A Major Survey on Clam Digging, the Classic Spring Leisure Activity [1000-Person Survey]
Navit conducted a survey of 1,000 people regarding clam digging. While over 60% have experienced it, 89% have no plans to go in 2026. The article also introduces '3 new essential items' for adults to comfortably enjoy clam digging.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 14, 2026 at 05:53
- 🔍 Collected: April 13, 2026 at 21:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 19, 2026 at 19:16 (141h 44m after Collected)
Don't let clam digging become 'hard labor'! The 3 essential items for adults
Clam digging is a popular spring leisure activity, but once you start, the continuous half-crouching posture often leads to muscle soreness the next day and rough hands. We introduce the 'New 3 Essential Items' that are indispensable for adults to enjoy clam digging smartly and comfortably.
1. 'Folding chair' to protect your lower back
Squatting on the sandy beach puts more strain on your lower back and knees than you might imagine. A small folding chair about 20 cm high is very useful here. Having just this one item makes it surprisingly less tiring, allowing you to focus on finding clams for a long time. A lightweight one available at 100-yen shops is sufficient, so be sure to bring it along.
2. 'Thick rubber gloves' to protect your nails and skin
Digging in the sand with bare hands can cause sand to get under your nails or clam fragments to injure your fingertips. Especially for those who want to defend their favorite manicures, snug-fitting thick rubber gloves are a must. If you choose a thin type that is more waterproof than work gloves and doesn't impair fingertip sensation, you can firmly catch even small littleneck clams.
3. 'Net bucket' to increase efficiency
If you leave the harvested clams in a regular bucket, sand will accumulate at the bottom, and the clams will inhale the sand again. With a mesh bucket or basket, you can easily wash away mud and sand simply by shaking it in the sea, significantly reducing the hassle of taking them home.
Why not gather your favorite tools and turn this year's clam digging into a 'pleasant spring moment'?
Navit conducted a questionnaire survey on 'clam digging' targeting 1,000 monitor members, mainly housewives nationwide.
- Survey Period: February 2026
- Survey Agency: Navit Co., Ltd.
- Target Audience: Men and women in their 20s to 80s
- Valid Responses: 1,000 people
- Survey Method: Web
Many people have been clam digging
[Survey] Have you ever been clam digging? (Target: 1,000 people)
In the survey asking if they have ever been clam digging, 60.7% of respondents answered 'I have been', while 39.3% answered 'I have never been'. It seems that significantly more people have experience with it.
More people have no plans to go clam digging this year.
[Survey] Do you have any plans to go clam digging this year (2026)? (Target: 1,000 people)
In the survey regarding plans to go clam digging in 2026, 1.3% answered 'Plan to go', while 89.0% answered 'No plans to go'.
The essential items for clam digging are the classics.
[Survey] What tools do you bring from home when clam digging? (Target: 1,000 people) *Total responses: 2,074
Respondents provided multiple answers to the question of what tools they bring from home when clam digging. The results were 'Bucket / Basket / Net' with 342 people, 'Rake' with 257 people, and 'Shovel' with 219 people. These three are likely considered essential for clam digging.
The criterion for choosing a clam digging spot is the distance from home.
[Survey] What is the most important point when choosing a clam digging location? (Target: 1,000 people)
This is the result of the survey on the most important point when choosing a location for clam digging. The most common answer was 'Distance from home' at 17.6%, followed by 'Ease of catching clams' at 13.2%, and the third most common was 'Price' at 4.8%. This might be because people get sticky from the sea breeze after clam digging and prefer to go home quickly to take a shower.
Many childhood memories associated with clam digging
This time, we asked an open-ended question: 'Please tell us if you have any memories of clam digging'. Here are some excerpts exactly as written.
'When I was a child, the local clam digging spot was a shallow beach. I was so engrossed that before I knew it, I had dug my way quite far from the shore. The clams I collected were too heavy to carry back, so I remember returning about half of them to the sea.'
