Father leaves seven-year-old son behind for hours to continue climbing Mount Fuji

Police officers gave the man a telling-off for leaving the child behind.

Police reprimanded the father over the decision and warned that leaving a child behind was unacceptable.

A man left his seven-year-old son behind for hours on Japan’s Mt. Fuji while continuing the climb, resulting in a stern warning from authorities, police and local media reported.

The boy was found alone on a hiking route on Thursday and taken into police custody, a local police officer in Shizuoka Prefecture said Saturday.

Emily Bashforth | Live News reporter Published August 21, 2026 5:35pm Updated August 21, 2026 5:35pm A schoolboy’s father was scolded by police after abandoning him on Mount Fuji (Picture: Richard A. Brooks/AFP via Getty Images) ‘Wait here,’ is what a dad told his seven-year-old son before leaving him alone on Mount Fu

A seven-year-old boy was allegedly left behind by his father while climbing Mount Fuji, Japan's highest summit

Father leaves 7-year-old son alone on Mount Fuji and tells him to wait eight hours  MARCA