Tsumagoi~Sakata 드라이브 루트

While driving on National Route 18, one bear was sighted. It moved across the west-facing slope.

Joetsu, Niigata

Size: adult (fully grown)

Takayama Takai, Nagano

Nagaoka City installed drum-can style capture traps at dozens of locations in the city from May through June, placing honey inside as bait. Previously traps were set near reported sightings, but this year they will also be placed in mountain areas without sighting reports to prevent bears from entering inhabited areas.

Nagaoka, Niigata

A bear was sighted near an elementary school in Miyano-ura, Sakata City, Yamagata Prefecture at around 05:30 on May 15, 2026, triggering multiple reports. Surveillance cameras captured the bear walking near a residential area, and authorities remain on alert.

Sakata 宮野浦, Yamagata

At around 06:45 on May 14, 2026, a single bear was sighted crossing a road from west to east in front of the Tsuruoka City Fire Department West Branch in Shimokawa, Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture. The bear's body length is unknown, and the city has urged people to be cautious.

Tsuruoka 下川, Yamagata

A black bear (Tsukinowaguma) approached a camera in the mountain area of Joetsu City, Niigata Prefecture, with a beehive reported nearby. An adult bear was also confirmed on the Iwate University campus (Morioka City decided not to carry out emergency shooting and the university canceled all classes), and another individual appeared in a residential area in New Jersey, USA.

Joetsu, Niigata

Around 17:00 on May 13, 2026, a camera captured a bear walking on a road near houses in Iimoriyama, Sakata City, Yamagata Prefecture. No human injuries have been reported, but the prefecture has issued a bear sighting warning and residents are anxious.

Sakata 十里塚, Yamagata

At around 04:50 on May 13, 2026, one bear was sighted in Sakanobe Shinden, Sakata City, Yamagata Prefecture. The article does not report further details or whether there were any damages or injuries.

Sakata 坂野辺新田, Yamagata

Size: Adult

Iizuna Kurai, Nagano

Around 18:45 on May 11, an adult bear (one individual) was sighted in a grove within a residential area in Midorigaoka, Sakata City, Yamagata Prefecture. No damage to people or property has been confirmed, but nearby schools have urged students to commute accompanied by guardians.

Sakata 宮野浦, Yamagata

Around 17:45 on May 11, 2026, two bears believed to be a parent and child were sighted in Yuatsumi, Tsuruoka City. The bears later moved to the mountains to the south; their size is unknown, and the city is urging caution.

Tsuruoka 湯温海, Yamagata

Size: adult

Shinano Kumasaka, Nagano

An elderly man's body was found in the mountains of Sakata City; his identity is unknown and a bear attack is considered likely, with the cause of death determined to be bleeding from wounds. In Yamagata Prefecture, multiple bear sightings occurred on May 7 and 8, and a person was attacked while foraging in Asahi Town on the 7th.

Sakata 字下瀬, Yamagata

One bear-like animal was sighted near the summit area of the Kanayama Park lift in the Oaza Onuki area.

Joetsu, Niigata

A man's body was found in a forest in Sakata City, Yamagata Prefecture; it is believed the death may have been caused by a bear.

Sakata 字下瀬, Yamagata

Tsumagoi, Gunma

Size: Adult

Iiyama Hachisu, Nagano

On May 5 a man's body was found in a forested area of Sakata City, Yamagata Prefecture, with wounds to the head and arms. The prefectural police are investigating the possibility of a bear attack, and one bear was culled near the discovery shortly after the body was found.

Sakata 字下瀬, Yamagata

At around 07:00 on May 4, 2026, one bear was sighted near a blueberry farm in Kanemata, Myoko City. The bear's length was unknown; the sighting occurred close to houses and police warned nearby residents to be cautious.

Myoko, Niigata

While passing through the area, one bear was sighted.

Tainai, Niigata

Spotted one bear while passing through the area.

