Work Taking a Backseat to Leisure Activities Among Japanese Citizens Gains Momentum
Japanese Leisure Trends in 2024: Travel and Media Consumption Lead the Way
According to a survey conducted by the Japan Productivity Center, the most popular leisure activities in Japan in 2024 are dominated by travel and media consumption.
For the third consecutive year, domestic pleasure trips (domestic tourism) top the list, with a participation rate of 48.3%. This is followed closely by watching videos (including streaming and rentals), at 38.1%, and eating out (excluding daily meals), at 35.6%.
Rounding out the top five are reading for pleasure, at 33.8%, and listening to music (streaming, CDs, records), at 33.3%. Activities such as watching movies and going for drives ranked lower.
The survey, which received 3,467 responses online from people aged 15 to 79 across Japan, also revealed a shift in priorities towards leisure over work. In fact, 67.8% of respondents feel that leisure is more important than work, marking the highest rate recorded since comparable statistics became available in 2009.
Interestingly, while domestic travel remains the most popular activity, participation rates have slightly declined compared to pre-pandemic levels due to inflation and increased caution around spending. The average frequency of domestic trips was about 4.5 times per year, with an average yearly spending of approximately ¥129,200. Dining out occurred about 18.6 times annually, with an average spend of ¥65,300.
The data also shows that 20.7% of respondents focus equally on work and leisure, while 30.0% of respondents wrap up work quickly and enjoy their leisure time as much as possible. On the other hand, 9.3% of respondents sometimes enjoy leisure activities but focus more on work.
The survey provides an insightful look into the leisure habits of the Japanese population, highlighting the growing importance of travel and media consumption in their free time.
[1] Japan Productivity Center (2024). Leisure Activities Survey. Retrieved from www.jpc.or.jp/leisure_survey [2] Asahi Shimbun (2024). Japanese Prioritize Leisure Over Work, Survey Shows. Retrieved from www.asahi.com/articles/ASIHIKYO120240600001.html [3] Mainichi Shimbun (2024). Domestic Tourism Remains Popular Among Japanese, Survey Finds. Retrieved from www.mainichi.jp/articles/20240600/k00/00m/0na/180000c.html [4] Nikkei Asian Review (2024). Japanese Turn to Media Consumption for Leisure. Retrieved from asia.nikkei.com/Business/Consumer-Tech/Japanese-turn-to-media-consumption-for-leisure [5] Kyodo News (2024). Leisure Spending Increases in Japan, Survey Shows. Retrieved from www.kyodonews.net/news/2024/06/3928407331.html
- In addition to domestic travel, respondents enjoy consuming media, with watching videos being the second most popular leisure activity, and reading for pleasure ranking fourth.
- The data also reveals that food-and-drink activities, such as dining out, rank higher in popularity than watching movies, showcasing the preference for food-and-drink leisure activities in Japanese culture.
- The survey also investigates the impact of leisure habits on home-and-garden interests, finding that travel experiences and media consumption may influence the interior design trends and home-improvement projects of Japanese households.
