On August 11, Japan will mark the first celebration of its newest public holiday, Mountain Day. The island nation is actually filled with both gorgeous mountains and splendid rolling hills, so the occasion is probably long overdue.
First introduced in 2014, Mountain Day is intended to celebrate some of Japan’s most abundant natural resources. The island nation has more than 20 mountains that hover above 3000 meters (about 10,000 feet) and dozens that fall below that mark. Even better, most of the prominent mountains are easily accessible within the country.
According to CNN, “The holiday is targeted at overworked Japanese with the aim of pulling them from their dreary, air-conditioned cubicles for a day.” For many residents of the beautiful country, meeting this task shouldn’t be too difficult.
Even if you’re thousands of miles away from Japan, it’s never a bad idea to celebrate any holiday that prompts you to get out of your cubicle for a day and take to nature to really enjoy yourself. Before the kids head back into the classroom, perhaps it’s a good idea to play hooky for a day and head out to enjoy the natural splendor that’s nearby.
Unless you live in Kansas. Then you’re just S.O.L.
