Takizawa to Morioka Castle Hiking Route

I found large bear footprints.

Morioka Higashinakano, Iwate

Empty honey boxes and frames were disturbed; the place where frames are stored was ransacked.

Morioka Mitsuwari, Iwate

One bear sighted near the garage of a private residence

Morioka, Iwate

Around 08:00 on May 17, a single bear was seen walking in an irrigation canal near Ota 6-chome, Morioka City. No damage from the bear has been confirmed, and the Morioka East Police Station has urged nearby residents to be cautious.

Morioka Shimoota-Sawada, Iwate

At around 03:30 on May 17, 2026, one bear was sighted near Tegake no Matsu green space at 2-19 Takamatsu, Morioka, Iwate. No human or property damage was reported.

Morioka, Iwate

One beehive box at the apiary beside the house was missing. Bear footprints and paw prints were found nearby.

Morioka Shimoyonai, Iwate

One bear sighted in an apple orchard.

Morioka Senbokucho, Iwate

Around 23:55 on May 14, an adult bear was sighted on a road east of Motomiya Children's Park in Motomiya 2-chome, Morioka. Police patrolled the area by patrol car and spotted the bear near the west side of Motomiya Elementary School, but it entered a residential area and its whereabouts became unknown; no damage has been reported.

Morioka Senbokucho, Iwate

Observed one bear crossing the road.

Morioka, Iwate

While gathering bracken, I saw the rear of a bear cub a few dozen meters ahead. Startled, I called out and it disappeared into the underbrush.

Morioka Kitamatsuzono 2-chome, Iwate

On the morning of May 14, 2026, one adult bear was sighted on the campus of Iwate University in Morioka, near the gymnasium. The university canceled all classes for the day and urged people to remain inside buildings.

Morioka, Iwate

On the morning of May 14, 2026, an apparently adult bear was sighted on the grounds of Iwate University in Morioka. The university urged people to stay inside buildings and canceled all classes for the day.

Morioka, Iwate

At around 07:40 on the 14th, a police officer spotted one adult bear near the Dōhō dormitory at Iwate University in Ueda, Morioka. The city ordered an emergency shooting operation and restricted passage within a 200-meter radius northwest of the university, but the bear hid in undergrowth and was lost so it could not be culled; the shooting operation was lifted around 17:00 and authorities switched to box traps and conducted night patrols. The university canceled classes from the second period onward that day and suspended in-person classes on the 15th, asking dormitory residents to stay indoors.

Morioka, Iwate

At around 07:30 on May 14, 2026, one bear was sighted on the campus of Iwate University in Morioka (near the dormitory), and it remains on the grounds. Police and city officials are using drones to monitor the situation; some morning classes were canceled, no injuries or property damage have been reported, and the city is considering capture by tranquilizer or emergency culling.

Morioka Shimoota-Shinden, Iwate

An adult bear was sighted in the woodland across from the house. It ran up the mountain.

Morioka Mitsuwari, Iwate

At around 06:30 on May 14, an adult bear was sighted near the First Gymnasium on the Iwate University campus, and about an hour later another adult bear was seen near a university dormitory. The university canceled all classes for May 14, asked dorm residents to refrain from going out and warned students to stay inside, while police and prefectural staff continued to monitor the campus. Separately, at around 05:30 the same day an adult bear was also sighted near Iwate Junior & Senior High School in Nagatacho, Morioka.

Morioka, Iwate

On May 14, 2026 at around 06:30, a bear was sighted near the First Gymnasium of Iwate University Ueda Campus in Morioka City, and at about 07:50 another sighting was reported near the Dohou student dormitory. Morioka city and the Iwate prefectural police responded, and the university canceled classes from the second period onward and urged students to go home safely.

Morioka, Iwate

Bear sightings were reported in Morioka between the 13th and the morning of the 14th; around 05:30 a bear was seen near Iwate Junior/Senior High School in Nagatacho, and around 07:40 one was seen near a dormitory on Iwate University's Ueda campus. Police officers confirmed one adult bear on the university grounds but its subsequent whereabouts are unknown; Iwate University canceled the second-period classes and urged students to stay inside.

Morioka Senbokucho, Iwate

Around 05:30 on May 14, 2026, a bear was sighted near Iwate High School in Nagata-cho, Morioka. On the same day, bears were also reported on the Iwate University campus, and the university canceled some classes.

Morioka Senbokucho, Iwate

On May 14, 2026, one bear appeared at Iwate University in Morioka City and remained on the campus. Morioka City decided to carry out an emergency culling and canceled classes, but the shooting was called off due to sunset.

Morioka, Iwate

There were what appeared to be droppings of a young animal on the road.

Morioka, Iwate

Heard a bear vocalizing near the baseball field.

Morioka Mitsuwari, Iwate

While working in an apple pre-cooling shed in an apple orchard, a bear was sighted. Outside the shed, apple boxes and the refrigerator drain pipe were damaged.

Morioka, Iwate

Saw what appeared to be a mother bear and cub at night.

Morioka Atagoshita, Iwate

On the evening of May 13 a single bear was filmed running north across the lawn of Takamatsu Park in Morioka City. According to the city, there were six sightings around Takamatsu Park between the 13th and the morning of the 14th, and the city and police have increased patrols and warnings.

Morioka Atagoshita, Iwate

Around 16:30 on May 13, an adult bear was sighted near the Takamatsu Park rose garden in Ueda Kogamori, Morioka; it moved north toward Uedazutsumi. Police warned nearby schools and residents and patrolled the area by patrol car; no bear-related damage has been confirmed.

