This 713 km route from Nikko to Lake Sagami crosses Tochigi, Yamagata, Fukushima, Kanagawa, Chiba, Ibaraki, Niigata, Saitama, and Tokyo. Over the past 30 days, 21 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of the route, including 6 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 Fukushima, Fukushima; the location sits about 342.0 km from the start of the route and 3.0 km off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 3 weeks ago at Nikkō 上三依, Tochigi, sitting about 49.7 km from the start and 39 m off the route line.
At this density of recent sightings, consider rescheduling or choosing a different trail until activity quiets.
6 places within 1 km of your route, passing through Tochigi, Yamagata, Fukushima, Kanagawa, Chiba, Ibaraki, Niigata, Saitama, Tokyo.
At around 9:45 a.m. on the 3rd, the Kitakata police reported that one bear, approximately 70 cm in length, was sighted in the mountain forest at Tomimiyama Aza Sanchobu, Matsuyama-machi, Kitakata City.
Kitakata 松山町鳥見山, Fukushima
On May 3, 2026 at about 07:10, a roughly 1-meter-long bear was spotted on the riverbed in Nakano-me Ko, Miyoshi, Shiokawa-machi, Kitakata City. Later the same day at about 09:45, a roughly 70-cm bear, believed to be a cub, was seen in woodland in Torimiyama, Matsuyama-machi while a man was cleaning a drainage channel; no injuries were reported and police have urged residents to be cautious.
Kitakata 塩川町三吉, Fukushima
On April 25, 2026, a bear was reported near the park golf course along the Nogawa river in Shimizu-cho, Nagai City. The city broadcast an alert to the whole city at 3:45 PM and urged caution for outdoor work and outings, and asked residents not to leave agricultural waste or household garbage outdoors that could attract bears.
Nagai 宮, Yamagata
In Fukushima Prefecture, bear sightings were reported repeatedly from the night of April 24 to April 25, 2026, with individuals measuring about 0.5–1.5 meters observed. A bear was sighted near the Saitoyama trailhead (Saitoyama Tozanguchi) in Nagano, Onozandan, Minamiaizu Town at around 11:35 a.m. on April 25.
Minamiaizu Nagano, Fukushima
At the Saito-yama trailhead in Nagano Ozo-dan, Minamiaizu Town, Fukushima Prefecture, a male hiker spotted one animal believed to be a bear about 50 cm in body length. The man left the area immediately; no injuries or property damage have been reported, and the police have stepped up patrols and warned hikers and local residents.
Minamiaizu Nagano, Fukushima
At about 15:55 on April 21, 2026, one bear was sighted in Horikane, Kawanishi Town, Yamagata Prefecture. The town has warned people to be cautious when passing through the area.
Kawanishi 大字堀金, Yamagata
At around 19:11 on April 19, 2026, a bear about 50 cm long was sighted on the premises of an office in Miyako-muranishi (Aizubange Town); the bear moved north and fled toward National Route 49. No human injuries were reported, and police urged local residents to be cautious.
Aizubange 大字宮古, Fukushima
At around 07:15 on April 16, 2026, a driver on a town road in Tabu, Minamiaizu Town, Fukushima Prefecture, sighted a juvenile bear about 0.5 m in length crossing the road from east to west. The bear left the area afterward; no injuries or damage to buildings have been reported. Police are patrolling and coordinating with the town office to warn residents.
Minamiaizu Tabe, Fukushima
Witnessed a bear running into the riverside brush. Body length approximately 60–80 cm.
Nikkō 上三依, Tochigi
At around 06:30 on April 9, 2026, a local woman spotted a single bear about 1 meter long walking west across a rice field in Takadota aza Murahigashi, Toyokawa-machi, Kitakata City. The bear's subsequent whereabouts are unknown and no injuries have been reported. Police are patrolling the area and warning residents to be cautious.
