A 48-year-old man from Nagoya, Japan, has been reprimanded by police after abandoning his seven-year-old son on Japan's highest mountain for several hours, leaving the child with only a soft drink and snack while he continued climbing. The boy was discovered sitting alone on a bench at Mount Fuji in foggy and rainy conditions at an elevation exceeding 2,000 metres (6,500 feet), according to reports from local authorities.
Staff working at a mountain hut spotted the unattended child near the sixth station of the Fujinomiya hiking route and immediately contacted police. The father was eventually located at the route's eighth station, approximately three hours' hike away from where he had left his son. According to reporting from a national news outlet, the boy was found between 7:30 and 7:40 a.m. local time on Thursday, having waited alone for roughly eight hours.
The father had reportedly instructed his son to remain on the bench after the child complained of fatigue, then proceeded up the mountain with his older son, a junior high school student. When officers confronted the father upon his return from the higher station, they expressed their disapproval of his actions.
Even if it means having to give up on climbing the mountain together, leaving a child behind is unacceptable,one officer told him, according to local media reports. The father acknowledged his decision was "rash" and apologised to authorities.
According to police in Shizuoka Prefecture, the child was taken into protective custody following his discovery before being returned to his father's care. The boy, described as an elementary school student from Aichi Prefecture, was reported to have been "tired and fussy" after his extended wait on the mountain.
What is the Fujinomiya route?
The family had chosen the Fujinomiya Trail, which begins at the fifth station—a location accessible by public transport. From that starting point, the standard climbing time to Mount Fuji's summit is approximately five hours, with a further three hours required for descent, according to climbing guides. The route's accessibility by vehicle makes it one of the more popular options for climbers attempting the mountain.
Why is Mount Fuji a regulated climbing destination?
Mount Fuji, standing at 3,776 metres (12,389 feet), attracts approximately 200,000 climbers annually. The active volcano, located south-west of Tokyo, was designated a World Heritage site in 2013 and holds status as one of three traditional "Holy Mountains" alongside Mount Tate and Mount Haku. Due to overcrowding concerns on its trails, Japanese authorities have implemented daily caps on certain routes to manage visitor numbers and ensure safety.
What other incidents have occurred on Mount Fuji?
The mountain has been the location of numerous climbing emergencies in recent years. In July, a 99-year-old woman required rescue after falling and sustaining injuries to her hip and back while attempting the route. The previous year, a 27-year-old university student who ventured onto the mountain outside the official climbing season had to be rescued twice within four days—the second rescue occurring after he returned to search for his lost mobile phone.
What happens next?
Police have already issued their reprimand to the father, and no formal charges, court date, or additional hearing has been reported in available coverage at this time. The case remains under the jurisdiction of local authorities in Shizuoka Prefecture.
Key Facts
- A 48-year-old father from Nagoya left his seven-year-old son alone at 2,000+ metres elevation on Mount Fuji while continuing his climb with his older son
- Mountain hut staff discovered the unattended child between 7:30 and 7:40 a.m. on Thursday after he had waited alone for approximately eight hours
- The father was located at the eighth station, roughly three hours' hike above where he had abandoned his son
- Police reprimanded the father upon his return, stating that abandoning a child is unacceptable regardless of climbing objectives
- The boy was taken into protective custody before being returned to his father's care
