เส้นทางเดินป่า Fujinomiya-Gokuraku-ji Temple

On Tuesday, June 16 at around 4:00 a.m., on a village road in Obokura (Obokura, Habisawa area), Saigō Village, a man driving a car sighted one bear (approximately 1 m in body length).

Nishigo, Fukushima

June 15

Tomiya 石積, Miyagi

Around 9:30 on June 15, a bear was sighted in Tsurusu Kitemi Osaki Shinnyama-shita, Taiwa Town, Miyagi Prefecture.

Taiwa Tsurusu-Toya, Miyagi

June 15

Taiwa Tsurusu-Toya, Miyagi

A bear was sighted in Mizukoshi, Inasecho, Kitakami City, around 5:15 a.m. on June 15.

Kitakami Inasecho, Iwate

June 15

Osaki 三本木伊賀, Miyagi

June 14

Sendai Midodaira, Miyagi

Observed one adult bear entering northwest into the woods from the area near Kinugawa Junior High School.

Ōshū 衣川古戸, Iwate

A bear was sighted in Kawauchi Kawamaechō, Aoba Ward, Sendai City.

Sendai Kawauchi-Kawamaecho, Miyagi

June 14

Sendai Kawauchi-Kawamaecho, Miyagi

June 14

Rifu Sugaya, Miyagi

Around 9:00 on June 14, a bear-like animal was sighted in Oguno, Hinode-machi, Tokyo.

Tokyo Oguno, Tokyo

June 13

Tomiya 明石, Miyagi

On Saturday, June 13 at around 3:25 p.m., on a municipal road in Minamimukoudai 3-chome, Fukushima City, an eyewitness (male in his 80s) driving a vehicle spotted two bears (each about 1.5 m in body length). The bears subsequently left heading west.

Fukushima Oguraji, Fukushima

Tsuru Ohata, Yamanashi

Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi

At around 12:25 a.m. on Saturday, June 13, in the fields in Fujikubo, Sekiya, Matsukawa-machi, Fukushima City, a witness (male, in his teens) saw one bear (approximately 1 meter in body length) crossing the fields near Kanayagawa Station on the JR Tohoku Main Line while he was walking. The bear then departed south from that location.

Fukushima Kanayagawa, Fukushima

June 13

Osaki 三本木坂本, Miyagi

June 13

Osaki 三本木坂本, Miyagi

June 13

Osaki 三本木坂本, Miyagi

On National Route 456 heading from Esashi toward Daitō, observed one adult (bear) moving from right to left across the road.

Ōshū 江刺岩谷堂, Iwate

Two bears about 1.5 meters long were sighted on a city road in Minamimukai-dai 3-chome, Fukushima City.

Fukushima Oguraji, Fukushima

One bear about 1 m long was sighted walking east along the riverbank in Takadate Kumano-do Nakagawa, Natori City.

Natori Takadate-kumanodo, Miyagi

On Friday, June 12 at about 5:15 p.m., on a village road in Oyama Aza Atago, Otama Village, a male witness riding a bicycle toward Nihonmatsu City spotted one bear (about 1 m in body length) walking toward him.

Otama, Fukushima

Bear tracks were found in the rice field east of the road east of Higashimizusawa Junior High School.

Ōshū 水沢佐倉河, Iwate

June 12

Ohira 奥田, Miyagi

Around noon on Friday, June 12, within the Yamanaka area of Nukazawa, Motomiya City, on Prefectural Route Nihonmatsu-Kanaya, a witness (male in his 20s) driving a vehicle observed one animal believed to be a bear (about 1 m in body length) walking toward Motomiya on the road.

Motomiya 仁井田, Fukushima

Around 22:15 on June 11, one bear was sighted in Kamisakuragi 2-chome, Tomiya City, Miyagi Prefecture.

Tomiya 鷹乃杜, Miyagi

June 11

Tomiya 鷹乃杜, Miyagi

Fujikawaguchiko Funatsu, Yamanashi

June 11

Sendai Matsumori, Miyagi

June 11

Taiwa もみじが丘, Miyagi

June 11

Sendai Midodaira, Miyagi

One bear about 1.5 meters long was seen walking downstream in the Sasa River in Kagitori 4-chome, Taihaku Ward, Sendai.

Sendai Oyachi, Miyagi

June 11

Ohira 大衡, Miyagi

June 11

Taiwa Ochiai-Matsusaka, Miyagi

One bear about 1 meter long was seen walking north along a roadside in Ochiai Matsuzaka Akasaka, Taiwa Town.

Taiwa Ochiai-Matsusaka, Miyagi

Around 10:05 on 2026-06-11, one bear was sighted in Maesawa Ropponmatsu, Oshu City, Iwate Prefecture.

Ōshū 衣川日向, Iwate

June 11

Taiwa もみじが丘, Miyagi

June 11

Taiwa, Miyagi

A bear was sighted in Miyakodo-Nagakura, Taiwa Town.

Taiwa, Miyagi

Bear scat believed to be present at the boundary between the soccer field and the ground golf course in Sakurazutsumi Park.

Ōshū 水沢佐倉河, Iwate

June 11

Kurihara 築館字沢入, Miyagi

On Thursday, June 11 at approximately 2:55 a.m., on National Route 13 in Funaba-cho, Fukushima City, a witness (male in his 20s) driving a vehicle observed one animal believed to be a bear crossing the road (about 50 cm in body length). There were no human injuries or property damage.

