The author celebrated turning 70 in 2025 by launching a yearlong birding travel project throughout Japan, treating it as a continuous series of 24-hour "birdathons," a concept they introduced to Japan in the 1980s [1]. Having traveled in Japan since age 25, the author has witnessed significant transformations in both the country’s landscape and their own approach to travel [1].
In contrast to the rough gravel roads the author once navigated during their youth, traveling now at age 70 involves prioritizing comfort. Good meals, hot baths, and paved roads have become essential, reflecting practical changes tied to age [1]. However, some rural and mountain roads that were paved over time have recently begun to deteriorate, linked to population decline and shrinking municipal budgets in Japan’s countryside [1].
The demographics of nature-focused travelers have also shifted. Today’s older travelers generally range from their 50s to 80s, while in the 1980s they tended to be older than the then-younger author [1]. Traveling habits differ by age as well: older travelers prioritize early dining and restful evenings, unlike younger visitors who favor late nights and social activity [1].
Japan set a record in 2025 for international tourism, welcoming 42.7 million visitors, underscoring the country’s growing appeal [1]. Domestically, a recent JTB survey found that 79.2% of Japanese women in their 70s take domestic trips, highlighting a strong trend among older populations to travel within Japan [1]. The travel industry in Japan has adapted accordingly, with infrastructure in place to support the needs of the "silver set," or older travelers [1].
Many retirees have both the time and financial means to travel, making them an important segment of the tourism market [1]. The author’s ongoing yearlong birding journey in 2025 is both a personal milestone and a reflection of these wider trends in aging and travel in Japan.