Man leaves young son on Mount Fuji before ascending Japan’s highest peak

A father left his seven-year-old son on Japan's Mount Fuji after the boy expressed feeling tired during a family hike. The boy was discovered alone near the sixth station of the Fujinomiya trail, situated over 2,000 meters above sea level. A hiker alerted local police, who took the child into protective custody. The father, originating from Nagoya, Japan's fourth-largest city, had given his son snacks and a soft drink before continuing his ascent with his older brother, who had already reached the summit.

It would have taken the father approximately eight hours to descend, but by the time police contacted him, he had already reached the eighth station. The police reprimanded the father, emphasizing that leaving a child alone on an active volcano is unacceptable, even if it means postponing the climb. The police advised hikers to consider the abilities and stamina of all group members when planning their ascent and to adjust their pace accordingly. The father expressed remorse, apologizing to the police for his "rash decision."