Fukushima Minamimachi, Fukushima

An animal thought to be a bear was sighted crossing Route 13 in Funaba-cho, Fukushima City.

Fukushima Minamimachi, Fukushima

June 11

Tomiya 鷹乃杜, Miyagi

June 11

Taiwa もみじが丘, Miyagi

Around 8:00 on 2026-06-11, a bear was sighted in Isawa Koyama Harakawa, Oshu City, Iwate Prefecture.

Ōshū, Iwate

A bear was sighted in Oshimizu 1-chome, Tomiya, Miyagi, around 12:40 on 2026-06-11.

Tomiya 鷹乃杜, Miyagi

A bear was sighted in Ono Goto, Taiwa Town, Miyagi, around 9:30 a.m. on 2026-06-11.

Taiwa もみじが丘, Miyagi

June 10

Tomiya 鷹乃杜, Miyagi

On Wednesday, June 10, at around 7:00 p.m., in the Kanisawa area of Yuno, Iizaka Town, Fukushima City, a witness (male, in his 40s) observed one bear (approximately 1.5 m in body length) standing in a field while driving. After noticing the vehicle, the bear departed to the north.

Fukushima Iizakamachi-Yuno, Fukushima

June 10

Tomiya 富谷, Miyagi

June 10

Shiroishi 大鷹沢鷹巣, Miyagi

Witnessed one adult bear entering the mountain to the south from the household premises.

Ōshū Maesawa, Iwate

Bear sighted in the Hidaka-nishi area. (Details unknown)

Ōshū 水沢, Iwate

Around 15:30 on 2026-06-10, a bear was sighted in Mizusawa Hidakanishi, Oshu City, Iwate Prefecture.

Ōshū 水沢, Iwate

On 2026-06-10 around 14:50, a bear was sighted moving in Oniyanagicho Todori, Kitakami, Iwate.

Kitakami Oniyanagicho, Iwate

June 10

Tomiya 石積, Miyagi

On Wednesday, June 10 at approximately 1:20 p.m., in the Suwayama area of Kuroiwa, Fukushima City, on a municipal road, a witness (female in her 20s) observed one animal believed to be a bear (about 1 meter in body length) crossing the road while traveling by vehicle.

Fukushima Kuroiwa, Fukushima

Observed one bear moving north on the road west of the pharmacy.

Ōshū Mizusawa-Miyashitacho, Iwate

June 10

Kurihara 築館字築館蟹沢, Miyagi

At around 09:15 on 2026-06-10, a bear was sighted in Shiwahime Hachisugiurayama, Kurihara City.

Kurihara 志波姫台東, Miyagi

June 10

Kurihara 志波姫横峰浦, Miyagi

June 10

Tomiya 明石, Miyagi

June 10

Kurihara 築館字内南沢, Miyagi

A bear was sighted in Tsukidate Takada 2-chome, Kurihara City, Miyagi.

Kurihara 築館字内南沢, Miyagi

June 10

Kurihara, Miyagi

Around 9:30 on 2026-06-10, a bear was sighted in Takashimizu Nakano-sawa, Kurihara City, Miyagi Prefecture.

Kurihara 築館字築館蟹沢, Miyagi

A bear was sighted in Semine Ōwanidani, Kurihara City.

Kurihara, Miyagi

Around 7:00 PM on 2026-06-10, a bear was sighted in Iizakamachi-Yuno, Fukushima City.

Fukushima Iizakamachi-Yuno, Fukushima

A bear was sighted in Mizusawa Ohatajikoji, Oshu City, around 10:05 on June 10.

Ōshū Mizusawa-Miyashitacho, Iwate

June 9

Sendai Kawauchi-Oimawashi, Miyagi

Observed one adult bear entering the woods near Shimoodaibukuro Bridge.

Ōshū 衣川古戸, Iwate

A nearby resident spotted one bear, about 60 cm long, in a wooded area in Tsukidate Kido area, Kurihara City.

Kurihara 志波姫南堀口, Miyagi

June 9

Tomiya 明石, Miyagi

June 9

Kurihara 志波姫南堀口, Miyagi

June 9

Kurihara 金成沢辺, Miyagi

One bear was found and captured on a residential lot in Higashiyanaze, Utsunomiya.

Utsunomiya Yanazemachi, Tochigi

One Japanese black bear, believed to be a young adult male, was captured using a tranquilizer dart and box trap in the grounds of a house in Higashiyanaze 1-chome, Utsunomiya City.

Utsunomiya Yanazemachi, Tochigi

A veterinarian fired an anesthetic dart at a bear inside a residential property in Higashiyanase 1-chome, Utsunomiya City; the third shot may have hit the bear.

Utsunomiya Yanazemachi, Tochigi

One bear that fled into the grounds of a house in Higashiyanasé, Utsunomiya City, was captured by a hunters' association around 3:40 PM the same day.

Utsunomiya Yanazemachi, Tochigi

A bear sighting was reported in the residential area of Hiramatsumotocho, Utsunomiya.

Utsunomiya 平松本町, Tochigi

A bear was sighted in Shiguracho, Utsunomiya City.

Utsunomiya 問屋町, Tochigi

At Daibara Forest Park in Aoba Ward, Sendai, a passerby called 110 to report a bear.

Sendai Dainohara-shinrinkoen, Miyagi

A bear was captured on security camera at an apartment building in Hiramatsumoto-cho, Utsunomiya.

