เส้นทางเดินป่า Kasamatsu-Hase-dera Temple

Yamazoe Matono, Nara

While driving on the Yoshino-Murouji-Hari Line (Prefectural Route 28) from Hari toward Murou, I passed a waiting area marked “Baba Exit.” About 50–100 m ahead on the road I witnessed a large black animal crossing the road from right to left. It was cloudy but just after dawn, so it was somewhat bright and I could make out the animal’s color and size. The animal was entirely black and appeared to be about 1–1.5 m in body length from head to rump. Its fore and hind legs were very thick, and its overall impression was clearly different from deer, wild boar, or monkeys I have seen on the road before.

Uda Murou-Mukoji, Nara

While driving, a large dark shape crossed in front of me and at first I thought I had mistaken it, but it was clearly captured on the dashcam. From its size, color, manner of running, and the thickness of its legs, it was confirmed not to be a deer, wild boar, or monkey.

Uda Murou-Muyama, Nara