Saves as a new trip plan. The original stays as-is.
This 340 km route runs from Yonezawa Castle to Tobinodai Shell Mound, passing through Yamagata, Chiba, Fukushima, Gunma, Saitama, Tochigi, and Tokyo. In the past 30 days, 159 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 26 of them. The latest sighting was reported 9 hours ago near Fukushima Matsukawamachi-Mizuhara, Fukushima.
This is an active bear corridor. Drive through with full caution, but rerouting is the safer choice.
9 places within 1 km of your route, passing through Yamagata, Chiba, Fukushima, Gunma, Saitama, Tochigi, Tokyo.
One bear was sighted crossing the road on National Route 115 in Matsukawa-machi Mizuhara, Fukushima City.
Fukushima Matsukawamachi-Mizuhara, Fukushima
Around 8:00 on 2026-06-14, a bear was sighted in Ageta-cho, Kanuma City.
Kanuma 油田町, Tochigi
Around 22:30 on 2026-06-14, an animal believed to be a bear was sighted in Kiwada-machi, Kanuma City.
Kanuma 亀和田町, Tochigi
On Saturday, June 13 at approximately 3:50 p.m., a witness (male in his 30s) spotted one bear (about 1 m in length) inside a park in Uenodera, Kamihiraba area, Fukushima City. The bear then left heading west.
Fukushima Futagozuka, Fukushima
On Saturday, June 13 at around 3:25 p.m., on a municipal road in Minamimukoudai 3-chome, Fukushima City, an eyewitness (male in his 80s) driving a vehicle spotted two bears (each about 1.5 m in body length). The bears subsequently left heading west.
Fukushima Oguraji, Fukushima
At around 12:25 a.m. on Saturday, June 13, in the fields in Fujikubo, Sekiya, Matsukawa-machi, Fukushima City, a witness (male, in his teens) saw one bear (approximately 1 meter in body length) crossing the fields near Kanayagawa Station on the JR Tohoku Main Line while he was walking. The bear then departed south from that location.
Fukushima Kanayagawa, Fukushima
Two bears about 1.5 meters long were sighted on a city road in Minamimukai-dai 3-chome, Fukushima City.
Fukushima Oguraji, Fukushima
At around 3:50 PM on 2026-06-13, a bear was sighted in Uwanodera Kamihiraba, Fukushima City.
Fukushima Futagozuka, Fukushima
On Friday, June 12 at about 5:15 p.m., on a village road in Oyama Aza Atago, Otama Village, a male witness riding a bicycle toward Nihonmatsu City spotted one bear (about 1 m in body length) walking toward him.
Otama, Fukushima
Habitat: forest / Size: adult
Yonezawa Banseicho-Kariyasu, Yamagata
Around 5:30 AM on June 12, a bear was sighted in Takakuhei, Nasu Town, Tochigi Prefecture.
Nasu 一ツ樅, Tochigi
Around 4:00 PM today, one bear about 1 meter long was spotted in Kariyasu, Bansho-machi, Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture.
Yonezawa Banseicho-Kariyasu, Yamagata
Around noon on Friday, June 12, within the Yamanaka area of Nukazawa, Motomiya City, on Prefectural Route Nihonmatsu-Kanaya, a witness (male in his 20s) driving a vehicle observed one animal believed to be a bear (about 1 m in body length) walking toward Motomiya on the road.
Motomiya 仁井田, Fukushima
Kanuma みなみ町, Tochigi
Around 21:20 on June 11, a bear-like animal was sighted in Kitahanda, Kanuma City.
Kanuma 北半田, Tochigi
Environment: Near human residences / Size: Adult
Yonezawa Fukuda, Yamagata
On Thursday, June 11 at approximately 2:55 a.m., on National Route 13 in Funaba-cho, Fukushima City, a witness (male in his 20s) driving a vehicle observed one animal believed to be a bear crossing the road (about 50 cm in body length). There were no human injuries or property damage.
Fukushima Minamimachi, Fukushima
An animal thought to be a bear was sighted crossing Route 13 in Funaba-cho, Fukushima City.
Fukushima Minamimachi, Fukushima
Environment: Forest / Size: Adult
Yonezawa Sekine, Yamagata
On Wednesday, June 10 at approximately 1:20 p.m., in the Suwayama area of Kuroiwa, Fukushima City, on a municipal road, a witness (female in her 20s) observed one animal believed to be a bear (about 1 meter in body length) crossing the road while traveling by vehicle.
