News Black Bear Iwatesan Service Area, Iwate Nov 13, 2025, 09:40 AM

Description

According to police, at around 09:40 on the 13th a single bear was sighted near the gas station at the Iwatesan Service Area on the southbound Tohoku Expressway, and another sighting occurred around 11:20 on the service area’s south grounds. Police closed the entrance from noon to restrict access, and after the hunting association confirmed there were no bears nearby and safety was ensured, the closure was lifted at 14:00.

Note: Official sources provide information in Japanese only. This description has been machine translated for your convenience.

Summary

On November 13 a bear was spotted at the Iwatesan Service Area on the southbound Tohoku Expressway in Hachimantai, Iwate. Police temporarily closed the entrance from noon for safety; after the hunting association confirmed no bears were found nearby, the closure was lifted at 14:00.

Bear Type

Black Bear

Number of Bears

1

Provider Type

News

Date & Time

Thursday, November 13, 2025 at 09:40 AM

Address

Coordinates

39.913871, 141.046361

Sources