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This 330 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, 72 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 27 of them. The latest sighting was reported 23 hours ago near Yonezawa Banseicho-Katako, Yamagata.
This is an active bear corridor. Drive through with full caution, but rerouting is the safer choice.
14 places within 1 km of your route, passing through Yamagata, Chiba, Fukushima, Gunma, Saitama, Tochigi, Tokyo.
One bear was sighted in Katako, Mansei-machi, Yonezawa City, Yamagata.
Yonezawa Banseicho-Katako, Yamagata
One bear was seen crossing a city road in Futabishin-den, Shirakawa City, around 19:30.
Shirakawa 双石, Fukushima
A bear was sighted in Niisatomachi Hei, Utsunomiya City.
Utsunomiya 新里町, Tochigi
One bear was sighted inside a residential property in Takabayashi, Nasu-Shiobara City.
Nasushiobara 高林, Tochigi
Utsunomiya 新里町, Tochigi
Nasushiobara 高林, Tochigi
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
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
Around 6:25 AM on May 22, a bear was sighted in Ouse-machi Kawauchi-Higashinagura, Koriyama City.
Koriyama, 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
Shimotsuke Shimbun Digital reported that a bear was sighted in Nasushiobara City. The article body is behind a paywall for subscribers and detailed information was not publicly available.
Nasushiobara 共墾社, Tochigi
Witnessed on the way back from fishing
Fukushima Kuroiwa, Fukushima
A bear was reported sighted on a municipal road in Nasushiobara City, Tochigi Prefecture. The article is behind the Shimotsuke Digital paywall and detailed information is not publicly available.
Nasushiobara 共墾社, Tochigi
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
Nasushiobara 上大貫, Tochigi
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 2026-05-18 in Nihonmatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture, a bear appeared on the grounds of a private residence and was sighted about one meter from the house.
Nihonmatsu 金色, 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
On 2026-05-17, a bear was reported sighted in Yaita City, Tochigi Prefecture. The original article is behind a paywall, so details such as the exact location and time are not available in the text provided.
Yaita, Tochigi
Nasushiobara 上大貫, Tochigi
Yaita, Tochigi
Nasushiobara 上大貫, Tochigi
Following a bear sighting, Ouse Park in Koriyama City was closed from the evening of May 16. After safety was confirmed, the park reopened at 13:00 on May 18; Fukushima Prefecture conducted patrols and used firecrackers in the park on May 17 and 18 as countermeasures.
Koriyama 逢瀬町河内, Fukushima
At around 06:10 on May 16, 2026, a man walking in Omori Nishiomote, Fukushima City, spotted a single bear about 1.5 meters long. The bear returned to the mountains afterward, and no injuries have been reported.
Fukushima Omori, Fukushima
On May 16 at around 06:00, a resident in Niiza, Nihonmatsu City, saw a single bear about 1.5 meters long wandering in another house's grounds, climb over a fence, and head into the bushes. About an hour and a half later a bear was seen on a road, and around 16:00 one was seen in a cemetery; sightings were reported elsewhere in the prefecture and police have increased vigilance.
Nihonmatsu 新座, Fukushima
On the morning of May 16, 2026, a bear was seen around 05:20 near the municipal Seventh Junior High School in Azusagawa, Yonezawa City; about an hour later another bear was reported in Mansei-cho Ushimori at 06:20, and roughly an hour after that a bear was sighted in Hachimabara 4-chome. All observed bears were about 1 meter long; it is unknown whether they were the same individual. The police have increased patrols and the prefecture issued a bear sighting warning.
Yonezawa Takei, Yamagata
At around 16:15 on May 15, 2026, a woman spotted one bear about 0.5 meters long at the Japanese garden Shiki-no-Sato Ryokusui-en in Iwane Kawara, Motomiya City. The bear stayed on the premises briefly but then left toward the adjacent Iokawa River, and the city placed box traps in the nearby woods along the river.
Motomiya 岩根, Fukushima
A bear sighting was reported in Motomiya City, Fukushima Prefecture. The article does not specify the exact location, time, or whether there were any damages.
