Nancyhig

[Nancyhig @nancyhig]

🚨 URGENT REQUEST – MISSING PERSON SEARCH 🚨

DAY 7 – WESTON HIGGINBOTHAM MISSING IN THE YAMASHINA MOUNTAINS, KYOTO

Hikers, trail runners, and outdoor enthusiasts — we urgently need your help.

Our 20-year-old son, Weston Higginbotham, remains missing. He was last known to have entered the mountainous forest area near Yamashina, Kyoto.

Today, the police provided us with a map showing the areas that have already been searched (circled on the map below). We are asking experienced hikers to help search outside of the marked search zone, particularly in the surrounding mountains and remote trails.

Please be aware that this terrain is extremely steep, rugged, and heavily wooded. Many areas involve significant elevation changes, dense vegetation, and difficult footing. Weston is an experienced hiker and may have traveled farther into the mountains than expected.

It is now Day 7. While there are water sources throughout the area, food is limited, making it critical that we continue searching as quickly as possible.

If you are able to search or have any information, please contact:

Keith Higginbotham
📧 [email protected]
📞 [phone]

Any information, no matter how small, could help bring Weston home. Please share this post widely.

#FindWestonHigginbotham #Kyoto #KyotoJapan #Japan #JapanLife #Yamashina #MissingPerson #HikingJapan #KyotoHiking #HelpFindWeston
#行方不明
#山科
#登山
#京都

[TheÐogeGlory @GloryDoge]

Japan Friends, A 20-year-old American tourist, Higginbotham James West, has gone missing while traveling with his family in Kyoto. According to local police, Mr. West left his hotel room alone on the evening of May 29, 2026, at approximately 6:00 PM and failed to return.

Security cameras later captured footage of him walking in the Yamashina Ward area at around 8:00 PM that same night. His family filed an official missing person report with the Higashiyama Police Station the following day. Authorities describe Mr. West as 188 centimeters tall with long blond hair and blue eyes, last seen wearing a white T-shirt featuring the slogan "Save the Bees" and light purple pants.

Sources: NHK & Japan Daily

[産経ニュースWEST @SankeiNews_WEST]

京都市内で米国籍の20歳男性が行方不明　家族と観光中に宿泊先を1人で外出か　京都府警 - 産経ニュース
https://t.co/bIXMc9Mvnd
男性は家族と旅行中に1人で宿泊先を出て以来、連絡が取れなくなっており、京都府警が捜索を続けるとともに、情報提供を呼びかけている。

[AL.com @aldotcom]

James “Weston” Higginbotham, a 20-year-old graduate of Spain Park High School, was last confirmed to be in the Kyoto area. An update on the search 👇

[Jennifer Coffindaffer @CoffindafferFBI]

Missing

Please use your platforms to find:

James "Weston" Higginbotham

20 YO

He was on a family trip in Japan. Missing since 5/29/26.

*Last seen making a purchase at the Kohnan hardware store Kyoto

He may have been on a train when his phone lost service at 8:15 p.m. likely headed to Tokyo. His phone remains turned off.

It is reported that he was upset.

Description:

He is 6' 1", blue eyes and was wearing
A white shirt that says "Save the Bees" with 2 bees, lavender corduroy pants, and white and black striped Adidas tennis (older). He also had a shoulder style bag with Alabama on it.

He is a vegan, well-traveled, and in excellent physical shape.

Praying he is found soon.

#Missing
#Japan

[Michael Ruiz @mikerreports]

🎗️🎗️🎗️James "Weston" Higginbotham, a 20-year-old Auburn University student, has gone missing from a family trip to Japan.

His mother said his phone last showed activity shortly after he arrived at Kyoto Station around 8:15 p.m. on May 29, before losing network service minutes later.

Police reviewing CCTV footage determined that Weston’s last confirmed location was Yamashina Station, east of Kyoto. The area around Yamashina includes several popular hiking routes, temples and forested paths, including trails leading toward Mount Otowa and the Kyoto Trail network.

[Daily Mail @DailyMail]

Tearful Alabama parents issue heartbreaking appeal after their student son, 20, vanished during trip to Japan https://t.co/H7dY1v4Xd5

[Daily Mail @DailyMail]

An Alabama family has issued a heartbreaking appeal in the search for their missing 20-year-old son, who vanished on a trip to Japan https://t.co/TXl3Y7kk16 🔗

[ABC 33/40 News @abc3340]

More updates on the search for James "Weston" Higginbotham here ➡️ https://t.co/pnXnmcQ17L

[Yellowhammer News @yhn]

A Hoover family searching for their missing son in Japan was lifted up in prayer and community support Tuesday night as friends, family members and supporters gathered for a vigil while search efforts continue overseas.

James “Weston” Higginbotham, a 20-year-old Auburn University student from Hoover, was last confirmed to be in the Kyoto area of Japan on May 29, according to posts his family shared on social media. Weston is an honors graduate of Spain Park High School and studies environmental engineering at Auburn.

Read full coverage: https://t.co/1FRBJNnUEC

#Alabama #ALNews #Auburn

[Country Rebel @countryrebel]

As the parents of 20-year-old Weston Higginbotham have been searching for their son who went missing in Japan, their local church in Alabama held a prayer vigil to offer prayers for the family and the safe return of Weston. See more on the search in Japan for the Auburn University student, and watch his parents speak on their search efforts so far, here: https://t.co/Yg6qeJomYs

Photo: Nancy Higginbotham, Auburn University / Facebook

[NBC News @NBCNews]

Auburn University student James “Weston” Higginbotham went missing in Japan, his school says, with loved ones fearing he may be “emotionally distressed.” https://t.co/LhASSsWJnU

[Nancyhig @nancyhig]

@NathanLands Thank you so much for helping our family with the search and rescue efforts.

[Nancyhig @nancyhig]

https://t.co/wbUh85zHGe
#kyoto #missingpersons #japan

[Nancyhig @nancyhig]

@leahfeld_ Nope! I got ONE $800 ticket which I swiped with zero hesitation. Then I was told another fan grabbed it. Wtf!

[Nancyhig @nancyhig]

@PAYOLETTER Same. I put it in my cart and then it said another fan grabbed it. I didn’t even hesitate for one second.

[Nancyhig @nancyhig]

Warrrrrr Eagle! #WarEagle #aday

[Nancyhig @nancyhig]

@missmacsowls Wow, what an awesome lady and mom! Big, huge thanks! Grayton and I absolutely love the hat and pig nose.

[Nancyhig @nancyhig]

@missmacsowls Who made the cute hats? Somebody spent a lot of time making and monogramming these! Thank you.

[Nancyhig @nancyhig]

@missmacsowls Thank you Miss Mac's parents! Grayton loves when they come visit!