This 47.0 km route from Inawashiro to Aizuwakamatsu crosses Fukushima. Over the past 30 days, 29 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of the route, including 5 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 Aizuwakamatsu Higashiyamamachi-Yumoto, Fukushima; the location sits about 34.5 km from the start of the route and 3.0 km off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 3 weeks ago at Aizuwakamatsu Otomachi-Kamimiyorikashu, Fukushima, sitting about 42.4 km from the start and 171 m off the route line.
At this density of recent sightings, be ready to brake at any moment and avoid stopping in flagged stretches.
Around 14:40 on the 7th, a man walking on a promenade in Kuroiwa, Motoda-machi, Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture, sighted one bear about 1 meter long. The bear then walked south along the promenade, and no damage in the surrounding area has been reported so far.
Aizuwakamatsu Higashiyamamachi-Yumoto, Fukushima
At about 14:50 on the 5th, a man in his 50s reported to the Inawashiro Police Station that he had sighted one bear about 1 meter long in a parking lot in Tsumachi, Inawashiro Town. The bear fled into the forest east of the parking lot, and the police are patrolling the area.
Inawashiro 字並杉西, Fukushima
A bear was walking south from Iwahashi Shrine.
Inawashiro 字西峰, Fukushima
At around 13:50 on May 4, a single bear about 1 meter long was spotted along Route 49 near Ogasawara Goten-yama (Ogasawa), Inawashiro Town. No human or property damage has been confirmed so far, and the police have warned the public to be cautious.
Inawashiro 大字翁沢, Fukushima
At around 09:20 on May 4, a single bear was sighted up in a tree in Kuroiwa, Monden-machi, Aizuwakamatsu City. The police have warned residents to be cautious, and no injuries or property damage have been reported so far.
Aizuwakamatsu Higashiyamamachi-Yumoto, Fukushima
Around 17:30 on April 30, a man in Hanamigaoka, Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture, sighted one bear about 50 cm long in the brush of a mountain forest. No damage has been confirmed in the area; the police are patrolling with patrol cars and coordinating with the Aizuwakamatsu City Hall to respond.
Aizuwakamatsu Takaramachi, Fukushima
On the morning of April 30, 2026, a bear about 1.0 m long was seen crossing a prefectural road north to south in Aizu Misato Town at around 07:20, and at about 07:30 another bear about 1.5 m long was seen crossing a nearby prefectural road north to south. Police say it is unknown whether the two sightings were of the same animal, and no human or property damage has been confirmed.
Aizumisato 福重岡, Fukushima
At around 15:05 on April 29, 2026, a man collecting wild plants at the edge of the ski slope in the Minero area of Inawashiro Ski Resort, Nakamaruyama, Inawashiro Town, Fukushima Prefecture, sighted one bear about 1.2 meters long. The bear returned to the woods afterward, and no injuries or property damage were reported.
Inawashiro 字葉山, Fukushima
On 2026-04-29 at around 08:45, a single bear about 1 meter long was seen walking on the riverbed in Yukawaminami, Aizuwakamatsu. No damage to people or property was reported.
Aizuwakamatsu Yugawaminami, Fukushima
At a private residence in Tenneiji-machi, Aizuwakamatsu City, a woman in her 50s spotted a bear about 50 cm long in the bushes on her property. The bear's subsequent whereabouts are unknown; no injuries were reported, and police are urging nearby residents to be cautious.
Aizuwakamatsu Tenneijimachi, Fukushima
Around 18:40 on April 26, in Tenneiji-cho, Aizuwakamatsu City, a woman spotted a bear about 50 cm long walking in the brush on her property. No damage has been reported; police are patrolling the area in patrol cars and coordinating with Aizuwakamatsu City Hall to respond.
Aizuwakamatsu Tenneijimachi, Fukushima
In Aizuwakamatsu (Kawahigashi-cho, Asayama Asono), on April 24 at around 11:10 AM, a single bear about 1 m in length was seen crossing National Route 49.
Aizuwakamatsu Kawahigashimachi-Asayama, Fukushima
At around 11:10 on April 24, 2026, a male driver on National Route 49 in Asayama, Kawato-machi, Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture, spotted one bear (approximately 1 meter long) crossing the road from west to east. The bear entered the forest to the east afterward; no injuries or damage have been reported, and the police are patrolling with patrol cars and coordinating with the Aizuwakamatsu City Office.
Aizuwakamatsu Kawahigashimachi-Asayama, Fukushima
On 2026-04-24, a bear sighting was reported in Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture. The article does not specify the exact location of the sighting or whether any damage or injuries occurred.
Aizuwakamatsu Outemachi, Fukushima
In Aizuwakamatsu City, Kita-Aoki, at around 09:10 on April 23, one bear about 1 meter long was sighted in the undergrowth. No damage to people or property has been reported, and police are urging caution.
Aizuwakamatsu Tenjinmachi, Fukushima
Around noon on 2026-04-22, a man in his 40s preparing to use a campsite in Kadota-cho, Aizuwakamatsu City, spotted a single bear about 1 m long in the brush south of the site. The bear left toward the forest to the south; the man was unharmed and no other damage has been confirmed. Police are patrolling by patrol car and urging caution.
