Father leaves tired 7-year-old son all alone on Mount Fuji, continues climbing to summit with older son; returns after police intervene

A 7-year-old boy was left alone on Mount Fuji after his father told him to “wait here” and continued hiking toward the summit with his older son. The boy, who had complained of being tired, was later found sitting by himself near the sixth station of the Fujinomiya Trail and was safely reunited with his father after police intervened, according to media reports.As reported, the incident took place early Thursday morning on the Fujinomiya Trail. The 48-year-old father was hiking with his two sons, including the first-grader from Nagoya and his older son, a first-year middle school student.At around the sixth station, located at an altitude of about 2,490 metres, the younger boy reportedly said he was tired. Instead of turning back or stopping the hike, the father told him to wait and continued toward the summit with his older son.A mountain hut worker later spotted the boy sitting alone on a bench at around 7:40 a.m. Rain was falling and fog was beginning to gather. The worker brought the child inside the hut to shelter and contacted police.Officers were able to identify and reach the father, who was near the eighth station at the time. Police instructed him to abandon the climb and return for his younger son.The exact amount of time the boy was left alone has not been confirmed. Based on estimated hiking times, however, the father may have left him at around 4:30 a.m. The journey from the sixth to the eighth station can take roughly three hours, while reaching the summit from the sixth station can take more than five hours.The boy was unharmed and was eventually reunited with his father.Police reportedly told the father that leaving a child behind was unacceptable, even if it meant giving up the climb. The father expressed remorse, saying, “I made a rash decision, and I deeply regret it.”The incident has also drawn criticism on Japanese social media, with users questioning the father's decision to leave his young son alone on the mountain.Authorities have urged hikers to consider the abilities of every member of their group when planning a climb. They stressed that hikers should adjust their pace and plans to the person with the lowest stamina rather than leaving someone behind.Mount Fuji's weather can also change rapidly, with conditions such as rain and fog potentially reducing visibility and making hiking more difficult. The incident has therefore renewed attention on the importance of keeping hiking groups together, particularly when children are involved.