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This 156 km route runs from Echigo Sanzan-Tadami Quasi-National Park to Kitakata, passing through Niigata and Fukushima. In the past 30 days, 40 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 5 of them. The latest sighting was reported 1 day ago near Yanaizu Sunakohara, Fukushima.
This is an active bear corridor. Rerouting or rescheduling your hike is strongly advised.
3 places within 1 km of your route, passing through Niigata, Fukushima.
At about 9:50 a.m. on Thursday, June 25, near Kitanosawabashi by Ibirachii in Sunagohara, Yanaizu Town, a witness (woman in her 20s) saw one bear (approximately 80 cm in body length) in the roadside grass while passing by in a vehicle.
Yanaizu Sunakohara, Fukushima
On Tuesday, June 23 at around 9:10 a.m., on National Route 289 in Numata-hara, Tadami, Tadami Town, a witness (male in his 70s) driving south observed one bear (approximately 50 cm in body length) crossing the road from east to west. The bear entered the forested area on the west side and its subsequent whereabouts are unknown.
Tadami, Fukushima
A man in his 70s driving on National Route 289 in Numatahara, Tadami Town, sighted one bear about 50 cm long crossing the road.
Tadami, Fukushima
At Unai Nakakozan, Aizubange Town, one bear crossed the road.
Aizubange 大字見明, Fukushima
On Sunday, June 21 at approximately 5:52 p.m., in Uchiai, Nakagoyama area, Aizubange Town, a witness (female) driving on a town road observed one bear (about 1 m in body length) crossing the road from north to south. The bear then went off to the south.
Aizubange 大字見明, Fukushima
On Friday, June 19 at approximately 2:58 p.m., in Ibirada area, Sunagohara, Yanaizu Town, a witness (female) driving on Prefectural Route Yanaizu–Showa observed one bear (about 50 cm in body length) at the roadside. The bear noticed the vehicle and entered the woods to the west.
Yanaizu 居平, Fukushima
On Friday, June 19 at approximately 9:25 a.m., a witness (male) driving on National Route 252 in Iitani, Yanaizu Town, observed one bear (approx. 50 cm in body length) climbing a tree along the roadside.
Yanaizu Iitani, Fukushima
While driving a vehicle, the observer sighted one bear walking on the road (approximately 0.5 m in body length).
Yanaizu Iitani, Fukushima
On Saturday, June 13 at about 1:15 p.m., on National Route 252 in Iitani Aza Shinden Hei, Yaizu Town, a witness riding in a vehicle saw one bear (approximately 50 cm in body length) walking on the road. The bear’s subsequent whereabouts are unknown.
Yanaizu Iitani, Fukushima
While driving a vehicle, the observer saw one bear (approximately 1 m in body length) climbing a tree alongside the road.
Nishiaizu, Fukushima
On Thursday, June 11 at around 6:00 p.m., near National Route 252 in Iitani, Yanaizu Town (Aza Shinden Hei), a witness, while driving, observed one bear (approximately 1 m in body length) climbing a tree along the roadside. The bear’s subsequent movements are unknown.
Yanaizu Iitani, Fukushima
On Thursday, June 11 at about 5:15 p.m., on the Yanizu–Showa Prefectural Road (Main Prefectural Road Yanizu–Showa Line) in the Shimonoyu area of Gojōjiki, Yanizu Town, a witness driving a vehicle spotted one bear (approximately 1 m in body length) at the roadside. The bear then left toward the mountains to the east.
Yanaizu Gojojiki, Fukushima
While driving a vehicle, the observer saw one bear (about 1 m in body length) on the road shoulder.
Yanaizu Gojojiki, Fukushima
While driving a vehicle, the witness observed one bear (approximately 0.8 m in body length) crossing the road.
Yanaizu 居平, Fukushima
On Wednesday, June 10 at around 5:00 p.m., in the Ibirada area of Sunagohara, Yanaizu Town, on a prefectural road, a witness driving a vehicle saw one bear (approximately 80 cm in body length) crossing the road. The bear then left on foot into the brush to the west.
Yanaizu 居平, Fukushima
While walking, the person spotted one bear (approximately 0.7 m in body length) in the brush.
Yanaizu 居平, Fukushima
On Wednesday, June 10 at around 4:00 p.m., a witness walking in the Ibirahira area of Sunagohara, Yanaizu Town, spotted one bear (about 70 cm in body length) in the roadside brush. The bear then moved off into the forest to the north.
Yanaizu 居平, Fukushima
Two days ago a bear was sighted eating mulberries, and a bear trap (cage) had been set. This morning at about 7:00 a.m. the Yanitsu Town Office reported to the local police post that they had captured a bear. At 9:50 a.m. the town office notified the main station that the electric fence had been damaged and that an emergency culling would be carried out. At 11:27 a.m., with the mayor absent, the deputy mayor granted shooting permission; a shot was fired at 11:30 a.m., and death was confirmed at 11:35 a.m. The bear: female, estimated 5 years old, body length 1.1 meters, weight 60 kg, no history of giving birth.
Yanaizu 居平, Fukushima
A bear was sighted around 4 PM on June 10 in Sankohara-Ihei, Yanizu Town, Fukushima Prefecture.
