Amount of Time Japanese Spend on Leisure Drops for First Time Since 2018

In 2025, a survey conducted by the Japan Productivity Center revealed a significant decrease in the amount of time and money Japanese people spend on leisure activities, marking the first drop since 2018. The survey, which polled 3,279 individuals aged 15 to 79 across Japan, showed a 0.8% decrease in leisure time and a 2.1% decrease in expenditure compared to the previous year. This was the first decline in leisure time since 2018 and the first drop in expenditure since 2022.

When respondents were asked to rank their priorities, 37.0% stated that they found more meaning in leisure than in work, while 29.3% sought to wrap up work quickly and enjoy their leisure time. These combined figures, which previously peaked at 67.8% in 2025, have now decreased. Meanwhile, 21.4% of respondents focused equally on work and leisure, and 9.8% indicated they sometimes enjoyed leisure activities but prioritized work.

The most popular leisure activity for the fourth consecutive year was domestic sightseeing trips, accounting for 47.7% of respondents. Dining out (excluding daily meals) came in second place, with 39.5% of people participating. Other popular leisure activities included watching videos (including rental and streaming) at 36.4%, listening to music (including streaming, CDs, and records) at 34.6%, watching films (excluding on television) at 33.7%, walking at 7th place, and going for a drive at 8th place.

Despite the overall decrease in leisure time and spending, the survey found that 6.7% of respondents took overseas trips, a 0.7% increase from the previous year. Among domestic travelers, the average annual number of trips was 4.3, with an average annual expenditure of ¥130,200. For dining out, the average frequency was 17.5 times per year, with an average annual expenditure of ¥58,900.