Kitakata 字中島, Fukushima
On 2026-05-07 a bear sighting was reported in Iizaka-machi, Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture. The article does not mention any injuries or capture.
Fukushima, Fukushima
Around 12:20 PM on May 2, 2026, a man in his 30s walking near the Arakawa in Niida Shimokawahara, Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture, reported seeing one animal believed to be a bear to the Fukushima police station. The police said the animal's body length is unknown, and the sighting occurred near the Fukushima Toyota Crown Arena.
Fukushima Yagita, Fukushima
At about 06:30 on May 2, 2026, a man in his 60s driving in Iizaka-cho, Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture, spotted a bear about 1 meter long crossing a municipal road and reported it to the police. The bear left following an irrigation channel and its whereabouts are unknown; there were no injuries. Police are patrolling the area and urging caution.
Fukushima, Fukushima
A bear sighting was reported in Fukushima City. The article does not provide specific details on the exact location, time, or number of bears (published: 2026-05-02).
Fukushima Shinobuyama, Fukushima
At around 15:25 on April 28, 2026, a runner spotted a single bear about 1.0 m long on the Arakawa riverbank at Niida Nishi-Shimokawara in Fukushima City. No human or property damage was reported; Fukushima police increased patrols and a large walking event scheduled for the next day was canceled.
Fukushima Yoshikura, Fukushima
At around 15:23 on April 28, 2026, a man jogging along the Arakawa near Niiida Nishishimokawara in Fukushima City sighted a bear approximately 1 meter long. No injuries or damage have been reported; police and city officials are searching and keeping the area under watch.
Fukushima Yoshikura, Fukushima
Around 18:30 on April 27, a single bear about 1.2 meters long was sighted on a road in Hiraiishi Aza Uehara, Fukushima City.
Fukushima Fushiogami, Fukushima
On April 25, 2026, a bear was reported near the park golf course along the Nogawa river in Shimizu-cho, Nagai City. The city broadcast an alert to the whole city at 3:45 PM and urged caution for outdoor work and outings, and asked residents not to leave agricultural waste or household garbage outdoors that could attract bears.
Nagai 宮, Yamagata
At about 15:55 on April 21, 2026, one bear was sighted in Horikane, Kawanishi Town, Yamagata Prefecture. The town has warned people to be cautious when passing through the area.
Kawanishi 大字堀金, Yamagata
At around 11:40 a.m. on the 21st, a woman at the Mount Shinobu parking lot in Oyama (Hayama), Fukushima City, observed a single bear-like animal about 50 cm long crossing a mountain path. According to the Fukushima Police, the animal left toward the woods to the north.
Fukushima Oyama, Fukushima
A bear sighting was reported in Nihonmatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture. The article was published on 2026-04-19, but the available text does not provide specific details such as the exact location or the number of bears.
Nihonmatsu 金色, Fukushima
Just after noon on the 15th in Nihonmatsu City (Niitaki), a woman driving a car spotted a single bear about 1 meter long crossing a municipal road. The woman left the scene and the bear's whereabouts are unknown; no injuries have been reported and police are patrolling the area and warning residents.
Nihonmatsu 二伊滝二丁目, Fukushima
Peak activity at 15:00 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.
Over the past 30 days, 21 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of this route, including 6 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 Fukushima, Fukushima; the location sits about 342.0 km from the start of the route and 3.0 km off the route line.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 15:00. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk.
This 713 km route from Nikko to Lake Sagami crosses Tochigi, Yamagata, Fukushima, Kanagawa, Chiba, Ibaraki, Niigata, Saitama, and Tokyo. Over the past 30 days, 21 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of the route, including 6 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 Fukushima, Fukushima; the location sits about 342.0 km from the start of the route and 3.0 km off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 3 weeks ago at Nikkō 上三依, Tochigi, sitting about 49.7 km from the start and 39 m off the route line. At this density of recent sightings, consider rescheduling or choosing a different trail until activity quiets.