'I only went once as a child, but I remember that in the deeper water, there were large littleneck clams, and adult men were waist-deep in the water catching them.'
'I went with my family when I was little. We caught a lot, took them home, cooked and ate them, only to discover I was allergic to clams. Since then, eating clams...'
Clam digging is a popular spring leisure activity, but once you start, the continuous half-crouching posture often leads to muscle soreness the next day and rough hands. We introduce the 'New 3 Essential Items' that are indispensable for adults to enjoy clam digging smartly and comfortably.
1. 'Folding chair' to protect your lower back
Squatting on the sandy beach puts more strain on your lower back and knees than you might imagine. A small folding chair about 20 cm high is very useful here. Having just this one item makes it surprisingly less tiring, allowing you to focus on finding clams for a long time. A lightweight one available at 100-yen shops is sufficient, so be sure to bring it along.
2. 'Thick rubber gloves' to protect your nails and skin
Digging in the sand with bare hands can cause sand to get under your nails or clam fragments to injure your fingertips. Especially for those who want to defend their favorite manicures, snug-fitting thick rubber gloves are a must. If you choose a thin type that is more waterproof than work gloves and doesn't impair fingertip sensation, you can firmly catch even small littleneck clams.
3. 'Net bucket' to increase efficiency
If you leave the harvested clams in a regular bucket, sand will accumulate at the bottom, and the clams will inhale the sand again. With a mesh bucket or basket, you can easily wash away mud and sand simply by shaking it in the sea, significantly reducing the hassle of taking them home.
Why not gather your favorite tools and turn this year's clam digging into a 'pleasant spring moment'?
Navit conducted a questionnaire survey on 'clam digging' targeting 1,000 monitor members, mainly housewives nationwide.
- Survey Period: February 2026
- Survey Agency: Navit Co., Ltd.
- Target Audience: Men and women in their 20s to 80s
- Valid Responses: 1,000 people
- Survey Method: Web
Many people have been clam digging
[Survey] Have you ever been clam digging? (Target: 1,000 people)
In the survey asking if they have ever been clam digging, 60.7% of respondents answered 'I have been', while 39.3% answered 'I have never been'. It seems that significantly more people have experience with it.
More people have no plans to go clam digging this year.
[Survey] Do you have any plans to go clam digging this year (2026)? (Target: 1,000 people)
In the survey regarding plans to go clam digging in 2026, 1.3% answered 'Plan to go', while 89.0% answered 'No plans to go'.
The essential items for clam digging are the classics.
[Survey] What tools do you bring from home when clam digging? (Target: 1,000 people) *Total responses: 2,074
Respondents provided multiple answers to the question of what tools they bring from home when clam digging. The results were 'Bucket / Basket / Net' with 342 people, 'Rake' with 257 people, and 'Shovel' with 219 people. These three are likely considered essential for clam digging.
The criterion for choosing a clam digging spot is the distance from home.
[Survey] What is the most important point when choosing a clam digging location? (Target: 1,000 people)
This is the result of the survey on the most important point when choosing a location for clam digging. The most common answer was 'Distance from home' at 17.6%, followed by 'Ease of catching clams' at 13.2%, and the third most common was 'Price' at 4.8%. This might be because people get sticky from the sea breeze after clam digging and prefer to go home quickly to take a shower.
Many childhood memories associated with clam digging
This time, we asked an open-ended question: 'Please tell us if you have any memories of clam digging'. Here are some excerpts exactly as written.
'When I was a child, the local clam digging spot was a shallow beach. I was so engrossed that before I knew it, I had dug my way quite far from the shore. The clams I collected were too heavy to carry back, so I remember returning about half of them to the sea.'
'I only went once as a child, but I remember that in the deeper water, there were large littleneck clams, and adult men were waist-deep in the water catching them.'
'I went with my family when I was little. We caught a lot, took them home, cooked and ate them, only to discover I was allergic to clams. Since then, eating clams...'