Utsunomiya 平松本町, Tochigi

One bear was sighted in Hiramatsumotocho, Utsunomiya.

Utsunomiya 平松本町, Tochigi

The bear was sighted again in Hiramatsu Honmachi, about 700 meters southwest of Utsunomiya University Mine Campus.

Utsunomiya 平松本町, Tochigi

A bear was sighted in Kanari Sawabe Maemonzawa, Kurihara City, on 2026-06-09.

Kurihara 金成沢辺, Miyagi

June 9

Shiroishi 字中河原, Miyagi

A bear was filmed swimming in the Natsube River in Higashi-Yanaze 1-chome, Utsunomiya.

Utsunomiya 宮みらい, Tochigi

Around late morning on 2026-06-09, a bear about 1.5 meters long was sighted at Dainohara Forest Park in Aoba Ward, Sendai City.

Sendai Dainohara-shinrinkoen, Miyagi

One bear entered a residential lot in Higashi-Yanaze, Utsunomiya, and was later captured by a hunters' association.

Utsunomiya Yanazemachi, Tochigi

On Monday, June 8 at approximately 9:35 p.m., near the 184.3-kilometer post on the inbound (upbound) lanes of the Tohoku Expressway at 40-2 Ikenoiriyama, Fumase, Izumizaki Village, a large commercial truck driven by a man in his 50s, traveling in the first lane of the inbound direction, collided with a bear (about 1.5 m in body length) that crossed from the right side to the left of the vehicle’s direction of travel. The driver of the vehicle sustained no injuries. There were no passengers. The bear was confirmed dead at the scene of the traffic accident.

Izumizaki Fumase, Fukushima

A bear was sighted in Akashi Shimoinugazawa, Tomiya City, Miyagi Prefecture, around 19:05 on 2026-06-08.

Tomiya 明石, Miyagi

June 8

Kurihara 志波姫南堀口, Miyagi

On June 8 (Monday) at approximately 5:50 PM, in the Kurokawa area below Shirasaka, Shirakawa City, a witness (male in his teens) spotted one bear (about 2 meters in body length) by the roadside while riding a bicycle.

Shirakawa, Fukushima

A bear was sighted in Akashishitaderamae, Tomiya City.

Tomiya 明石, Miyagi

June 8

Tomiya 明石, Miyagi

On Monday, June 8 at around 2:00 p.m., a single bear (about 1 m in body length) was sighted within the golf course area in Gakudan, Kuroiwa, Fukushima City. The bear later left and went into the grove of mixed woods.

Fukushima Tazawa, Fukushima

Akiruno Yozawa, Tokyo

June 8

Taiwa, Miyagi

On Monday, June 8 at approximately 5:50 a.m., in a field in Nishihara, Minamisawamata area, Fukushima City, a witness (female in her 40s) observed one animal believed to be a bear (about 1 m in body length) in the field. Because it was a brief passing sighting, the direction in which it left and other details are unknown.

Fukushima Minamisawamata, Fukushima

On June 8, a bear was sighted in Yonan, Utsunomiya City.

Utsunomiya 江曽島本町, Tochigi

Around 2 PM on June 8, a bear was sighted in Kuroiwa Gakudan, Fukushima City.

Fukushima Tazawa, Fukushima

A bear was sighted in Yonan 1-chome, Utsunomiya City.

Utsunomiya 西原町, Tochigi

Around 5:50 on June 8, a bear-like animal was sighted in Minamisawamata Nishihara, Fukushima City.

Fukushima Minamisawamata, Fukushima

Utsunomiya 宮本町, Tochigi

June 8

Tomiya 明石, Miyagi

On June 8, a bear was sighted in Yanaze Town, Utsunomiya City.

Utsunomiya Yanazemachi, Tochigi

One bear was sighted in a grassland in Akashidai 6-chome, Tomiya City.

Tomiya 明石, Miyagi

Utsunomiya Yanazemachi, Tochigi

Utsunomiya 西原町, Tochigi

A bear was sighted in a wooded area adjacent to Aeon Mall Tomiya in Oshimizu 1-chome, Tomiya City.

Tomiya 鷹乃杜, Miyagi

June 7

Tomiya 鷹乃杜, Miyagi

Hachioji, Tokyo

June 7

Kurihara 築館字下待井, Miyagi

June 7

Ohira ときわ台, Miyagi

One bear was sighted on a city road in Takinohara 3, Utsunomiya.

Utsunomiya 大塚町, Tochigi

Sighting reported around Utsunomiya, Takinokahara 3-chome area.

Utsunomiya 大塚町, Tochigi

Around 5:15 on June 7, one bear was sighted in Otsuka-cho, Utsunomiya City.

Utsunomiya 大塚町, Tochigi

It was reported seen in this area. Residents of Utsunomiya City, please be careful!

Utsunomiya 明保野町, Tochigi

A bear was sighted at a park in Aikobano-cho, Utsunomiya City.

Utsunomiya 明保野町, Tochigi

A bear crossed in front of pedestrians on Orion Street in Utsunomiya and was captured on a fixed camera.

Utsunomiya Enomachi, Tochigi

A bear ran past a pedestrian on Orion-dori in central Utsunomiya City.

Utsunomiya Enomachi, Tochigi

Utsunomiya 大塚町, Tochigi

A bear was sighted in Nishikawada-cho, Utsunomiya City.

