This 233 km route from Shiojiri to Matsumoto crosses Nagano and Niigata. Over the past 30 days, 26 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 Matsumoto Kariyaharamachi, Nagano; the location sits about 36.3 km from the start of the route and 3.8 km off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 1 month ago at Shiojiri Kaminishijo, Nagano, sitting about 9.1 km from the start and 38 m off the route line.
At this density of recent sightings, consider rescheduling or choosing a different trail until activity quiets.
2 places within 1 km of your route, passing through Nagano, Niigata.
Size: Juvenile
Matsumoto Kariyaharamachi, Nagano
Size: Juvenile
Chikuhoku, Nagano
Size: Adult
Matsumoto Gojo, Nagano
Size: Adult
Iiyama Hachisu, Nagano
A single bear appeared in the garden of a private home in Azumino City, Nagano Prefecture, and was captured with a tranquillizer gun. Experts warn the bear is likely awake from hibernation and searching for food.
Azumino 豊科南穂高, Nagano
On 2026-05-03, one bear appeared in the garden of a private home in Azumino City, Nagano Prefecture and remained there for about four hours before the hunting association captured it with a tranquillizer gun. The bear was an adult about one meter long; there were no injuries or property damage.
Azumino 豊科南穂高, Nagano
Size: adult
Iiyama, Nagano
Size: Adult
Iiyama Asahi, Nagano
Size: adult
Iizuna Hiraide, Nagano
At around 00:40 on April 29, a single bear approximately 1.5 meters long was spotted on the road in Higashiterao, Matsushiro, Nagano City; a passing car honked its horn and the bear ran away, according to a report. Police searched the area but did not find the animal and have urged local residents to be cautious.
Nagano Matsushiromachi-Higashiterao, Nagano
In the early hours of April 29, 2026, a single bear about 1.5 meters long was sighted on a road in Higashiterao, Matsushiro-cho, Nagano City; before 00:30 a passing driver honked and reported the bear left. Police searched the area but did not find the animal and no damage was reported; residents nearby were warned to be cautious.
Nagano Matsushiromachi-Higashiterao, Nagano
Size: adult
Nagano Matsushiromachi-Johoku, Nagano
Size: adult (fully grown)
Iiyama Hachisu, Nagano
Size: Adult
Shiojiri Seba, Nagano
Size: juvenile
Ikeda Nakau, Nagano
Bear Sighting Information This is a notice from the Azumino City Agricultural Land and Forestry Division regarding a bear sighting. On April 15, around 7:00 AM, a sighting of one cub was reported on the riverbed approximately 300m south of the Takasegawa-nishi intersection in the Hotaka Kita-Hotaka area. If you live nearby or are going out, please carry noise-making items such as a radio or bell, and avoid approaching bushes as much as possible. Also, please do not leave food or other attractants outside the house. If you sight a bear, please contact the Agricultural Land and Forestry Division (direct: 71-2432, main: 71-2000). Azumino City Hall, Agricultural Land and Forestry Division
Azumino Kitahosono, Nagano
Size: Adult
Azumino 穂高北穂高, Nagano
Size: Adult
Nagano Toyonomachi-Kawatani, Nagano
Nakano, Nagano
Size: juvenile
Shiojiri Kaminishijo, Nagano
Size: Adult
Nagano Toyonomachi-Toyono, Nagano
At around 22:50 on April 8, 2026, a driver spotted and reported a single bear about 70 cm long in Kabeta, Nakano City, Nagano Prefecture. Police responded but did not locate the bear; the area includes houses and a junior high school, and police patrolled school routes on the morning of April 9.
Nakano Hekida, Nagano
Size: Juvenile
Matsumoto Kariyaharamachi, Nagano
Size: Juvenile
Chikuhoku, Nagano
Size: Adult
Matsumoto Gojo, Nagano
Size: Adult
Iiyama Hachisu, Nagano
A single bear appeared in the garden of a private home in Azumino City, Nagano Prefecture, and was captured with a tranquillizer gun. Experts warn the bear is likely awake from hibernation and searching for food.
Azumino 豊科南穂高, Nagano
On 2026-05-03, one bear appeared in the garden of a private home in Azumino City, Nagano Prefecture and remained there for about four hours before the hunting association captured it with a tranquillizer gun. The bear was an adult about one meter long; there were no injuries or property damage.
Azumino 豊科南穂高, Nagano
Size: adult
Iiyama, Nagano
Size: Adult
Iiyama Asahi, Nagano
Size: adult
Iizuna Hiraide, Nagano
At around 00:40 on April 29, a single bear approximately 1.5 meters long was spotted on the road in Higashiterao, Matsushiro, Nagano City; a passing car honked its horn and the bear ran away, according to a report. Police searched the area but did not find the animal and have urged local residents to be cautious.
Nagano Matsushiromachi-Higashiterao, Nagano
In the early hours of April 29, 2026, a single bear about 1.5 meters long was sighted on a road in Higashiterao, Matsushiro-cho, Nagano City; before 00:30 a passing driver honked and reported the bear left. Police searched the area but did not find the animal and no damage was reported; residents nearby were warned to be cautious.
Nagano Matsushiromachi-Higashiterao, Nagano
Size: adult
Nagano Matsushiromachi-Johoku, Nagano
Size: juvenile
Ikeda Nakau, Nagano
Size: Adult
Iizuna Furumachi, Nagano
Bear Sighting Information This is a notice from the Azumino City Agricultural Land and Forestry Division regarding a bear sighting. On April 15, around 7:00 AM, a sighting of one cub was reported on the riverbed approximately 300m south of the Takasegawa-nishi intersection in the Hotaka Kita-Hotaka area. If you live nearby or are going out, please carry noise-making items such as a radio or bell, and avoid approaching bushes as much as possible. Also, please do not leave food or other attractants outside the house. If you sight a bear, please contact the Agricultural Land and Forestry Division (direct: 71-2432, main: 71-2000). Azumino City Hall, Agricultural Land and Forestry Division
Azumino Kitahosono, Nagano
Size: Adult
Azumino 穂高北穂高, Nagano
Size: Adult
Nagano Toyonomachi-Kawatani, Nagano
Around 12:30 PM on April 14, 2026, a report came from Furuma, Shinano Town that a bear rammed into the entrance window of a house and tore the screen; town staff and police checked the scene but did not find the bear and there were no injuries. Footprints of an animal different from a bear were found in a nearby field, so the intruder may have been another animal.
Shinano Furuma, Nagano
Size: Adult
Iizuna Furumachi, Nagano
Size: Unknown
Shinano Honami, Nagano
Nakano, Nagano
Size: Adult
Nagano Toyonomachi-Toyono, Nagano
Peak activity at 7:00 with 1 incidents
Ursus thibetanus japonicus
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Over the past 30 days, 26 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 Matsumoto Kariyaharamachi, Nagano; the location sits about 36.3 km from the start of the route and 3.8 km off the route line.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 7:00. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk.
This 233 km route from Shiojiri to Matsumoto crosses Nagano and Niigata. Over the past 30 days, 26 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 Matsumoto Kariyaharamachi, Nagano; the location sits about 36.3 km from the start of the route and 3.8 km off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 1 month ago at Shiojiri Kaminishijo, Nagano, sitting about 9.1 km from the start and 38 m off the route line. At this density of recent sightings, consider rescheduling or choosing a different trail until activity quiets.
