Higashishirakawa~Murakami 드라이브 루트

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

Size: Adult (fully grown)

Shiojiri Daimon-nibancho, Nagano

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

Size: Adult

Iizuna Kurai, Nagano

A moon bear (Asian black bear) about 1–1.2 meters long was located about 500 meters from the Nakasendō.

Nagiso, Nagano

In Shiojiri City, Nagano Prefecture, one bear ran out in front of a moving passenger car and collided with it, damaging the left front tire area and leaving the vehicle unable to drive, but there were no injuries. In Aomori Prefecture, bear sightings near inhabited areas prompted emergency shooting, and a total of two bears were culled; one of the culled adults is believed to be an Asiatic black bear about 1.5 m long and 80 kg.

Shiojiri Daimon-nanabancho, Nagano

On 2026-05-10 at around 09:30, a kei car on National Route 290 in Momokawa, Murakami City collided with a bear about 0.5 m long that ran into the road. The driver and two passengers were uninjured, but the car became undrivable and the bear fled into the mountains (about 1.5 km from the nearest house). Earlier that morning, a bear about 0.5 m long was also sighted on a prefectural road in Kuroiwa, Aga Town, about 200 m from a house.

Murakami, Niigata

Size: Adult

Azumino 明科光, Nagano

Size: adult

Shinano Kumasaka, Nagano

Size: Adult

Azumino 明科中川手, Nagano

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

Joetsu, Niigata

Size: Juvenile

Matsumoto Kariyaharamachi, Nagano

Size: Juvenile

Chikuhoku, Nagano

Size: Adult

Matsumoto Gojo, Nagano

Size: Adult

Iiyama Hachisu, Nagano

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

On May 1, 2026 in Minowa Town, Nagano Prefecture, a "zoning safety inspection" was held in the rain to separate bear habitat from human living areas; about 20 people including residents, police, and the hunters' association checked visibility around the boundary. The town has installed grass-cutting measures and electric fences at the boundary, and reports that since starting zoning in June 2025 bear sightings have decreased and no attacks on people have occurred.

Minowa, Nagano

Size: Unknown

Nakagawa 片桐, Nagano

At around 00:40 on April 29, a single bear approximately 1.5 meters long was spotted on the road in Higashiterao, Matsushiro, Nagano City; a passing car honked its horn and the bear ran away, according to a report. Police searched the area but did not find the animal and have urged local residents to be cautious.

Nagano Matsushiromachi-Higashiterao, Nagano

In the early hours of April 29, 2026, a single bear about 1.5 meters long was sighted on a road in Higashiterao, Matsushiro-cho, Nagano City; before 00:30 a passing driver honked and reported the bear left. Police searched the area but did not find the animal and no damage was reported; residents nearby were warned to be cautious.

Nagano Matsushiromachi-Higashiterao, Nagano

Size: adult

Nagano Matsushiromachi-Johoku, Nagano

Size: adult (fully grown)

Iiyama Hachisu, Nagano

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

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

Size: Adult

Iijima 飯島, Nagano

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

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

Joetsu 大字下馬場, Niigata

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