A bear was spotted Wednesday at Amanohashidate in Kyoto Prefecture, one of Japan's traditional "Three Scenic Views," and was later captured after swimming in waters there.

Local authorities say the bear was first reported by a passerby at around 4:30 p.m. on the northern side of the pine-covered sandbar.

Officials say it moved about 300 meters south before entering the water. It later headed back north and entered a residential area.

The bear remained in a wooded area before being captured shortly after 10:30 p.m. after being sedated with two tranquilizer shots. No one was injured.

Officials say the animal is a male Asian black bear, measuring about 1.3 meters long and weighing 97 kilograms.

The prefecture closed a roughly 3-kilometer road through the sandbar following the sighting, but plans to reopen it at 9 a.m. Thursday.

nhk