Utsunomiya 西川田町, Tochigi

A bear sighting was reported at Aikeno Park in Utsunomiya on the morning of June 7.

Utsunomiya 明保野町, Tochigi

Utsunomiya 明保野町, Tochigi

Utsunomiya 大塚町, Tochigi

Utsunomiya Honcho, Tochigi

Around 13:30 on 2026-06-07, a bear was sighted in Ohira Heirin, Ohira Village, Miyagi Prefecture.

Ohira ときわ台, Miyagi

Utsunomiya Mageshicho, Tochigi

Utsunomiya 大塚町, Tochigi

Utsunomiya 東原町, Tochigi

A bear was sighted in Kamiozocho.

Utsunomiya 上大曽町, Tochigi

A bear was sighted in Fujimigaoka 1, Utsunomiya.

Utsunomiya 山本町, Tochigi

On Saturday, June 6 at around 6:30 p.m., in the riverbed area of Sakurauchi, Minamisawamata, Fukushima City, a witness (male in his 40s) observed one animal believed to be a bear (approximately 1 m in body length) moving eastward along the riverbed.

Fukushima Minamisawamata, Fukushima

June 6

Ohira ときわ台, Miyagi

June 6

Ohira ときわ台南, Miyagi

One bear was sighted in grassland in the Ohira Shionami area of Ohira Village.

Ohira ときわ台南, Miyagi

Around 09:04 on 2026-06-06, a bear was sighted in Sanbongi Saida Magishi, Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture.

Osaki 三本木斉田, Miyagi

June 6

Shiroishi 大平中目, Miyagi

One bear was sighted at a construction site in the Ohira Nakame Koyashiki area of Shiraishi City.

Shiroishi 大平中目, Miyagi

June 6

Tomiya 西成田, Miyagi

June 6

Shiroishi 大平中目, Miyagi

At around 5:30 a.m. on June 6, one bear was passed by on Route 457 in Yoshioka Ishigamizawa, Taiwa Town.

Taiwa Yoshioka, Miyagi

In Yoshioka, Taiwa Town, a driver spotted one bear about 1 meter long moving south on Route 457.

Taiwa Yoshioka, Miyagi

Utsunomiya 八幡台, Tochigi

Bear sightings were reported one after another in Utsunomiya City, and at night a bear was captured on security camera running through Orion Dori.

Utsunomiya Enomachi, Tochigi

A bear was sighted walking north on a city road in Fujimigaoka 1-chome, Utsunomiya City.

Utsunomiya 山本町, Tochigi

Around 8:30 PM on 2026-06-06, a bear 60–80 cm long was seen in Yamamoto, Utsunomiya, Tochigi. No injuries were reported.

Utsunomiya 八幡台, Tochigi

Utsunomiya 戸祭台, Tochigi

Utsunomiya 戸祭台, Tochigi

Two bears were seen crossing a city road in Shiraiwa-machi, Koriyama City.

Koriyama 白岩町, Fukushima

June 5

Sendai Akebonomachi, Miyagi

A bear was seen walking in a residential area in Akebono-cho, Aoba Ward.

Sendai Akebonomachi, Miyagi

June 5

Sendai Aramaki-chuo, Miyagi

At around 13:37 on 2026-06-05, one bear was seen moving in Shimooni 2-chiwari, Kitakami City, Iwate Prefecture.

Kitakami, Iwate

Observed one bear heading south on the prefectural road from Ainazawa toward Nagane.

Ōshū Maesawa, Iwate

A bear was sighted at Tsukidate Terukoshi Yamanokamimae in Kurihara City.

Kurihara 築館字荒田沢, Miyagi

June 5

Kurihara 築館字照越, Miyagi

In Sasakino, Fukushima City, a bear was seen in a paddy field near a city road about 2 km northwest of the escaped bear's factory.

Fukushima Sasakino, Fukushima

At around 2:00 a.m., one bear about 1.5 meters long was sighted within the grounds of a house in Yamada, Yaita City, Tochigi Prefecture.

Yaita Yamada, Tochigi

June 5

Sendai Aramaki-chuo, Miyagi

Yaita Yamada, Tochigi

Twenty minutes later, there was also a bear sighting at Akebonocho Park, about 1 km to the southeast.

Sendai Hayamamachi, Miyagi

A driver saw a bear in the residential area of Aramaki Chuo, Aoba Ward, Sendai City.

Sendai Aramaki-chuo, Miyagi

A bear was sighted in Maesawa Ainosawa, Oshu City.

Ōshū Maesawa, Iwate

In Sasakino, Fukushima City, a bear was seen crossing a city road about 2 km northwest of the escaped bear's factory.

Fukushima Sasakino, Fukushima

A bear was sighted in Isshō Yanagime Mochikurezawa, Kurihara City, Miyagi, around 18:50 on June 4.

Kurihara 一迫柳目, Miyagi

June 4

Taiwa, Miyagi

Observed a bear moving northward near the Tsutsumijiri Residents' Hall.

Ōshū 水沢佐倉河, Iwate

June 4

Sendai Tomita, Miyagi

June 4

Kurihara, Miyagi

Around 7:40 on June 4, a bear was sighted in Tsukidate Ota Nakaota, Kurihara City.

Kurihara, Miyagi

June 4

Taiwa, Miyagi

A bear was sighted in Tomita-Uenonaka, Taihaku Ward, Sendai City, in the early morning.

