More and more Japanese residents prioritize leisure activities over work commitments
In the latest survey conducted by the Japan Productivity Center, the distribution of leisure activities in Japan has shown a significant shift towards domestic sightseeing trips and digital entertainment. This marks the third consecutive year that domestic travel remains the top leisure activity, with 48.3% of respondents participating[1].
This category encompasses summer and winter escapes, as well as visits to hot springs (onsen). Following closely behind is watching videos (including rentals and streaming), which rose in ranking to the second most popular activity at 38.1%[1].
Other popular activities include dining out (excluding daily meals), with 35.6% of respondents, reading for pleasure (33.8%), and listening to music (33.3%)[1]. Activities such as watching movies and going for drives ranked lower, with movie viewing being the seventh most popular leisure activity and driving being the eighth.
The survey, which received 3,467 responses from across Japan and focused on individuals aged 15 to 79, also revealed that the percentage of people taking overseas trips slightly increased from the previous year, reaching 6.0%[1].
On average, people who took domestic trips did so about 4.5 times per year and spent roughly ¥129,200 annually, while those dining out went out about 18.6 times yearly, spending on average ¥65,300[1].
The survey results also indicate a growing trend towards valuing leisure time. Respondents' leisure time had increased by 0.4, and their expenditure by 1.4, compared to the previous year, following a continued rise from 2023[1]. This is the highest rate recorded since comparable statistics became available in 2009.
Interestingly, the survey found that 67.8% of respondents feel leisure is more important, with 37.8% finding more meaning in leisure than in work[1]. Conversely, the percentage of respondents focusing equally on work and leisure has decreased since 2009, while the percentage of those sometimes enjoying leisure activities but focusing more on work has also decreased[1].
This shift towards prioritizing leisure experiences, both local and digital, suggests a growing appreciation for accessible and enjoyable leisure activities among the Japanese population[1].
[1] Data sourced from the Japan Productivity Center's 2024 survey.
- In addition to domestic travel, watching videos has become a popular leisure activity among the Japanese, ranking second after domestic sightseeing trips.
- Activities such as reading for pleasure, dining out, and listening to music are also popular, with reading, dining out, and music consumption ranking third, fourth, and fifth respectively, following domestic travel and video watching.
- The survey further revealed that people are not only spending more time on leisure activities, but are also allocating more financial resources towards them—an average of ¥129,200 annually for domestic trips and ¥65,300 yearly for dining out.
- The growing emphasis on leisure can also be seen in the findings that 67.8% of respondents consider leisure as more important, and that personal-growth related activities like education-and-self-development or personal-growth may find increased appeal due to this focus on leisure experiences.
