Although prey species generally trade better forage habitats for those with lower predation risk, whether but low predation risk can modulate the trade-off between forage and security remains unclear. In addition, direct interspecific competition may lead to inferior species avoiding dominant species. I examined the summer spatial distribution of the Japanese serow (Capricornis crispus) at Mount Fuji, in the absence of predation risk, in relation to security (steep slope or poor visibility), forage abundance, and abundance of a dominant competitor, the sika deer (Cervus nippon). Only terrain and visibility condition influenced the spatial distribution of serows in summer, and serows were abundant in areas with steep slopes and poor visibility. These results indicate that serow spatial distribution was explained by slope or visibility rather than forage abundance or abundance of a competitor despite the absence of predators. My findings suggest that serows favor security even without predation risk and have less behavioral plasticity related to predation risk. This may relate to serow phylogeny or characteristics, such as small body size and solitary and sedentary habits. My findings also suggest that serows did not avoid habitats with high densities of dominant competitors.