Sendai Tomita, Miyagi

June 4

Kurihara, Miyagi

Around 8:00 PM on June 3, there was a report of a sighting of an animal believed to be a bear near 400 Chigasase 4-chome, Ome City.

Ōme Chigasemachi, Tokyo

Tsuru Ohata, Yamanashi

At around 19:15 on June 3, a bear was sighted in Matsukawa-machi Asakawa Hato, Fukushima City.

Fukushima Hikarigaoka, Fukushima

Around 19:15 on 2026-06-03, one bear was sighted on a city road in Asakawa, Matsukawa-machi, Fukushima City.

Fukushima Matsukawamachi-Asakawa, Fukushima

On Wednesday, June 3 at approximately 7:15 p.m., in the area of Namiwataru, Asakawa, Matsukawa-machi, Fukushima City, on a municipal road, a witness (male in his 20s) driving observed one bear (about 1 m in body length) crossing the road from north to south.

Fukushima Hikarigaoka, Fukushima

June 3

Tomiya 富谷, Miyagi

On the night of 2026-06-03, one bear was seen moving in Sasakino Tachi, Fukushima City.

Fukushima Yashimada, Fukushima

Fujikawaguchiko Kodachi, Yamanashi

June 2

Sendai Kawauchi-Sanjuninmachi, Miyagi

At the Fukushimaseiko factory premises, a bear was seen on the roof of a three-story building.

Fukushima Yashimada, Fukushima

Otsuki Nanahomachi-Asakawa, Yamanashi

A bear entered the premises of Fukushima Seiko in Sasakino Tenjikuda, Fukushima City, and attacked two employees.

Fukushima Yashimada, Fukushima

At an establishment in Sasakino, Fukushima City, a bear attacked four employees/residents and four people were injured. The bear is believed to still be staying inside the building.

Fukushima Sasakino, Fukushima

A bear appeared on the Fukushimaseiko premises in Sasakino, Fukushima City, and injured two employees, one nearby resident, and one security guard at another nearby company.

Fukushima Yashimada, Fukushima

At around 6:30 a.m. on Tuesday, June 2, at a business premises in Fukushima City, a bear that had entered the site attacked two employees, and then attacked two more people in a nearby residential area, injuring a total of four people. All sustained minor injuries and were conscious. Those attacked by the bear were two male employees in their 20s and 60s from “Fukushima Seikō” in Sasakino Tenjikuda, Fukushima City, and an 80-year-old woman and a 60-year-old man in the surrounding area. All appear to be conscious. The scene is a residential area about 3 kilometers northwest of JR Fukushima Station.

Fukushima Yashimada, Fukushima

The bear attacked four people while moving across JR Ou Main Line Sasakino Station.

Fukushima Yashimada, Fukushima

A bear entered the premises of Fukushima Steel in Fukushima City, chased a male employee in his 20s, and injured him lightly.

Fukushima Yashimada, Fukushima

June 1

Natori Takadate-yoshida, Miyagi

On Monday, June 1 at approximately 10:51 p.m., in a residential area of Tatsuda, Sasakino, Fukushima City, a witness (female in her 50s) spotted a single bear (about 1 m in body length) leaving the area, moving from east to west toward the residential neighborhood as she was about to stop at a convenience store. The witness saw the bear while driving.

Fukushima Yashimada, Fukushima

June 1st

Tomiya 石積, Miyagi

June 1st

Kurihara 築館字築館蟹沢, Miyagi

June 1st

Kurihara, Miyagi

June 1st

Sendai 紫山, Miyagi

Around 18:40 on 2026-06-01, a bear was sighted in Akashi Nitanme, Tomiya City, Miyagi Prefecture.

Tomiya 石積, Miyagi

May 31

Tomiya 富谷, Miyagi

May 31

Kurihara 築館字築館蟹沢, Miyagi

May 31

Tomiya 三ノ関, Miyagi

At approximately 2:45 p.m. on May 31, a bear-like animal was sighted near Nagafuchi 5-chome, Ome City, Tokyo (landmark: Meisei University entrance intersection).

Ōme Nagabuchi, Tokyo

Observed for about one second a black, rounded, quadrupedal animal about the size of a medium dog—possibly a bear cub or a wild boar—running roughly 30 meters uphill into the brush. Location: where the Onnazaka and Sawa trails merge on Mt. Takagawayama.

Otsuki Hatsukarimachi-Shimohatsukari, Yamanashi

Fujiyoshida Araya, Yamanashi

At approximately 6:30 a.m. on May 31, in a field in Hiraakasaka, Suibara, Matsukawa-machi, Fukushima City, the caller (a woman in her 60s) went to the field to do farm work and discovered what appeared to be bear tracks. She reported it to the police station. Afterwards she provided the information to Fukushima City Hall, and when city hall staff attended the scene with her and checked, it was confirmed to be bear tracks.

Fukushima, Fukushima

May 30

Sendai Chomeigaoka-higashi, Miyagi

A bear was sighted in Chomeigaoka 2-chome, Izumi Ward, Sendai City, around 23:15 on May 30.

Sendai Chomeigaoka-higashi, Miyagi

Fujiyoshida Kamiyoshida, Yamanashi

May 29

Natori Takadate-yoshida, Miyagi

May 29

Tomiya 石積, Miyagi

May 29

Ohira, Miyagi

May 29

Ohira, Miyagi

Otsuki Otsukimachi-Otsuki, Yamanashi

I saw a bear coming down the Yoshidaguchi promenade from the mountain side and crossing the road. While driving on Fujizakura Street (?), I noticed a dark shape crossing the road; when I looked toward where it went, an adult-sized bear was standing there. I couldn’t take a photo, but I clearly confirmed it.

Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi

May 29

Natori Takadate-kumanodo, Miyagi

May 29

Iwanuma Kita-Hase, Miyagi

A bear was sighted in Yagiyamaminami 2-chome, Taihaku Ward, Sendai City.

Sendai Midodaira, Miyagi

May 29

Sendai Midodaira, Miyagi

A junior high school boy spotted one bear on a road in Yagiyama Honcho 2-chome, Taihaku Ward, Sendai.

Sendai Matsugaoka, Miyagi

A bear was sighted in Sasakino Shigaido, Fukushima City, around 23:45 on May 28.

Fukushima Niida, Fukushima

On Thursday, May 28, at approximately 11:45 p.m., in the road area of Ichikaidō, Sasakino, Fukushima City, a witness (male in his 20s) spotted one bear (approx. 1.5 m in body length) crossing the road while returning home from work. The bear then departed the scene heading west. The witness saw the bear while driving a vehicle.

Fukushima Niida, Fukushima

May 28

Sendai Okaji, Miyagi

A bear about 80 cm long was sighted in a drainage canal in Saiwai-cho 5-chome, Miyagino Ward, Sendai.

Sendai Okaji, Miyagi

Observed two juvenile bears entering the forested mountain area.

Ōshū Maesawa, Iwate

Around 05:10 on 2026-05-28, a bear was sighted in Nitsusawa, Taihaku Ward, Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture.

Sendai Futatsusawa, Miyagi

May 28

Sendai Futatsusawa, Miyagi

Two bears about 80 cm long were seen in the parking lot of government employee housing in Kawauchi, Aoba Ward, Sendai City.

Sendai Kawauchi, Miyagi

Two bears were sighted in a parking lot in Kawauchi Motoyashikita, Aoba Ward, Sendai City.

Sendai Kawauchi-Motohasekura, Miyagi

May 28

Taiwa Ono, Miyagi

A bear was sighted in Asahi 1-chome, Izumi Ward, Sendai.

Sendai Ogaku, Miyagi

A bear was sighted in Chiyokawa, Funasako, Shibata Town, Miyagi on May 27 around 16:30.

Shibara Funabasama, Miyagi

Observed one adult and one juvenile (bear).

Ōshū Maesawa, Iwate

May 27

Ohira 桔梗平, Miyagi

May 27

Tomiya 穀田, Miyagi

At around 5:30 a.m. on May 27, in an agricultural field in Hiraakasaka, Suibara, Matsukawa-machi, Fukushima City, a caller (a woman in her 60s) went to the field to do farm work and discovered bear tracks. She reported it to the police station, and later provided the information to Fukushima City Hall. City hall staff went to the scene with her and confirmed that the tracks were from a bear.

Fukushima, Fukushima

A newspaper delivery person spotted one bear about 1 meter long on a city road in Kuwahara, Iwanuma City.

Iwanuma Honchō, Miyagi

May 27

Iwanuma Inarichō, Miyagi

A newspaper delivery worker saw one bear on a city road in Kuwabara 1-chome, Iwanuma City.

Iwanuma Honchō, Miyagi

A bear was sighted in Maesawa Jinja, Oshu City.

Ōshū Maesawa, Iwate

Tsuru Hono, Yamanashi

May 26

Sendai 国見, Miyagi

May 26

Sendai Kawauchi, Miyagi

May 26

Kurihara 築館字左野原, Miyagi

Around 11:10 on 2026-05-26, a bear was sighted at Takenoshita-mae, Tsukidate-Yazawa, Kurihara City, Miyagi Prefecture.

Kurihara, Miyagi

May 26

Kurihara 築館字下待井, Miyagi

On Tuesday, May 26 at approximately 10:15 a.m., in a forested area of Sugita-machi 3-chome, Nihonmatsu City, a witness (woman in her 30s) while driving saw one animal believed to be a bear walking near a trail in the forest. The animal was only partially seen, so its body length is unknown. Its subsequent whereabouts are unknown.

Nihonmatsu 大作, Fukushima

May 26

Sendai Kawauchi-Yamayashiki, Miyagi

On Tuesday, May 26 at around 7:00 a.m., in Yoshikura, Hikokubo area, Nihonmatsu City, a witness (male in his 70s) driving a vehicle sighted one bear (about 1 m in body length) crossing the farm road from south to north. The bear entered the woodland beside the road and its subsequent whereabouts are unknown.

Nihonmatsu 渋川, Fukushima

Around 9:00 on 2026-05-26, a bear was sighted in Takayashiki, Tomiya, Miyagi, and was later captured.

Tomiya 杜乃橋, Miyagi

One bear was sighted on the Tohoku University Aobayama Campus on the morning of May 26.

Sendai Aramaki, Miyagi

A single bear was sighted on Route 31 in Yahata 5-chome, Aoba Ward, Sendai, and it moved northward into the forest.

Sendai 八幡, Miyagi

May 25

Tomiya 明石, Miyagi

May 25

Shiroishi, Miyagi

Observed one adult bear on the slope north of Ochiai Bridge.

Ōshū 衣川古戸, Iwate

Sighted one adult bear crossing the prefectural road from north to south.

