What families in Japan are buying for July

A lot of surveys I've seen lately about life in Japan focus on how people are spending less and being mindful of money, so I was particularly interested when I saw this one from Ikoyo Family Lab. It gives a peek into what families are looking to buy this July, and it was pretty clear from the items on the list that there's a desire to create fun family experiences over the warmer months.

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Perhaps unsurprisingly, the number one category was children's products, toys, and services. Among the many items parents mentioned, one name popped up again and again, which was the Nintendo Switch 2. It seems like a lot of families are planning for rainy days, downtime, and new ways to keep kids entertained indoors. They are pricey, though, so my own family won’t be indulging in that just yet – we will stick to our original Nintendo Switch which still works just fine!

Coming in just behind was water toys and pool-related goods. While smaller items like water guns and floats were popular, there was a particular interest in home pools and large balcony pools. Many families seem to be choosing to create a safe water-play space at home instead of packing up for crowded public pools or beaches, and I imagine it may actually work out to be more cost effective over time than paying for things like admission fees or even petrol money to get places.

Third place went to home appliances. This included the usual summer staples like fans and air conditioners, but families are also eyeing fun gadgets like kakigori and nagashi somen machines. We do have a manual kakigori machine which has been a summer favorite in our household for years now, and they have several types on Amazon Japan if you're looking to get one for your household.

Are you purchasing anything for your family/your kids to stay occupied and have fun this summer?