Shizuoka, Japan, August 22, 2026 — A man has been warned by Japanese authorities after leaving his 7-year-old son alone for several hours on a hiking route on Mount Fuji while continuing his climb with another son.
The boy was found alone on the mountain on Thursday and was taken into police custody, according to a police officer in Shizuoka Prefecture.
The child reportedly became tired at the mountain’s sixth station, which is located more than 2,000 metres above sea level. His older brother had continued ahead, while the father told the 7-year-old to wait at the station and continued climbing with his other son.
According to reports, the boy remained there for about eight hours with only snacks and a soft drink and had no money with him. Staff at a mountain hut noticed the child and contacted police.
Officers later contacted the father, who was at the eighth station of Mount Fuji. The boy was handed back to his father after he returned to the location.