Ōshū Maesawa, Iwate

Observed one adult bear crossing from south to north near Minowabashi (Minowa Bridge).

Ōshū, Iwate

On the night of 2026-05-25, one bear was sighted on a city road in Narita 8-chome, Tomiya City, Miyagi Prefecture.

Tomiya 明石, Miyagi

May 24

Kurihara, Miyagi

A bear was sighted in Kamiyagari 2-chome, Izumi Ward, Sendai City.

Sendai Izumichuo-minami, Miyagi

May 24

Sendai Izumichuo-minami, Miyagi

One bear was seen crossing a city road in Futabishin-den, Shirakawa City, around 19:30.

Shirakawa 双石, Fukushima

On Sunday, May 24 at approximately 7:30 p.m., within Futaishinden area of Shirakawa City, on a municipal road, a witness walking a dog along the road observed one bear (about 1 m in body length) crossing the road.

Shirakawa 双石, Fukushima

On Sunday, May 24 at around 5:00 p.m., a male witness spotted one bear (about 1 meter in length) on the riverbed of the Abukuma River in the Hara area of Hamao, Sukagawa City, while walking. The bear's subsequent whereabouts are unknown.

Sukagawa 下小山田, Fukushima

May 24

Tomiya 石積, Miyagi

May 24

Kurihara, Miyagi

May 24

Shiroishi 越河平, Miyagi

Otsuki Hatsukarimachi-Nakahatsukari, Yamanashi

A bear was sighted in Yatsumatazawa, Tsukidate Shimomiyano, Kurihara City.

Kurihara 築館, Miyagi

May 24

Kurihara 築館, Miyagi

Akiruno Sannai, Tokyo

Around 12:30 on 2026-05-24, an animal believed to be a bear was sighted in Yokozawa, Akiruno City.

Akiruno Yokosawa, Tokyo

May 23

Tomiya 二ノ関, Miyagi

Tokyo Kamimotogo, Tokyo

A bear was sighted in Mukuriya, Nasushiobara City.

Nasushiobara 無栗屋, Tochigi

Nasushiobara 無栗屋, Tochigi

May 22

Sendai Mizuhodai, Miyagi

A bear was sighted in Furukawa Osaki Nyo Kodate, Ōsaki City.

Osaki 古川大崎, Miyagi

On Friday, May 22 at approximately 8:28 p.m., on the Otokotaki Bridge over the Abukuma River in the Tanaka Tsuchinai area of Sukagawa City, a witness (male) driving across the bridge observed one bear (about 1.5 m in length) walking near the middle of the bridge. The bear then briefly moved eastward and its subsequent whereabouts are unknown.

Sukagawa 市野関, Fukushima

A bear was sighted in Tanakadonai, Sukagawa City, Fukushima Prefecture, around 20:28 on May 22.

Sukagawa 市野関, Fukushima

May 22

Shiroishi 鷹巣, Miyagi

A bear was sighted in Ōguri, Ohira Village.

Ohira 大瓜, Miyagi

One bear was sighted in Owari Higashishizaki, Ohira Village.

Ohira 大瓜, Miyagi

On Friday, May 22 at around 11:55 a.m., near a private residence on a slope in Narita-machi 1-chome, Nihonmatsu City, an eyewitness (female in her 80s) went to a field and saw two bears (each about 1.5 meters long) walking on the slope; both bears were later seen entering the woodland to the west.

Nihonmatsu 三保内, Fukushima

May 22

Sendai Matsumori, Miyagi

May 22

Osaki 古川大崎, Miyagi

Nasushiobara 上大貫, Tochigi

May 21

Tomiya 二ノ関, Miyagi

Otsuki Tomihamamachi-Torisawa, Yamanashi

May 21

Sendai Ogaku, Miyagi

May 21

Osaki 古川清水, Miyagi

Around 11:40 on May 21, a bear was sighted at Furukawa Shimizu Narita Omotemae in Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture.

Osaki 古川清水, Miyagi

Observed one adult bear heading north along the road.

Ōshū 水沢佐倉河, Iwate

A bear was sighted in Uchimagarisawa, Mizusawa Kurosuishi-cho, Oshu City.

Ōshū 水沢羽田町うぐいす平, Iwate

May 21

Sendai Kadan, Miyagi

Witnessed on the way back from fishing

Fukushima Kuroiwa, Fukushima

Uenohara Arata, Yamanashi

May 20

Osaki 古川大崎, Miyagi

A bear was sighted in Furukawa Osaki Odachi, Ōsaki City, Miyagi, around 14:20 on May 20, 2026.

Osaki 古川大崎, Miyagi

Fujikawaguchiko Kawaguchi, Yamanashi

Near the brush above the forest park, it was crossing the gravel path.

Sendai Dainohara-shinrinkoen, Miyagi

At around 10:25 on May 20, 2026, a woman in her 70s encountered a bear about 1 meter long in a bamboo grove behind her home in Furukawa Shinhori, Osaki City, Miyagi. She waved a saw she was carrying and drove the bear off but fell and suffered a fractured bone in her lower back; the bear fled west.

Osaki 古川新堀, Miyagi

May 20

Kami 上狼塚, Miyagi

On Wednesday, May 20 at approximately 8:40 a.m., in forested land at Fūfū (Kazefuki) area, Kumakura, Saigō Village, a woman driving a car witnessed a bear (about 1 m in length) entering the forest.

