Japan's government announces a plan to add Mountain Day as a public holiday

"Yama no Hi" known as Mountain Day in Japanese, is officially announced — bringing the total number of public holidays in Japan to 16.

The first official Mountain Day

Mountain Day, a holiday promoting love for Japan's mountains, takes place after persistent campaigns by various mountain-related groups.

The public will gather during a new ceremony for Mountain Day in the Japanese Alps

Since Mountain Day was only initiated in 2014, there has traditionally been no official ceremonies marking the day. That's about to change — with the first National Ceremony for Mountain Day set to take place in the Japanese Alps.

Whenever we think of mountains%2c we only seem to consider hiking or climbing them. But there's another scenic way to take in the splendors of mountain vistas — mountain biking. Just make sure to get your bike checked out thoroughly before you head out and don't forget your helmet!

Sure%2c it's important to get your exercise when you visit mountainous areas. But if you're not the most in-shape person around%2c consider just packing up some gear and camp out near the base of a mountain. You get the same benefit of refreshing mountain air and beautiful%2c starry nights without the wear and tear on your body. Once you settle in%2c collect your bestie and take a nice%2c long walk.

For those who consider themselves die-hards%2c there's nothing better than gearing up for a daylong walk%2c hike or climb up a mountain. Bring your camera because you don't want to miss a thing but be careful and don't get too close to the edge. If you're lucky enough to get all the way to the summit%2c sit and bask in the stillness and the vision of peace from on high.

In fact%2c Mt. Fuji consists of three active%2c separate volcanoes: Komitake at the base%2c Kofuji dominating the middle and Fuji at its peak.

Due to Mt. Fuji's religious significance%2c women were banned from climbing the mountain until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. Later%2c Lady Fanny Parkes became the first western woman to get to the summit the following year.

There are five lakes surrounding Mt. Fuji at approximately 1%2c000 feet above sea level with wondrous views of this iconic%2c Japanese symbol.

Various mountain groups pushed hard for an official day to cast work aside and head to the mountains for fun and exercise. Additionally%2c the Japanese government saw the holiday as a boost to the economy — a win-win all around. With its rocky terrain%2c Japan promotes Mountain Day on August 11 as a natural fit for groups seeking the serenity of the region's various mountains. Mountain Day devotees also believe that the written numerical characters for 11 resemble either a mountain top or two trees.

Mt. Fuji is Japan's most famous mountain and Mountain Day is sandwiched in between Mt. Fuji's climbing season%2c from the beginning of July until the beginning of September. That's an ideal time for the approximately 300%2c000 annual hikers and mountain climbers to pay homage. At that time%2c there's no trace of snow on the trails and the weather is balmy.

Japan has three holy mountains — Mt. Tate%2c Mt. Haku and of course%2c Mt. Fuji. This mountain was first climbed by a monk in 663 A.D. Mountains have long been places of meditation and worship by Shintoists since the seventh century.