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  4. Yamagata Castle to Kurihara Drive

Yamagata Castle to Kurihara Drive

Driving · High Risk · 100 km · 1h 58m · 2 stops · 21 sightings · Saved May 27, 2026 · Last updated 7 hours ago
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3
Incidents in last 7 days
21
Incidents in last 30 days
1 day ago
Latest

Safety Summary

This 100 km route runs from Yamagata Castle to Kurihara, passing through Yamagata and Miyagi. In the past 30 days, 21 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 3 of them. The latest sighting was reported 1 day ago near Yamagata Iwanami, Yamagata.

At this density of recent sightings, be ready to brake at any moment and avoid stopping in flagged stretches.

Your Route

Route Profile

Highlights Along Your Route (2)

2 places within 1 km of your route, passing through Yamagata, Miyagi.

Yamagata Museum of Art
Moderate Risk

Yamagata Museum of Art

Yamagata

1,238 incidents

Yamagata Castle
Moderate Risk

Yamagata Castle

Yamagata

1,261 incidents

Yamagata Museum of Art
Moderate Risk

Yamagata Museum of Art

Yamagata

1,238 incidents

Yamagata Castle
Moderate Risk

Yamagata Castle

Yamagata

1,261 incidents

Route Timeline

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Yamagata Castle, Yamagata
High Risk 100 km 1h 58m 21 sightings within 5 km
Yamagata Iwanami, Yamagata

One bear sighted beside the road (body length about 1 m) / Environment: forest / Size: adult

Yamagata Iwanami, Yamagata

Official ·1 day ago
Yamagata Zao-Narisawa, Yamagata

Animal resembling a bear (body length approx. 50 cm) / Environment: road / Size: juvenile

Yamagata Zao-Narisawa, Yamagata

Official ·4 days ago

Around 09:00 on 2026-07-25, a bear was sighted in Narukoonsen Suzawa, Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture.

Osaki, Miyagi

News ·5 days ago
Show 18 more
Yamagata Katayachi, Yamagata

One bear-like animal (body length approx. 50 cm) / Environment: near houses / Size: juvenile

Yamagata Katayachi, Yamagata

Official ·1 week ago
Yamagata Zao-Iida, Yamagata

A bear was sighted in Iida 2-chome, Yamagata City, around 21:20 on July 23.

Yamagata Zao-Iida, Yamagata

News ·1 week ago

Environment: Around homes / Size: Adult

Obanazawa Tsurumakita, Yamagata

Official ·1 week ago
Osaki 鳴子温泉, Miyagi

July 21

Osaki 鳴子温泉, Miyagi

Official ·1 week ago

Local resident encountered a cub / Environment: near houses / Size: juvenile

Mogami Honjo, Yamagata

Official ·1 week ago

Local residents encountered a cub / Environment: near houses / Size: juvenile

Mogami Honjo, Yamagata

Official ·1 week ago
Mogami Tomisawa, Yamagata

Bear sighting / Environment: riverbank / Size: unknown

Mogami Tomisawa, Yamagata

Official ·2 weeks ago
Mogami Mitsuzawa, Yamagata

Bear sighted on the hillside beside the roadside. It later went up into the mountains. / Environment: Farmland / Size: Adult

Mogami Mitsuzawa, Yamagata

Official ·2 weeks ago

A bear was sighted in Narukoonsen Kawabata, Ōsaki City, Miyagi Prefecture, around 11:55 on July 14.

Osaki, Miyagi

News ·2 weeks ago
Obanazawa Nitobukuro, Yamagata

Environment: Farmland / Size: Unknown

Obanazawa Nitobukuro, Yamagata

Official ·2 weeks ago
Obanazawa Ashizawa, Yamagata

Environment: Forest / Size: Unknown

Obanazawa Ashizawa, Yamagata

Official ·2 weeks ago
Mogami Tomisawa, Yamagata

Observed an Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) walking along a paddy field embankment. Drove it off using fireworks, and it left. / Environment: farmland / Size: adult

Mogami Tomisawa, Yamagata

Official ·3 weeks ago
Yamagata Nakasakurada, Yamagata

While driving south (toward the mountain side), I saw one bear walking south on the left side of the road. It then entered the woods beside the road. Body length about 1 m. / Environment: Road / Size: Adult

Yamagata Nakasakurada, Yamagata

Official ·3 weeks ago
Yamagata Nakasakurada, Yamagata

One bear about 1 meter long was seen on a road in Nakazukada, Yamagata City, walking south before entering the woods beside the road.

Yamagata Nakasakurada, Yamagata

News ·3 weeks ago
Obanazawa Shinmachi-chuo, Yamagata

Environment: Farmland / Size: Juvenile

Obanazawa Shinmachi-chuo, Yamagata

Official ·3 weeks ago
Obanazawa Shinmachi-chuo, Yamagata

Around 7:00 AM, a cub was sighted in farmland in Kitamachi, Obanazawa City.

Obanazawa Shinmachi-chuo, Yamagata

News ·3 weeks ago
Murayama 大字長善寺, Yamagata

Bear sighted crossing the road on the west side of Shiratori Fudoson / Environment: Farmland / Size: Adult

Murayama 大字長善寺, Yamagata

Official ·1 month ago
Higashine 大字長瀞, Yamagata

Environment: Near houses / Size: Adult

Higashine 大字長瀞, Yamagata

Official ·1 month ago
G
Kurihara, Miyagi
Total Distance: 100 km

When Are Bears Most Active?

Peak activity at 18:00 with 4 incidents

Asian black bears on your route

Asian Black Bear

Asian Black Bear

Ursus thibetanus japonicus

Range
Honshu, Shikoku
Size
80–120 kg
Active
Dawn & dusk

Sharing space safely

  • ·Make noise as you walk; carry bear spray
  • ·If charged, stand firm and use the spray
  • ·If contact happens, resist firmly. They retreat when met with resistance
  • ·Don't climb. They climb better than you

Safety Checklist

Hiking in bear country

Safety picks and trail essentials, top-rated on Amazon and Rakuten.

Emergency Contacts

110
Police
119
Fire/Ambulance

For mountain rescue, call 110 (police). They will coordinate with local rescue teams.

Bear risk analysis map showing route with safety levels

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Route

How many bear sightings are on this route?

In the past 30 days, 21 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 3 of them.

When and where was the most recent bear sighting near this route?

The latest sighting was reported 1 day ago near Yamagata Iwanami, Yamagata.

What time of day are bears most active here?

Recent sightings on this route peak around 18:00. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk.

Is this route safe to travel right now?

This 100 km route runs from Yamagata Castle to Kurihara, passing through Yamagata and Miyagi. In the past 30 days, 21 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 3 of them. The latest sighting was reported 1 day ago near Yamagata Iwanami, Yamagata. At this density of recent sightings, be ready to brake at any moment and avoid stopping in flagged stretches.

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