Overview
- A lone 56-year-old man encountered a bear on the Buna no Michi trail toward Mount Mitou and, after trying to repel the animal, slipped about 10 metres and was injured on Tuesday, July 7.
- Patrol staff at the Hinohara Tomin no Mori facility found the injured hiker during routine checks, called emergency services and he was transported conscious with injuries not believed to be life-threatening.
- Facility staff initially reported a possible attack by a bear cub, but police say the man told officers he kicked at an approaching bear and then lost his balance and fell.
- The encounter took place on a managed route in Hinohara Village in Tokyo’s Tama region and the facility says there had been no bear-sighting reports in the immediate area earlier this year.
- Authorities and facility staff are continuing their investigation and the episode may lead to increased patrols or warnings for hikers using the Buna no Michi route to reduce the risk of similar incidents.