Mountains on Marine Day
2025-07-18 08:55:19

Reviving Nature: Celebrating Mountains on Marine Day at Kurumayama Shrine

Celebrating Mountains on Marine Day



On July 21, 2025, the Japan Cultural Heritage Association will host the National Summer Mountain Appreciation Festival at Kurumayama Shrine, nestled in the stunning Kiriwara Plateau of Chino City, Nagano Prefecture. This event aims to express gratitude for the blessings that summer mountains provide and to pray for the safety of hikers and nature lovers.

The Significance of the Festival



Situated at an impressive altitude of about 2,000 meters, Kurumayama Shrine—known as the “Sky Shrine”—becomes a hub of vibrant life every summer, showcasing lush greenery, flowing streams, wild vegetables, and herbs. This flourishing season serves as an ideal backdrop for the festival, allowing participants to contemplate the harmonious relationship between humans and nature and to nurture awareness for sustainable living practices.

But why celebrate mountains on Marine Day? The connection between mountains and the sea is pivotal. Water from the mountains flows down rivers to the ocean, sustaining marine ecosystems and fishing resources essential to our lives. The blessings of the sea stem, quite literally, from the gifts of the mountains. By holding the festival on Marine Day, the association intends to remind everyone of the reverence due to the mountains—their role in sustaining the sea—and to encourage sustainable interactions with nature aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Kurumayama Shrine's Historical Context



Kurumayama Shrine holds deep spiritual significance as a site of worship since the Jomon Period, where prayers of gratitude have been offered to mountains across Japan. This sacred place, often referred to as the “belly button of Japan,” embodies the roots of mountain worship and aims to revitalize the ancient practice of “dialogue with nature” in contemporary society, hence the occasion of this festival.

Event Details


  • - Name: National Summer Mountain Appreciation Festival
  • - Date: July 21, 2025 (Monday, National Holiday)
  • - Time: 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM (tentative)
  • - Venue: Kurumayama Shrine, 3413 Kitayama, Chino City, Nagano Prefecture
  • - Participation Fee: Free (open to everyone)

Surrounded by the breathtaking scenery of the plateau and with hearts full of gratitude to nature, we invite everyone to join us in a moment of prayer connecting the past to the future. Your participation would enrich this unique experience.

For further information, this is the official website of Kurumayama Shrine.

Contact for Inquiries


  • - Organization: Japan Cultural Heritage Association
  • - Contact Person: Kana Isohata
  • - Phone: 03-6743-1777
  • - Email: isohata@mikoken.jp

Join us in celebrating the blessings of nature and honoring the integral relationship between the mountains and the sea at this auspicious festival!


画像1

画像2

画像3

画像4

Topics People & Culture)

【About Using Articles】

You can freely use the title and article content by linking to the page where the article is posted.
※ Images cannot be used.

【About Links】

Links are free to use.