Tainai, Niigata

Around 06:02 on May 3, 2026, a single bear about 1 meter long was sighted near the Teramachi interchange on National Route 18 in Yanaiida-machi, Myoko City, and a passerby reported it. Police and the city warned nearby residents and carried out alerting activities.

Myoko, Niigata

A passerby in the vicinity spotted one bear heading south.

Myoko, Niigata

Around 06:00 on the 3rd, a bear was reported sighted in the parking lot of Arai Shopping Center in Kurihara 4, Myoko City. According to the Myoko Police, the bear was about 1 meter long, then appeared to move toward the urban area and was also reported near municipal housing in Nakagawa before 07:00, prompting the police to urge caution.

Myoko, Niigata

Tsumagoi Ozasa, Gunma

Tsumagoi Ozasa, Gunma

Tsumagoi, Gunma

Size: adult (fully grown)

Iiyama Hachisu, Nagano

Around 9:30 a.m. on April 28, an adult bear was sighted in the urban area of Sakanobe-Shinden, Sakata City, Yamagata Prefecture; the bear reportedly ran south toward farmland.

Sakata 坂野辺新田, Yamagata

In Myoko City (Shi) on April 27 at around 10:30 a.m., a passerby spotted a bear about 1 meter long walking through rice fields from the Yashiro River toward the settlement and reported it to the police. The sighting was about 100 meters from houses, and the police and Myoko City are patrolling the area and issuing warnings.

Myoko, Niigata

At about 10:30 a.m. on April 27, 2026, a single bear approximately 1 meter long was sighted near the Yashiro Community Sports Center area in Myoko City (Shi). The bear was seen walking through rice fields and crossing a road toward residential houses; police and the city warned residents and carried out patrols, but the bear later disappeared from view.

Myoko, Niigata

Tsumagoi, Gunma

Tsumagoi, Gunma

Tsumagoi, Gunma

Size: Adult

Shinano Kashiwabara, Nagano

Size: juvenile

Suzaka Hitaki, Nagano

(The bear) wandered for a while between the expressway and the national highway, then moved west.

Myoko 大字上八幡新田, Niigata

Around 15:00 on April 22, 2026, a bear about 1 meter long was sighted at Michi-no-Eki Arai in Inoyama, Myoko City, Niigata Prefecture. Police have warned the public and are conducting surveillance.

Myoko, Niigata

On 2026-04-22, one bear was sighted at Michi-no-Eki Arai in Myoko City, Niigata Prefecture. A witness said, "The door opened and a large black thing came in."

Myoko, Niigata

Around 18:30 on April 21, 2026, one bear was sighted walking in a yard in a residential area of Kamekura, Suzaka City, Nagano Prefecture, and a resident reported it. Police are patrolling the area and the city is broadcasting warnings over disaster prevention radio.

Suzaka Kamegura, Nagano

One bear sighted near Inari Pond within the Oaza Shimobaba area.

Joetsu 大字下馬場, Niigata

Suzaka Tochigura, Nagano

Moved along the nearby block fence and fled into the nearby woods.

Myoko 大字坂口新田, Niigata

While driving on National Route 18, it attempted to cross the highway from the west but did not cross and moved into the mountains on the west side.

Myoko 大字坂口新田, Niigata

One bear was sighted on the north side of the Kanayama Tunnel of the Joshin-etsu Expressway within the Ōaza Ōnuki area.

Joetsu 大字大貫, Niigata

Shortly after 09:00 on the 20th, a cargo truck traveling on the inbound lanes of the Joshinetsu Expressway in Onuki, Jōetsu City, collided with a bear coming from the right. The male driver was uninjured, the front of the vehicle was damaged, and the bear (about 1 meter long) ran off to the east after the collision; the site is about 500 meters from the nearest houses.

Joetsu 大貫四丁目, Niigata

Size: adult

Shinano Kashiwabara, Nagano

While passing through the area, a person sighted one cub.

Tainai 松波, Niigata