This 61.0 km route from Yokote to Semboku crosses Akita. Over the past 30 days, 79 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of the route, including 22 in the past week. This route runs through Asian black bear habitat (native to Honshu and Shikoku). The most recent sighting was reported 14 hours ago near Daisen Toyooka, Akita; the location sits about 30.4 km from the start of the route and 2.6 km off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 2 weeks ago at Misato 金沢, Akita, sitting about 9.9 km from the start and 0 m off the route line.
This is an active bear corridor. Drive through with full caution, but rerouting is the safer choice.
I sighted a bear emerging from the undergrowth and heading north. Distance to the houses: 10 m.
Daisen Toyooka, Akita
Was walking near a house from the railroad tracks, body length about 1.2 m, direction of departure unknown. Distance to the house approximately 2 m.
Senboku Nishikicho-Koyamada, Akita
While driving toward the Kakunodate area, a bear about 1.2 m in body length crossed the road from left to right. It departed heading north and was about 100 m from the nearest house.
Senboku Nishikicho-Saimyoji, Akita
Bear sighted walking near the hall. Body length about 1 m. Departed toward the northwest. Distance to the building about 5 m.
Senboku Kakunodatemachi-Kawara, Akita
[Report] While resting in the car, I spotted a bear heading toward the municipal baseball stadium. [Yokote City Agriculture and Forestry Maintenance Division note] The location information is clearly incorrect, so the point on the map is provisional. It is unknown whether this is the old Yokote Municipal Stadium in Yokote Park or another municipal stadium.
Yokote 1-chome, Akita
A city employee on patrol spotted the bear. The bear was wandering on a road in the park and noticed the employee about 60 meters away, but remained standing facing them for a while without moving, so the employee got into a vehicle and approached the bear, at which point it entered the woods in the park. Body length about 1 meter.
Yokote Yawata, Akita
A police officer on patrol spotted a bear near the restrooms in Ōtori Park. The bear went down the slope once but then returned and entered the woods inside Ōtori Park. Its body length is about 1 meter.
Yokote Shinzaka-cho, Akita
Sighted a bear crossing the Ōtorii Bridge near Asakura Elementary School. Body length about 1 m.
Yokote Yawata, Akita
A single bear about 1 m in body length was sighted in the rice field north of the Seven-Eleven Yokote Hachiman store. The distance to the nearest house is about 60 m.
Yokote Yawata, Akita
It moved from the river area toward the urban area.
Yokote Yawata, Akita
At around 07:30 on the 14th, an approximately 1-meter-long bear was sighted in a rice field in 横手市八幡字十二柳, Akita Prefecture by an elderly man in his 80s who was walking nearby. According to the Yokote Police, the sighting location is about 100 meters from the nearest house, and the police are urging residents to be cautious.
Yokote Shizuka-machi, Akita
Observed a bear crossing National Route 13 from east to west. The bear then entered the woods on the west side. Distance to the nearest house was about 10 meters. The bear's body length was 1 to 1.5 meters.
Yokote 杉目, Akita
A bear about 1 meter long was seen moving through the rice fields, heading toward the Yasuragi-en area. The distance to the nearest house was approximately 50 meters.
Yokote 金沢中野, Akita
[Report] A cub about 60 centimeters long. According to a neighbor, it has been appearing since yesterday. It was eating something like grass for a while, but disappeared when I looked away for a moment.
Misato 六郷東根, Akita
A witness, while doing farm work, spotted a bear in a cedar grove between their property and the neighbor’s. / Body length approximately 1.0 m / About 10 m from a house.
Misato, Akita
A bear was near Kojoyama Park. Body length about 1 m. Distance to the nearest buildings about 200 m. Walked off toward the west.
Senboku Kakunodatemachi, Akita
Body length about 1 m, distance to the house about 200 m, direction of departure unknown.
Senboku Kakunodatemachi-Yamayakawasaki, Akita
Body length about 1.2 m. It came down from the mountain, walked near the garbage collection area, and then returned toward the mountain.