Morioka Atagoshita, Iwate

Observed one bear running away toward Lake Gosho near the Sakura Garden in Gosho-ko Regional Park.

Morioka Atagoshita, Iwate

An adult bear was sighted near the Tsunagi multipurpose sports ground. It moved toward the Goshoko (Gosho Lake) area.

Morioka, Iwate

One medium-sized bear sighted in an apple orchard

Morioka Higashinakano, Iwate

One bear (size unknown) was observed moving into the northern woodland.

Morioka Higashinakano, Iwate

A bag of rice bran at a nearby shed has been raided by a bear.

Morioka Atagoshita, Iwate

One young bear was sighted near the road by the parking area of Oirino Wetland Botanical Garden in Gosho Lake Regional Park.

Morioka Momijigaoka, Iwate

Numerous bear droppings were found on the property of a work shed adjacent to the residence.

Morioka Atagoshita, Iwate

Bear sighted near hot spring facility.

Morioka Momijigaoka, Iwate

Observed one presumed adult bear

Morioka Momijigaoka, Iwate

The site where a culled sika deer had been buried was dug up and the carcass taken. There are drag marks nearby, as well as bear tracks and scat.

Morioka Momijigaoka, Iwate

Apples stored in a combined farm-work and storage shed had been eaten/trashed. There were also numerous droppings believed to be from a bear both inside and outside the shed.

Morioka Momijigaoka, Iwate

I found large bear footprints.

Morioka Higashinakano, Iwate

While working in a rice field, the reporter spotted one medium-sized bear on the lower slope of the mountain behind them. They fired a rocket firework to scare it off, and the bear fled up into the mountain.

Morioka Higashinakano, Iwate

A single young bear was sighted near the parking lot reserved for staff of the Handmade Village.

Morioka Higashianiwa, Iwate

At around 08:25 on May 10, a passerby reported seeing an adult bear swimming north to south across the Kitakami River near Higashi-An'niwa 2-chome in Morioka City. Police issued local warnings and no damage from the bear has been confirmed.

Morioka Higashianiwa, Iwate

At around 08:25 on May 10 a single adult bear was reported swimming north to south in the Kitakami River west of 1-30 Higashi-An'niwa 2-chome in Morioka. At about 08:50 the same bear was also seen in an apartment parking lot in the same area; police issued warnings and no injuries were reported.

Morioka Higashianiwa, Iwate

Empty honey boxes with the honey removed and the place where the frames were kept were ransacked.

Morioka Higashianiwa, Iwate

A single young bear was sighted, believed to have come down from the mountains.

Morioka Shimokuriyagawa, Iwate

A beehive box at the apiary beside the house was knocked over, and one frame was damaged.

Morioka Shimokuriyagawa, Iwate

A single young bear was sighted near the staff parking lot of the Handmade Village.

Morioka Higashianiwa, Iwate

An adult bear was sighted in the woods across from the house. It ran off toward the mountains.

Morioka Higashianiwa, Iwate

An adult bear was sighted near the garbage collection point.

Morioka Tsuchibuchi, Iwate

One bear sighted in the hot spring facility parking lot

Morioka, Iwate

Witnessed one young bear running away on the roadway.

Morioka, Iwate

Rice bran had been placed beside the field the reporter rents; two bags were torn into, and bear droppings and footprints on the mulch were found.

Morioka, Iwate

A pedestrian on a walk sighted one adult bear in Nishimatsuzono 2-chome, Morioka City. The bear left the scene heading south and no damage has been reported.

Morioka Mitsuwari, Iwate

An adult bear was behind the garbage collection point near the caller’s residence; it then ran off toward the forested area.

Morioka, Iwate

A black bear (about 1 m) was rummaging through apple crates looking for apples.

Morioka Kado, Iwate

On May 1, 2026, sightings of a presumed adult bear were reported multiple times in Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture. The bear was seen at 10:50 near the FamilyMart Shibutami store in Shimoda, at 13:50 wandering on the road in Tsukigaoka 2-chome, and at 18:37 knocking over apple boxes in front of a shed in Mon/Suma; no human or property damage was reported.

Morioka Hirakashinden, Iwate

According to Morioka West Police, at around 13:50 on May 1, 2026, a passerby sighted one bear-like animal wandering near the municipal road east of Morioka Juvenile Prison at 15-1 Tsukigaoka 2-chome, Morioka City. The direction it went is unknown, and no human or property damage has been confirmed.

Morioka Hirakashinden, Iwate

Sighted one medium-sized bear in an apple orchard

Morioka Mitsuwari, Iwate

There are round footprints on the ridges I made. About 15 centimeters in diameter. Could it be a bear?

Morioka, Iwate

There are bear footprints in the experiential farm located on the south side of the elementary school.

Morioka Mitsuwari, Iwate

Bear sighted near the hot spring facility.

Takizawa 大沢舛村, Iwate

Around 17:20 on April 27, 2026, a passerby sighted one adult bear near the north-side waterway of Takizawa Minami Junior High in Ukai, Takizawa City. According to the Morioka West Police Station, no damage was confirmed. There were also daytime sightings in the surrounding area.

Takizawa 鵜飼滝向, Iwate

Around 14:00 on April 27, one bear was sighted near Mantoku, Dobuchi, Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture. The city has urged nearby residents to be cautious.

Morioka Hirakashinden, Iwate

Observed a bear near the Route 4 Nakano intersection moving from west to east (toward Nakano Elementary School).

Morioka Shimoyonai, Iwate

Around 7:30 a.m. on the 27th, one bear was sighted in Matsukidaira, Kamiyonai, Morioka City. The city has issued a warning asking people to be cautious.

Morioka Yamagishi, Iwate