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This 312 km route runs from Tsuruoka to Numata, passing through Yamagata, Gunma, and Niigata. In the past 30 days, 63 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 12 of them. The latest sighting was reported 2 days ago near Tsuruoka 矢引, Yamagata.
This is an active bear corridor. Rerouting or rescheduling your hike is strongly advised.
Sighted a bear about 1.0 m in body length descending from the Nakayama direction toward the Yabiki direction. Subsequent whereabouts unknown. / Environment: Near houses / Size: Adult
Tsuruoka 矢引, Yamagata
A bear was sighted in Kamimoku, Minakami Town, Gunma.
Minakami Kamimoku, Gunma
Sighted one bear approximately 1 meter in size.
Niigata, Niigata
Observed one bear-like individual (size unknown).
Niigata, Niigata
Spotted one bear while passing through the area.
Tainai, Niigata
One bear was sighted in Miyase, Tainai City, Niigata, crossing a road and entering a nearby rice paddy.
Tainai, Niigata
Around 23:30 on 2026-07-31, a bear was sighted in Takitani-machi, Akiha Ward, Niigata City.
Niigata, Niigata
On 2026-07-30 at night, one bear was sighted in Komagiharamachi, Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture.
Tsuruoka 日枝, Yamagata
A bear-like figure about 1.5 m in body length was sighted at Komakihara Sports Park (near the sumo ring). Its subsequent whereabouts are unknown. / Environment: near houses / Size: adult
Tsuruoka 日枝, Yamagata
Minakami Tsukiyono, Gunma
Around 08:10 on 2026-07-30, one bear was sighted in Tsukiyono, Minakami Town, Gunma Prefecture.
Minakami Tsukiyono, Gunma
Discovered the paw prints of a cub of unknown body length.
Minamiuonuma, Niigata
Around 6:00 on July 25, a bear was spotted moving in Sangawa, Murakami City.
Murakami, Niigata
Witnessed one bear (about 1 m) in the temporary parking lot of the Shibazakura Park. It then moved north.
Uonuma, Niigata
Spotted a bear about 50 centimeters in body length. Direction of travel unknown.
Uonuma, Niigata
At around 17:35 on July 21, one bear cub was seen in Mushino, Uonuma City, Niigata Prefecture.
Uonuma, Niigata
Minakami Tsukiyono, Gunma
Minakami Gokan, Gunma
Minakami Namezawa, Gunma
Takada / Environment: Forest / Size: Adult
Tsuruoka 金沢, Yamagata
A single cub (size unknown) was sighted near Dainichizaka Tunnel. Its subsequent whereabouts are unknown. / Environment: forest / Size: juvenile
Tsuruoka 田川, Yamagata
Minakami Ishikura, Gunma
Minakami Fuse, Gunma
Discovered bear tracks of unknown body length in a rice paddy.
Minamiuonuma, Niigata
A bear was sighted in Shimokawada-machi, Numata City.
Numata Shimokawadamachi, Gunma
Numata Shimokawadamachi, Gunma
A single bear (body length unknown) was sighted within the Yama-Iso River area near the Atsumi government office. / Environment: Within a shrine precinct / Size: Adult
Tsuruoka 山五十川, Yamagata
Sighted an animal believed to be a bear in the riverside thicket. Direction of movement unknown.
Uonuma, Niigata
At around 6:00 on 2026-07-16, one bear was sighted in a shrine precinct in Yamakogawa, Tsuruoka City.
Tsuruoka 山五十川, Yamagata
Minakami Kochi, Gunma
I sighted one bear about 1 m in body length moving within the ski resort slopes.
Minamiuonuma, Niigata
On 2026-07-12 in Oana, Minakami Town, Gunma Prefecture, a bear was sighted.
Minakami Oana, Gunma
One bear sighted. Direction of travel unknown.
Niigata, Niigata
A bear was sighted in Asahi, Akiba Ward, Niigata City, around 07:30 on July 11.
Niigata, Niigata
One bear was sighted in Sayama-cho, Numata City, Gunma Prefecture.
Numata Sayamamachi, Gunma
There were footprints in the rice field. Sightings were also reported nearby on 7/7 and 7/8. The estimated date and time are unknown.