Fukushima Kuroiwa, Fukushima
Environment: Road / Size: Juvenile
Yonezawa Banseicho-Ushimori, Yamagata
One bear, about 1.2 meters long, was sighted in Sekine, Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture.
Yonezawa Sekine, Yamagata
On Tuesday, June 9 at around 2:00 p.m., in a field in Uenakashima, Sasakino, Fukushima City, a caller (male in his 70s) discovered footprints believed to be from a bear. When Fukushima City Hall staff arrived and inspected the scene, they confirmed the tracks were from a bear.
Fukushima Kaminodera, Fukushima
Bear tracks were found in a field in Nagabayashi, Machinobasaka, Fukushima City.
Fukushima Shimonodera, Fukushima
On Tuesday, June 9 at approximately 11:40 a.m., in a field within Osanabayashi area, Machinibasaka, Fukushima City, the reporter (male) discovered footprints believed to be from a bear. Fukushima City Hall staff responded to the scene and confirmed that the tracks were from a bear.
Fukushima Shimonodera, Fukushima
Kanuma 深程, Tochigi
On Monday, June 8 at approximately 9:35 p.m., near the 184.3-kilometer post on the inbound (upbound) lanes of the Tohoku Expressway at 40-2 Ikenoiriyama, Fumase, Izumizaki Village, a large commercial truck driven by a man in his 50s, traveling in the first lane of the inbound direction, collided with a bear (about 1.5 m in body length) that crossed from the right side to the left of the vehicle’s direction of travel. The driver of the vehicle sustained no injuries. There were no passengers. The bear was confirmed dead at the scene of the traffic accident.
Izumizaki Fumase, Fukushima
On Monday, June 8, at around 8:20 p.m., a witness (male in his 60s) sighted one bear (approximately 1 m in body length) on the roadway in Uchimach in Machinawazaka, Fukushima City. The bear subsequently left the area heading west.
Fukushima Futagozuka, Fukushima
On June 8 (Monday) at approximately 5:50 PM, in the Kurokawa area below Shirasaka, Shirakawa City, a witness (male in his teens) spotted one bear (about 2 meters in body length) by the roadside while riding a bicycle.
Shirakawa, Fukushima
A dark object believed to be a bear climbed a tree / Environment: Near houses / Size: Unknown
Yonezawa Hosenmachi, Yamagata
On Monday, June 8 at around 2:00 p.m., a single bear (about 1 m in body length) was sighted within the golf course area in Gakudan, Kuroiwa, Fukushima City. The bear later left and went into the grove of mixed woods.
Fukushima Tazawa, Fukushima
Environment: Road / Size: Adult
Yonezawa Fukuda, Yamagata
One bear was sighted in Ota-machi, Yonezawa City, crossing the road from west to east.
Yonezawa Fukuda, Yamagata
On Monday, June 8 at approximately 5:50 a.m., in a field in Nishihara, Minamisawamata area, Fukushima City, a witness (female in her 40s) observed one animal believed to be a bear (about 1 m in body length) in the field. Because it was a brief passing sighting, the direction in which it left and other details are unknown.
Fukushima Minamisawamata, Fukushima
Environment: Road / Size: Adult
Yonezawa Kiwada, Yamagata
Around 2 PM on June 8, a bear was sighted in Kuroiwa Gakudan, Fukushima City.
Fukushima Tazawa, Fukushima
Around 5:50 on June 8, a bear-like animal was sighted in Minamisawamata Nishihara, Fukushima City.
Fukushima Minamisawamata, Fukushima
A bear was sighted in Uchimachi, Machinaiwazaka, Fukushima City around 8:20 PM on June 8.
Fukushima Futagozuka, Fukushima
Near the BMW, I saw it running from the field or rice paddy toward the grove of trees. I was driving and looked to the right when I saw it, so there are no photos. It wasn't in front, so the dashcam didn’t record it either.
Kanuma 深津, Tochigi
Environment: Road / Size: Adult
Yonezawa Banseicho-Kariyasu, Yamagata
One bear about 1 meter long was sighted in Hosencho, Yonezawa City.
Yonezawa Hosenmachi, Yamagata
One bear was sighted on a city road in Takinohara 3, Utsunomiya.
