Saves as a new trip plan. The original stays as-is.
This 152 km route starts and ends around Minakami, passing through Gunma and Niigata. In the past 30 days, 27 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 6 of them. The latest sighting was reported 1 day ago near Minakami, Gunma.
At this density of recent sightings, be ready to brake at any moment and avoid stopping in flagged stretches.
Driving towards Takaragawa Onsen the prior reported small black bear cub ran over the street. I almost hit it with my car. It's still very young, probably 50-60kg and it ran away.
Minakami, Gunma
At around 06:45 on May 21, 2026, a bear was sighted in the Mizusawa No.3 area of Tokamachi City near Echigo-Mizusawa Station; it crossed National Route 117 and headed toward the Shinano River. A warning was issued advising people to avoid forests and thick grass nearby.
Tokamachi, Niigata
Crossed National Route 117 near Echigo-Mizusawa Station and moved toward the Shinano River.
Tokamachi, Niigata
At around 09:50 on May 20, footprints of a bear were found in a field near the Takasu Ground in the Obara settlement, Tokamachi City. The city is urging nearby residents and agricultural workers to exercise caution.
Tokamachi, Niigata
Bear tracks sighted; trail indicates movement toward the southeast.
Tokamachi, Niigata
A staff member discovered bear tracks in a rice paddy.
Minamiuonuma, Niigata
a small cub
Minakami, Gunma
There were two bears, a parent and its offspring.
Minakami, Gunma
Spotted one bear in the brush alongside National Route 17.
Yuzawa Mitsumata, Niigata
One bear was sighted in a rice paddy beside Town Road Tozawa No. 1. It fled toward the mountain to the west.
Yuzawa Kandatsu, Niigata
Observed one bear approximately 1.5 meters in body length.
Minamiuonuma, Niigata
Observed one bear while driving on the municipal road Chuo Line. It moved off toward the west.
Yuzawa Kandatsu, Niigata
Two bears, a mother and a cub, were sighted between Yuzawa Toei Hotel and Takizawa Park. Their subsequent movement route is unknown.
Yuzawa, Niigata
Shortly after 17:00 on May 11, 2026, two bears about 1 meter long were sighted beside a town road in Yuzawa, Yuzawa Town. The sighting was reported about 100 meters from Takizawa Park and very close to residences, according to the Minamiuonuma police.
Yuzawa, Niigata
A single cub was sighted between Yagisawa Bus Stop and Shibahara Tunnel. Its subsequent movement route is unknown.
Yuzawa Mitsumata, Niigata
A bear sighting was reported in Yuzawa Town, Niigata Prefecture on May 11. The article does not provide details such as the number of bears or the time of the sighting.
Yuzawa, Niigata
A resident sighted one bear approximately 1.0 m in body length.
Minamiuonuma, Niigata
A resident spotted one bear about 1.0 m in body length near a reservoir.
Minamiuonuma, Niigata
On the morning of the 3rd, a single bear about 1 m long was sighted in Izumimyoji, Minamiuonuma City; a report said the bear was walking north around a pond in the fields at about 10:00 AM. The sighting location was about 150 m from houses, and the police are coordinating with the city to issue notices and conduct patrols.
Minamiuonuma, Niigata
Minakami Town, Gunma Prefecture, along National Route 291 Near Doai Station, something that looked like a bear cub was running
Minakami, Gunma
While driving on National Route 17 near the Tohoku Electric Kandatsu Substation, one bear (body length unknown) was sighted. Its subsequent travel route is unknown.
Yuzawa Kandatsu, Niigata
Discovered bear tracks under the persimmon tree.
Minamiuonuma, Niigata
At around 06:45 on May 21, 2026, a bear was sighted in the Mizusawa No.3 area of Tokamachi City near Echigo-Mizusawa Station; it crossed National Route 117 and headed toward the Shinano River. A warning was issued advising people to avoid forests and thick grass nearby.
Tokamachi, Niigata
Crossed National Route 117 near Echigo-Mizusawa Station and moved toward the Shinano River.
Tokamachi, Niigata
At around 09:50 on May 20, footprints of a bear were found in a field near the Takasu Ground in the Obara settlement, Tokamachi City. The city is urging nearby residents and agricultural workers to exercise caution.
Tokamachi, Niigata
Bear tracks sighted; trail indicates movement toward the southeast.
Tokamachi, Niigata
A staff member discovered bear tracks in a rice paddy.