Senboku Tazawako-Komatsu, Akita
At around 12:55 PM on May 11, 2026, a woman in her 40s driving in Tazawako Komatsu Aza Jomawari, Semboku City, Akita Prefecture, spotted a bear about 1.2 meters long on a municipal road.
Senboku Tazawako-Komatsu, Akita
[Post] Found droppings after a bear had rubbed against the wall during pesticide spraying in the apple orchard
Yokote 安本, Akita
Sighted near the area where the bypass to National Route 46 (toward Akita) ascends. Body length about 1 m. Direction of departure unknown.
Senboku Kakunodatemachi-Kumoshikari, Akita
Spotted a bear cub in the bushes by the roadside. Mother bear was not seen.
Senboku, Akita
Observed two bears about 0.5 m in length and one bear about 1 m in length. Direction of departure unknown. Approximately 100 m from nearby houses.
Senboku Kakunodatemachi-Sonoda, Akita
After receiving a report, the Yokote City Office Forestry and Agricultural Maintenance Division conducted an on-site inspection. They confirmed multiple footprints in the field measuring at least 15 cm in length. From the footprints, the animal is believed to be an adult bear with a body length of 1.0 to 1.5 meters. During a surrounding patrol they found several locations where apples had been discarded, confirming signs that bears had been attracted to the area.
Yokote 安本, Akita
Observed one cub climbing a tree in the northeastern parking lot on the premises of Aeon Nakasen store. It is still in the tree.
Daisen Kitanagano, Akita
On May 8, 2026, from around 07:30 for about 1.5 hours, a bear approximately 1.2 meters long stayed in a tree in the parking lot of the Aeon Nakasen store in Kita-Nagano Hakamada, Daisen City, Akita Prefecture. After police officers spotted the bear, it wandered through nearby rice fields and then left toward the west (Tamagawa); police patrolled by patrol car and warned residents.
Daisen Kitanagano, Akita
Posted: I was walking in the woods on the premises. Body length about 1 m.
Daisen Shimo-Uguisuno, Akita
[Post] (Posted at 19:33, no description of circumstances)
Misato, Akita
[Post]
Daisen Otacho-Sanbon-ogi, Akita
A witness spotted a bear walking east along the embankment on the north bank of the Yajima River while working in the fields. Distance to the witness: approximately 100 m. Body length: about 1.0 m. Distance to the nearest house: about 360 m.
Daisen Otacho-Sanbon-ogi, Akita
I spotted it beside the tractor that was doing puddling work. It was a fairly large bear. It crossed the road and entered the grounds of a private residence.
Daisen Itaminai, Akita
Spotted a bear about 1.2 m in body length near my home. Direction it left is unknown.
Daisen Fukuda, Akita
A single bear about 1.5 m in body length ran away from the vicinity of Senboku Junior High School toward the east in the direction of Saku no Yu (Sakaku Hot Spring). Distance to the witness: 200 m.
Daisen Horiminai, Akita
(Report) While walking the dog, I saw a bear running through the rice fields. Even from about 200 meters away it was swaying as it ran and looked large.
Daisen Takanashi, Akita
[Post] Footprints found in the field.
Misato 金沢西根, Akita
[Post] (No description of the situation)
Yokote Yokote-machi, Akita
Sighted a bear crossing the Yuzawa-Yokote Road eastbound near Yokote JCT (about 500 meters southwest of the tollbooth). Body length approximately 1 m.
Yokote Fuke-ootsutsumi, Akita
Witnessed a bear about 1.5 m in body length at the guardrail. Direction of departure unknown.
Yokote Fuke-ootsutsumi, Akita
Spotted a bear crossing the road. It moved south along the side of Takubo Marsh. Body length about 1.5 m.
Yokote Fuke-ootsutsumi, Akita
Spotted a bear about 1 meter long. It ran off to the west.
Yokote Yasuda, Akita
[Post] (No situation described)
Yokote Ekimae-cho, Akita
An animal believed to be a bear about 1.5 m in length was observed moving around along a route through the drugstore, Komyoji Park, and Yurinoki Street.
Yokote Tanaka-machi, Akita
A creature believed to be a bear about 1.2 m in length was sighted near the Minami (South) Government Building of Yokote City Hall. The animal crossed the road heading east.