Utsunomiya 大塚町, Tochigi
One bear about 1 meter long was sighted in Ekimae 1-chome, Yonezawa City.
Yonezawa Shimohanazawa, Yamagata
Sighting reported around Utsunomiya, Takinokahara 3-chome area.
Utsunomiya 大塚町, Tochigi
Around 5:15 on June 7, one bear was sighted in Otsuka-cho, Utsunomiya City.
Utsunomiya 大塚町, Tochigi
A bear was sighted at a park in Aikobano-cho, Utsunomiya City.
Utsunomiya 明保野町, Tochigi
Environment: On the railway tracks / Size: Adult
Yonezawa Shimohanazawa, Yamagata
On Sunday, June 7 at approximately 4:10 a.m., in a field in Minamisawamata, Suimonshimo, Fukushima City, a witness (male, in his 70s) observed one animal believed to be a bear (about 50 cm in body length) in the field. The animal then left the scene heading east.
Fukushima Sasakino, Fukushima
A bear crossed in front of pedestrians on Orion Street in Utsunomiya and was captured on a fixed camera.
Utsunomiya Enomachi, Tochigi
A bear ran past a pedestrian on Orion-dori in central Utsunomiya City.
Utsunomiya Enomachi, Tochigi
Utsunomiya 大塚町, Tochigi
A bear was sighted in Nishikawada-cho, Utsunomiya City.
Utsunomiya 西川田町, Tochigi
Utsunomiya 明保野町, Tochigi
Utsunomiya 大塚町, Tochigi
Utsunomiya Honcho, Tochigi
Utsunomiya 大塚町, Tochigi
Utsunomiya 東原町, Tochigi
A bear was sighted in Kamiozocho.
Utsunomiya 上大曽町, Tochigi
At around 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 6, a witness (male, in his 60s) observed one bear (approximately 1 m in body length) running across a rice field in the Higashikubo area of Katahira Town, Koriyama City. The bear then left toward the mountain to the northwest.
Koriyama 片平町, Fukushima
A bear was sighted in Fujimigaoka 1, Utsunomiya.
Utsunomiya 山本町, Tochigi
On Saturday, June 6 at around 6:30 p.m., in the riverbed area of Sakurauchi, Minamisawamata, Fukushima City, a witness (male in his 40s) observed one animal believed to be a bear (approximately 1 m in body length) moving eastward along the riverbed.
Fukushima Minamisawamata, Fukushima
Utsunomiya 八幡台, Tochigi
Bear sightings were reported one after another in Utsunomiya City, and at night a bear was captured on security camera running through Orion Dori.
Utsunomiya Enomachi, Tochigi
A bear was sighted walking north on a city road in Fujimigaoka 1-chome, Utsunomiya City.
Utsunomiya 山本町, Tochigi
Around 8:30 PM on 2026-06-06, a bear 60–80 cm long was seen in Yamamoto, Utsunomiya, Tochigi. No injuries were reported.
Utsunomiya 八幡台, Tochigi
Utsunomiya 戸祭台, Tochigi
Utsunomiya 戸祭台, Tochigi
Size: cub/juvenile
Yonezawa Naoe-sekitei, Yamagata
A bear was sighted in Sasakino Harai Kawazoe, Fukushima City, around 4:10 AM on June 5.
Fukushima Sasakino, Fukushima
On June 5 (Friday) at approximately 4:10 a.m., in a rice paddy in the Harakawazoe area of Sasakino, Fukushima City, a witness (male in his 60s) observed one bear (about 1 m in body length) moving south through the rice paddy.
Fukushima Sasakino, Fukushima
In Sasakino, Fukushima City, a bear was seen in a paddy field near a city road about 2 km northwest of the escaped bear's factory.
Fukushima Sasakino, Fukushima
At around 2:00 a.m., one bear about 1.5 meters long was sighted within the grounds of a house in Yamada, Yaita City, Tochigi Prefecture.
Yaita Yamada, Tochigi
Yaita Yamada, Tochigi
One bear was sighted in Naoeishizutsumi, Yonezawa City.
Yonezawa Naoe-sekitei, Yamagata
In Sasakino, Fukushima City, a bear was seen crossing a city road about 2 km northwest of the escaped bear's factory.
