This 183 km route from Nikko to Aizuwakamatsu Castle crosses Tochigi and Fukushima. Over the past 30 days, 52 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 16 hours ago near Inawashiro 大字翁沢, Fukushima; the location sits about 165.8 km from the start of the route and 763 m off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 5 days ago at Motomiya 岩根, Fukushima, sitting about 137.1 km from the start and 0 m off the route line.
This is an active bear corridor. Drive through with full caution, but rerouting is the safer choice.
1 places within 1 km of your route, passing through Tochigi, Fukushima.
Crossed National Route 49 from the recreation park side and entered the brush on the north side.
Inawashiro 大字翁沢, Fukushima
At around 16:15 on May 15, 2026, a woman spotted one bear about 0.5 meters long at the Japanese garden Shiki-no-Sato Ryokusui-en in Iwane Kawara, Motomiya City. The bear stayed on the premises briefly but then left toward the adjacent Iokawa River, and the city placed box traps in the nearby woods along the river.
Motomiya 岩根, Fukushima
On May 15 in the Atami Elementary area of Atami-machi, Koriyama City, there were two bear sightings. Around 07:00 a bear about 0.5 m long was seen running from a field into the forest in Takadama Asozawa, and at 09:15 another bear about 1 m long was seen crossing the JR Ban'etsu West Line tracks in Takadama Hirabayashi. The Koriyama North Police are on alert.
Koriyama, Fukushima
On May 14, 2026 at about 07:40, a bear approximately 1.0 m long was sighted on the riverbank in Aizuwakamatsu-shi, Higashiyama-cho Oaza Ishiyama Innai. The same day, another ~1.0 m bear was seen in Hanamigaoka 2-chome climbing a tree, a ~0.6 m bear was seen climbing a residential fence in Hanamigaoka 1-chome, and a ~0.5 m bear was observed walking along a forest road and entering woodland in Shirakawa-shi, Daisin Masumi Oaza Ohninata — four bears were reported in total.
Aizuwakamatsu Higashiyamamachi-Ishiyama, Fukushima
A single bear was sighted on a road in Nasu Town, Tochigi Prefecture. The article is behind a paywall and does not report detailed circumstances of the sighting or whether there was any damage.
Nasu 富岡, Tochigi
At around 14:15 on the 13th, a man in his 70s spotted a bear about 1 meter long in woodland in Higashiyama-machi, Aizuwakamatsu. The bear climbed into the forest and fled; the man was not injured.
Aizuwakamatsu Tenneijimachi, Fukushima
Just after noon on May 12, a single animal believed to be a bear about 0.5 m long was sighted in a cemetery in Kuroiwa, Kanda-machi, Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture. The animal walked toward the mountain to the east and its whereabouts are currently unknown; no injuries or damage have been confirmed. Police continue patrols by cruiser and are sharing information with Aizuwakamatsu City Hall.
Aizuwakamatsu Mondenmachi-Oyama, Fukushima
Around 11:55 on May 12, a man in Shirakawa City's Fujisawa mountain area witnessed an animal believed to be a bear about 1.5 meters long crossing a municipal road and entering the forest. No human injuries have been reported, and the police have urged caution.
Shirakawa 藤沢窪, Fukushima
At around 06:50 on May 12, in the area of the Ban-etsu Expressway (downward 75.6 km post) in Iwane, Motomiya City, Fukushima Prefecture, a man in his 60s witnessed a bear about 80 cm long crossing the highway from north to south. The bear went up the road embankment and no human injuries were reported; police are patrolling the area and urging caution.
Motomiya 岩根, Fukushima
On May 12, 2026, a single bear about 80 cm long was seen crossing the Ban-etsu Expressway in Motomiya City, Fukushima Prefecture.
Motomiya 岩根, Fukushima
Around 11:30 AM on the 10th in Minato-machi, Aizuwakamatsu City, a man doing farm work spotted one bear about 1 meter long in a bamboo thicket. The bear entered the thicket, no injuries were reported, and police are monitoring the area.
