Niigata Science Museum~오카자키성 하이킹 루트

Size: Adult

Matsumoto Gojo, Nagano

Size: Adult

Iiyama Tokisato, Nagano

Size: Unknown

Nozawaonsen Toyosato, Nagano

Size: Adult

Iiyama Hachisu, Nagano

A single bear appeared in the garden of a private home in Azumino City, Nagano Prefecture, and was captured with a tranquillizer gun. Experts warn the bear is likely awake from hibernation and searching for food.

Azumino 豊科南穂高, Nagano

Bear footprints were found in a field along Route 117 in Nakajo, Tokamachi City, on May 3, 2026 at 14:30. The location is about 300 m north of Nakajo Elementary School; the city warns people to avoid forests and thick vegetation.

Tokamachi, Niigata

On 2026-05-03, one bear appeared in the garden of a private home in Azumino City, Nagano Prefecture and remained there for about four hours before the hunting association captured it with a tranquillizer gun. The bear was an adult about one meter long; there were no injuries or property damage.

Azumino 豊科南穂高, Nagano

Size: adult

Iiyama, Nagano

Size: juvenile

Sakae Toyosakae, Nagano

Just after 8:00 AM on May 1, 2026, a bear about 1 meter long was sighted near a pond in Nishikawaguchi, Nagaoka City; it was approximately 100 meters from a private residence, according to Ojiya Police.

Nagaoka, Niigata

Spotted one bear beside a carp pond.

Nagaoka, Niigata

Bear tracks discovered in the field

Tokamachi, 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

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

On April 28, 2026 at about 07:40, a bear was sighted near Yoshida Junior High School in Koizumi, Tokamachi City, and the Tokamachi police are on alert. Earlier the same day at around 06:00, a juvenile bear about 50 cm long was sighted in a field along Prefectural Route 528 in Takashima, Tokamachi City.

Tokamachi, Niigata

While passing nearby, the team leader spotted one cub about 50 cm tall.

Tokamachi, Niigata

At around 06:00 on April 28, a juvenile bear about 50 cm long was sighted in farmland along Prefectural Route 528 in Takashima No.2 area of Tokamachi City, Niigata. At about 07:40 the same day, another bear was reported near Yoshida Junior High School in Koizumi, and the Tokamachi Police are warning residents and investigating whether the sightings are related.

Tokamachi, Niigata

Size: juvenile

Suzaka Hitaki, Nagano

Size: juvenile

Iiyama Nakasone, Nagano

Size: adult

Sakae Toyosakae, Nagano

Size: Adult

Iijima 飯島, Nagano

Size: Unknown

Sakae Hokushin, Nagano

Size: unknown

Kijimadaira Ogo, Nagano

Size: Unknown

Sakae Hokushin, Nagano

Size: juvenile

Kijimadaira Kamikijima, Nagano

Size: Adult

Nagano Toyonomachi-Kawatani, Nagano

While on duty on National Route 253, I sighted one animal that appeared to be a bear. It was moving toward the mountains.

Tokamachi 八箇乙, Niigata

Size: Adult

Kijimadaira Kamikijima, Nagano

Nakano, Nagano

Size: juvenile

Shiojiri Kaminishijo, Nagano

Size: Adult

Nagano Toyonomachi-Toyono, Nagano

Toyota 大内町, Aichi

At around 22:50 on April 8, 2026, a driver spotted and reported a single bear about 70 cm long in Kabeta, Nakano City, Nagano Prefecture. Police responded but did not locate the bear; the area includes houses and a junior high school, and police patrolled school routes on the morning of April 9.

Nakano Hekida, Nagano