Every year from July to the beginning of September, hundreds of thousands of people attempt to climb Mt. Fuji, Japan's highest and most famous mountain. As Japan's representative piece of nature, Mt. Fuji undeniably attracts a lot of attention and hype, showcasing the extent of outdoor enthusiasm in the country. However, outdoor activity does not only revolve around Japan's sacred mountain. Japan's geography provides nature lovers ample possibilities to engage in a broad variety of outdoor experiences.
Other than mountain climbing and hiking, camping or caravanning, fishing, and skiing are also
common outdoor activities. Famous tourist destinations that offer unique travel experiences with a focus on nature include the seaside resorts in Okinawa Prefecture, the
Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, and the winter sport resorts in Hokkaido Prefecture.
Who is engaging in outdoor activities?
Urbanization is highly advanced in Japan, as the share of the urban population surpasses 90 percent. The majority of people live in the city and contact with nature is not self-evident. Despite this remoteness to nature, more than half of the adult population in Japan has
engaged in hiking or mountain climbing before. Men tend to manifest a higher desire for most outdoor activities than women. Next to the gender disparity regarding outdoor practitioners, an age group disparity is on the rise, with outdoor experiencing a revival among younger generations.
New trends: glamping, and workcation
The COVID-19 pandemic has ushered a camping and
caravanning boom in Japan, as it was one of the few hobbies that allowed for the social distancing measures imposed at that time. This has also led to the concept of "glamping" to gain attention in society. Glamping is a composite word stemming from glamorous and camping. It intends to provide amenities usually absent from standard camping, while at the same time offering all the benefits that camping brings with itself. “Workcation” is another trendy composite term, the amalgam of work and vacation. The idea behind it is to work in a leisurely vacation setting, such as glamping.
Outdoor activities continue to attract people
While trends in outdoor activities constantly change, there appears to be a deeply rooted need to interact with nature among people in Japan. This is manifested through the high participation rates in outdoor activities, as well as the healthy development and market size of the outdoor industry. The outdoor scene is also evolving. Workcation and glamping are two examples that show how outdoor activities are changing and adapting to fit society's needs.
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