Nagaoka, Niigata
One bear was sighted near Tanigohashi Bridge. It was moving north.
Yuzawa Tsuchidaru, Niigata
Observed one bear about 0.7 m in body length entering the brush from the municipal road.
Minamiuonuma, Niigata
One bear, about 0.6 meters long, was sighted in Kokai-cho, Minamiuonuma City, Niigata Prefecture.
Minamiuonuma, Niigata
Observed one bear about 0.7 m in body length moving from the International University toward the highway.
Minamiuonuma, Niigata
Minakami Kanosawa, Gunma
One bear, about 0.7 meters long, was sighted in the Komakiyama area of Minamiuonuma City.
Minamiuonuma, Niigata
Around 8:00 on July 4, a bear was sighted in Shikanosawa, Minakami Town, Gunma Prefecture.
Minakami Yoshimoto, Gunma
Shibukawa 北牧, Gunma
Spotted a Class 1 bear while traveling on National Route 17. Subsequent movement route is unknown.
Yuzawa Kandatsu, Niigata
Observed one bear crossing National Route 291 from east to west. It moved toward the western mountains.
Uonuma, Niigata
Peak activity at 10:00 with 6 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.
Draw any route in Japan and get the same bear-safety report, built around the trip you're actually taking.
No comments yet.
In the past 30 days, 48 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 4 of them.
The latest sighting was reported 20 hours ago near Minakami Tsukiyono, Gunma.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 10:00. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk.
This 398 km route runs from Shinjuku Central Park to Sado, passing through Tokyo, Niigata, Gunma, and Saitama. In the past 30 days, 48 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 4 of them. The latest sighting was reported 20 hours ago near Minakami Tsukiyono, Gunma. This is an active bear corridor. Drive through with full caution, but rerouting is the safer choice.
