Since 2016, a day dedicated to the most common landscape of the land of the rising sun has appeared on the list of national holidays in Japan. Mountain Day or Mountain Day (Yama no Hi) is celebrated annually on August 11. Approved in 2014, the holiday was first celebrated in 2016.
The Japanese islands, located in the famous Pacific seismic belt, are replete with mountains. Many of them are volcanoes. And although they are not among the highest mountains on the planet, they are an integral part of their life for the Japanese, which has a huge impact on everyday life and culture, and inspire the work of poets, writers, artists and philosophers.
The establishment of Mountain Day and the designation of it as a national holiday, initiated by environmental and tourism organizations in Japan, is aimed at maintaining in citizens a love for the nature of their country, its history and culture.
It is not without reason that Mount Fuji, which has sacred status to this day, became one of the symbols of the Land of the Rising Sun. In 2013, this mountain was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The sacred meaning is given to the mountains by an atmosphere of solitude and pristine nature, which together can make a person forget about the bustle of megacities and the frantic rhythm of life in the modern world.
The mountains often become the site of Buddhist and Shinto temples. Many mountain ranges are included in national reserve zones. For local and visiting tourists, routes have been laid through the picturesque areas of the reserves, including at the foot of the mountains, in the valleys and along the slopes of mountain peaks. The amazing landscapes of the Japanese mountains, waterfalls, and air allow you to get incomparable pleasure and relaxation for the soul.
Many people celebrate Mountain Day the way it should be for such a holiday – go to the mountains. The holiday provides citizens with a day off.
The most popular are the most famous mountains in Japan: Fuji, Rausu, Iwate, Unzen, Tanigawa, Mitoku, Kurikoma, etc.
For climbers, people who dedicated their lives to the mountains, Mountain Day became a doubly festive holiday. Many of them greet him with an ascent.
The first celebration of Mountain Day in 2016 was held with the participation of government officials and members of the imperial family.
Along with Sea Day, Flower Festival and Green Day, Mountain Day emphasized the Japanese love for their culture and showed how highly people value proximity to nature. The holiday once again reminds of its beauty, diversity, greatness and harmony.