More than Half Have Experience! Comprehensive Survey on the Realities of Hiking [1000-Person Survey]
Nabit Inc. conducted a survey on hiking and mountaineering among 1,000 monitor members nationwide. The results indicate that nearly 60% have experience, with a strong tendency to enjoy these activities with family during spring or autumn. Additionally, while enjoying nature is the highlight, the report emphasizes the importance of safety measures due to the recent increase in bear sightings.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 19, 2026 at 20:10
- 🔍 Collected: May 19, 2026 at 11:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 22, 2026 at 06:06 (66h 34m after Collected)
What is the difference between mountaineering and hiking?
There are various terms for climbing mountains, such as "mountaineering" (tozan) and "hiking," but there is no definitive definition for the clear difference between them.
Generally, "hiking" is often used to describe "walking in nature with gentle ups and downs" and does not necessarily mean climbing a mountain. Conversely, "mountaineering" usually refers to aiming for a mountain summit, involving significant altitude changes. In general, hiking is considered more beginner-friendly.
Nabit conducted a survey on "Hiking and Mountaineering" targeting 1,000 monitor members, primarily homemakers, across Japan.
- Survey Period: March 2026
- Survey Organization: Nabit Inc.
- Survey Target: Men and women in their 20s to 80s
- Number of Valid Responses: 1,000
- Survey Method: Web-based
More than half have experience in hiking/mountaineering
[Survey]
Do you have experience with hiking or mountaineering? (Target: 1,000 people)
Regarding the question, "Do you have experience with hiking or mountaineering?" 59.5% answered "Yes," and 40.5% answered "No," indicating that more than half of the respondents have experience.
Spring and autumn are the favorite seasons for hiking/mountaineering
[Survey]
Which season do you think is best for hiking or mountaineering? (Target: 1,000 people)
Regarding the question, "Which season is the best for hiking or mountaineering?" "Spring" followed with 24.3%, "Autumn" with 18.2%, and "No preference" with 8.6%. It seems spring and autumn, with their pleasant weather, are popular.
Many enjoy hiking/mountaineering with family
[Survey]
Who do you hike or mountaineer with most often? (Target: 1,000 people)
Regarding the question, "Who do you hike or mountaineer with most often?" "Family" followed with 15.8%, "Friends" with 14.8%, and "Spouse" with 8.7%. It seems many enjoy these activities with their families.
The best way to enjoy hiking/mountaineering is "relaxing in nature"
[Survey]
How do you enjoy hiking or mountaineering? (Multiple answers allowed) *1,657 responses
When asked how they enjoy hiking or mountaineering in a multiple-choice format, "relaxing in nature" was the most popular with 438 responses, followed by "eating meals with a good view" with 252, and "recording with photos or videos" with 153.
Introducing everyone's "mountain walking" episodes
This time, we conducted an open-ended survey asking, "Please tell us any memories or opinions you have regarding hiking and mountaineering." We picked up some responses and introduced them as they were.
"I like greenery and nature, but when I was a child, I was often taken to the mountains by my mountain-loving parents, and I grew to dislike mountain walking because it was physically tough."
"Every year, during the cherry blossom season, I go hiking with my family. I really look forward to it as it is refreshing to breathe fresh air while admiring locally famous weeping cherry trees."
"I have never done mountaineering or hiking, but I am thinking of trying to go hiking at least in 2026!"
"It wasn't that I took it lightly because it was a mountain in Tokyo, but I almost got lost while descending Mt. Takao when it got completely dark. It was very scary and I learned a lot."
"I enjoy hiking as a day trip. I bring rice balls or sandwiches, and instant miso soup or soup. Anything you eat in nature is delicious. Homemade items also produce less trash. I hope the concern about bears will disappear."
Many episodes regarding "hiking and mountaineering" were sent in, from pleasant memories to physically challenging times and slightly scary experiences.
As seen in the picked-up responses, there were also people who want to challenge themselves from now on! Both mountaineering and hiking are valuable experiences of spending time in nature. Enjoying them within a reasonable range seems to be a trigger for refreshing oneself.
Want to enjoy hiking or mountaineering, but are you afraid of bears?
Opportunities to see news regarding bear appearances are increasing. In recent years, bear sightings have occurred one after another in various mountains, and caution is necessary regarding the risk of encountering bears during mountaineering or hiking.
According to an announcement by the Ministry of the Environment, the number of bear sightings nationwide in 2024 recorded the highest ever.
To enjoy mountaineering and hiking, let's check bear countermeasures in advance.
Bear countermeasures during mountaineering and hiking
When mountaineering or hiking, it is reassuring to be aware of the following points:
- Try to avoid activities at dawn or dusk.
- Use items like bear bells to inform people of your presence.
- Make an effort to make sounds in quiet areas or on paths with poor visibility.
There are various terms for climbing mountains, such as "mountaineering" (tozan) and "hiking," but there is no definitive definition for the clear difference between them.
