An 'excellent' American college student has gone missing while on a trip with his family in Japan.

James 'Weston' Higginbotham's last confirmed location was in Kyoto, a major tourist hotspot, on May 29, his distraught loved ones said.

The 20-year-old, who attends Alabama's Auburn State University, traveled to the country with his family starting on May 25, his mother, Nancy Higginbotham, said in a Facebook post. 

He was last seen wearing a white t-shirt with a graphic on the back that reads 'Save the Bees', lavender corduroy pants, white Adidas sneakers with black stripes, and was wearing a shoulder bag 'with the state of Alabama on it', according to a website that was made to help people search for James.

The young man, who is 6ft 1in tall, also has long blonde hair, blue eyes, and 'may have been emotionally distressed,' the page read. 

His mother and father, Keith Higginbotham, are currently searching for their missing son in Japan and have urged anyone with information on his whereabouts to come forward.

Unknown whether he later got back on a train 

'Please be kind. We are in our own living hell. He is not detained from a night out partying. The police have confirmed this. Please, I beg you, be kind. I'm already in so much pain,' Nancy wrote online. 

His last confirmed purchase was at a Kohnan hardware store in Kyoto. He then arrived at the Kyoto train station, but his phone lost connection around 8.29pm local time, according to the website. 

Surveillance footage obtained by police showed James getting off at Yamashina Station, which is five minutes from the first train, Nancy said on Monday night (7am Tuesday in Japan).  

'It is unknown whether he later got back on a train,' the website detailed. 

His family and friends have requested that anyone in the area search hotels, cafes, hostels, train stations, stores, and even the 'deep woods' for their son. 

Excellent sense of direction 

According to James' description and his mother's social media posts, he is an 'experienced hiker with an excellent sense of direction.' 

His heartbroken mother also noted for people not to publicly share her son's location if they locate him, and to instead call local police 'immediately' before messaging her. 

She added: 'I know there is a typhoon currently hitting, but I will be there today searching the woods today. 

'My husband and I went last night with flashlights and headlamps and didn't get too far because we weren't prepared for the wildlife we encountered. If anyone wants to join us after the storm, I would be grateful.' 

The website provides multiple contacts to reach out to, including Nancy's personal email and phone number, the number for the Yamashina Police Station, and others. 

A prayer vigil is being held on Tuesday at 6.30pm at Asbury United Methodist Church in Birmingham for the Higginbotham family. 

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