Recently there has been a rise in bear sightings and attacks in parts of Japan, especially in northern regions such as Akita and Iwate. This has been widely covered in the news and understandably makes people nervous about traveling into the countryside.
The Situation in Okutama
Okutama is not one of the high-risk areas.
Our team, local staff, and customers have not encountered bears on our cycling routes.
Local reports suggest some sightings may actually be Japanese serow (a common goat-antelope native to Japan often mistaken for a small bear at a distance).
Verified bear incidents in our immediate area generally remain rare.
We monitor local wildlife information and safety alerts daily. If any genuine bear-related warnings appear on our routes, we update customers immediately.
Staying Safe While Enjoying the Outdoors
You can continue to enjoy cycling in Okutama with simple precautions:
- Stick to marked routes.
- We can provide bear bells to make a noise whilst riding if needed.
- If you see something unusual, keep your distance and contact us.
Okutama generally remains a safe and beautiful place to explore, and our routes are well-traveled & well-monitored.
We hope this helps ease concerns and lets you enjoy the mountains with confidence.