Yokote 1-chome, Akita
On the morning of the 3rd at around 04:10, a single bear was seen crossing a road near the Yokote City Office Jouri South Branch in Jouri, Yokote City, and about 20 minutes later a bear was also seen at an intersection in Kotobuki-cho. Further sightings occurred near JR Yokote Station, and the last sighting before 07:00 was near a marsh by Fukeodai, after which the bear's whereabouts are unknown; police and the city have issued warnings.
Yokote 1-chome, Akita
On the morning of May 3 in Yokote City, Akita Prefecture, a bear about 1.2 m long was seen crossing a prefectural road at 04:10, and other bears about 1.5 m long were reported at multiple locations later in the morning. The police are patrolling the area and warning residents to be cautious.
Yokote 1-chome, Akita
[Post] (No description of situation) *The accuracy of information from 'Kumadas' is unknown, but because this is a high-risk area we are issuing this alert.
Yokote 2-chome, Akita
A bear about 0.5 m in body length was attempting to climb from a rice field up the slope of the bypass. Distance to nearby buildings approximately 60 m. Direction of departure unknown.
Senboku Kakunodatemachi-Kumoshikari, Akita
One bear approximately 1.2 m in length was sighted and then left; its direction of departure is unknown. It was about 10 m from a nearby house.
Senboku Kakunodatemachi-Yamayakawasaki, Akita
[Report] While driving on Route 13, an adult bear crossed the road.
Misato 金沢, Akita
A worker spotted a bear moving westward in the mountains north of the town road / body length about 1.0 m / approximately 230 m to Rokugo Onsen Attaka-yama
Misato 六郷東根, Akita
One bear approximately 1 m in body length was sighted near the south side of Takubono Swamp. The bear then ran west. The distance to the nearest house is about 200 m.
Yokote Fuke-ootsutsumi, Akita
A large black animal emerged from the irrigation canal. At first I thought it was a person working in the fields, but then a bear about 1 meter long ran at high speed toward Yakushijinsha Shrine. (Because the lot number information was missing, I added the town-area and smaller division.)
Misato 金沢, Akita
Climbed the steps of Karasumatsu-yama Shrine toward Atago-yama. An adult bear about 1.5 m in length. Approximately 20 m from a house.
Yokote Kamiuchi-machi, Akita
At around 17:35 on April 27, 2026, a man in his 50s at home spotted a bear approximately 1 meter long on the road in Kaminai-machi, Yokote City, Akita Prefecture. The nearest house was about 20 meters away and Yokote Minami Elementary School about 500 meters; the police notified related agencies, patrolled the area by cruiser, and warned residents.
Yokote Kamiuchi-machi, Akita
A bear approximately 1.3 m in body length was sighted. Distance and direction of departure are unknown.
Senboku Nishikicho-Koyamada, Akita
While driving north on a municipal road, witnessed a bear crossing from the east side of the road to the west / body length about 80 cm / about 10 m from a residence
Misato 六郷, Akita
At around 10:25 a.m. on April 27, 2026, a bear about 70 cm long was seen crossing a town road in Hakusan, Rokugo, Misato Town, Akita Prefecture, witnessed by a man from Yokote City driving a car. The site was about 250 meters from Rokugo Elementary School; the Daisen police station notified relevant agencies and is patrolling the area with police cars and warning residents.
Misato 六郷, Akita
At around 10:05 a.m. on the 27th, a man driving by spotted a single bear about 70 cm long crossing a town road in Hakusan, Rokugo, Misato Town, Akita Prefecture. The area faces National Route 13 and is about 250 meters from Rokugo Elementary School; the police notified related agencies, are patrolling the area with police cars, and have warned residents.
Misato 六郷, Akita
While driving on a municipal road, witnessed a bear heading east across the road. / Body length about 1.0 m / Approximately 70 m from a residence
Misato 安城寺, Akita
【Post】
Senboku Kakunodatemachi-Sonoda, Akita
Witnessed one bear about 1 m (at shoulder or body height) crossing the road from south to north. Distance to nearby house: 20 m.