Minamiuonuma, Niigata
I sighted one bear about 1 meter in body length near the 7th–8th station area of the Sakadoyama Castle Saka Course.
Minamiuonuma, Niigata
A resident discovered bear tracks in a field.
Minamiuonuma, Niigata
A resident sighted one bear approximately 1.0 m in body length.
Minamiuonuma, Niigata
A resident spotted one bear about 1.0 m in body length near a reservoir.
Minamiuonuma, Niigata
On the morning of the 3rd, a single bear about 1 m long was sighted in Izumimyoji, Minamiuonuma City; a report said the bear was walking north around a pond in the fields at about 10:00 AM. The sighting location was about 150 m from houses, and the police are coordinating with the city to issue notices and conduct patrols.
Minamiuonuma, Niigata
I sighted an animal believed to be a bear about 1.5 meters long.
Minamiuonuma, Niigata
I sighted one bear about 1 m in body length entering/moving into the mountain.
Minamiuonuma, Niigata
Driving towards Takaragawa Onsen the prior reported small black bear cub ran over the street. I almost hit it with my car. It's still very young, probably 50-60kg and it ran away.
Minakami, Gunma
Discovered bear tracks under the persimmon tree.
Minamiuonuma, Niigata
A staff member discovered bear tracks in a rice paddy.
Minamiuonuma, Niigata
a small cub
Minakami, Gunma
There were two bears, a parent and its offspring.
Minakami, Gunma
Spotted one bear in the brush alongside National Route 17.
Yuzawa Mitsumata, Niigata
One bear was sighted in a rice paddy beside Town Road Tozawa No. 1. It fled toward the mountain to the west.
Yuzawa Kandatsu, Niigata
I sighted one bear about 1 meter in body length near the 7th–8th station area of the Sakadoyama Castle Saka Course.
Minamiuonuma, Niigata
Observed one bear approximately 1.5 meters in body length.
Minamiuonuma, Niigata
Observed one bear while driving on the municipal road Chuo Line. It moved off toward the west.
Yuzawa Kandatsu, Niigata
Two bears, a mother and a cub, were sighted between Yuzawa Toei Hotel and Takizawa Park. Their subsequent movement route is unknown.
Yuzawa, Niigata
Shortly after 17:00 on May 11, 2026, two bears about 1 meter long were sighted beside a town road in Yuzawa, Yuzawa Town. The sighting was reported about 100 meters from Takizawa Park and very close to residences, according to the Minamiuonuma police.
Yuzawa, Niigata
A single cub was sighted between Yagisawa Bus Stop and Shibahara Tunnel. Its subsequent movement route is unknown.
Yuzawa Mitsumata, Niigata
A bear sighting was reported in Yuzawa Town, Niigata Prefecture on May 11. The article does not provide details such as the number of bears or the time of the sighting.
Yuzawa, Niigata
A resident discovered bear tracks in a field.
Minamiuonuma, Niigata
There was a bear cub.
Minakami Fujiwara, Gunma
A resident sighted one bear approximately 1.0 m in body length.
Minamiuonuma, Niigata
A resident spotted one bear about 1.0 m in body length near a reservoir.
Minamiuonuma, Niigata
On the morning of the 3rd, a single bear about 1 m long was sighted in Izumimyoji, Minamiuonuma City; a report said the bear was walking north around a pond in the fields at about 10:00 AM. The sighting location was about 150 m from houses, and the police are coordinating with the city to issue notices and conduct patrols.
Minamiuonuma, Niigata
I sighted an animal believed to be a bear about 1.5 meters long.
Minamiuonuma, Niigata
I sighted one bear about 1 m in body length entering/moving into the mountain.
Minamiuonuma, Niigata
Minakami Town, Gunma Prefecture, along National Route 291 Near Doai Station, something that looked like a bear cub was running
Minakami, Gunma
While driving on National Route 17 near the Tohoku Electric Kandatsu Substation, one bear (body length unknown) was sighted. Its subsequent travel route is unknown.
Yuzawa Kandatsu, Niigata
Peak activity at 6:00 with 5 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, 27 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 6 of them.
The latest sighting was reported 1 day ago near Minakami, Gunma.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 6:00. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk.
This 152 km route starts and ends around Minakami, passing through Gunma and Niigata. In the past 30 days, 27 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 6 of them. The latest sighting was reported 1 day ago near Minakami, Gunma. At this density of recent sightings, be ready to brake at any moment and avoid stopping in flagged stretches.
