Father Abandoned His 7‑Year‑Old Son on Mount Fuji Prior to Summit Attempt

A father who left his seven‑year‑old son on Mount Fuji after the child complained of fatigue during a family hike has been admonished by local authorities.

A mountain worker found the boy sitting alone on a bench near the sixth station of the Fujinomiya trail, at an elevation exceeding 2,000 m (6,500 ft), on Thursday.

After providing the child shelter at the station, the worker alerted the police, who placed the boy in protective custody.

It was later revealed that he had told his father he was too exhausted to continue the ascent in the early morning hours.

The man, a resident of Nagoya—Japan’s fourth‑largest city—provided his son with snacks and a soft drink.

He instructed his son to wait, then proceeded with a five‑hour climb to the summit, accompanied by the child’s older brother, who had already moved ahead. Local reports indicated the round‑trip would take roughly eight hours.

When police finally reached the father, he had already climbed to the eighth station, which lies about three hours from the point where he had left his son.

Officers instructed him to turn back, and after reuniting him with his son, they reprimanded him for leaving the child alone on an active volcano.

“Even if it means forgoing the climb together, abandoning a child is unacceptable,” the officers stated, according to Japan Today.

Mount Fuji’s weather, shaped by its distinct microclimate, is unpredictable and can change rapidly; hypothermia remains a serious risk for hikers even during summer months.

The father reportedly apologized to police, saying, “I made a rash decision and deeply regret it.”

Local police advise hikers to assess the abilities and stamina of all group members when planning a Mount Fuji ascent and to adjust their pace accordingly.

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