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This 72 km route runs from Mount Zaō to Miyagi Zao Fox Village, passing through Yamagata and Miyagi. In the past 30 days, 32 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 2 of them. The latest sighting was reported 4 days ago near Yamagata Zao-Nogiwa, Yamagata.
This is an active bear corridor. Drive through with full caution, but rerouting is the safer choice.
4 places within 1 km of your route, passing through Yamagata, Miyagi.
At around 19:45 on 2026-07-26, a bear was sighted in Zao-Narisawa, Yamagata City.
Yamagata Zao-Nogiwa, Yamagata
Animal resembling a bear (body length approx. 50 cm) / Environment: road / Size: juvenile
Yamagata Zao-Narisawa, Yamagata
July 22
Shiroishi 福岡八宮, Miyagi
Was walking along the riverbed / Environment: Near residential area / Size: Adult (fully grown)
Kaminoyama 須田板, Yamagata
Around 2:00 PM on 2026-07-21, one bear was sighted walking along a riverbank near a residential area in Narashita, Kaminoyama City, Yamagata Prefecture.
Kaminoyama 楢下, Yamagata
July 20
Shichikashuku 字原道上, Miyagi
Crossed the road on Route 12 near Boudaira. A small bear. Doesn’t seem to be a cub.
Kaminoyama, Yamagata
July 17
Shiroishi 福岡八宮, Miyagi
In Fukuoka Kuramoto, Shiroishi City, an elderly-home employee saw one bear about 1 meter long in a rice paddy.
Shiroishi 福岡蔵本, Miyagi
A bear was sighted in Tsuchizaka, Yamagata City, around 9:30 AM on July 17.
Yamagata Tsuchizaka, Yamagata
July 15
Zao, Miyagi
July 14
Shichikashuku 字東口道上, Miyagi
One bear approximately 1 meter in length was sighted crossing the road from west to east. It was not seen afterward.
Yamagata Zao-Hotta, Yamagata
One bear was sighted on a road in Zaō Ueno, Yamagata City.
Yamagata Zao-Uwano, Yamagata
Another bear was sighted around 10:00 a.m. in Zaō Ueno, Yamagata City.
Yamagata Zao-Uwano, Yamagata
One bear approximately 60 cm in length sighted on the road / Environment: roadway / Size: cub
Yamagata Kanno, Yamagata
A bear was sighted in Zaō Ueno, Yamagata City, around 14:42 on July 13.
Yamagata Zao-Uwano, Yamagata
Around 16:20 on 2026-07-10, a bear was sighted in Fukurokumoto Yokomukai, Shiroishi City, Miyagi Prefecture.
Shiroishi 福岡蔵本, Miyagi
July 10
Shiroishi 福岡蔵本, Miyagi
One bear approximately 60 cm in body length sighted on the road / Environment: road / Size: cub
Yamagata Zao-onsen, Yamagata
One bear approximately 50 cm in body length sighted on the road / Environment: road / Size: juvenile
Yamagata Zao-onsen, Yamagata
A bear was sighted in Zao Onsen, Yamagata City.
Yamagata Zao-onsen, Yamagata
July 9
Zao, Miyagi
While driving south (toward the mountain side), I saw one bear walking south on the left side of the road. It then entered the woods beside the road. Body length about 1 m. / Environment: Road / Size: Adult
Yamagata Nakasakurada, Yamagata
Two bears were sighted moving east / Environment: forest / Size: adult and juvenile
Yamagata Zao-onsen, Yamagata
July 7
Shichikashuku 字夏梨平, Miyagi
A bear was sighted in Yadatateira, Shichikashuku Town.
Shichikashuku 字追見根添, Miyagi
July 6
Shichikashuku 字三十刈道上, Miyagi
While driving in the mountains, one cub was sighted / Environment: forest / Size: juvenile
Yamagata Zao-onsen, Yamagata
July 4
Shichikashuku 字長久保, Miyagi
July 1
Shichikashuku 字長久保, Miyagi
July 1
Shichikashuku 字角石, Miyagi
Peak activity at 16:00 with 5 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, 32 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 2 of them.
The latest sighting was reported 4 days ago near Yamagata Zao-Nogiwa, Yamagata.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 16:00. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk.
This 72 km route runs from Mount Zaō to Miyagi Zao Fox Village, passing through Yamagata and Miyagi. In the past 30 days, 32 bear sightings were reported within 5 km of the route. The past 7 days account for 2 of them. The latest sighting was reported 4 days ago near Yamagata Zao-Nogiwa, Yamagata. This is an active bear corridor. Drive through with full caution, but rerouting is the safer choice.