Yanaizu 居平, Fukushima
While a vehicle was parked, one bear (about 1 meter in body length) was observed on the road.
Yanaizu Godo, Fukushima
On Monday, June 8, at around 7:00 p.m., on a town road in Yanaizu-machi, Oaza Yanaizu, Aza Yahashomaki Ko, a witness (male in his 70s), while in a vehicle, observed one bear (approximately 1 m in body length). The bear then left and went north into the forested area.
Yanaizu Godo, Fukushima
On Saturday, June 6 at around 3:00 PM, in the Nagasaka area of Sunagohara, Yanaizu Town, a witness (woman in her 70s) walking along the Yanaizu-Shōwa Prefectural Road saw two bears (each about 50 cm in length) crossing the road from east to west. Their destination after crossing is unknown.
Yanaizu Sunakohara, Fukushima
While walking, the observer sighted two bears (each about 0.5 m in body length) crossing the road from east to west.
Yanaizu Sunakohara, Fukushima
While driving, the reporter sighted one bear (about 1 m in body length) crossing from west to east.
Yanaizu Kotsubaki, Fukushima
On June 5 (Friday) at approximately 6:25 a.m., on National Route 252 within the area of Shimoharamichi-nishi甲, Oaza Yanaitsucho, a witness (a woman in her 40s) driving on Route 252 observed one bear (about 1 m in body length) crossing the road from west to east. Its destination after leaving the road to the east is unknown.
Yanaizu Kotsubaki, Fukushima
A bear was seen crossing National Route 252 in Shimohara-michi Nishi-ko, Yanaizu Town.
Yanaizu Kotsubaki, Fukushima
While driving a vehicle, the observer sighted one bear (approximately 1 m in body length) crossing the road.
Nishiaizu Tabanematsu, Fukushima
On June 5 (Friday) at approximately 4:26 a.m., in the Toriya area of Tsukematsu, Nishi-Aizu Town, a vehicle driver (male in his 60s) passing near the 138.4 km post on the outbound (upward) lanes of the Ban-etsu Expressway reported seeing a bear (about 1 m in body length) crossing the expressway from north to south while traveling on the outbound lanes toward Iwaki. The bear left the area via the south-side slope of the road.
Nishiaizu Tabanematsu, Fukushima
A bear was sighted in Yanaizu, Yanaizu Town, Fukushima.
Yanaizu, Fukushima
While driving, the driver spotted one bear (approximately 1 m in body length) within the premises. The bear then entered the brush on the west side of the location.
Yanaizu Kotsubaki, Fukushima
On June 4 at approximately 6:22 a.m., while patrolling in Yanitsu (Yanitsu-aza Shimoharamichi Nishi Ko area), police officers spotted one bear (about 1 m in body length) beside the road.
Yanaizu 椿, Fukushima
Two sets of footprints in the rice paddy. Their destination is unknown.
Uonuma, Niigata
One bear sighted. Moving east.
Uonuma, Niigata
On Monday, June 1 at around 10:00 a.m., in the mountain forest west of Tofukuji Temple in Misonomiya, Yamato-machi, Kitakata City, a witness (female in her 40s) saw a bear (approximately 1 m in length) in the mountain forest to the north while walking. The bear then left toward the southern mountain forest.
Kitakata 山都町, Fukushima
While walking, the person spotted one bear (about 1 m in length) in the forested area.
Kitakata 山都町, Fukushima
A bear was sighted in Yamato-machi Sannomiya, Kitakata City, Fukushima, on 2026-06-01 around 10:00.
Kitakata 山都町, Fukushima
On May 28 at approximately 6:10 PM, in Nagasaka area, Sunagohara, Yanaizu Town, a witness (woman in her 20s) while on her property spotted an adult bear (about 1 m in length) and a cub (about 50 cm in length) walking along the riverbed.
Yanaizu Sunakohara, Fukushima
While at home, observed two bears moving north along the riverbed (one about 1.0 m in body length, the other about 0.5 m).
Yanaizu Gojojiki, Fukushima
While moving the vehicle, the observer sighted one bear (approx. 1 m in body length) on the roadway.
Kitakata 山都町小舟寺, Fukushima
On Thursday, May 28 at around 3:00 p.m., on a municipal road in Kobune-ji area, Yamato-machi, Kitakata City, a witness (woman in her 40s) observed one bear (about 1 m in body length) on the road while traveling in a vehicle (as a passenger). The bear left toward the forest to the north, and its subsequent whereabouts are unknown.
Kitakata 山都町小舟寺, Fukushima
Peak activity at 17:00 with 7 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, 40 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 5 of them.
The latest sighting was reported 1 day ago near Yanaizu Sunakohara, Fukushima.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 17:00. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk.
This 156 km route runs from Echigo Sanzan-Tadami Quasi-National Park to Kitakata, passing through Niigata and Fukushima. In the past 30 days, 40 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 5 of them. The latest sighting was reported 1 day ago near Yanaizu Sunakohara, Fukushima. This is an active bear corridor. Rerouting or rescheduling your hike is strongly advised.
