Why are fewer Japanese people going out for a drive? The participation rate has plunged by 12 percentage points. What happened to the weekend staple?

According to the Leisure White Paper 2026 Flash Report published by the Japan Productivity Center, the participation rate for driving as a leisure activity fell from 39.8% in 2019 to 28.0% in 2025. While the rate continued to decline year by year, from 34.6% in 2022 to 32.7% in 2023 and 30.2% in 2024, participation in integrated shopping centers and outlet malls reached 27.4% in 2025, narrowing the gap with driving to just 0.6 percentage points. Annual usage stood at 9.8 visits for malls and 13.6 for driving, while spending amounted to approximately ¥18,600 for malls and ¥27,200 for driving.

Underlying this trend are a decline in the sense of having sufficient leisure time and in spending, as well as the entrenchment of behavior patterns that reduce the burden of travel and allow people to take care of errands close to home. Over the longer term, the findings suggest that automobiles are shifting from being merely a means of transportation to serving as practical hubs that support longer stays, while emphasizing the convenience of malls in allowing multiple activities to be completed in one location.

The shift away from driving is also attributed to a change in focus toward spaces for staying, including parking lots. Some have pointed out that the role of parking lots is changing from a “transit point for travel” to a “foundation for staying.” The report also indicated that changes in regional infrastructure and purchasing patterns in rural areas could affect local economies and disparities in mobility. Looking ahead, the role of practical hubs, including malls, may be redefined with a focus on next-generation transportation and monetizing time spent at such locations.