Japan celebrates Mountain Day with hiking guides

Japan celebrates Mountain Day (Yama no Hi) annually on August 11, a national holiday established in 2016 to encourage appreciation for the country's mountainous landscape. The holiday often coincides with the Obon travel period, leading many to seek cooler temperatures at higher elevations to escape summer heat.

In Hokkaido, hikers can visit Mount Asahidake in Daisetsuzan National Park, which features volcanic landscapes and alpine flowers, or Mount Yotei, known for its conical shape. Near Tokyo, alternative hiking options include Mount Tsukuba in Ibaraki Prefecture, which offers views of the Kanto plains and Mount Fuji, and Mount Kumotori located across the borders of Tokyo, Saitama, and Yamanashi prefectures.