Did You Know?
Marine Day moved to July 23 in 2020 and July 22 in 2021, one-time shifts made to accommodate the opening ceremonies of the postponed Tokyo Olympics.
Marine Day
🇯🇵 Japan
- Public Holiday
- Countrywide
- Fixed date
Overview
Marine Day, known in Japan as Umi no Hi, is a public holiday celebrated on the third Monday of July. It gives thanks to the ocean for its bounty and reflects on Japan's identity as a maritime nation, often marking the unofficial start of the country's summer holiday season.
What It Is
On Marine Day, government offices, schools, and many businesses across Japan close for the holiday. With the rainy season typically ending around this time, many families travel to the coast to swim, snorkel, surf, or visit the beach. Aquariums often hold special ocean-themed events, and some communities host mud-ball throwing contests and other seaside festivities. The long weekend is popular for short trips, making it one of the busiest travel periods of early summer.
Why It Matters
Marine Day traces back to 1876, when Emperor Meiji completed a sea voyage aboard the steamship Meiji Maru, touring the Tohoku region before returning to Yokohama on July 20. The date was first observed as Marine Memorial Day starting in 1941 to commemorate that voyage, and it became a full national holiday in 1995 as Japan's first summer public holiday, taking its current name the following year. As an island nation dependent on shipping, fishing, and trade, Japan uses the holiday to recognize how central the ocean is to its economy and culture.
Holiday in Context
Marine Day is paired thematically with Mountain Day on August 11, a newer holiday created in 2016 to honor Japan's mountains. Together the two holidays bookend the peak of summer, encouraging people to appreciate Japan's coastlines early in the season and its mountains later on.
Countries Celebrating
1 country
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