Generally, "hiking" is often used to describe "walking in nature with gentle ups and downs" and does not necessarily mean climbing a mountain. Conversely, "mountaineering" usually refers to aiming for a mountain summit, involving significant altitude changes. In general, hiking is considered more beginner-friendly.
Nabit conducted a survey on "Hiking and Mountaineering" targeting 1,000 monitor members, primarily homemakers, across Japan.
- Survey Period: March 2026
- Survey Organization: Nabit Inc.
- Survey Target: Men and women in their 20s to 80s
- Number of Valid Responses: 1,000
- Survey Method: Web-based
More than half have experience in hiking/mountaineering
[Survey]
Do you have experience with hiking or mountaineering? (Target: 1,000 people)
Regarding the question, "Do you have experience with hiking or mountaineering?" 59.5% answered "Yes," and 40.5% answered "No," indicating that more than half of the respondents have experience.
Spring and autumn are the favorite seasons for hiking/mountaineering
[Survey]
Which season do you think is best for hiking or mountaineering? (Target: 1,000 people)
Regarding the question, "Which season is the best for hiking or mountaineering?" "Spring" followed with 24.3%, "Autumn" with 18.2%, and "No preference" with 8.6%. It seems spring and autumn, with their pleasant weather, are popular.
Many enjoy hiking/mountaineering with family
[Survey]
Who do you hike or mountaineer with most often? (Target: 1,000 people)
Regarding the question, "Who do you hike or mountaineer with most often?" "Family" followed with 15.8%, "Friends" with 14.8%, and "Spouse" with 8.7%. It seems many enjoy these activities with their families.
The best way to enjoy hiking/mountaineering is "relaxing in nature"
[Survey]
How do you enjoy hiking or mountaineering? (Multiple answers allowed) *1,657 responses
When asked how they enjoy hiking or mountaineering in a multiple-choice format, "relaxing in nature" was the most popular with 438 responses, followed by "eating meals with a good view" with 252, and "recording with photos or videos" with 153.
Introducing everyone's "mountain walking" episodes
This time, we conducted an open-ended survey asking, "Please tell us any memories or opinions you have regarding hiking and mountaineering." We picked up some responses and introduced them as they were.
"I like greenery and nature, but when I was a child, I was often taken to the mountains by my mountain-loving parents, and I grew to dislike mountain walking because it was physically tough."
"Every year, during the cherry blossom season, I go hiking with my family. I really look forward to it as it is refreshing to breathe fresh air while admiring locally famous weeping cherry trees."
"I have never done mountaineering or hiking, but I am thinking of trying to go hiking at least in 2026!"
"It wasn't that I took it lightly because it was a mountain in Tokyo, but I almost got lost while descending Mt. Takao when it got completely dark. It was very scary and I learned a lot."
"I enjoy hiking as a day trip. I bring rice balls or sandwiches, and instant miso soup or soup. Anything you eat in nature is delicious. Homemade items also produce less trash. I hope the concern about bears will disappear."
Many episodes regarding "hiking and mountaineering" were sent in, from pleasant memories to physically challenging times and slightly scary experiences.
As seen in the picked-up responses, there were also people who want to challenge themselves from now on! Both mountaineering and hiking are valuable experiences of spending time in nature. Enjoying them within a reasonable range seems to be a trigger for refreshing oneself.
Want to enjoy hiking or mountaineering, but are you afraid of bears?
Opportunities to see news regarding bear appearances are increasing. In recent years, bear sightings have occurred one after another in various mountains, and caution is necessary regarding the risk of encountering bears during mountaineering or hiking.
According to an announcement by the Ministry of the Environment, the number of bear sightings nationwide in 2024 recorded the highest ever.
To enjoy mountaineering and hiking, let's check bear countermeasures in advance.
Bear countermeasures during mountaineering and hiking
When mountaineering or hiking, it is reassuring to be aware of the following points:
- Try to avoid activities at dawn or dusk.
- Use items like bear bells to inform people of your presence.
- Make an effort to make sounds in quiet areas or on paths with poor visibility.
FAQ
登山・ハイキングの経験者はどれくらいの割合ですか？
株式会社ナビットのアンケート調査（1000人対象）によると、59.5％が「経験がある」と回答しました。
登山・ハイキングに最も適していると思われる季節は何ですか？
調査では「春」が24.3％で最も多く、次いで「秋」が18.2％となり、過ごしやすい気候の季節が人気です。
登山・ハイキングは誰と行く人が多いですか？
最も多い相手は「家族」（15.8％）で、次いで「友人」（14.8％）、「配偶者」（8.7％）となっています。
登山・ハイキング時の主な楽しみ方は何ですか？
「自然の中でゆっくり過ごす」が最も多く、次いで「見晴らしの良いところでご飯を食べる」、「写真や動画を記録」などが挙げられています。
登山・ハイキング中の熊対策として推奨されることは何ですか？
明け方や夕暮れどきの行動を避けること、熊鈴の使用、静かな場所や見通しの悪い道で意識的に音を出すことなどが挙げられています。