In 2023, employees in Japan were allotted an average of 19 days of paid vacation. However, the actual usage rate was only 63%, averaging just 12 days taken per year. This is the lowest rate among the 11 regions surveyed.

The most common reason given by Japanese workers for not using their paid vacation was that it was difficult due to work circumstances, such as staffing shortages (32%). The second most common reason was reserving vacation days for emergencies (31%).

Despite Japan having the lowest rate of paid vacation usage in the world, nearly half of Japanese workers (47%) reported not feeling vacation-deprived. This is the highest percentage among all the regions surveyed.

The secret behind why Japanese workers don't feel vacation-deprived lies in the frequency of their paid vacation usage. Thirty percent of Japanese workers reported taking paid vacation days every month, the highest percentage in the world.

Although the overall usage rate is low, Japanese employees may not feel a lack of rest because they take "short, regular breaks" to refresh themselves.

In Japan, 56% of workers reported feeling refreshed after their most recent vacation, the highest percentage among the 11 regions surveyed. Additionally, nearly 90% of Japanese workers (86%) agreed that taking vacations is important for mental health and overall well-being.

Japan is often perceived as a country where people work hard and take little time off, and this survey confirms that paid vacation usage is lower compared to other regions worldwide. However, it seems that the way Japanese workers take their vacations is somewhat different. The belief in the importance of taking time off to refresh and rejuvenate is likely a universal sentiment shared across the globe!