Aizuwakamatsu Outemachi, Fukushima
A bear was sighted on a road in Nasu-Shiobara City, Tochigi Prefecture. Detailed circumstances and responses have not been confirmed from the article.
Nasushiobara 共墾社, Tochigi
A single bear was sighted swimming in a dam in Nasushiobara, Tochigi Prefecture. The man who saw it told reporters that it swam about 300 meters.
Nasushiobara 共墾社, Tochigi
At around 14:25 on the 8th, a single bear was observed swimming in a dam in Nasushiobara City, Tochigi Prefecture. The male witness told reporters that the bear swam about 300 meters.
Nasushiobara 共墾社, Tochigi
A bear was sighted swimming in a dam in Nasushiobara City, Tochigi Prefecture. A male witness told reporters that it swam about 300 meters.
Nasushiobara 共墾社, Tochigi
On 2026-05-08, a sighting of a 'bear-like animal' walking in a rice field was reported in Sukagawa City, Fukushima Prefecture (Fukushima TV). No specific time or more detailed location was provided.
Sukagawa 加治町, Fukushima
At about 14:50 on the 5th, a man in his 50s reported to the Inawashiro Police Station that he had sighted one bear about 1 meter long in a parking lot in Tsumachi, Inawashiro Town. The bear fled into the forest east of the parking lot, and the police are patrolling the area.
Inawashiro 字並杉西, Fukushima
A bear was walking south from Iwahashi Shrine.
Inawashiro 字西峰, Fukushima
At around 13:50 on May 4, a single bear about 1 meter long was spotted along Route 49 near Ogasawara Goten-yama (Ogasawa), Inawashiro Town. No human or property damage has been confirmed so far, and the police have warned the public to be cautious.
Inawashiro 大字翁沢, Fukushima
Around 17:30 on April 30, a man in Hanamigaoka, Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture, sighted one bear about 50 cm long in the brush of a mountain forest. No damage has been confirmed in the area; the police are patrolling with patrol cars and coordinating with the Aizuwakamatsu City Hall to respond.
Aizuwakamatsu Takaramachi, Fukushima
At around 15:05 on April 29, 2026, a man collecting wild plants at the edge of the ski slope in the Minero area of Inawashiro Ski Resort, Nakamaruyama, Inawashiro Town, Fukushima Prefecture, sighted one bear about 1.2 meters long. The bear returned to the woods afterward, and no injuries or property damage were reported.
Inawashiro 字葉山, Fukushima
On 2026-04-29 at around 08:45, a single bear about 1 meter long was seen walking on the riverbed in Yukawaminami, Aizuwakamatsu. No damage to people or property was reported.
Aizuwakamatsu Yugawaminami, Fukushima
At around 09:45 on April 28, 2026, a single bear about 1 meter long was sighted in the fields at Fukuroda Aza-Miya, Sukagawa City, by a person driving by; the bear then left toward fields to the north. No injuries or damage have been reported; police are patrolling by patrol car and coordinating with Sukagawa City Hall.
Sukagawa 袋田, Fukushima
At a private residence in Tenneiji-machi, Aizuwakamatsu City, a woman in her 50s spotted a bear about 50 cm long in the bushes on her property. The bear's subsequent whereabouts are unknown; no injuries were reported, and police are urging nearby residents to be cautious.
Aizuwakamatsu Tenneijimachi, Fukushima
Around 18:40 on April 26, in Tenneiji-cho, Aizuwakamatsu City, a woman spotted a bear about 50 cm long walking in the brush on her property. No damage has been reported; police are patrolling the area in patrol cars and coordinating with Aizuwakamatsu City Hall to respond.
Aizuwakamatsu Tenneijimachi, Fukushima
A bear was reported sighted on a road in Nasu-Shiobara City, Tochigi Prefecture. The article did not specify the exact time or location of the sighting, nor whether anyone was injured.
Nasushiobara 共墾社, Tochigi
On April 26, 2026, a bear was sighted on a road in Nasu Town, Tochigi Prefecture. The article reports the sighting; no detailed circumstances or information on injuries were provided.
