Job Research Institute '2026 Golden Week Reality Survey' - Behavior changes for 60% due to inflation; 'saving more than last year' despite outing plans

The research organization 'Job Research Institute' operated by Persol Career Co., Ltd., which provides job change services like 'doda', conducted the '2026 Golden Week (hereafter GW) Reality Survey' targeting 376 working men and women. This survey investigated the presence of outing plans for GW, the relationship between inflation and how holidays are spent, the gap between the ideal and actual ways of spending time, saving consciousness versus consumption desire, and actions taken to increase income.

[Saving Consciousness during GW (Golden Week)]
For this year's GW, which has scattered holidays, it is expected that the preference for staying nearby and saving money will continue from last year, against the backdrop of inflation and avoiding crowds. While a certain level of increased desire to go out due to consecutive holidays is anticipated, rising leisure costs and gasoline prices may put the brakes on that desire. Even when spending time at home, soaring food and utility costs heavily burden household budgets. In a Job Research Institute survey conducted in 2025 (*1), the majority of people felt holidays were an 'economic burden', and many voiced that 'if I have time off, I want to earn money'. With people expected to be more conscious of expenses this GW than ever before, how are the ways working adults spend GW changing?
Job Research Institute conducted the '2026 GW Reality Survey' among 376 working men and women, exploring plans to go out, the impact of inflation on holiday plans, the gap between ideal and actual plans, saving consciousness, consumption desire, and actions to increase income.

[Survey Overview]
Target: Currently employed individuals registered with JobQ Town
Conditions: Nationwide / Men & Women / Ages 20s-50s
Period: April 1 - April 6, 2026
Valid responses: 376
Method: Internet survey

[TOPICS]
- 54.6% have plans to go out this GW. Top purposes are 'refreshing' and 'spending time with family'.
- The #1 ideal way to spend GW is 'Domestic travel (with stay)', while the actual #1 is 'Spending time at home'.
- 58.8% changed their GW plans due to inflation. The top reason is 'Making lower-priced choices'.
- 39.1% will take action to increase income during GW, such as 'point hunting'. Main GW expense is 'eating out'.
- 62.8% will 'save more than last year' this GW; 'Have consumption desire' is 52.4%. Average budget is 53,000 yen.

[GW Outing Plans]
When asking the 376 respondents about their plans to go out during GW, a majority of 54.6% said they 'have plans' (43.4% 'originally had plans', 11.2% 'will force themselves to make plans'). When asking the 205 people with plans about their purpose, 50.7% said 'want to refresh', followed by 'want to spend time with family/partner' (49.8%), and 'want to travel/go far' (41.0%).

[Ideal vs. Actual Ways to Spend GW]
When asking the 376 respondents about their ideal way to spend GW, 'Domestic travel (with stay)' topped at 45.5%, followed by 'relaxing with family' (38.8%) and 'eating out' (29.8%). Conversely, regarding the actual plans for this year's GW, 'Spending time at home' topped at 36.4%, followed by 'eating out' (26.1%) and 'day-trip leisure' (23.9%).

[Relationship between Inflation and GW Plans]
When asked if inflation changed their GW plans, a majority of 58.8% answered 'yes' ('very much changed' 9.3%, 'changed' 18.6%, 'somewhat changed' 30.9%). Among the 221 who changed plans, 42.5% said they make 'lower-priced choices', followed by 'reducing eating out frequency' (41.2%) and 'staying nearby' (38.5%).

[Actions to Increase Income during GW]
When asked about actions to increase income during GW, 39.1% will do so, while 60.9% will not. Among the 147 who will, 74.1% chose 'point hunting', followed by 'side jobs' (38.8%) and 'investments' (31.3%).

[Main GW Expenses and Budget]
The top expected expense during GW was 'eating out' at 36.7%, followed by 'day-trip leisure/sightseeing' (30.3%) and 'groceries/small luxuries at home' (25.8%). The average total budget was 53,000 yen, with a median of 30,000 yen and a mode of 10,000 yen.

[GW Expense & Saving Consciousness]
When asking the 376 respondents about their saving consciousness for this GW, 6...