Father reprimanded after leaving 7-year-old son alone on Mount Fuji

A 48-year-old father has been reprimanded by Japanese police after reportedly leaving his seven-year-old son alone

A 48-year-old father has been reprimanded by Japanese police after reportedly leaving his seven-year-old son alone on Mount Fuji for several hours with only a soft drink and a snack, local media reported.

The boy was found sitting on a bench in foggy and rainy weather at an altitude of more than 2,000 metres (6,500 feet) on Japan’s highest mountain.

According to reports, the family had been climbing Mount Fuji when the young boy complained that he was tired. His father allegedly told him to “wait here” before continuing towards the summit with his older son.

The child was later discovered by staff at a mountain hut near the sixth station of the Fujinomiya hiking route. Concerned about the boy being alone in difficult weather conditions, the staff contacted police.

Officers subsequently located the boy’s father at the route’s eighth station. The location was reportedly around a three-hour hike from where the child had been left.

The seven-year-old was reportedly found alone at approximately 7:30am local time on Thursday, according to Japanese media reports.

When the father eventually returned to the lower section of the mountain and was reunited with his son, police reportedly strongly criticised his decision to leave the child behind.

One officer was quoted as telling him that leaving a child alone was unacceptable, even if it meant abandoning the plan to climb the mountain together. The father reportedly apologised and acknowledged that his decision had been “rash.”

The family was climbing the Fujinomiya route, one of the main trails leading to Mount Fuji’s summit. The route begins at the fifth station, which can be reached by public transportation, making it one of the more accessible starting points for climbers.

According to climbing guides, the journey from the fifth station to the summit can take approximately five hours, while the descent may require another three hours. The incident therefore highlighted the potential risks of leaving a young child unattended on a long and challenging mountain trail.

Mount Fuji, standing at 3,776 metres (12,389 feet), has witnessed several climbing-related incidents in recent years.

In July, a 99-year-old woman reportedly required rescue after falling while attempting to climb the mountain and sustaining injuries to her hip and back.

Last year, a 27-year-old university student also required rescue twice within four days after attempting to climb Mount Fuji outside the official climbing season. He reportedly returned to the mountain after losing his mobile phone and subsequently needed assistance again.

Located southwest of Tokyo, Mount Fuji is an active volcano and one of Japan’s most recognisable landmarks. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2013.

The mountain is also regarded as one of Japan’s three traditional “Holy Mountains,” alongside Mount Tate and Mount Haku.

Mount Fuji attracts around 200,000 climbers each year. However, authorities have introduced daily visitor limits on some routes in an effort to reduce overcrowding and improve safety.

The incident has once again highlighted the importance of ensuring that children are accompanied and adequately protected when undertaking challenging mountain climbs, particularly in poor weather and at high altitudes.