According to the survey “Voice of the Consumer: Lifestyle Survey 2024” by Euromonitor International (conducted from January to February 2024 in 39 countries, with 1,000 people in each country), Japan had the highest proportion of people, one in every five (19.2%), reporting that they would travel alone. The global average was 7.2%. The percentage in Japan had also nearly doubled from 10.4% in 2019.
Group tours for solo travelers are also gaining popularity,
including the ones provided by a major Japanese travel agency Club Tourism
since 1997. The company currently offers 500 tours on a regular basis in the
capital region alone. In 2023, the number of participants hit a record high, up
40% from the previous year. Women account for 80% of them, mainly in their 50s
to 70s.
Since around last year, I have come
to like solo travel tours. What’s great about these tours is that you can go
wherever and whenever you want.
The tours also give you opportunities
to meet really cool, mature people. Since all the participants come alone, they
don’t waste time on small talk. They think and act for themselves, not relying
on others. But it doesn’t mean they are pushing people away; we can enjoy
conversation while keeping a comfortable distance and respecting each other’s
privacy. You are embraced by a relaxed atmosphere, allowing you to do what you
like at your own pace.
It was a three-day nature tour where
we enjoyed walking three to four hours each day. I found Ms. A, probably in her
late 70s and the oldest among the tour participants, taking the trip only with
a small backpack. You could easily tell she was an experienced traveler. Next
to her was Ms. B, probably in her 50s, checking the itinerary and her items
with a nervous look while looking around. When we arrived at the site and had
the first walk on the wetland trail, I found Ms. B right behind Ms. A again. On
the second day at lunchtime, I happened to sit at the same table with these two
women. “I climbed all 100 famous Japanese mountains when I was young. I even
tried mountains overseas as well. But now, I’ve switched to hiking in low
mountains. I don’t have as much stamina, but I still love mountains and want to
keep doing this,” said Ms. A with a bright smile. Ms. B replied, “Oh, that
explains why you’re such a good walker. I was walking right behind you, and it
was very helpful. Mountain paths are so complicated I can’t tell where to walk.
Before I knew it, I was following your path.” When I asked Ms. B if it was her
first solo trip, she said shyly, “No, it’s my second time. On the first trip,
everyone was kind to me and taught me all sorts of things. I really loved the
time free from my family, being myself, so I decided to do it again.” After
that, we enjoyed talking about the lunch and the flowers we had seen along the
path. Once finishing the meal, each of us left the table at our own pace.
On a different tour, I took a walk
after breakfast as I had some time before departure, and ran into Mr. C, another
tour participant in his early 70s. He invited me for a walk, saying, “Hi, good
morning. I’m heading to the XX shrine. Would you care to join me?” I decided to
go along: “Sure, I’d be happy to.” Being quite an expert on mythology, Mr. C
shared fascinating stories along the way about gods associated with this area.
When we arrived at the shrine, we both carefully read the talisman there to
check which god was enshrined. Since each of us had different ways to enjoy the
shrine, we went separate ways and spent time there. We then said, “Well, shall
we go back?” and started walking. On the way back, I told him that I was
stopping by some place, and we casually parted ways as Mr. C said, “Well, I’ll
go ahead and return to the inn.”
On yet another tour, which involved
long stairs and two hours of walking on a wooden path, I found Ms. D, a lady in
her 70s or 80s with a cane. She even needed help getting on and off the bus,
but she said she would be fine with the tour guide being available. While being
concerned, we left for the walk. When I came back to the meeting place 30
minutes earlier than the scheduled time, Ms. D was already there, sitting on a
bench and absorbed in painting the magnificent mountain landscape with
watercolors. She had been painting all the while the rest of us were walking.
The painting was clear, bright, and warm, as if mirroring her pure heart. As I
praised her work, she said to me with a soft smile while continuing to paint, “I
can’t walk much because of my bad legs. But since I love painting, I always
work on mountains like this. Because, you know, they are so beautiful. It’s
also refreshing being out here.” As other participants returned, each gazed at
her painting and gave a comment. It looked like her painting also had the power
to relieve fatigue. Ms. D was enjoying the brief conversation with each
participant.
How can I describe these experiences
in a few words? Well, I would say “a comfortable distance.” It truly feels
great being with people who are walking a few steps ahead of me in life, filled
with generosity and warmth. They have their own worlds, know what they can do,
and enjoy whatever they can at the place they like to enjoy it.
They make me happy, showing what real
mature people means. They make me feel like I want to be part of them.
This may be the secret behind the
popularity of solo travel tours.
Written by M.K.
References)
・Euromonitor International, Press Release, June18, 2024 (in Japanese)
・Excite News, November 8, 2023
(in Japanese)
https://www.excite.co.jp/news/article/Prtimes_2023-11-08-1864-1133/
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