Father leaves 7-year-old son alone for hours on Mount Fuji

A father's decision to leave his 7-year-old son unattended for hours on Japan's Mount Fuji has drawn a stern warning from authorities. The boy was discovered alone on a hiking trail and subsequently taken into police custody. According to local reports, the child told his father he was tired at the sixth station of the mountain, situated at an altitude of over 2,000 meters (6,500 feet).

While the boy's older brother had already proceeded ahead, the father instructed his younger son to "wait here" and continued his ascent with the other child. Reports suggest the seven-year-old was left for approximately eight hours with only snacks and a drink, and no money. Staff at a mountain hut noticed the child's solitary state and alerted the police.

Officers located the father at the eighth station and reunited him with his son. The police officer informed AFP that the man received a telling-off for abandoning the child. The father reportedly apologized, acknowledging his carelessness. The incident highlights a concerning lapse in parental supervision on one of Japan's most iconic and challenging peaks.

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