Fukushima Sasakino, Fukushima
On Thursday, June 4 at approximately 7:40 p.m., in the area of Harakawazoe, Sasakino, Fukushima City, on a municipal road, a witness (male) driving a vehicle observed a bear (one, about 1 meter in body length) crossing the road from east to west.
Fukushima Sasakino, Fukushima
A bear was sighted in Sasakino Harigawasoe, Fukushima City, around 19:40 on June 4.
Fukushima Sasakino, Fukushima
On Thursday, June 4 at around 7:00 p.m., in the Moto-Kanazawa area of Sakurashita, Fukushima City, on the cycling road, a witness (a woman in her 30s) driving a vehicle saw one bear (about 1 m in body length) enter the riverside thicket from the cycling road.
Fukushima Sakurashimo, Fukushima
Environment: around human habitation / Size: juvenile
Yonezawa Sekine, Yamagata
Around 4:30 PM on 2026-06-04, one bear was sighted in Sekine, Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture. It was estimated to be about 80 cm long.
Yonezawa Sekine, Yamagata
Around 7:00 PM on 2026-06-04, a bear was sighted in Sasukurashita Motokanazawa, Fukushima City.
Fukushima Sakurashimo, Fukushima
At around 19:15 on June 3, a bear was sighted in Matsukawa-machi Asakawa Hato, Fukushima City.
Fukushima Hikarigaoka, Fukushima
Around 19:15 on 2026-06-03, one bear was sighted on a city road in Asakawa, Matsukawa-machi, Fukushima City.
Fukushima Matsukawamachi-Asakawa, Fukushima
On Wednesday, June 3 at approximately 7:15 p.m., in the area of Namiwataru, Asakawa, Matsukawa-machi, Fukushima City, on a municipal road, a witness (male in his 20s) driving observed one bear (about 1 m in body length) crossing the road from north to south.
Fukushima Hikarigaoka, Fukushima
Around 7:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 3, in Wariishi, Machinabasaka, Fukushima City, the caller (male in his 70s) discovered what appeared to be bear scat and reported it to the police. He provided the information to Fukushima City Hall, and when city officials responded to the scene with him and inspected the area, it was confirmed to be bear scat.
Fukushima Zainiwasaka, Fukushima
On the night of 2026-06-03, one bear was seen moving in Sasakino Tachi, Fukushima City.
Fukushima Yashimada, Fukushima
At the Fukushimaseiko factory premises, a bear was seen on the roof of a three-story building.
Fukushima Yashimada, Fukushima
A bear entered the premises of Fukushima Seiko in Sasakino Tenjikuda, Fukushima City, and attacked two employees.
Fukushima Yashimada, Fukushima
At an establishment in Sasakino, Fukushima City, a bear attacked four employees/residents and four people were injured. The bear is believed to still be staying inside the building.
Fukushima Sasakino, Fukushima
A bear appeared on the Fukushimaseiko premises in Sasakino, Fukushima City, and injured two employees, one nearby resident, and one security guard at another nearby company.
Fukushima Yashimada, Fukushima
At around 6:30 a.m. on Tuesday, June 2, at a business premises in Fukushima City, a bear that had entered the site attacked two employees, and then attacked two more people in a nearby residential area, injuring a total of four people. All sustained minor injuries and were conscious. Those attacked by the bear were two male employees in their 20s and 60s from “Fukushima Seikō” in Sasakino Tenjikuda, Fukushima City, and an 80-year-old woman and a 60-year-old man in the surrounding area. All appear to be conscious. The scene is a residential area about 3 kilometers northwest of JR Fukushima Station.
Fukushima Yashimada, Fukushima
Around 6:30 a.m. on Tuesday, June 2, in Yumachi, Machinibasaka, Fukushima City, the reporter (a woman in her 30s) discovered bear droppings.
Fukushima Zainiwasaka, Fukushima
The bear attacked four people while moving across JR Ou Main Line Sasakino Station.
Fukushima Yashimada, Fukushima
A bear entered the premises of Fukushima Steel in Fukushima City, chased a male employee in his 20s, and injured him lightly.
Fukushima Yashimada, Fukushima
On Monday, June 1 at approximately 10:51 p.m., in a residential area of Tatsuda, Sasakino, Fukushima City, a witness (female in her 50s) spotted a single bear (about 1 m in body length) leaving the area, moving from east to west toward the residential neighborhood as she was about to stop at a convenience store. The witness saw the bear while driving.