Nasu 富岡, Tochigi
In Aizuwakamatsu (Kawahigashi-cho, Asayama Asono), on April 24 at around 11:10 AM, a single bear about 1 m in length was seen crossing National Route 49.
Aizuwakamatsu Kawahigashimachi-Asayama, Fukushima
At around 11:10 on April 24, 2026, a male driver on National Route 49 in Asayama, Kawato-machi, Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture, spotted one bear (approximately 1 meter long) crossing the road from west to east. The bear entered the forest to the east afterward; no injuries or damage have been reported, and the police are patrolling with patrol cars and coordinating with the Aizuwakamatsu City Office.
Aizuwakamatsu Kawahigashimachi-Asayama, Fukushima
On 2026-04-24, a bear sighting was reported in Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture. The article does not specify the exact location of the sighting or whether any damage or injuries occurred.
Aizuwakamatsu Outemachi, Fukushima
In Aizuwakamatsu City, Kita-Aoki, at around 09:10 on April 23, one bear about 1 meter long was sighted in the undergrowth. No damage to people or property has been reported, and police are urging caution.
Aizuwakamatsu Tenjinmachi, Fukushima
At about 08:00 on April 23, 2026, a single bear approximately 1.5 meters long was sighted in In (稲), Sukagawa City. No injuries or property damage were reported.
Sukagawa 稲, Fukushima
A bear was sighted in Nasushiobara City, Tochigi Prefecture. The full article is behind a paywall on the Shimotsuke Shimbun, so detailed information is not accessible.
Nasushiobara 共墾社, Tochigi
Around 20:00 on April 22, 2026, a single bear about 1 meter long was sighted in Satsukisame, Sukagawa City, Fukushima Prefecture. No injuries or property damage have been reported, and the police have urged caution.
Sukagawa 五月雨, Fukushima
At around 13:15 on April 22, 2026, a bear about 1.5 m long was sighted on a municipal road near Inada Gakuen (a compulsory education school) in Iwabuchi, Okaya-chi, Sukagawa City, Fukushima Prefecture. Subsequent sightings occurred in the city: Samidare (around 20:00 on April 22, about 1.0 m), Ina (Akagishimo) (shortly after 08:00 on April 23, about 1.5 m), Hashirata (around 11:20 on April 23), and at a kindergarten site in neighboring Kagamiishi Town on April 21. No injuries or property damage have been confirmed so far.
Sukagawa 岩渕, Fukushima
Around noon on 2026-04-22, a man in his 40s preparing to use a campsite in Kadota-cho, Aizuwakamatsu City, spotted a single bear about 1 m long in the brush south of the site. The bear left toward the forest to the south; the man was unharmed and no other damage has been confirmed. Police are patrolling by patrol car and urging caution.
Aizuwakamatsu Mondenmachi-Oyama, Fukushima
In Aizuwakamatsu City, Kaddta-machi Oaza Kuroiwa Aza Hanamigaoka, on April 22, 2026 at about 11:55 a.m., one bear (approximately 1 m in length) was seen walking.
Aizuwakamatsu Yugawaminami, Fukushima
At around 11:55 a.m. on April 22, a man spotted one bear (about 1 meter long) in the campground area of a park in Kuroiwa, Kadota-machi, Aizuwakamatsu City. The bear then entered the forest to the south.
Aizuwakamatsu Tenjinmachi, Fukushima
In Aizuwakamatsu (Kadonota-machi, Kuroiwa Hanamigaoka), on April 22, 2026 shortly before noon a single bear about 1 meter long was sighted. No injuries or property damage have been reported so far.
Aizuwakamatsu Yugawaminami, Fukushima
On 2026-04-22 a sighting of one bear was reported in Aizuwakamatsu City. The article does not provide a specific location or time.
Aizuwakamatsu Higashisakaemachi, Fukushima
A single bear about 1.5 meters long was sighted inside the grounds of a kindergarten in Okanochi, Kagamiishi Town by a person driving nearby. No injuries or property damage have been reported so far.