Murakami, Niigata
One bear (body length 1.0 m) was sighted near the old Aburato Tunnel (seaside exit). Its subsequent whereabouts are unknown. / Environment: Road / Size: Adult
Tsuruoka 油戸, Yamagata
At around 10:50 on July 9, one bear was seen moving in Hakoa, Shibata City, Niigata.
Shibata, Niigata
Bear tracks found in a rice paddy. Direction of travel unknown.
Uonuma, Niigata
Atsumi government office: One bear (body length unknown) was sighted in the Nezugaseki area. / Environment: Around residences / Size: Unknown
Tsuruoka, Yamagata
Atsumi government office area: One juvenile bear (approximately 0.7 m in body length) was sighted along the river near the Nezugaseki River Bridge. / Environment: Around residential area / Size: Juvenile
Tsuruoka, Yamagata
Around 6 a.m., one cub about 70 cm long was sighted in Nezugaseki, Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture.
Tsuruoka 鼠ケ関, Yamagata
Moved from the settlement to the forested mountains (south side).
Murakami, Niigata
A cub was seen crossing the Igarashi River and entering the scrub on the left bank. A patrol was conducted afterward but the animal was not found; it is believed to have gone toward the mountains.
Sanjo, Niigata
One bear (body length unknown) was sighted about 300 m east of Abura-to Community Center, near Nakata Bridge. Subsequent whereabouts unknown. / Environment: Road / Size: Adult
Tsuruoka 油戸, Yamagata
Minakami Yubara, Gunma
On 2026-07-08 around 19:30, one bear was seen moving in Nashioki, Murakami City, Niigata Prefecture.
Murakami, Niigata
On around 4:00 PM on 2026-07-08, one bear was seen moving in Fukuoka, Sanjo City, Niigata Prefecture.
Sanjo, Niigata
There was a black object that appeared to be a bear; after checking a video on a smartphone, the person reported it. / Environment: Near residential area / Size: Unknown
Tsuruoka 日枝, Yamagata
A juvenile bear was sighted about 300 m past the Mitoe/Mitse (Mise) interchange exit. Its subsequent whereabouts are unknown. / Environment: roadway / Size: juvenile
Tsuruoka 三瀬, Yamagata
Atsumi government office: A single bear (approx. 1 m in body length) was sighted within the Yu-Atsumi area. / Environment: Around residences / Size: Adult
Tsuruoka 湯温海, Yamagata
Minakami, Gunma
I sighted two cubs of unknown body length entering the mountain.
Minamiuonuma, Niigata
Atsumi government office: One bear (approximately 1 m body length) was sighted within the Yu-Atsumi area. / Environment: Around houses / Size: Adult
Tsuruoka 湯温海, Yamagata
A bear about 1 meter long collided with a moving passenger car on a road in Sakuramachi, Murakami City. The female driver was not injured, but part of the vehicle was damaged.
Murakami, Niigata
A vehicle traveling on National Route 113 from the Yamagata direction collided with a bear about 1.0 m in body length, and the bear ran off toward the Green Park Arakawa General Sports Park.
Murakami, Niigata
A single bear about 1.0 m in body length was roaming through the rice field.
Murakami, Niigata
One bear was spotted roaming in a rice paddy in the Sasaki area of Murakami City, Niigata.
Murakami, Niigata
One bear was sighted in Yutōnami, Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture.
Tsuruoka 湯温海, Yamagata
One bear was sighted at Koganebarahara Park in Tsuruoka City, Yamagata.
Tsuruoka 日枝, Yamagata
Minakami Kamizu, Gunma
One bear was sighted near the Kan-Etsu Expressway Tsuchitaru parking area.
Yuzawa, Niigata
Around 10:30 on July 6, a bear was sighted in Shimozu, Minakami Town, Gunma Prefecture.
Minakami Shimozu, Gunma
Peak activity at 5:00 with 5 incidents
Ursus thibetanus japonicus
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In the past 30 days, 63 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 12 of them.
The latest sighting was reported 2 days ago near Tsuruoka 矢引, Yamagata.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 5:00. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk.
This 312 km route runs from Tsuruoka to Numata, passing through Yamagata, Gunma, and Niigata. In the past 30 days, 63 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 12 of them. The latest sighting was reported 2 days ago near Tsuruoka 矢引, Yamagata. This is an active bear corridor. Rerouting or rescheduling your hike is strongly advised.