Fukushima Yashimada, Fukushima
On June 1 (Monday) at around 6:30 a.m., near the entrance on the Fukushima Prefecture side of the Higashikuriko Tunnel on National Route 13 in Nakano, Iizaka Town, Fukushima City, a witness (male, in his 60s) spotted one bear (approximately 1 m in length) at the roadside while driving.
Fukushima, Fukushima
A sighting of one bear beside the road near the Fukushima-side entrance of the Higashi-Akiko Tunnel on National Route 13 in Iizaka-machi Nakano, Fukushima City.
Fukushima, Fukushima
At approximately 6:30 a.m. on May 31, in a field in Hiraakasaka, Suibara, Matsukawa-machi, Fukushima City, the caller (a woman in her 60s) went to the field to do farm work and discovered what appeared to be bear tracks. She reported it to the police station. Afterwards she provided the information to Fukushima City Hall, and when city hall staff attended the scene with her and checked, it was confirmed to be bear tracks.
Fukushima, Fukushima
Nasushiobara 高林, Tochigi
Environment: road / Size: young animal
Yonezawa Banseicho-Kariyasu, Yamagata
A bear was sighted in Sasakino Shigaido, Fukushima City, around 23:45 on May 28.
Fukushima Niida, Fukushima
On Thursday, May 28, at approximately 11:45 p.m., in the road area of Ichikaidō, Sasakino, Fukushima City, a witness (male in his 20s) spotted one bear (approx. 1.5 m in body length) crossing the road while returning home from work. The bear then departed the scene heading west. The witness saw the bear while driving a vehicle.
Fukushima Niida, Fukushima
At around 6:40 p.m. on Thursday, May 28, in a fruit orchard in the Dozuna Kitayachi-tochi area of Fukushima City, a witness (male in his 50s) saw a single bear (about 1 m in body length) wandering through the orchard next to his home. The bear subsequently left the area heading west.
Fukushima Tsuchifune, Fukushima
Nasushiobara 折戸, Tochigi
Nasushiobara 高林, Tochigi
At around 5:30 a.m. on May 27, in an agricultural field in Hiraakasaka, Suibara, Matsukawa-machi, Fukushima City, a caller (a woman in her 60s) went to the field to do farm work and discovered bear tracks. She reported it to the police station, and later provided the information to Fukushima City Hall. City hall staff went to the scene with her and confirmed that the tracks were from a bear.
Fukushima, Fukushima
On Tuesday, May 26 at approximately 10:15 a.m., in a forested area of Sugita-machi 3-chome, Nihonmatsu City, a witness (woman in her 30s) while driving saw one animal believed to be a bear walking near a trail in the forest. The animal was only partially seen, so its body length is unknown. Its subsequent whereabouts are unknown.
Nihonmatsu 大作, Fukushima
On Tuesday, May 26 at around 7:00 a.m., in Yoshikura, Hikokubo area, Nihonmatsu City, a witness (male in his 70s) driving a vehicle sighted one bear (about 1 m in body length) crossing the farm road from south to north. The bear entered the woodland beside the road and its subsequent whereabouts are unknown.
Nihonmatsu 渋川, Fukushima
A bear was sighted in Takanashi, Nasushiobara City.
Nasushiobara 高林, Tochigi
Nasushiobara 高林, Tochigi
Size: Unknown
Yonezawa Toyamamachi, Yamagata
Size: Adult
Yonezawa Banseicho-Kanaya, Yamagata
One bear was sighted in Katako, Mansei-machi, Yonezawa City, Yamagata.
Yonezawa Banseicho-Katako, Yamagata
Around 21:40 on May 24, a bear was sighted in Takabayashi, Nasushiobara City.
Nasushiobara 高林, Tochigi
One bear was seen crossing a city road in Futabishin-den, Shirakawa City, around 19:30.
Shirakawa 双石, Fukushima
On Sunday, May 24 at approximately 7:30 p.m., within Futaishinden area of Shirakawa City, on a municipal road, a witness walking a dog along the road observed one bear (about 1 m in body length) crossing the road.
Shirakawa 双石, Fukushima
A bear was sighted in Niisatomachi Hei, Utsunomiya City.
