A Japanese father left his seven-year-old son alone for hours while climbing Mount Fuji, police and local media said.
The boy was found alone on a hiking trail on Thursday and taken to a police station.
According to local media, the child told his father he was tired when they reached the sixth of the route’s 10 stations, at an altitude of more than 2,000 metres.
The father’s older son had already gone on ahead, and the man reportedly told his younger son to wait where he was before continuing the climb himself.
Local media said the child may have been left waiting for as long as eight hours, with only some snacks and no money.
Police contacted the father while he was already at the eighth station. He returned and was given a warning after admitting his negligence and apologising.
Mount Fuji, Japan’s highest mountain at 3,776 metres, is a dormant volcano. It is open to climbers each year from the beginning of July until 10 September.