Aizuwakamatsu Mondenmachi-Oyama, Fukushima
In Aizuwakamatsu City, Kaddta-machi Oaza Kuroiwa Aza Hanamigaoka, on April 22, 2026 at about 11:55 a.m., one bear (approximately 1 m in length) was seen walking.
Aizuwakamatsu Yugawaminami, Fukushima
At around 11:55 a.m. on April 22, a man spotted one bear (about 1 meter long) in the campground area of a park in Kuroiwa, Kadota-machi, Aizuwakamatsu City. The bear then entered the forest to the south.
Aizuwakamatsu Tenjinmachi, Fukushima
In Aizuwakamatsu (Kadonota-machi, Kuroiwa Hanamigaoka), on April 22, 2026 shortly before noon a single bear about 1 meter long was sighted. No injuries or property damage have been reported so far.
Aizuwakamatsu Yugawaminami, Fukushima
On 2026-04-22 a sighting of one bear was reported in Aizuwakamatsu City. The article does not provide a specific location or time.
Aizuwakamatsu Higashisakaemachi, Fukushima
Around 12:40 PM on the 15th, a teenage woman spotted one bear about 1 meter long on a road in Ashimaki, Oto-machi, Aizu-Wakamatsu. The bear entered the mountains afterward; no injuries were reported, and police and the city office are patrolling and urging caution.
Aizuwakamatsu Otomachi-Kamimiyorikashu, Fukushima
At around 12:40 PM on April 15, 2026, a single bear about 1 meter long was sighted on a road in Otocho, Aizuwakamatsu City; it later entered the mountain. No injuries were reported, and police patrolled the area by patrol car and warned residents to be cautious.
Aizuwakamatsu Otomachi-Ashinomaki, Fukushima
At around 15:40 on April 14, in Funaba, Aizumisato Town, Fukushima Prefecture, a man driving a vehicle spotted a bear about 50 cm long climbing a tree. The bear later left the area; no human or property damage has been confirmed, and the police and Aizumisato town office are cooperating to patrol the area and warn residents.
Aizumisato 字三日町上, Fukushima
At around 11:30 on April 13 a single bear about 1 meter long was sighted on the grounds of a temple in Kita-Aoki, Aizuwakamatsu City. The bear moved into the mountain east of the temple thereafter; no human injuries were reported and police are patrolling the area.
Aizuwakamatsu Tenjinmachi, Fukushima
Shortly before 22:00 on April 11, a driver spotted a single bear approximately 1.5 meters long standing on a road in Aizuwakamatsu City, Ikki-machi Matsunaga. No injuries were reported, and police are conducting patrols with patrol cars.
Aizuwakamatsu Ikkimachi-Matsunaga 4-chome, Fukushima
Before 10:00 PM on the 11th, a man driving a car in Aizuwakamatsu City, Ikkimachi Matsunaga, sighted a single bear standing on the road (about 1.5 meters long). No injuries were reported, and police are conducting patrols with patrol cars.
Aizuwakamatsu Ikkimachi-Matsunaga 4-chome, Fukushima
At around 21:40 on the 11th, a male driver spotted a single bear (about 1.5 meters long) standing on the road in Ikkimachi, Aizuwakamatsu. The bear's subsequent movements are unknown, no damage has been reported, and police are patrolling the area by patrol car and advising residents to be cautious.
Aizuwakamatsu Iimori 1-chome, Fukushima
Around 15:00 on April 11, 2026, a single bear about 80 cm long was sighted crossing a prefectural road (Major Local Road Inawashiro-Shiogawa Line) north to south in Sarashina, Bandai Town, Fukushima. The bear went into rice fields on the south side of the road and its whereabouts are unknown; no injuries or property damage have been reported. Police have shared information with the town, are patrolling the area by patrol car, and have urged residents to be cautious.
Bandai 大字更科, Fukushima
On April 11 at around 15:00, a single bear (approximately 0.8 m in length) was sighted crossing the main local road Inawashiro-Shiokawa Line in Sarashina-mae, Bandai Town.
Bandai 大字更科, Fukushima
Peak activity at 11:00 with 5 incidents
Ursus thibetanus japonicus
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Over the past 30 days, 29 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of this route, including 5 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 Aizuwakamatsu Higashiyamamachi-Yumoto, Fukushima; the location sits about 34.5 km from the start of the route and 3.0 km off the route line.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 11:00. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk.
This 47.0 km route from Inawashiro to Aizuwakamatsu crosses Fukushima. Over the past 30 days, 29 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of the route, including 5 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 Aizuwakamatsu Higashiyamamachi-Yumoto, Fukushima; the location sits about 34.5 km from the start of the route and 3.0 km off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 3 weeks ago at Aizuwakamatsu Otomachi-Kamimiyorikashu, Fukushima, sitting about 42.4 km from the start and 171 m off the route line. At this density of recent sightings, be ready to brake at any moment and avoid stopping in flagged stretches.
