Amidst an escalating tendency towards relaxation, Japanese citizens are embracing leisure pursuits more eagerly than before, yet showing a penchant for frugality.
In a significant development, the latest Leisure White Paper released by the Japan Productivity Center on July 16, 2025, reveals a growing trend among Japanese citizens to prioritise leisure activities over work. The highest reading of people prioritizing leisure was recorded in a survey by the Center in 2024, with an all-time high of 67.8% of respondents expressing this preference.
This shift towards a more balanced lifestyle has been influenced by several factors, including evolving work policies, changing attitudes towards traditional work culture, and policy support for families. One of the most notable changes has been the trial of a four-day workweek in Tokyo, which began in April 2025, aiming to improve work-life balance and address demographic challenges.
According to surveys, 38.5% of respondents favoured a four-day workweek, citing reasons such as more family time, increased leisure for hobbies, better mental and physical health, and greater flexibility. Support was particularly strong among women in their 30s (51%) and somewhat less among younger men.
Another factor contributing to this shift is a growing openness to remote and hybrid work styles, helping Japan shed its historic "workaholic" image. More employees are leaving the office early or taking longer vacations to focus on family and leisure, especially among younger generations and foreign professionals.
The Japanese government and Tokyo's local policy initiatives also encourage work-life balance to boost childbirth and better accommodate parents. Measures including options for parents with young children to leave work early, even if accompanied by a small pay cut, are part of this trend.
However, when it comes to travel expenditure, the impact of recent price spikes has been evident. The participation rate for domestic pleasure trips in 2024 was 48.3%, which is lower than the 2019 pre-pandemic level of 54.3%. While the search results do not provide direct 2024 data on spending on travel and how it was affected by rising prices, the broader economic context includes significant wage increases, which may help offset inflationary pressure somewhat.
Despite the cautiousness about spending on travel due to recent price spikes, the demand for travel and leisure activities remains strong, though consumers may be more price sensitive due to inflation. The positive alignment of more time off and willingness to spend on enjoyment suggests that travel spending probably remains a priority, moderated by careful budgeting.
In conclusion, the preference for leisure over work in Japan around 2024 was driven mainly by evolving work policies (notably the four-day workweek trial), greater emphasis on family and personal time, and cultural shifts away from traditional presenteeism. Travel spending trends likely reflect a balance between rising costs and increased leisure time, supported by wage growth but tempered by inflation concerns.
[1] [Tokyo Metropolitan Government Announces Four-Day Workweek Trial](https://www.japan-today.com/national/tokyo-metropolitan-government-announces-four-day-workweek-trial) [2] [Japan's Four-Day Workweek Trial: A Boost for Work-Life Balance](https://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2025/03/01/editorials/japans-four-day-workweek-trial-boost-work-life-balance/) [3] [Japan's Changing Work Culture: A New Era for Remote and Hybrid Work](https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2023/02/10/business/japans-changing-work-culture-new-era-remote-hybrid-work/) [4] [Minimum Wage Increases in Japan: A Response to Inflationary Pressure](https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2024/04/01/business/minimum-wage-increases-japan-inflationary-pressure/) [5] [Tokyo's Policy Initiatives Supporting Work-Life Balance for Parents](https://www.japantimes.co.jp/community/2023/10/01/community/tokyos-policy-initiatives-supporting-work-life-balance-parents/)
A photograph capturing the vibrant atmosphere of a park filled with people enjoying their newly-earned leisure time on a sunny day could encapsulate this shift in lifestyle. The image might include families playing together, friends picnicking, and people engaged in various hobbies, symbolizing the growing preference for personal-finance priorities that prioritize leisure activities and work-life balance.
As people save more time and money with the four-day workweek, personal-finance enthusiasts may plan travel destinations as priority spending categories in their budgets. The increased availability of leisure time, combined with the ease of remote work, could lead to a boost in travel demand, with younger generations and foreign professionals exploring new destinations that cater to their diverse tastes and preferences.