Motomiya 本宮, Fukushima
At about 18:45 on May 13, 2026, a single bear approximately 1 meter long was seen in Iwane Aza Nakamaeda, Motomiya City, running toward the forest and running away.
Motomiya 岩根, Fukushima
A single bear was sighted on a road in Nasu Town, Tochigi Prefecture. The article is behind a paywall and does not report detailed circumstances of the sighting or whether there was any damage.
Nasu 富岡, Tochigi
At around 05:05 on May 13, in a municipal road in Shibukawa Kubo, Nihonmatsu City, a woman in her 50s walking her dog sighted a bear about 1 meter long entering the forest from the road. The witness was not injured, and police are on alert in the area.
Nihonmatsu 上原, Fukushima
On May 12, 2026, bear sightings were reported in Higashi 1-chome, Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture. Around 17:00 a bear estimated about 1 meter long was seen, and around 19:00 a bear about 80 cm long was sighted; the city has issued a caution to residents.
Yonezawa Shimohanazawa, Yamagata
Around 17:00 on the 12th, a bear was sighted in Higashi 1-chome, Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture.
Yonezawa Shimohanazawa, Yamagata
Around 11:55 on May 12, a man in Shirakawa City's Fujisawa mountain area witnessed an animal believed to be a bear about 1.5 meters long crossing a municipal road and entering the forest. No human injuries have been reported, and the police have urged caution.
Shirakawa 藤沢窪, Fukushima
At around 06:50 on May 12, in the area of the Ban-etsu Expressway (downward 75.6 km post) in Iwane, Motomiya City, Fukushima Prefecture, a man in his 60s witnessed a bear about 80 cm long crossing the highway from north to south. The bear went up the road embankment and no human injuries were reported; police are patrolling the area and urging caution.
Motomiya 岩根, Fukushima
On May 12, 2026, a single bear was sighted on a prefectural road in Sano City, Tochigi Prefecture, according to Shimotsuke Shimbun Digital. Further details are behind a paywall.
Sano 高砂町, Tochigi
On May 12, 2026, a single bear about 80 cm long was seen crossing the Ban-etsu Expressway in Motomiya City, Fukushima Prefecture.
Motomiya 岩根, Fukushima
On May 11, 2026, between about 16:00 and 17:00, a single bear approximately 1 meter long was sighted on the prefectural road (Tanuma–Karasawayama Park Line) leading from Tochimoto Park toward Karasawayama in Tochimotocho, Sano City. The bear headed west after the sighting.
Sano 栃本町, Tochigi
A bear was sighted on a road in Nasu-Shiobara City, Tochigi Prefecture. Detailed circumstances and responses have not been confirmed from the article.
Nasushiobara 共墾社, Tochigi
A single bear was sighted swimming in a dam in Nasushiobara, Tochigi Prefecture. The man who saw it told reporters that it swam about 300 meters.
Nasushiobara 共墾社, Tochigi
At around 14:25 on the 8th, a single bear was observed swimming in a dam in Nasushiobara City, Tochigi Prefecture. The male witness told reporters that the bear swam about 300 meters.
Nasushiobara 共墾社, Tochigi
At around 07:40 on the 8th, a bear was sighted in Misawa, Yonezawa City.
Yonezawa Sekine, Yamagata
A bear was sighted swimming in a dam in Nasushiobara City, Tochigi Prefecture. A male witness told reporters that it swam about 300 meters.
Nasushiobara 共墾社, Tochigi
On 2026-05-08, a sighting of a 'bear-like animal' walking in a rice field was reported in Sukagawa City, Fukushima Prefecture (Fukushima TV). No specific time or more detailed location was provided.
Sukagawa 加治町, Fukushima
A bear sighting was reported in Ōtama Village, Fukushima Prefecture. The bear is believed to be a single individual, and authorities have urged caution.
Otama Tamanoi, Fukushima
A bear was reported sighted in a mountain forest in Sano City, Tochigi Prefecture. The full article is behind a paywall, so further details are not available.