Daisen Toyooka, Akita
It ran across the road from the field on the south side and dashed into the woods behind the houses on the north side.
Daisen Toyooka, Akita
[Posted] Was walking while moving
Yokote 2-chome, Akita
A bear cub approximately 50 cm in length was sighted on the grounds of the Asahi Fureai Center. It ran east along the road in front of the center, and its subsequent whereabouts are unknown.
Yokote Inooka, Akita
Spotted one bear cub in the apartment parking lot from the third floor of the apartment building. The bear ran off toward National Route 107.
Yokote 3-chome, Akita
At a parking lot in Asahigaoka, Yokote City, a teenage male spotted one bear about 50 cm long from his home at around 15:40 on April 23. The nearest house was about 20 meters away; the Yokote police are patrolling the area and warning residents.
Yokote 3-chome, Akita
A roughly 50 cm tall bear was sighted on the grounds of Sugawara Shrine. Direction of escape unknown. Distance to nearest houses: 200 m.
Daisen Okannari, Akita
Witnessed a bear about 1 m tall while walking a dog. Direction of escape unknown. Distance to the nearest house: 15 m.
Daisen Toyokawa, Akita
A juvenile bear about 50 cm long was seen in a field. Its subsequent whereabouts are unknown. Distance to the nearest house: approximately 20 m.
Yokote Akasaka, Akita
At around 17:55 on April 22, 2026, a man in his 40s driving a car spotted a single bear about 50 cm long walking in a field beside the road in Yokote City, Akasaka Aza Aranuma. The nearest house was about 10 meters away, and police have issued a warning.
Yokote Akasaka, Akita
I was walking on flat ground. It disappeared into nearby brush.
Misato, Akita
Witnessed a bear while taking out the garbage. Size and direction of escape unknown. Distance to the nearest house: 30 m.
Daisen, Akita
A bear was sighted while taking out the trash. Size and direction it fled are unknown. Distance to the nearest house: 30 m.
Daisen Toyooka, Akita
A bear about 0.5 m in body length was in the rice field. Distance to the nearest house was about 20 m. It left heading north.
Senboku Kakunodatemachi-Kumoshikari, Akita
While driving, a bear about 1.5 meters long was sighted near the underside of a bridge. The bear then ran south. It was about 20 meters from a house.
Yokote Hongo-cho, Akita
At around 7:10 a.m. on April 18, 2026, a bear about 1.5 meters long was sighted on the riverbank at Kamizaike, Maego, Yokote City, Akita Prefecture by a woman in her 40s who was driving. According to the Yokote Police, the nearest house is about 20 meters away, and the police have warned residents to be cautious.
Yokote Uwazaike, Akita
Observed one bear cub (body length 0.5 m) on the road. Distance to a house: 100 m.
Daisen 三角, Akita
Spotted a mother and cub bear in a rice field. Body lengths: 1.0 m and 0.5 m. Distance from houses: 500 m.
Daisen Otacho-Ota, Akita
Spotted a mother bear and cubs in a rice field. Body lengths: 1.0 m and 0.5 m. Distance to residences: 500 m.
Daisen Otacho-Ota, Akita
Peak activity at 7:00 with 13 incidents
Ursus thibetanus japonicus
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Over the past 30 days, 79 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of this route, including 22 in the past week. This route runs through Asian black bear habitat (native to Honshu and Shikoku).
The most recent sighting was reported 14 hours ago near Daisen Toyooka, Akita; the location sits about 30.4 km from the start of the route and 2.6 km off the route line.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 7:00. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk.
This 61.0 km route from Yokote to Semboku crosses Akita. Over the past 30 days, 79 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of the route, including 22 in the past week. This route runs through Asian black bear habitat (native to Honshu and Shikoku). The most recent sighting was reported 14 hours ago near Daisen Toyooka, Akita; the location sits about 30.4 km from the start of the route and 2.6 km off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 2 weeks ago at Misato 金沢, Akita, sitting about 9.9 km from the start and 0 m off the route line. This is an active bear corridor. Drive through with full caution, but rerouting is the safer choice.
