This 86.6 km route from Zuigan-ji Temple to Hiraizumi – Temples, Gardens and Archaeological Sites Representing the Buddhist Pure Land crosses Miyagi and Iwate. Over the past 30 days, 3 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of the route, with no new activity in the past week. This route runs through Asian black bear habitat (native to Honshu and Shikoku). The most recent sighting was reported 2 weeks ago near Tome 南方町新島前, Miyagi; the location sits about 44.4 km from the start of the route and 867 m off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 2 weeks ago at Osaki 鹿島台平渡, Miyagi, sitting about 15.2 km from the start and 71 m off the route line.
With activity this close, make noise as you hike, carry bear spray, and avoid the forest at dawn and dusk.
Around 18:00 on April 30, 2026, a roughly 1-meter bear was sighted in a rice paddy in Tome City. After 19:30 the same evening, a similar bear was seen on the road north of Tatemachi Elementary School in Tate, Izumi Ward, Sendai City; no injuries were reported. The prefecture has issued a bear sighting warning for the entire prefecture.
Tome 南方町新島前, Miyagi
At around 18:30 on April 26, 2026, a single bear approximately 1 meter long was sighted in woodland below the Numata embankment at Hironagayama, Kashimadai, Osaki City, by a driver traveling on Prefectural Route 19 (Kashimadai-Takashimizu line). There have been no further sightings, and the police have stepped up patrols in the area.
Osaki 鹿島台平渡, Miyagi
On the morning of April 23, 2026, one bear was sighted in Higashimatsushima City, Miyagi Prefecture, and reported to the city office. Around 10:00 a.m., a person driving near Joge-tsutsumi in Higashimatsushima saw a bear crossing a national route north–south and reported it.
Higashimatsushima Jogetsutsumi, Miyagi
Peak activity at 18:00 with 2 incidents
Ursus thibetanus japonicus
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Over the past 30 days, 3 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of this route, with no new activity in the past week. This route runs through Asian black bear habitat (native to Honshu and Shikoku).
The most recent sighting was reported 2 weeks ago near Tome 南方町新島前, Miyagi; the location sits about 44.4 km from the start of the route and 867 m off the route line.
Recent sightings on this route peak around 18:00. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk.
This 86.6 km route from Zuigan-ji Temple to Hiraizumi – Temples, Gardens and Archaeological Sites Representing the Buddhist Pure Land crosses Miyagi and Iwate. Over the past 30 days, 3 bear sightings have been recorded within 5 km of the route, with no new activity in the past week. This route runs through Asian black bear habitat (native to Honshu and Shikoku). The most recent sighting was reported 2 weeks ago near Tome 南方町新島前, Miyagi; the location sits about 44.4 km from the start of the route and 867 m off the route line. The closest sighting to the route line was reported 2 weeks ago at Osaki 鹿島台平渡, Miyagi, sitting about 15.2 km from the start and 71 m off the route line. With activity this close, make noise as you hike, carry bear spray, and avoid the forest at dawn and dusk.
