Popular hobbies
The ever-growing number of possibilities to spend one’s leisure time and the limited time people have to dedicate to hobbies leads to competition among leisure service providers for an individual’s choice of spending free time. Motives that influence the decision-making of individuals are countless, but overarching trends do exist. Technology and virtual reality, for instance, are a current strong trend in Japanese society. Many hobbies are linked to technology, as reflected in the choice of leisure activities among Japan’s population. Listening to music (from CDs, smartphones, etc.) was the most popular hobby, followed by watching movies (outside of the movie theater), and playing video games, all three of which require a digital medium. Caring for the body by practicing sports and other activities is also common, with a significant share of Japan’s population participating in sports at least once weekly.Outdoor and nature-related activities
Japan is highly urbanized. Seeking out outdoor and nature-related activities is a recent trend, especially among Japan’s younger population. Japan’s mountainous geography allows for various winter sports activities while offering numerous places to go hiking, camping, and mountaineering. Japan has vast trekking courses, especially in the northern regions, in Tohoku and the northern island, Hokkaido, where prolonged hiking tours are possible. One of Japan’s most popular tourist spot it the tallest mountain of the island nation: Mt. Fuji. Every year, hundreds of thousands of people attempt to ascend the mountain’s peak. Other popular outdoor hobbies include fishing and cycling.Trends in participation in hobbies and leisure activities in Japan are constantly changing. It remains to be seen what kind of change recent trends, such as a heightened health consciousness and advancements in digitalization, will bring to the leisure industry and how it will be reflected in participation figures of people in Japan.
