Mountain Day is observed in Japan every August 11 and is one of the country’s newest public holidays, officially proclaimed in 2014 with the first celebration occurring in 2016. The holiday was initiated by tourist and nature protection organizations, including the Japanese Alpine Club, and aims to provide opportunities for people to become familiar with mountains and appreciate the blessings they offer. Japan is renowned for its mountainous terrain, with nearly three-quarters of the country covered by mountains, including notable peaks such as Mount Fuji, Mount Kita, and Mount Hotaka. The choice of August for the holiday is significant, as the kanji for “eight” resembles a mountain, and prior to Mountain Day, there were no public holidays in August. While many Japanese people use this day to connect with nature and visit the mountains, nearly a third view it simply as an extra day off work.