The Lower House of the Diet has passed an amendment to the nation’s Holiday Act which includes a new public holiday, Mountain Day (Yama no Hi). The next step involves the amendment to go into deliberation in the Upper House where it is expected to be approved again.

Although this comes as welcome news to the nation’s tired workers, Japanese holidays tend to be arbitrary affairs named after random things like the ocean.

According to the amendment, Mountain Day is intended “to give opportunities to get close to mountains and to appreciate the benefits of mountains.”

Once the amendment is passed, Mountain Day will be Japan’s 16th civic holiday. It will be celebrated on Aug 11 from 2016. The Obon season generally takes place during August wherein many workers take their paid vacations, but this will be the first time an actual public holiday falls during the month. Once Mountain Day is enacted, June will become the only month in Japan without an official public day off.

Source: Niconico News

Read more stories from RocketNews24. -- The 8 least crowded weekends and holidays at Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea -- Landlocked Tochigi Prefecture seeking create new national holiday: Mountain Day -- Anti-stalking laws in Japan get tougher, excessive emailing now considered harassment

© RocketNews24