Nishigo 大字熊倉, Fukushima

May 20

Kami 上狼塚, Miyagi

May 20

Taiwa Ono, Miyagi

Witnessed one young bear bolt down from the bridge railing toward the cliff below.

Ōshū 江刺岩谷堂, Iwate

On May 20, 2026 at around 05:50, a woman walking in Taihaku Forest Park in Aoba Ward, Sendai, reported seeing a bear walking south to north. There were no injuries; Sendai North Police said a single bear about 1 meter long was seen near the rock garden by the HOKUSHU Science Museum. Officers patrolled but could not confirm it. A bear had also been sighted about 1.5 km south on the 14th, and police cannot tell if it is the same individual.

Sendai Kitane-Kuromatsu, Miyagi

At around 05:50 on the 20th, one adult bear was sighted walking from south to north near the science museum in Taihaku Forest Park, Aoba Ward, Sendai City.

Sendai Dainohara-shinrinkoen, Miyagi

May 20

Osaki 古川新堀, Miyagi

May 20

Osaki 古川大崎, Miyagi

On May 20, 2026, Sendai City reported a bear sighting in Taihara Forest Park in Aoba Ward and has temporarily banned passage on most of the park, including paths without street lighting.

Sendai Dainohara-shinrinkoen, Miyagi

A bear appeared in Furukawa, Ōsaki City, Miyagi Prefecture, and the city carried out its first emergency shooting to cull the animal.

Osaki 古川, Miyagi

Nasushiobara 上大貫, Tochigi

A bear was sighted in Nasu Town, Tochigi Prefecture. The article is behind a paywall on Shimotsuke Shimbun Digital, so further details are not publicly available.

Nasu 富岡, Tochigi

May 19

Tomiya 富谷, Miyagi

At a tire chain change area along National Route 397, an adult bear was observed traveling from south to north.

Ōshū Mizusawa-Miyashitacho, Iwate

On the morning of May 19, 2026, one male bear was spotted in a grove near Furukawa Shinden, Osaki City. The city authorized emergency gun hunting for public safety and the bear was killed around 11:00 a.m. The bear was about 1.1 m long, weighed approximately 45 kg, was estimated to be four years old, and is believed to have wandered in via a nearby river.

Osaki 古川新田, Miyagi

May 19

Osaki 古川斎下, Miyagi

May 19

Osaki 古川新田, Miyagi

At around 07:45 on May 19, 2026, a bear approximately 1 meter long was sighted in Ma-fune Kamiyashiki (Ōaza Mafune, Kamiyashiki), Saigō Village, Fukushima Prefecture. No damage to people or property has been confirmed so far, and the police have urged caution.

Nishigo, Fukushima

On Tuesday, May 19 at around 7:45 a.m., in Kamiyashikichi, Mafune, Saigō Village, on National Route 289, a woman driving a vehicle observed one bear (about 1 m in body length) crossing the road and heading south toward rice fields and residential houses.

Nishigo, Fukushima

May 19

Osaki 古川大崎, Miyagi

May 19

Osaki 古川楡木, Miyagi

May 19

Kami 上狼塚, Miyagi

Nasushiobara 上大貫, Tochigi

On May 18, 2026 at around 20:00 in Sakuragaoka 6-chome, Aoba-ku, Sendai, a passerby reported a black animal about 1 meter long (uncertain if it was a bear) on private property, but residents could not confirm it. At around 22:15 the same day, a bear was reported moving south on a road in Nakayamadai 1-chome and then left for nearby woods. A bear was also sighted at Sakuragaoka Elementary School on the 14th.

Sendai Nishikatsuyama, Miyagi

May 18

Tomiya 大亀, Miyagi

May 18

Natori Medeshimashiote, Miyagi

Observed one young bear entering the brush from the road.

Ōshū 衣川日向, Iwate

May 18

Taiwa Ryutsudaira, Miyagi

On Monday, May 18 at approximately 11:10 a.m., in the Nagata 2-chome area of Nihonmatsu City, a witness (woman in her 30s) observed a bear (about 1 m in body length) on the premises of a residence while at home; the bear was later seen entering the forest to the northeast.

Nihonmatsu 永田馬保内, Fukushima

In Nagata 2-chome, Nihonmatsu City, at around 11:10 on May 18, a single bear approximately 1 meter long was observed on residential premises.

Nihonmatsu 永田鍛治内, Fukushima

May 18

Tomiya 杜乃橋, Miyagi

May 18

Osaki 三本木斉田, Miyagi

At around 06:10 on the 18th, a man driving on a municipal road in Takayashiki, Tomiya City, spotted a bear about 1.5 m long and called the police. The bear ran up the west slope toward the mountain; the previous evening (17th) two other bears (about 1.5 m and 1 m) were reported about 1 km to the west in Yamatocho Morinooka 3-chome.

Tomiya 杜乃橋, Miyagi

At around 06:10 on the 18th, a 1.5-meter bear was seen walking on a slope near the Costco Wholesale Tomiya warehouse in Takayashiki, Tomiya City, by a man in a car; at about 10:00 the same day two more bears were spotted in a rice field about 1 km south of that location. There were no injuries reported, and Miyagi Prefecture announced it will continue the 'bear sighting alert' until June 18 due to the surge in sightings.

Tomiya 杜乃橋, Miyagi

May 18

Tomiya 杜乃橋, Miyagi