TOKYO –
A black bear has been noticed close to one of the crucial widespread climbing trails on Mount Takao in western Tokyo, prompting authorities to induce guests to take precautions forward of the five-day Silver Week vacation and the approaching autumn foliage season.
According to Hachioji City, an Asiatic black bear was captured by a wildlife commentary digicam at round 11 p.m. on August 20 within the mountains of Mount Takao, considered one of Tokyo’s best-known climbing and sightseeing locations.
The bear appeared about 70 meters north of Shiromidai, close to the center part of Trail No. 1, one of many mountain’s most closely used routes. The paved path runs by an space surrounded by tall timber and is repeatedly utilized by giant numbers of hikers.
Visitors interviewed at Mount Takao on September 17 expressed shock and concern. “I was shocked,” one hiker mentioned, whereas one other mentioned there was “a little bit of fear.”
Mount Takao is well accessible from central Tokyo and attracts notably giant crowds throughout vacation durations and the autumn foliage season.
One customer mentioned bears have been worrying as a result of “they can walk anywhere.” Another mentioned, “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 companies are additionally taking precautions. Daichi Usui, deputy supervisor of the Takao Coffee foremost retailer, mentioned the restaurant has lengthy taken steps to forestall meals waste from being left outdoors. “There are concerns about bears and the weather, but we will continue doing what we can as usual,” he mentioned.
Hachioji City famous that the most recent bear appeared at night time and urged hikers to keep away from coming into the mountain when visibility is poor, together with early within the morning and after sundown.
“Please check the latest bear sighting information and take appropriate precautions, such as carrying a bear bell or other items that make noise,” town mentioned.
Bear sightings have continued throughout Japan in September.
A bear carrying a pear in its mouth was filmed at an orchard in Miyoshi, Hiroshima Prefecture, on September 3, the place ripe pears suffered harm. Emiko Mikami of Mikami Tourist Farm mentioned she had beforehand encountered a bear at shut vary. “I was once threatened by one from up in a tree in the middle of the night, and it was extremely frightening,” she mentioned.
Two bears additionally appeared at a residence in Maizuru, Kyoto Prefecture, on September 3, prompting authorities to hold out an emergency firearms operation.
A bear was noticed in a residential neighborhood in Tendo, Yamagata Prefecture, on September 7, resulting in street closures and heightened safety within the space.
Takayoshi Yamauchi, an affiliate professor within the Faculty of Agriculture at Iwate University who focuses on bear ecology, mentioned bears have been notably lively across the time the Mount Takao animal was photographed.
“August is actually a period when food for bears is scarce,” Yamauchi mentioned. “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 area, making Tokyo uncommon amongst main world capitals for having a wild bear inhabitants inside its administrative boundaries.
Tokyo’s on-line bear info map exhibits that almost all confirmed sightings, pictures and different indicators of bears are concentrated within the Tama space.
A Tokyo Metropolitan Government survey performed in fiscal 2025 estimated the bear inhabitants at between 120 and 378 animals and indicated that the quantity is growing.
Experts warn that the chance of encounters might develop within the coming weeks as extra individuals enter mountain areas for climbing and different autumn actions.
“In September, once bears reach an area with good food, they may stay there and continue eating,” Yamauchi mentioned. “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 have been seen utilizing quite a lot of precautions.
A hiker of their 80s mentioned they carried a bear bell to keep away from unexpectedly coming throughout an animal. “It is to constantly let them know, ‘I’m here,'” the hiker mentioned.
Another customer of their 40s mentioned making noise ought to assist maintain bears away and had introduced an uncommon deterrent: a conch shell.
Yamauchi mentioned hikers must also watch out about robust scents.
“Some bears appear to be interested in volatile smells, so it is better not to wear strongly scented deodorants or perfume,” he mentioned.
He additionally suggested individuals to enter bear habitat in teams and to concentrate not solely to the bottom but in addition to the timber. “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 additionally being strengthened at occasions throughout the vacation interval.
Organizers of the Japan’s No. 1 Imoni Festival, an annual autumn occasion scheduled for September 20 in Yamagata City, have launched measures after bears have been noticed in close by Tendo and different areas.
From September 16 by September 19, organizers are setting off firecrackers, handheld fireworks and different loud units in mountains close to the competition website in an effort to discourage bears from approaching.
A wildlife deterrent system referred to as Monster Wolf can be scheduled to be put in in a park close to the venue on September 18. The sensor-equipped system detects approaching wild animals and makes an attempt to drive them away utilizing greater than 50 totally different sounds. It had beforehand been put in within the mountains however is being briefly moved nearer to the competition website.
Authorities and consultants are urging individuals planning to go to areas with latest bear exercise throughout Silver Week to verify present sighting info, carry noise-making tools and take different precautions earlier than coming into the mountains.
Source: FNN