Kagamiishi 岡ノ内, Fukushima
On the night of April 21, 2026, a bear about 1.5 meters long was sighted in the parking lot of a kindergarten in Okanochi, Kagamiishi Town, Fukushima Prefecture, and footprints were found nearby. No injuries or damage to crops have been confirmed, and the police and town authorities continue to remain on alert.
Kagamiishi 岡ノ内, Fukushima
Around 20:00 on April 21, a single bear about 150 cm long was sighted on the grounds of the certified children's center Kodomo no Mori Okanochi Kindergarten in Kagamiishi Town. The bear left the area with no injuries or property damage reported; the Sukagawa Police carried out patrols and vehicle-based surveillance around the kindergarten and nearby school routes on the 22nd.
Kagamiishi 岡ノ内, Fukushima
Around 20:00 on April 21, a bear was reported inside the grounds of Okanochi Kindergarten in Okanochi, Kagamiishi Town, Fukushima Prefecture. According to Sukagawa Police, the bear was about 1.5 meters long; officers did not find it on arrival, but the kindergarten's security camera captured a dark object wandering near the parking area. There were two other sightings nearby that morning, and the police and town planned to strengthen patrols on the morning of the 22nd.
Kagamiishi 岡ノ内, Fukushima
Around 14:00 on the 21st, an angler spotted a single bear about 1.5 meters long emerge from brush on the riverbed of the Shakadogawa in Nishikawa, Sukagawa City, Fukushima Prefecture. The bear crossed the road and fled into the forest to the north; no damage has been reported. Police and the city office are urging residents to be cautious.
Sukagawa 西田町, Fukushima
Around 11:00 on April 21, 2026, a single bear about 150 cm long was sighted on the grounds of a private residence in Gotomaki, Kagamiishi Town. According to Sukagawa Police, the bear fled from the property toward the mountain to the north.
Kagamiishi 五斗蒔町, Fukushima
A bear sighting was reported in Kagamiishi Town, Fukushima Prefecture. The article reports the sighting but does not provide specific location, time, or whether there were any human injuries or damage.
Kagamiishi 中央, Fukushima
At approximately 05:33 on April 20, a single animal believed to be a bear about 1.5 meters long was sighted moving north from a rice field in Fukuroda (Sukagawa City). No human injuries were reported, and police have urged local residents to be cautious.
Sukagawa 袋田, Fukushima
Around 23:45 on April 19, an animal about 50 cm long resembling a bear was sighted on the Abukuma River riverbank at Tokusada-Kamikawahara, Tamuramachi, Koriyama City. There were no human injuries; the animal's whereabouts are unknown after the sighting, and the Koriyama police increased patrols by patrol cars and reported the information to the city.
Koriyama 笹川二丁目, Fukushima
A bear was reported in Nishigo Village, Fukushima Prefecture. The article reports the sighting but does not specify the exact location or whether there were any damages or injuries.
Nishigo 大字熊倉, Fukushima
At around 10:20 on April 18, 2026, a man driving on a prefectural road in Kumakura, Nishigo Village, Fukushima Prefecture, sighted a bear about 1 meter long crossing the road. No damage has been confirmed in the area; the police are patrolling by patrol car and, in cooperation with the Nishigo village office, are urging residents to be cautious.
Nishigo 大字熊倉, Fukushima
On April 18 at around 10:20 AM in Kumakura Okanezuka, Saigō-mura, a single bear approximately 1 m in length was seen crossing the road.
Nishigo 大字熊倉, Fukushima
Peak activity at 11:00 with 7 incidents
Ursus thibetanus japonicus
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Over the past 30 days, 52 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 16 hours ago near Inawashiro 大字翁沢, Fukushima; the location sits about 165.8 km from the start of the route and 763 m off the route line.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 11:00. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk.
This 183 km route from Nikko to Aizuwakamatsu Castle crosses Tochigi and Fukushima. Over the past 30 days, 52 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 16 hours ago near Inawashiro 大字翁沢, Fukushima; the location sits about 165.8 km from the start of the route and 763 m off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 5 days ago at Motomiya 岩根, Fukushima, sitting about 137.1 km from the start and 0 m off the route line. This is an active bear corridor. Drive through with full caution, but rerouting is the safer choice.
