Father leaves tired 7yo at station to continue climbing Mount Fuji

A father in Japan has been reprimanded by police after he left his seven-year-old son alone on a hike up Mount Fuji, continuing the climb on his own. The child was discovered alone on a hiking route and taken into police custody. Two men tragically died while climbing the mountain earlier this month. The father was issued a stern warning by authorities, who stated he was careless for abandoning his young son.

The boy had informed his father that he was tired at the sixth station, located over 2,000 meters above sea level. The father had instructed his son to wait while he continued hiking with his other son. The child was left alone for eight hours with only snacks, a soft drink, and no money to purchase more food or supplies. Police were alerted to the boy's whereabouts by staff at a mountain hut.

Upon the father's return, he was met by the police and handed over his son. Mount Fuji, an active volcano and Japan's highest peak at 3,776 meters, is a popular destination for both local and international hikers. In 2024, entry fees were introduced and the number of participants was capped to curb overcrowding. In the same year, a Swiss man died while hiking up the mountain due to losing consciousness, while a 99-year-old woman was rescued after being injured and sheltering overnight in a hut.

The Swiss climber's death marked the second fatality since the hiking season commenced on July 1, following the death of a 65-year-old Japanese man on July 17, who reportedly died after falling and hitting his head. Despite the recent fatalities, more than 200,000 people climbed Mount Fuji last year, a decrease from the previous year's approximately 220,000 climbers. There were nine deaths reported in the 2024 season, with no fatalities recorded so far in 2025.