News Black Bear Okutama Town (near a junior high school), Tokyo Nov 29, 2025

Description

On 2025-11-29, a bear estimated about 1 m long and 60 cm tall was sighted near a junior high school in Okutama Town, Tokyo. The Ome Police Department mountain rescue team responded and used firecrackers to drive the bear away; claw-like damage was found on a nearby trail sign.

Note: Official sources provide information in Japanese only. This description has been machine translated for your convenience.

Summary

Amid a rise in bear sightings in late autumn, a bear believed to be an adult was spotted near a junior high school in Okutama on November 29. The Ome Police mountain rescue team drove it off with firecrackers, but claw marks were left on a trail sign, heightening concern among hikers and residents. In 2025, Tokyo has already recorded roughly 300 bear sightings.

Bear Type

Black Bear

Number of Bears

1

Provider Type

News

Date & Time

Saturday, November 29, 2025

Address

Coordinates

35.809502, 139.096059

Sources