Work Starting to Take Second Place to Leisure for More Japanese Individuals
According to a survey conducted by the Japanese Productivity Center, the most popular leisure activity in Japan in 2024 was domestic sightseeing trips. This marks the third consecutive year that this activity has held the top spot.
The survey, which was conducted online among 3,467 respondents aged 15 to 79 across Japan, revealed that 48.3% of respondents participated in domestic sightseeing trips, including summer escapes, winter escapes, and visits to hot springs (onsen).
This popular pastime was followed by watching videos (rental and streaming) at 38.1%, and dining out (excluding daily meals) at 35.6%. Other notable activities included reading for pleasure at 33.8% and listening to music at 33.3%.
The survey also showed that the percentage of respondents prioritizing leisure over work has increased since 2009. In 2024, 67.8% of respondents feel that leisure is more important. Furthermore, 37.8% of respondents find more meaning in leisure than in work.
On average, those who went on domestic trips did so 4.5 times a year and spent around ¥129,200 annually. In contrast, those who enjoyed dining out went 18.6 times a year and spent ¥65,300.
The leisure index, which measures changes in leisure time and expenditure, showed a continued rise in both areas. There was a 0.4 increase in leisure time (up 3.1 from the previous year), and a 1.4 increase in expenditure (up 5.5 from the previous year). This is the highest rate recorded since comparable statistics became available in 2009.
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[1] Data source: Japanese Productivity Center.
- In addition to domestic sightseeing trips, other popular leisure activities include watching videos (rental and streaming) and dining out, according to a survey by the Japanese Productivity Center.
- Reading for pleasure and listening to music are also among the top leisure activities, as revealed by the same survey.
- Interestingly, the survey shows that more respondents are prioritizing leisure over work, with 67.8% feeling that leisure is more important and 37.8% finding more meaning in leisure than in work.
- Furthermore, the survey indicates that those who prioritize leisure spend more on it, with the average annual expenditure being ¥129,200 for domestic trips, compared to ¥65,300 for dining out. This suggests a trend toward increased spending on leisure activities.
