This 322 km route from Toyama to Shiki crosses Toyama, Saitama, Gifu, Gunma, and Nagano. Over the past 30 days, 30 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of the route, including 9 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 Annaka, Gunma; the location sits about 205.4 km from the start of the route and 1 m off the route line.
This is an active bear corridor. Rerouting or rescheduling your hike is strongly advised.
13 places within 1 km of your route, passing through Toyama, Saitama, Gifu, Gunma, Nagano.
It was a cub about 1 meter long. It immediately went off to the left and disappeared from view. I turned back.
Annaka, Gunma
Size: Adult
Azumino, Nagano
Size: Adult
Azumino 穂高有明, Nagano
Size: adult (fully grown)
Azumino 穂高有明, Nagano
Size: Adult
Azumino 明科光, Nagano
Bear scat found in a residential garage
Tateyama, Toyama
Observed one adult bear at the river
Tateyama, Toyama
Size: Adult
Azumino 明科中川手, Nagano
Size: Unknown
Azumino 穂高牧, Nagano
Size: Adult
Azumino 堀金烏川, Nagano
Size: Juvenile
Chikuhoku, Nagano
It was watching us from a distance along the Apt Trail.
Annaka, Gunma
Size: Adult
Matsumoto Gojo, Nagano
On May 3 in Hotaka Ariake, Azumino City, Nagano Prefecture, a roughly 1‑meter bear stayed in the backyard of a residence for about four hours and was captured and euthanized with a tranquilizer gun by hunters around 14:30. The area mixes fields and houses, and no injuries to residents were reported.
Azumino 穂高有明, Nagano
On May 3, 2026, an adult bear (about 1 meter long) was sighted around 09:00 in the yard of a private home in Hotaka Ariake, Azumino City, Nagano. City officials, police and local hunters guarded the area, and the bear was captured with a tranquilizer gun around 14:30 and subsequently euthanized. No injuries or property damage were reported.
Azumino 穂高有明, Nagano
Size: adult
Azumino, Nagano
Size: Adult
Azumino 穂高有明, Nagano
Size: Adult
Azumino 穂高有明, Nagano
Annaka 松井田町五料, Gunma
In Toyama Prefecture, a woman in her 40s was injured in a bear attack, and footprints near the scene indicate the attacking animal is believed to be the one that was culled. The culled bear weighed about 85 kg and was not emaciated; it is thought to have moved down the Jintsu River into residential areas, prompting the prefecture to issue an Asiatic black bear warning until May 31.
Toyama, Toyama
Karuizawa Town in Kitasaku District has temporarily shifted its policy from releasing captured bears after 'learning' to euthanizing them for a limited period. The change responds to repeated human injuries and appearances of bears in residential areas across the prefecture and concerns that bears' wide-ranging movements could cause harm to neighboring municipalities.
Karuizawa 中軽井沢, Nagano
Bear footprints discovered
Tateyama, Toyama
Size: adult (fully grown)
Azumino, Nagano
Size: juvenile
Ikeda Nakau, Nagano
Size: unknown
Ueda Tsuiji, Nagano
Size: Adult
Azumino, Nagano
Bear Sighting Information This is a notice from the Azumino City Agricultural Land and Forestry Division regarding a bear sighting. On April 15, around 7:00 AM, a sighting of one cub was reported on the riverbed approximately 300m south of the Takasegawa-nishi intersection in the Hotaka Kita-Hotaka area. If you live nearby or are going out, please carry noise-making items such as a radio or bell, and avoid approaching bushes as much as possible. Also, please do not leave food or other attractants outside the house. If you sight a bear, please contact the Agricultural Land and Forestry Division (direct: 71-2432, main: 71-2000). Azumino City Hall, Agricultural Land and Forestry Division
Azumino Kitahosono, Nagano
Size: Adult
Azumino 穂高北穂高, Nagano
A report was received of what appeared to be a cub, and officers patrolling the area confirmed the presence of the cub itself on site.
Toyama Shitabayashi, Toyama
Size: Adult
Karuizawa, Nagano
Peak activity at 10:00 with 2 incidents
Ursus thibetanus japonicus
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For mountain rescue, call 110 (police). They will coordinate with local rescue teams.
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Over the past 30 days, 30 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of this route, including 9 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 Annaka, Gunma; the location sits about 205.4 km from the start of the route and 1 m off the route line.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 10:00. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk.
This 322 km route from Toyama to Shiki crosses Toyama, Saitama, Gifu, Gunma, and Nagano. Over the past 30 days, 30 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of the route, including 9 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 Annaka, Gunma; the location sits about 205.4 km from the start of the route and 1 m off the route line. This is an active bear corridor. Rerouting or rescheduling your hike is strongly advised.
