A seven-year-old boy was allegedly left behind by his father while climbing Mount Fuji, according to Japanese media reports. Police were called to the sixth station of the Fujinomiya Trail, on the Shizuoka Prefecture side of Japan's highest mountain, at around 7.40am local time on Thursday.
An employee at a mountain hut at the station reported that a child had been left alone. The boy was reportedly found sitting on a bench near the hut at an altitude of around 2,490 metres (8,170ft).
Boy told police he was tired
According to Japanese broadcaster TV Asahi, the boy had been climbing with his father and two other people. He told police he was "tired" and that his "dad went ahead", telling him to "wait there".
The boy, who is from Nagoya City in Aichi Prefecture, was found unharmed, Hong Kong-based outlet The Standard reported.
Father issued warning
Police summoned the boy's father, issued him with a warning and returned the child to his care, according to reports.
While children in Japan are often encouraged to develop independence from a young age, the incident has sparked debate across the country over child safety.
Mount Fuji's status
Mount Fuji is an active stratovolcano in central Japan, located around 60 miles south-west of the capital Tokyo. With a summit elevation of 3,776 metres (12,389ft), it is the highest mountain in the country and the second-highest volcano on an Asian island.
