Celebrated every third Monday in July, Umi no Hi (), Day of the Sea, pays tribute to the vital importance of the ocean for the Japanese archipelago. This recent national holiday illustrates the deep link between the Japanese and their maritime environment, in a country made up of thousands of islands.
Origins of a maritime holiday
Umi no Hi was officially recognized as a public holiday in 1995, initially scheduled for 20 July. He was moved in 2003 to the third Monday in July as part of the “Happy Monday System” reform, aimed at bringing together some public holidays at the beginning of the week to create extended weekends. This change made it a key time of the beginning of summer, often coinciding with the first summer heats and the beginning of school holidays.
But the idea of celebrating the sea dates back to 1941, on a day named “Umi no Kinenbi” (Day of the Memorial of the Sea), in memory of the voyage of Emperor Meiji in 1876 aboard the ship Meiji Maru. This journey symbolized Japan’s maritime opening and the rise of its modern navigation.
A party without ancient rites
Unlike other Japanese commemorative days, Umi no Hi is not associated with codified religious or ritual ceremonies. This is explained by its recent creation. However, throughout the country, there are a variety of events organized by coastal municipalities, aquariums, maritime associations or environmental NGOs.
Activities such as nautical festivals, maritime exhibitions, boat demonstrations, beach clean-ups or water blessing ceremonies are organized to raise awareness of the preservation of the marine environment and celebrate the sea as an essential resource.
The link between the sea and Japanese identity
The sea plays a fundamental role in everyday life, culture, economy and food in Japan. The archipelago, consisting of more than 6,800 islands, extends over thousands of kilometres of coastline, with seas rich in fish and marine products. Since ancient times, the Japanese have maintained a relationship of interdependence with the ocean: maritime routes were crucial for trade, fishing and communication between islands.
The sea is also omnipresent in cultural representations, from classical poetry to ukiyo-e prints, to contemporary manga. Umi no Hi is therefore also a moment to reaffirm this historical and cultural relationship with the marine elements.
A highlight of the summer calendar
Umi no Hi often marks the unofficial launch of the bathing season. Families flock to the beaches, including Kanagawa, Chiba, Okinawa and the famous artificial island of Odaiba in Tokyo. There are fun and cultural events, such as sand dance shows, seafront concerts or boat parades.
Some marine parks or aquariums such as Nagoya, Osaka or Okinawa take advantage of this day to offer themed tours, educational workshops or activities for children. The festivities vary from region to region, but all highlight the central role of the sea in Japanese life.
Awareness and ecology
Umi no Hi is also an opportunity to focus on the protection of marine ecosystems. Associations and citizens organise concrete actions: waste collection on beaches, conferences on marine biodiversity, exhibitions on plastic in the oceans, or citizen initiatives to encourage more responsible coastal tourism.
Japan, particularly exposed to the consequences of climate change and rising waters, is beginning to strengthen its policies to raise awareness of the preservation of coastal areas. Umi no Hi thus becomes an educational day as well as a festive one.
Umi no Hi in big cities
In metropolises, Umi no Hi is celebrated differently. In Tokyo, events are organized on the bay docks, including in Odaiba or in the Minato district, with maritime illuminations, mini cruises, or artistic projections on the theme of the sea. In Yokohama, the port city par excellence, the maritime museum, the renovated docks of Minato Mirai or the former docks host animations and exhibitions on naval history.
In Kobe or Hiroshima, where the sea is a structural element of the city, Umi no Hi also lives through open-air music festivals, visits to historic ships and cultural ceremonies linked to the sea.
Impact on local tourism
This day offers an excellent opportunity to discover Japan’s coastal regions from another angle. It attracts both Japanese and foreign tourists looking for beaches, seascapes and water activities.
For travelers, planning a visit around Umi no Hi allows you to experience a lively summer atmosphere, participate in local events and explore sometimes less well-known coastal areas, such as the Izu Peninsula, the Goto Islands, the Shikoku coasts or the beaches of the Japanese Sea.
Umi no Hi is more than just a holiday: it reflects an intimate and living relationship to the ocean, while opening a door to Japan’s cultural, historical and natural wealth. For any traveller curious about the links between nature and Japanese society, this is a date not to be overlooked in a summer itinerary.
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