Japanese giant salamanders (Ōsanshōuo) are the second largest species of salamander around the world (after the Chinese ones). They are as large as 1.5 meters (5 feet) long. Last week one of them was spotted near the shore of Kamogawa river in Kyoto. These type of salamanders are not dangerous at all but police decided to pick it up and give it a ride out of civilization taking it to the mountains to the north of Kyoto.
Giant salamander in an Ukiyo-e by Utagawa Kuniyoshi
More details about giant salamanders in the Wikipedia article.