Utsunomiya 新里町, Tochigi
Utsunomiya 新里町, Tochigi
Nasushiobara 高林, Tochigi
Around 8:10 p.m. on Saturday, May 23, on National Route 399 in the Nakanouchi area of Iizaka Town, Fukushima City, a witness (male, in his 50s) driving a vehicle spotted one bear (approximately 1 m in length) crossing Route 399 from west to east. The bear left for nearby woods; as of now there have been no property or human injuries.
Fukushima Iizakamachi, Fukushima
A bear was sighted in Nakanouchi, Iizaka-machi, Fukushima City.
Fukushima Iizakamachi, Fukushima
A bear was sighted in Aoki, Nasushiobara City.
Nasushiobara 青木, Tochigi
A bear was sighted in Takabayashi, Nasushiobara City.
Nasushiobara 高林, Tochigi
A bear was sighted in Mukuriya, Nasushiobara City.
Nasushiobara 無栗屋, Tochigi
A bear was sighted in Kami-Ōnuki, Nasushiobara City, Tochigi.
Nasushiobara 上大貫, Tochigi
Nasushiobara 上大貫, Tochigi
Nasushiobara 無栗屋, Tochigi
On Friday, May 22 at approximately 8:28 p.m., on the Otokotaki Bridge over the Abukuma River in the Tanaka Tsuchinai area of Sukagawa City, a witness (male) driving across the bridge observed one bear (about 1.5 m in length) walking near the middle of the bridge. The bear then briefly moved eastward and its subsequent whereabouts are unknown.
Sukagawa 市野関, Fukushima
A bear was sighted in Tanakadonai, Sukagawa City, Fukushima Prefecture, around 20:28 on May 22.
Sukagawa 市野関, Fukushima
A teenage boy on the way home from school sighted one bear, about 1.5 meters long, in a pasture area in Daito, Dakeonsen, Nihonmatsu City.
Nihonmatsu 岳温泉大和, Fukushima
On Friday, May 22 at approximately 6:50 PM, a witness (male in his teens) observed a bear about 1.5 meters long sitting in a grassy pasture beside a municipal road in the Yamato area of Dake Onsen, Nihonmatsu City, while returning home from school.
Nihonmatsu 岳温泉大和, Fukushima
Size: Adult
Yonezawa Sekine, Yamagata
On Friday, May 22 at around 11:55 a.m., near a private residence on a slope in Narita-machi 1-chome, Nihonmatsu City, an eyewitness (female in her 80s) went to a field and saw two bears (each about 1.5 meters long) walking on the slope; both bears were later seen entering the woodland to the west.
Nihonmatsu 三保内, Fukushima
On Friday, May 22 at around 11:00 a.m., in the Enbu area of Nakano, Iizaka-machi, Fukushima City, a witness (male, in his 50s) spotted a bear (one, about 1 m in body length) in the brush beside a municipal road while driving. The bear left the area and went into the forested mountains to the west.
Fukushima Iizakamachi-Nakano, Fukushima
Size: Adult
Yonezawa Minamihara-Inawashiromachi, Yamagata
Around 6:25 AM on May 22, a bear was sighted in Ouse-machi Kawauchi-Higashinagura, Koriyama City.
Koriyama, Fukushima
On Friday, May 22 at approximately 6:25 a.m., in the area of Higashinagakura, Kawachi, Ouse-machi, Koriyama City, on the south side of Ouse Park, a witness (female, driving a vehicle) observed one bear (about 1 m in body length) crossing the main prefectural road Naganuma-Kikuta Line westward and entering the forest.
Koriyama 逢瀬町河内, Fukushima
One bear was sighted in Nambara Inawashirocho, Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture. It was estimated to be about 1 meter long.
Yonezawa Minamihara-Inawashiromachi, Yamagata
Around 11:00 on 2026-05-22, a bear about 1 meter long was sighted in Nakanoenbu, Iizakamachi, Fukushima City.
Fukushima Iizakamachi-Nakano, Fukushima
Nasushiobara 上大貫, Tochigi
Around 08:30 on May 21, 2026, an man in his 80s spotted a bear about 50 cm long in a field in Fukushima City, Ozasao Aza Kaminomachi, and reported it to the Fukushima North Police at about 10:00. The bear ran into brush to the west; the site is about 700 meters west of Michi-no-Eki Fukushima and about 500 meters from Ozasao Elementary School, which asked parents to pick up children by car at dismissal.
