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This 152 km route starts and ends around Minakami, passing through Gunma and Niigata. In the past 30 days, 21 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. No reports were recorded in the past 7 days. The latest sighting was reported 1 week ago near Minamiuonuma, Niigata.
At this density of recent sightings, be ready to brake at any moment and avoid stopping in flagged stretches.
At around 6:00 today, one bear about 1 meter long was sighted in the Uono River area in Daitsuchi, Yuzawa Town, Niigata.
Yuzawa Tsuchidaru, Niigata
While driving on National Route 17, I spotted one cub just before the Shibahara Tunnel (Yuzawa side). It was moving south.
Yuzawa Mitsumata, Niigata
Bear sighting of one bear in a field in Kandatsu, Yuzawa Town.
Yuzawa Kandatsu, Niigata
Spotted one cub approximately 300 m past Urushijima Bridge (Ōsawa Tunnel side) on Prefectural Road Tōma–Tsuchi Station Line.
Tokamachi, Niigata
Black bear on the side of the road, then ran up into the brush
Yuzawa, Niigata
On 2026-07-12 in Oana, Minakami Town, Gunma Prefecture, a bear was sighted.
Minakami Oana, Gunma
While driving on National Route 17, observed one bear. It was moving westward.
Yuzawa, Niigata
Three bears—a mother and two cubs—were sighted at the former Nunoba Ski Resort slope. Their subsequent movements are unknown.
Yuzawa, Niigata
One bear was sighted near the Kan-Etsu Expressway Tsuchitaru parking area.
Yuzawa, Niigata
One bear was sighted near Tanigohashi Bridge. It was moving north.
Yuzawa Tsuchidaru, Niigata
Around 8:00 on July 4, a bear was sighted in Shikanosawa, Minakami Town, Gunma Prefecture.
Minakami Yoshimoto, Gunma
Spotted a Class 1 bear while traveling on National Route 17. Subsequent movement route is unknown.
Yuzawa Kandatsu, Niigata
For about a week, several bear tracks have been found around the farmland.
Tokamachi, Niigata
Around 4:50 PM on June 30, a bear was sighted in Agagawa, Minakami Town, Gunma Prefecture.
Minakami, Gunma
Around 4:05 PM on 2026-06-28, one bear was sighted in Anogawa, Minakami Town, Gunma Prefecture.
Minakami, Gunma
Numata, Gunma
One bear was sighted near the former Tsuchitaru Ski Resort.
Yuzawa, Niigata
Discovered bear tracks of unknown body length in a rice paddy.
Minamiuonuma, Niigata
Spotted one cub approximately 300 m past Urushijima Bridge (Ōsawa Tunnel side) on Prefectural Road Tōma–Tsuchi Station Line.
Tokamachi, Niigata
I sighted one bear about 1 m in body length moving within the ski resort slopes.
Minamiuonuma, Niigata
Observed one bear about 0.7 m in body length entering the brush from the municipal road.
Minamiuonuma, Niigata
One bear, about 0.7 meters long, was sighted in the Komakiyama area of Minamiuonuma City.
Minamiuonuma, Niigata
For about a week, several bear tracks have been found around the farmland.
Tokamachi, Niigata
Discovered bear tracks of unknown body length in a rice paddy.
Minamiuonuma, Niigata
At around 6:00 today, one bear about 1 meter long was sighted in the Uono River area in Daitsuchi, Yuzawa Town, Niigata.
Yuzawa Tsuchidaru, Niigata
While driving on National Route 17, I spotted one cub just before the Shibahara Tunnel (Yuzawa side). It was moving south.
Yuzawa Mitsumata, Niigata
Bear sighting of one bear in a field in Kandatsu, Yuzawa Town.
Yuzawa Kandatsu, Niigata
I sighted one bear about 1 m in body length moving within the ski resort slopes.
Minamiuonuma, Niigata
Black bear on the side of the road, then ran up into the brush
Yuzawa, Niigata
On 2026-07-12 in Oana, Minakami Town, Gunma Prefecture, a bear was sighted.
Minakami Oana, Gunma
While driving on National Route 17, observed one bear. It was moving westward.
Yuzawa, Niigata
Three bears—a mother and two cubs—were sighted at the former Nunoba Ski Resort slope. Their subsequent movements are unknown.
Yuzawa, Niigata
One bear was sighted near the Kan-Etsu Expressway Tsuchitaru parking area.
Yuzawa, Niigata
One bear was sighted near Tanigohashi Bridge. It was moving north.
Yuzawa Tsuchidaru, Niigata
Observed one bear about 0.7 m in body length entering the brush from the municipal road.
Minamiuonuma, Niigata
One bear, about 0.7 meters long, was sighted in the Komakiyama area of Minamiuonuma City.
Minamiuonuma, Niigata
Around 8:00 on July 4, a bear was sighted in Shikanosawa, Minakami Town, Gunma Prefecture.
Minakami Yoshimoto, Gunma
Spotted a Class 1 bear while traveling on National Route 17. Subsequent movement route is unknown.
Yuzawa Kandatsu, Niigata
Around 4:50 PM on June 30, a bear was sighted in Agagawa, Minakami Town, Gunma Prefecture.
Minakami, Gunma
Around 4:05 PM on 2026-06-28, one bear was sighted in Anogawa, Minakami Town, Gunma Prefecture.
Minakami, Gunma
Numata, Gunma
One bear was sighted near the former Tsuchitaru Ski Resort.
Yuzawa, Niigata
Peak activity at 16:00 with 3 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.
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In the past 30 days, 21 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. No reports were recorded in the past 7 days.
The latest sighting was reported 1 week ago near Minamiuonuma, Niigata.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 16:00. 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, 21 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. No reports were recorded in the past 7 days. The latest sighting was reported 1 week ago near Minamiuonuma, Niigata. At this density of recent sightings, be ready to brake at any moment and avoid stopping in flagged stretches.
