Japanese Father Sternly Warned After Abandoning 7-Year-Old on Mount Fuji
A Japanese father was sternly warned by police after abandoning his exhausted 7-year-old son alone on Mount Fuji for 8 hours in fog and rain. The boy was found sitting on a bench at 2,000 metres elevation before his father was located three
A 48-year-old Japanese father has been severely cautioned by police after abandoning his 7-year-old son alone on Mount Fuji for several hours in fog and rain, according to BBC reporting on 23 August. The boy complained of tiredness, so the father left him with only drinks and snacks before continuing up the mountain with his other son.
The child waited alone for 8 hours before officials found him. The boy was discovered at approximately 07:30 local time near Station 6 of the Fuji-Subashiri Trail, which stands at 2,000 metres above sea level. Mountain staff found the child sitting alone on a bench and alerted police.
Police tracked down the father between stations 7 and 8, approximately three hours' walk away. The boy had waited alone for 8 hours and was exhausted and distressed when he saw his father again.
Police strongly criticised the father, stating that leaving a child alone was unacceptable. The father apologized and acknowledged it was a reckless decision.
The family had used the Fuji-Subashiri Trail, which begins at Station 5 and typically takes about 5 hours to reach the summit, with another 3 hours required for the descent.
Mount Fuji is located southwest of Tokyo and stands 3,776 metres high. It is an active volcano and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2013. It is considered one of Japan's three sacred mountains, alongside Mount Tate and Mount Haku. Around 200,000 climbers ascend the mountain each year, though some routes limit numbers to prevent overcrowding.