Fukushima Ozaso, Fukushima
On Thursday, May 21 at approximately 8:30 a.m., in Ōzaso Aza Kaminomachi area of Fukushima City, an eyewitness (male in his 80s) spotted one bear (about 50 cm in body length) in a field while mowing grass. The bear left the area toward the thicket to the west, and as of now there are no property or personal injuries.
Fukushima Ozaso, Fukushima
Size: Unknown
Yonezawa Fukuda, Yamagata
Witnessed on the way back from fishing
Fukushima Kuroiwa, Fukushima
On Wednesday, May 20 at approximately 8:40 a.m., in forested land at Fūfū (Kazefuki) area, Kumakura, Saigō Village, a woman driving a car witnessed a bear (about 1 m in length) entering the forest.
Nishigo 大字熊倉, Fukushima
Size: Adult
Yonezawa Fukuda, Yamagata
Nasushiobara 上大貫, Tochigi
A bear was sighted in Nasu Town, Tochigi Prefecture. The article is behind a paywall on Shimotsuke Shimbun Digital, so further details are not publicly available.
Nasu 富岡, Tochigi
At around 07:45 on May 19, 2026, a bear approximately 1 meter long was sighted in Ma-fune Kamiyashiki (Ōaza Mafune, Kamiyashiki), Saigō Village, Fukushima Prefecture. No damage to people or property has been confirmed so far, and the police have urged caution.
Nishigo, Fukushima
On Tuesday, May 19 at around 7:45 a.m., in Kamiyashikichi, Mafune, Saigō Village, on National Route 289, a woman driving a vehicle observed one bear (about 1 m in body length) crossing the road and heading south toward rice fields and residential houses.
Nishigo, Fukushima
Nasushiobara 上大貫, Tochigi
On Monday, May 18 at approximately 11:10 a.m., in the Nagata 2-chome area of Nihonmatsu City, a witness (woman in her 30s) observed a bear (about 1 m in body length) on the premises of a residence while at home; the bear was later seen entering the forest to the northeast.
Nihonmatsu 永田馬保内, Fukushima
In Nagata 2-chome, Nihonmatsu City, at around 11:10 on May 18, a single bear approximately 1 meter long was observed on residential premises.
Nihonmatsu 永田鍛治内, Fukushima
On Sunday, May 17 at about 7:30 a.m., near the entrance of Ouse Park at 1-3 Higashinagakura, Kawauchi, Ouse-machi, Koriyama City, a witness (male, seated in the passenger seat of a vehicle) observed one bear (approximately 1 m in body length) crossing the road to the east and entering the woodland.
Koriyama 逢瀬町河内, Fukushima
Around 07:30 on the 17th, a man in a car reported to police that he saw a bear crossing the road near the west entrance of Ouse Park in Ouse-machi, Koriyama. According to the police the bear, about 1 meter long, crossed the prefectural road and entered the forest in the park; the park had been closed after another sighting on the afternoon of the 16th and staff are patrolling and using firecrackers as countermeasures.
Koriyama, Fukushima
At around 07:30 on May 17, 2026, a man in a car spotted one bear crossing the road and entering the forest near the entrance of Ouse Park in Ouse-cho, Koriyama City, and reported it to the police. Ouse Park has been closed since the 16th after staff found a bear inside the park, and the animal seen this time is believed to be the same one based on its size.
Koriyama, Fukushima
Nasushiobara 上大貫, Tochigi
Yaita, Tochigi
Nasushiobara 上大貫, Tochigi
Peak activity at 5:00 with 13 incidents
Ursus thibetanus japonicus
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In the past 30 days, 159 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 26 of them.
The latest sighting was reported 9 hours ago near Fukushima Matsukawamachi-Mizuhara, Fukushima.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 5:00. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk.
This 340 km route runs from Yonezawa Castle to Tobinodai Shell Mound, passing through Yamagata, Chiba, Fukushima, Gunma, Saitama, Tochigi, and Tokyo. In the past 30 days, 159 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 26 of them. The latest sighting was reported 9 hours ago near Fukushima Matsukawamachi-Mizuhara, Fukushima. This is an active bear corridor. Drive through with full caution, but rerouting is the safer choice.
