This 10.6 km route from Watari to Natori crosses Miyagi. Over the past 30 days, 5 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of the route, including 1 in the past week. This route runs through Asian black bear habitat (native to Honshu and Shikoku). The most recent sighting was reported 2 days ago near Iwanuma Honchō, Miyagi; the location sits about 5.7 km from the start of the route and 320 m off the route line.
With activity this close, make noise as you hike, carry bear spray, and avoid the forest at dawn and dusk.
1 places within 1 km of your route, passing through Miyagi.
At around 03:40 on the 5th, a resident spotted a single bear heading east on a road in Kuwabara 1-chome, Iwanuma City, Miyagi Prefecture. According to the prefectural police, the bear was about 1 meter long; officers patrolled the area but the animal had already left.
Iwanuma Honchō, Miyagi
was walking on the ridge between the fields
Kakuda Osaka, Miyagi
At about 05:40 on April 22, 2026, a resident encountered a bear on private property in Tsukinoki Higashi 2-chome, Shibata Town, Miyagi Prefecture and called emergency services. There were no injuries; police say the bear was about 1 meter long and appeared to flee east.
Shibara Tsukinoki-higashi 2-chome, Miyagi
At around 05:35 on April 22, 2026, a woman in her 70s living in a house in Tsukinoki Higashi 2-chome, Shibata Town, reported encountering a bear about 1 meter long while mowing her garden. She shouted and the bear ran off to the east; she was uninjured, and Tsukinoki Junior High School, about 100 meters northeast of the scene, has sent a mass email urging parents to drive students and will have staff patrol during arrival.
Shibara Tsukinoki-higashi 2-chome, Miyagi
At around 05:35 on April 22, in the grounds of a private home in Tsukinoki Higashi 2-chome, Shibata Town, Miyagi Prefecture, a woman in her 70s encountered a bear about 1 meter long; when she shouted the bear fled east and there were no injuries. Police patrolled the area by patrol car and searched using an infrared camera–equipped drone, and a warning was issued to nearby Tsukinoki Junior High School.
Shibara Tsukinoki-higashi 2-chome, Miyagi
Peak activity at 5:00 with 4 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, 5 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of this route, including 1 in the past week. This route runs through Asian black bear habitat (native to Honshu and Shikoku).
The most recent sighting was reported 2 days ago near Iwanuma Honchō, Miyagi; the location sits about 5.7 km from the start of the route and 320 m off the route line.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 5:00. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk.
This 10.6 km route from Watari to Natori crosses Miyagi. Over the past 30 days, 5 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of the route, including 1 in the past week. This route runs through Asian black bear habitat (native to Honshu and Shikoku). The most recent sighting was reported 2 days ago near Iwanuma Honchō, Miyagi; the location sits about 5.7 km from the start of the route and 320 m off the route line. With activity this close, make noise as you hike, carry bear spray, and avoid the forest at dawn and dusk.
