Autumn leaf viewing trends for 2025

I've learned that you don't need to travel far to experience seasonal changes here in Japan, and a new nationwide survey on autumn leaves backs that up. Cross Marketing surveyed 1,100 people aged 20 to 69, and 47.9 percent said they want to enjoy the autumn leaves this year. Within that group, 14.9 percent said they are actively looking forward to them, while 33 percent said they'd enjoy them if the opportunity comes up. At the same time, 30.5 percent said they're not particularly interested.

Interest climbs with age and is higher among women, but the standout number for me was from people in their 20s. 45.9 percent said they aren't especially interested in autumn leaves at all, which was the highest of any age group. I will admit that statistic surprised me (my mind says "everyone should love the leaves changing, right?!?") but I feel like I've come to appreciate nature more as I've gotten older, which tracks with the study's findings. 

The survey also asked how people prefer to experience the season. The top answer, at 26.8 percent, was simply walking in a nearby park or along a tree-lined street. That aligns with what I see in my own neighborhood every year, since most people just enjoy the colors close to home. After that, popular choices included viewing leaves around temples, shrines, and castles, seeing them from the car while driving, and visiting famous spots.

Even when asked for recommended viewing spots, many people chose everyday locations like local parks and commuting routes, which I thought was really nice! It shows you don't have to spend a ton or take a special trip to enjoy the best of the season.