Saves as a new trip plan. The original stays as-is.
This 28 km route runs from Yamagata Castle to Mount Zaō within Yamagata. In the past 30 days, 23 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 4 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.
One bear sighted beside the road (body length about 1 m) / Environment: forest / Size: adult
Yamagata Iwanami, Yamagata
Around 5:50 PM on 2026-07-29, one bear was sighted in a grove in Iwanami, Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture.
Yamagata Iwanami, Yamagata
At around 19:45 on 2026-07-26, a bear was sighted in Zao-Narisawa, Yamagata City.
Yamagata Zao-Nogiwa, Yamagata
Animal resembling a bear (body length approx. 50 cm) / Environment: road / Size: juvenile
Yamagata Zao-Narisawa, Yamagata
One bear-like animal (body length approx. 50 cm) / Environment: near houses / Size: juvenile
Yamagata Katayachi, Yamagata
A bear was sighted in Iida 2-chome, Yamagata City, around 21:20 on July 23.
Yamagata Zao-Iida, Yamagata
Crossed the road on Route 12 near Boudaira. A small bear. Doesn’t seem to be a cub.
Kaminoyama, Yamagata
A bear was sighted in Tsuchizaka, Yamagata City, around 9:30 AM on July 17.
Yamagata Tsuchizaka, Yamagata
July 15
Zao, Miyagi
Around 3 PM on July 14, a bear was sighted in Shakado, Yamagata City.
Yamagata Shakado, Yamagata
One bear approximately 1 meter in length was sighted crossing the road from west to east. It was not seen afterward.
Yamagata Zao-Hotta, Yamagata
One bear was sighted on a road in Zaō Ueno, Yamagata City.
Yamagata Zao-Uwano, Yamagata
Another bear was sighted around 10:00 a.m. in Zaō Ueno, Yamagata City.
Yamagata Zao-Uwano, Yamagata
One bear approximately 60 cm in length sighted on the road / Environment: roadway / Size: cub
Yamagata Kanno, Yamagata
A bear was sighted in Zaō Ueno, Yamagata City, around 14:42 on July 13.
Yamagata Zao-Uwano, Yamagata
One bear approximately 60 cm in body length sighted on the road / Environment: road / Size: cub
Yamagata Zao-onsen, Yamagata
One bear approximately 50 cm in body length sighted on the road / Environment: road / Size: juvenile
Yamagata Zao-onsen, Yamagata
A bear was sighted in Zao Onsen, Yamagata City.
Yamagata Zao-onsen, Yamagata
July 9
Zao, Miyagi
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
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
Two bears were sighted moving east / Environment: forest / Size: adult and juvenile
Yamagata Zao-onsen, Yamagata
While driving in the mountains, one cub was sighted / Environment: forest / Size: juvenile
Yamagata Zao-onsen, Yamagata
Peak activity at 19:00 with 3 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.
Draw any route in Japan and get the same bear-safety report, built around the trip you're actually taking.
No comments yet.
In the past 30 days, 23 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 4 of them.
The latest sighting was reported 1 day ago near Yamagata Iwanami, Yamagata.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 19:00. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk.
This 28 km route runs from Yamagata Castle to Mount Zaō within Yamagata. In the past 30 days, 23 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 4 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.
