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This 95 km route runs from Takahata to Murakami, passing through Yamagata and Niigata. In the past 30 days, 12 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 Murakami, Niigata.
At this density of recent sightings, be ready to brake at any moment and avoid stopping in flagged stretches.
Bear-like animal tracks were found in Kitashinbo, Murakami City.
Murakami, Niigata
One bear (about 1 m) crossed the Rinkō Road Iwafune Port Line from the seaside toward the residential area.
Murakami, Niigata
A bear was sighted on a prefectural road in Iwafune, Murakami City.
Murakami, Niigata
Shortly before 5:00 AM on the 21st, a single bear about 1 meter long was sighted on a national highway in Kitashinbo, Murakami City. The sighting was about 240 meters from a private residence and was confirmed by the Murakami Police.
Murakami, Niigata
Repeatedly entering and exiting the river.
Murakami, Niigata
On the Nihonkai Tohoku Expressway near the Murakami-Yamanobe Sato IC northbound entrance, a mother bear and her cubs were running along the highway.
Murakami, Niigata
Around 21:30 on May 16, 2026, a parent-and-offspring group of three bears of unspecified length was sighted on Nitto Road in Yamabesato, Murakami City, Niigata Prefecture; the group was about 200 meters from residences, according to the Murakami police.
Murakami, Niigata
Bear tracks were found near a house in the Terao area.
Murakami, Niigata
Moved toward the mountainside.
Murakami, Niigata
One bear was sighted near the Forestry Research Institute. It was moving toward the Ueno settlement.
Murakami, Niigata
Was running along the roadside heading toward the Monzen River.
Murakami, Niigata
On 2026-05-10 at around 09:30, a kei car on National Route 290 in Momokawa, Murakami City collided with a bear about 0.5 m long that ran into the road. The driver and two passengers were uninjured, but the car became undrivable and the bear fled into the mountains (about 1.5 km from the nearest house). Earlier that morning, a bear about 0.5 m long was also sighted on a prefectural road in Kuroiwa, Aga Town, about 200 m from a house.
Murakami, Niigata
Peak activity at 21:00 with 2 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, 12 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 Murakami, Niigata.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 21:00. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk.
This 95 km route runs from Takahata to Murakami, passing through Yamagata and Niigata. In the past 30 days, 12 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 Murakami, Niigata. At this density of recent sightings, be ready to brake at any moment and avoid stopping in flagged stretches.
