Flyers were shared following the student’s disappearance. | Image: Nancy Higginbotham
A weeklong search for missing Auburn University student James “Weston” Higginbotham has ended in tragedy after volunteer search-and-rescue teams found his body in a mountainous area outside Kyoto, Japan, on Saturday, June 7. The 20-year-old American student had been missing since May 29 while traveling in Japan with his family. His mother, Nancy Higginbotham, confirmed the news in a statement shared on social media.
“Our family is heartbroken to share that Weston was found deceased by a volunteer search-and-rescue group in a mountainous area outside of Kyoto,” she wrote. “The grief we feel is impossible to put into words. We are forever grateful for the time we had with our sweet, precious Weston, but cannot begin to understand what life without him will be like.”
Higginbotham, a junior at Auburn University, was visiting Japan with his parents and younger brother following his brother’s graduation. Family members described him as a passionate environmentalist and outdoorsman who loved hiking, mountain biking, and whitewater rafting.
According to reports, Weston left Kyoto Station alone on the evening of May 29 and was later captured on CCTV footage in Kyoto’s Yamashina district, an area on the eastern edge of the city that provides access to a network of steep, heavily forested mountains and hiking trails. He was carrying approximately ¥10,000 (about $65), and his phone battery was reportedly at 34% before contact was lost.
His disappearance prompted an extensive search involving Japanese police, helicopters, K-9 units, and dozens of officers combing the rugged terrain east of Kyoto. Search efforts continued through periods of heavy rain and poor weather as authorities worked through dense forests and steep mountainsides.
Police later stated they believed Higginbotham had left his family voluntarily, but concerns remained for his safety given the remote terrain and the lack of communication. While the official search was eventually suspended, volunteer search-and-rescue teams continued looking for the missing student and ultimately located his body on Saturday.
Authorities have not released a cause of death.
Weston’s mother Nancy shared an image of the dense forest in which their son went missing. | Image: Nancy Higginbotham
The search area lies within the forested mountains separating Kyoto and neighboring Shiga Prefecture. The region includes peaks such as Mount Daimonji (466 meters / 1,529 feet) and Mount Hiei (848 meters / 2,782 feet), along with an extensive network of ridges, valleys, and trails. While not particularly high by alpine standards, the mountains surrounding Kyoto are known for dense vegetation, steep slopes, and terrain that can quickly become challenging for anyone unfamiliar with the area.
The case drew widespread attention in both Japan and the United States, with thousands of people sharing information and offering support to the family during the search.
“We are deeply grateful to the countless people across the United States, Japan, and around the world who shared Weston’s story, prayed for our family, offered encouragement, and helped in the search efforts,” Nancy Higginbotham wrote. “The outpouring of kindness and support has carried us through the darkest days of our lives.”
The family has asked for privacy as they navigate their loss.
Flyers were shared following the studen’s disappearance. | Image: Nancy Higginbotham
AloJapan.com