TOKYO - A black bear has been spotted near one of the most popular hiking trails on Mount Takao in western Tokyo, prompting authorities to urge visitors to take precautions ahead of the five-day Silver Week holiday and the approaching autumn foliage season.
According to Hachioji City, an Asiatic black bear was captured by a wildlife observation camera at around 11 p.m. on August 20 in the mountains of Mount Takao, one of Tokyo's best-known hiking and sightseeing destinations.
The bear appeared about 70 meters north of Shiromidai, near the middle section of Trail No. 1, one of the mountain's most heavily used routes. The paved trail runs through an area surrounded by tall trees and is regularly used by large numbers of hikers.
Visitors interviewed at Mount Takao on September 17 expressed surprise and concern. "I was shocked," one hiker said, while another said there was "a little bit of fear."
Mount Takao is easily accessible from central Tokyo and attracts particularly large crowds during holiday periods and the autumn foliage season.
One visitor said bears were worrying because "they can walk anywhere." Another said, "I knew bears sometimes appear in this mountain area, but I was still really surprised to hear one had been seen near a Mount Takao trail. I think I definitely want to carry a bear bell."
Local businesses are also taking precautions. Daichi Usui, deputy manager of the Takao Coffee main store, said the restaurant has long taken steps to prevent food waste from being left outside. "There are concerns about bears and the weather, but we will continue doing what we can as usual," he said.
Hachioji City noted that the latest bear appeared at night and urged hikers to avoid entering the mountain when visibility is poor, including early in the morning and after sunset.
"Please check the latest bear sighting information and take appropriate precautions, such as carrying a bear bell or other items that make noise," the city said.
Bear sightings have continued across Japan in September.
A bear carrying a pear in its mouth was filmed at an orchard in Miyoshi, Hiroshima Prefecture, on September 3, where ripe pears suffered damage. Emiko Mikami of Mikami Tourist Farm said she had previously encountered a bear at close range. "I was once threatened by one from up in a tree in the middle of the night, and it was extremely frightening," she said.
Two bears also appeared at a residence in Maizuru, Kyoto Prefecture, on September 3, prompting authorities to carry out an emergency firearms operation.
A bear was spotted in a residential neighborhood in Tendo, Yamagata Prefecture, on September 7, leading to road closures and heightened security in the area.
Takayoshi Yamauchi, an associate professor in the Faculty of Agriculture at Iwate University who specializes in bear ecology, said bears were particularly active around the time the Mount Takao animal was photographed.
"August is actually a period when food for bears is scarce," Yamauchi said. "It is also a time when bears become more active, so it may simply have wandered into the area."
Bears inhabit forests in western Tokyo's Tama region, making Tokyo unusual among major world capitals for having a wild bear population within its administrative boundaries.
Tokyo's online bear information map shows that most confirmed sightings, photographs and other signs of bears are concentrated in the Tama area.
A Tokyo Metropolitan Government survey conducted in fiscal 2025 estimated the bear population at between 120 and 378 animals and indicated that the number is increasing.
Experts warn that the risk of encounters may grow in the coming weeks as more people enter mountain areas for hiking and other autumn activities.
"In September, once bears reach an area with good food, they may stay there and continue eating," Yamauchi said. "At the same time, people are heading into the mountains for hiking or mushroom picking, so there can be unexpected encounters at very close range."
Hikers on Mount Takao on September 17 were seen using a variety of precautions.
A hiker in their 80s said they carried a bear bell to avoid unexpectedly coming across an animal. "It is to constantly let them know, 'I'm here,'" the hiker said.
Another visitor in their 40s said making noise should help keep bears away and had brought an unusual deterrent: a conch shell.
Yamauchi said hikers should also be careful about strong scents.
"Some bears appear to be interested in volatile smells, so it is better not to wear strongly scented deodorants or perfume," he said.
He also advised people to enter bear habitat in groups and to pay attention not only to the ground but also to the trees. "Bears surprisingly often eat while up in trees, so when you enter the mountains, it is important to go with several people and not just look down. You should also keep checking the trees above you."
Bear precautions are also being strengthened at events during the holiday period.
Organizers of the Japan's No. 1 Imoni Festival, an annual autumn event scheduled for September 20 in Yamagata City, have introduced measures after bears were spotted in nearby Tendo and other areas.
From September 16 through September 19, organizers are setting off firecrackers, handheld fireworks and other loud devices in mountains near the festival site in an effort to discourage bears from approaching.
A wildlife deterrent device known as Monster Wolf is also scheduled to be installed in a park near the venue on September 18. The sensor-equipped device detects approaching wild animals and attempts to drive them away using more than 50 different sounds. It had previously been installed in the mountains but is being temporarily moved closer to the festival site.
Authorities and experts are urging people planning to visit areas with recent bear activity during Silver Week to check current sighting information, carry noise-making equipment and take other precautions before entering the mountains.
Source: FNN
