Bear spotted near most popular hiking trail on Tokyo’s most popular hiking mountain

Officials are urging caution as Mt. Takao's peak hiking season approaches. Autumn is the ideal time for hiking in Japan, as it avoids the snows of winter, pollen-related allergies of spring, and the heat and humidity of summer. A pleasant autumn day can be spent on a mountain trail without needing to travel far from the city. Mt.

Takao is just an hour train ride west of Tokyo's city center, and the 599-meter (1,965-foot) mountain offers an enjoyable trek, taking around two hours to reach the summit and another 90 minutes to descend. However, officials are cautioning visitors to the popular day-hike destination after a bear sighting near the most frequented trail.

Out of the multiple routes to the top, Trail 1 (Omotesando Route) is the most popular as it combines natural scenery with man-made landmarks like Yakuoin Temple. Video footage from observation cameras on August 20 showed an adult Asian black bear near the trail, although the sighting was noticed on camera at 11 p.m. The animal was reported to be roughly 70 meters (230 feet) from the path and bears have been known to inhabit the area.

Hachioji City, the district housing Mt. Takao, confirmed the animal's identity and informed the central Tokyo Metropolitan Government. Given the bear's proximity to the trail and increasing incidents of bear attacks, officials are concerned, particularly with the upcoming autumn holidays and fall foliage attracting many hikers. They advise avoiding early morning, evening, and nighttime hikes, hiking in groups, and attaching bells or radios to gear to avoid startling bears.