Hobbies(趣味) in Japanese :What do you do in your spare time? Do you shoot hoops, read books, play the guitar? Japanese people take great pride in their hobbies, and you’ll be hard-pressed to find someone who doesn’t have at least one pasttime that they are passionate about. Today, we’re going to look at popular hobbies in Japan for people in their teens, 20s, and 30s and learn how to say them in Japanese!
Contents
Hobbies(趣味) in Japanese
Teens
When they’re not shooting spit wads in homeroom and cramming for college entrance exams, children and adolescents between the ages of 10 and 20 spend time doing extra curricular activities after school. Those who don’t may choose to do more solitary things at home like playing video games, drawing, or reading books. Here is a list of the 25 most common hobbies among teens.
Popular Hobbies for People in Their Teens
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
| eスポーツ | ī-supōtsu | playing sports online |
| 作曲 | sakkyoku | making music |
| アクセサリー作り | akusesarī zukuri | making accessories |
| ファッション | fasshon | fashion |
| プログラミング | puroguramingu | computer programming |
| 楽器演奏 | gakki ensō | playing an instrument |
| イラスト | irasuto | drawing (illustration) |
| 日記 | nikki | journaling |
| オーバークロック | ōbākurokku | overclocking (optimizing your computer speed) |
| 読書 | dokusho | reading |
| お菓子作り | okashi zukuri | making candy |
| アニメ鑑賞 | anime kanshō | watching anime |
| 天体観測 | tentai kansoku | stargazing |
| レゴ | lego | playing with LEGOs |
| テレビゲーム | terebi gēmu | video games |
| トレーディングカード | trēdingu kādo | trading cards |
| クラシックバレエ | kurashikku barē | dancing classic ballet |
| ジョギング | jogingu | jogging |
| 電子工作 | denshi kōsaku | electrical handicraft |
| マンが制作 | manga seisaku | creating manga |
| ボードゲーム | bōdo gēmu | board games |
| プラモデル | pura moderu | building plastic models |
| 科学実験 | kagaku jikken | doing science experiments |
| バドミントン | badominton | badminton |
| ドローンレース | dorōn rēsu | drone racing |
20s
In Japan, people at least 20 years of age are considered a legal adult (much like 21 in the USA). They’re able to buy alcohol legally now, they’re just finishing up their schooling, they’re getting their first jobs, and toward their later 20s they might get a few promotions and more responsibility at work. But then again, others might decide that they’re not ready to get serious career-wise yet and opt to go soul-searching in the Himalayas! This transitional period in life from adolescence to adulthood will reflect the hobbies people in their 20s partake in. Here is a list of top 25 hobbies for those in their 20s.
Popular Hobbies for People in Their 20s
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
| ひとり旅 | hitori tabi | solo travel |
| サバイバルゲーム | sabaibaru gēmu | survival games |
| ペン字 | pen ji | perfecting your penmanship |
| MMORPG | emu-emu-ō-aru-pī-jī | massive multiplayer online roleplaying games |
| ボルダリング | borudaringu | bouldering (indoor rock climbing) |
| ボディボード | bodi bōdo | bodyboarding |
| 英会話 | eikaiwa | speaking English |
| グランピング | guranpingu | glamping (glamorous camping) |
| カクテル作り | kakuteru zukuri | making cocktails |
| ドライブ | doraibu | scenic driving |
| ボクシング | bokushingu | boxing |
| 釣り | tsuri | fishing |
| 登山 | tozan | mountain climbing |
| ベリーダンス | berī dansu | bellydancing |
| 水泳 | suiei | swimming |
| ネイルアート | neiru āto | painting nails |
| アーチェリー | ācherī | archery |
| スノーボード | sunōbōdo | snowboarding |
| ヨガ | yoga | yoga |
| ヒップホップダンス | hippu hoppu dansu | dancing hip-hop style |
| ダーツ | dātsu | darts |
| 国内旅行 | kokunai ryokō | domestic travel |
| 海外旅行 | kaigai ryokō | International travel |
| 食べ歩き | tabe aruki | trying new restaurants |
| 書道 | shodō | Japanese calligraphy |
30s
Once people hit their 30s, they become more established in their careers. Many have already gotten married, had children, and accumulated a number of adult responsibilities—a mortgage to pay off, car loans, child-rearing and education costs, etc. Therefore, their hobbies and interests will reflect these new lifestyle changes from just starting their careers in their 20s. Here is a list of the top 25 hobbies for people in their 30s.
Popular Hobbies for People in Their 30s
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
| 数学 | sūgaku | math |
| 歴史 | rekishi | history |
| 座禅 | zazen | meditating |
| 株式投資 | kabushiki tōshi | stock market investing |
| 人狼ゲーム | jinrō gēmu | playing “Werewolf” (card game) |
| 大人の塗り絵 | otona no nurie | adult coloring books |
| レザークラフト | rezā kurafuto | crafting leather |
| 貯金 | chokin | saving money |
| 節約 | setsuyaku | cutting down on expenses |
| 彫刻 | chōkoku | sculpting |
| キャンピング | kyanpingu | camping |
| コーヒー | kōhī | drinking coffee |
| 写真撮影 | shashin satsuei | photography |
| スキューバダイビング | sukyūba daibingu | scuba diving |
| 陶芸 | tōgei | pottery |
| 刺繡 | shishū | embroidery |
| 絵画 | kaiga | painting pictures |
| FX | effu-ekusu | foreign currency exchange |
| ドールハウス | dōru hausu | dollhouse making |
| バイク | baiku | riding a motorcycle |
| ロードバイク | rōdo baiku | long bike rides |
| 筋力トレーニング | kinryoku torēningu | weightlifting / muscle training |
| DIY | dī-ai-wai | Do-It-Yourself (home improvement/ repairs) |
| 漬物作り | tsukemono zukuri | pickling vegetables |
| 占い | uranai | getting your fortune told |
Now that you’ve got a bunch of new vocabulary words at your disposal, it’s time to get out there and practice! If you’re living in Japan, try searching for meetups in your area for people with your same hobby. If you live outside of Japan, try studying the Japanese words associated with your hobby so that you can talk to people about it on your next visit to Japan.
Remember, with any Japanese that you learn, it’s important to get out and practice it. This is the only surefire way of becoming a true Japanese master!
General Hobby Vocabulary
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
| 書道 | shodō | calligraphy |
| 縄跳び | nawatobi | jumping rope |
| 絵を描く | e wo kaku | drawing/painting |
| 編み物 | amimono | knitting |
| 切手収集 | kitte shūshū | stamp collecting |
| そり滑り | sori suberi | sledding |
| サイクリング | saikuringu | cycling |
| ガーデニング | gādeningu | gardening |
| 魚を釣り | sakana wo tsuri | fishing |
| 折り紙 | origami | origami (Japanese traditional paper folding) |
| コンピューターゲーム | konpyūtā gēmu | playing computer games |
| ピアノ演奏 | piano ensō | playing the piano |
| 音楽鑑賞 | ongaku kanshō | listening to music |
| ダンス | dansu | dancing |
| 読書 | dokusho | reading |
| 登山 | tozan | mountain climbing |
| 映画鑑賞 | eiga kanshō | watching movies |
| 刺しゅう | shishū | embroidering |
| テレビを見る | terebi o miru | watching TV |
| 写真撮影 | shashin satsuei | photography |
| 旅行 | ryokō | traveling |
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