One week after an Auburn University student vanished while hiking in Japan, his family is making an urgent public plea for help as search efforts expand into the rugged mountains surrounding Kyoto.

In a Facebook post marking "Day 7" since 20-year-old James "Weston" Higginbotham disappeared, his mother, Nancy Higginbotham, asked hikers, trail runners and outdoor enthusiasts to assist in searching areas beyond those already covered by authorities.

"Our 20-year-old son, Weston Higginbotham, remains missing," she wrote. "We are asking experienced hikers to help search outside of the marked search zone, particularly in the surrounding mountains and remote trails."

The family said Japanese police recently provided a map showing areas that have already been searched in the mountainous forest region near Yamashina, Kyoto, where Higginbotham was last known to have traveled. His mother said the terrain is steep, densely wooded and difficult to navigate, raising concerns that he may have ventured farther than expected.

According to the Facebook post, Higginbotham is an experienced hiker who may have traveled deep into the surrounding mountains. While water sources are plentiful throughout the region, food is scarce, making time critical as the search enters its second week.

The family is encouraging anyone with information, or those willing to help search, to contact Higginbotham's father, Keith Higginbotham.

"Any information, no matter how small, could help bring Weston home," Nancy Higginbotham wrote.

USA TODAY reached out to Nancy Higginbotham on June 5 for additional information about the search effort and any developments in the case but did not immediately receive a response.

The post also included a warning from a local hiker familiar with the area, who described the mountains around Yamashina as deceptively dangerous. The hiker noted that even experienced locals avoid lesser-known trails without proper preparation and said fatalities occur each year when people stray onto infrequently used paths.

The warning also referenced recent bear sightings in the area.

Higginbotham, a junior biosystems engineering student at Auburn University, disappeared May 29 while vacationing in Japan with his family.

Authorities and volunteers have spent days searching the region around Yamashina. According to previous statements from his mother, police have used surveillance footage to help trace his movements after he separated from family members shortly after arriving in Kyoto.

His mother has previously described Weston as an avid outdoorsman, experienced traveler and triathlete who is comfortable navigating remote environments.

As the search continues, Nancy Higginbotham said raising awareness remains one of the family's top priorities.

The family has repeatedly asked people to share social media posts and news coverage in hopes of reaching more residents across Japan who may have seen Higginbotham or recognize his description.

"We don't plan on leaving until we find our son," she previously told USA TODAY.

Higginbotham is described as 6-foot-1 with long blond hair and blue eyes. He was last seen wearing a "Save the Bees" shirt, lavender corduroy pants, white Adidas sneakers with black stripes and carrying a shoulder bag featuring the state of Alabama.

Contributing: USA TODAY reporter Saleen Martin

Reporter Anthony Thompson can be reached at ajthompson@usatodayco.com, or on X @athompsonUSAT

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Auburn student Weston Higginbotham still missing as family makes plea