Sano 高砂町, Tochigi
On 2026-05-07 a bear sighting was reported in Iizaka-machi, Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture. The article does not mention any injuries or capture.
Fukushima, Fukushima
In Fukushima City's Matsukawamachi Mizuhara Minamisawa area, a single bear about 1 m long was seen standing with its paw on a guardrail. No human or property damage was reported; the bear's subsequent whereabouts are unknown and police are patrolling by patrol car.
Fukushima Matsukawamachi-Mizuhara, Fukushima
At about 11:25 on May 5, a woman driving in Mizuhara Minamisawa, Matsukawa-machi, Fukushima City, sighted a single bear about 1 meter long standing with its paws on a guardrail. No human or property damage has been reported so far.
Fukushima Matsukawamachi-Mizuhara, Fukushima
Around 12:20 PM on May 2, 2026, a man in his 30s walking near the Arakawa in Niida Shimokawahara, Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture, reported seeing one animal believed to be a bear to the Fukushima police station. The police said the animal's body length is unknown, and the sighting occurred near the Fukushima Toyota Crown Arena.
Fukushima Yagita, Fukushima
At about 06:30 on May 2, 2026, a man in his 60s driving in Iizaka-cho, Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture, spotted a bear about 1 meter long crossing a municipal road and reported it to the police. The bear left following an irrigation channel and its whereabouts are unknown; there were no injuries. Police are patrolling the area and urging caution.
Fukushima, Fukushima
Around 10:50 a.m. on the 30th, an woman in her 80s spotted a single bear about 1 meter long on a farm road in the Harasekawara area of Nihonmatsu City. No human injuries or property damage have been confirmed.
Nihonmatsu 原セ川原, Fukushima
At around 15:25 on April 28, 2026, a runner spotted a single bear about 1.0 m long on the Arakawa riverbank at Niida Nishi-Shimokawara in Fukushima City. No human or property damage was reported; Fukushima police increased patrols and a large walking event scheduled for the next day was canceled.
Fukushima Yoshikura, Fukushima
At around 15:23 on April 28, 2026, a man jogging along the Arakawa near Niiida Nishishimokawara in Fukushima City sighted a bear approximately 1 meter long. No injuries or damage have been reported; police and city officials are searching and keeping the area under watch.
Fukushima Yoshikura, Fukushima
At around 09:45 on April 28, 2026, a single bear about 1 meter long was sighted in the fields at Fukuroda Aza-Miya, Sukagawa City, by a person driving by; the bear then left toward fields to the north. No injuries or damage have been reported; police are patrolling by patrol car and coordinating with Sukagawa City Hall.
Sukagawa 袋田, Fukushima
Around 18:30 on April 27, a single bear about 1.2 meters long was sighted on a road in Hiraiishi Aza Uehara, Fukushima City.
Fukushima Fushiogami, Fukushima
On April 26, 2026, a bear was sighted on a road in Nasu Town, Tochigi Prefecture. The article reports the sighting; no detailed circumstances or information on injuries were provided.
Nasu 富岡, Tochigi
A bear was reported sighted on a road in Nasu-Shiobara City, Tochigi Prefecture. The article did not specify the exact time or location of the sighting, nor whether anyone was injured.
Nasushiobara 共墾社, Tochigi
On 2026-04-26, a bear was sighted near a compulsory education school in Sano City, Tochigi Prefecture. The article reports the sighting but does not provide details such as the time of the sighting or whether there were any injuries.
Sano 葛生西三丁目, Tochigi
Peak activity at 6:00 with 6 incidents
Ursus thibetanus japonicus
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In the past 30 days, 72 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 27 of them.
The latest sighting was reported 23 hours ago near Yonezawa Banseicho-Katako, Yamagata.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 6:00. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk.
This 330 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, 72 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 27 of them. The latest sighting was reported 23 hours ago near Yonezawa Banseicho-Katako, Yamagata. This is an active bear corridor. Drive through with full caution, but rerouting is the safer choice.
