A 48-year-old father was reprimanded by police after leaving his 7-year-old son alone on Mount Fuji for several hours in foggy and rainy conditions, local media report.
The incident occurred on Thursday during a family climb on the Fujinomiya route, one of Mount Fuji’s main hiking paths. The boy was found sitting on a bench near the sixth station—over 2,000 meters (6,500 feet) above sea level—at 07:30 local time by staff at a mountain hut, who alerted police. His father was located at the eighth station, roughly a three-hour hike away, and ordered to return.
Police response and father’s apology
Officers criticized the father upon his return, stating: “Even if it means having to give up on climbing the mountain together, leaving a child behind is unacceptable.” The father reportedly apologized, calling his decision “rash.”
The boy was found unharmed and later reunited with his family. The family had begun their climb from the fifth station, accessible by public transport, and were attempting to reach the summit, which stands at 3,776 meters (12,389 feet).
Mount Fuji’s climbing risks
Mount Fuji, an active volcano, has seen multiple climbing incidents in recent years. In July, a 99-year-old woman required rescue after falling and injuring herself. Last year, a 27-year-old university student was rescued twice in four days after venturing outside the official climbing season.
The Fujinomiya route typically takes five hours to ascend from the fifth station and three hours to descend, according to climbing guides.