Outdoor Sports Participation Rate Declines to 19% Over Three Years; "Cycling," "Fishing," and "Mountain Climbing/Trail Running" Top 3
According to the "Outdoor Survey (2026)" conducted by Cross Marketing Inc., the participation rate in outdoor sports has shown a declining trend, standing at 19% within the last three years. Cycling, fishing, and mountain climbing/trail running are the top three most popular activities.
🔍 Collected: April 1, 2026 at 01:06 (6 min after Published)
🤖 AI Analyzed: April 22, 2026 at 09:50 (512h 43m after Collected)
Cross Marketing Inc. (Headquarters: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and CEO: Mikio Igarashi) conducted the "Outdoor Survey (2026)" targeting 5,000 men and women aged 20-69 residing in all 47 prefectures nationwide. This survey analyzed participation rates, reasons for participation, future intentions, and triggers for engaging in various types of outdoor sports.
■ Survey Results
【Outdoor Sports Participation Rate】
48% of respondents have experience in outdoor sports, but the participation rate within the last three years was 19%, and within the last year was 16%, indicating a declining trend since 2022. The top 5 participation rates within the last three years were "Cycling," "Fishing," "Mountain Climbing/Trail Running," "Skiing," and "Trekking/Hiking." In all these activities, the participation rate for men was higher. By age group, the highest participation rates within the last three years were: winter sports like "Skiing" and "Snowboarding" for those in their 20s; "Cycling," "Fishing," and "Mountain Climbing/Trail Running" for those in their 40s; and "Trekking/Hiking" for those in their 60s.
Compared to 2022 and 2024, the outdoor sports participation rate within the last three years has generally shown a slight decrease or remained at the same level across various activities.
"Skiing" saw a slight increase within the last year, with participation rates being somewhat higher among men in their 20s and 50s.