This 46.7 km route from Takahata to Yamagata Castle crosses Yamagata. Over the past 30 days, 16 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of the route, including 2 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 Nanyo, Yamagata; the location sits about 15.9 km from the start of the route and 4.8 km off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 2 days ago at Kaminoyama 川口, Yamagata, sitting about 18.4 km from the start and 555 m off the route line.
At this density of recent sightings, consider rescheduling or choosing a different trail until activity quiets.
Around 13:40 on May 6, 2026, one bear was sighted on the sidewalk of the Prefectural Route Yamagata–Nanyo Line in Shimoogi, Nanyo City, Yamagata Prefecture. The animal is believed to be a cub about 70 cm long, and the city has urged caution.
Nanyo, Yamagata
On the 6th, the Kaminoyama Police reported that a bear was sighted in Kawaguchi, Kaminoyama City on May 5 at 16:00. Further details are not specified in the partially paywalled article.
Kaminoyama 川口, Yamagata
At around 7:00 a.m. on April 30, 2026, one bear believed to be an adult was sighted in the urban area of Yōgai in Yamanobe Town, Yamagata Prefecture.
Yamanobe 大字要害, Yamagata
At around 06:20 on April 30, 2026, a single bear was sighted moving from the Omi area of Yamabe Town toward Otsuka and Yōgai districts in Yamagata Prefecture. No human or property damage has been confirmed so far, and the police have warned residents that the bear may be hiding nearby.
Yamanobe 近江, Yamagata
On 2026-04-30 just after 06:00, residents in Omi, Yamanobe Town, Yamagata Prefecture reported a bear sighting, and sightings were also reported in the nearby Otsuka and Yōgai districts. The town warned that it may be the same individual and urged caution; the prefecture noted an increase in sightings and advised residents to avoid early-morning/night outings and not to leave household garbage outside.
Yamanobe 近江, Yamagata
Around 06:00 on April 30, one bear believed to be an adult was sighted in the urban area of Otsuka, Yamanobe Town, Yamagata Prefecture. The scene was only a few hundred meters from a location in Oumi where a bear was also sighted around the same time.
Yamanobe 大字大塚, Yamagata
Around 00:00 on April 29, 2026, a passerby spotted one bear along Maegawa in Futsukamachi 1-chome, Kaminoyama City, Yamagata Prefecture, and reported it to the police. No damage has been reported since the sighting; the city is distributing flyers to nearby residents and issuing cautions.
Kaminoyama 北町, Yamagata
In the early morning of April 29, 2026 (around 00:00), an adult bear was sighted in the residential area of Futukamachi, Kaminoyama City, Yamagata Prefecture. No further sightings were reported; the city and police urged residents to be cautious, and the prefecture has issued a bear alert.
Kaminoyama 北町, Yamagata
In the early morning of 2026-04-29, a bear, appearing as a dark mass, was filmed along the Maegawa north of the Kaminoyama City Comprehensive Children's Center Mengoria in Futukamachi, Kaminoyama City. Sightings have been frequent across the prefecture, and the prefectural government has issued a bear warning.
Kaminoyama 北町, Yamagata
At around 10:30 a.m. on April 28, 2026, one bear believed to be an adult was sighted in Koiwazawa, Nanyo City, Yamagata Prefecture. Reports only describe the sighting.
Nanyo 小岩沢, Yamagata
At around 16:15 on the 27th, one bear was sighted in the Mihara-shi no Oka area of Kaminoyama City, Yamagata Prefecture. The bear reportedly ran from the west side of New Truck Kaminoyama toward the solar panel area, and the city has issued a caution.
Kaminoyama みはらしの丘, Yamagata
At around 16:10 on April 27, a single bear was sighted in Mihara, Kaminoyama City, Yamagata Prefecture.
Kaminoyama 三本松, Yamagata
Yamagata Prefecture issued its first bear-sighting advisory of the fiscal year on April 27 after a total of five bear sightings in urban areas such as Tsuruoka and Tendo during the week through April 26. At around 16:00 on April 27, one bear was observed in a residential area in Mihara-shi no Oka, Kaminoyama City.
Yamagata Kurosawa, Yamagata
On the morning of April 20, in Nanyo City Ueno, a moving car collided with a bear about 1 meter long; after the collision the bear entered the nearby mountain. Prefectural figures show 68 bear sightings in 2026 as of April 12, and sightings by the end of March had already exceeded three times those in 2025, so the prefecture is urging caution during farming and wild-plant gathering.
Nanyo 上野, Yamagata
At around 08:00 on April 20, 2026, an ordinary passenger car traveling on a municipal road in Ueno, Nanyo City, Yamagata Prefecture collided with a bear about 1 meter long. After the collision the bear fled into the nearby mountains.
Nanyo 上野, Yamagata
In Yamagata City, a 60-year-old woman taking part in bear extermination operations slipped and fell several dozen meters, suffering serious injuries including broken ribs. Because of sunset she could not descend and waited overnight; she was rescued the next morning by a fire department disaster-prevention helicopter.
Yamagata Tokamachi 1-chome, Yamagata
Peak activity at 16:00 with 4 incidents
Ursus thibetanus japonicus
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Over the past 30 days, 16 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of this route, including 2 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 Nanyo, Yamagata; the location sits about 15.9 km from the start of the route and 4.8 km off the route line.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 16:00. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk.
This 46.7 km route from Takahata to Yamagata Castle crosses Yamagata. Over the past 30 days, 16 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of the route, including 2 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 Nanyo, Yamagata; the location sits about 15.9 km from the start of the route and 4.8 km off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 2 days ago at Kaminoyama 川口, Yamagata, sitting about 18.4 km from the start and 555 m off the route line. At this density of recent sightings, consider rescheduling or choosing a different trail until activity quiets.
