A father left his 7‑year‑old son alone on the cliff side of Mount Fuji during a climb in fog and rain. The child was seen seated on a bench near the sixth station, about 2,000 metres above sea level. He had only a soft drink and a snack, and the father told him to "wait here" before continuing the trek with his older son.
The boy was discovered by staff at a mountain hut and alerted the police. Authorities traced the father to the seventh station, roughly a three‑hour hike away, and the two reunited at 07:30 local time. The child was described as tired and fussy after an eight‑hour wait.
Police reprimanded the father, emphasizing that it is unacceptable to leave a child alone on a mountain trail, even if it means abandoning the climb together. The father apologized for his rash decision.
The incident occurred on the Fujinomiya route, which starts at the fifth station and is accessible via public transport. Guides estimate a five‑hour ascent to the summit and an additional three hours for the descent.
Mount Fuji, standing at 3,776 metres, has seen several climbing mishaps in recent years, including a 99‑year‑old woman rescued after falling and a 27‑year‑old university student who was rescued twice after searching for a lost phone. The mountain is recognised as a World Heritage site and one of Japan’s three Holy Mountains.
Each year, approximately 200,000 people climb Mount Fuji, though daily visitor caps are in place on some routes to prevent overcrowding.
