【Actual Conditions Survey 2025】 60% of People Living in Shonan Say They "Like Winter Too." How to Enjoy Shonan in Winter, Where Quietness and Scenery Are Appreciated!
Garage Standard Inc. (Headquarters: Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo; Representative Director: Toshizumi Hotta) operates "roomap," a real estate service specializing in the Shonan and Kamakura area. The company conducted a "2025 Winter Shonan and Kamakura Area Lifestyle Survey" targeting residents of the Shonan and Kamakura area. This survey reveals how people actually living in the area perceive winter Shonan, which is often considered the off-season for tourism, and how they spend their time during this period.
Survey Overview
- Survey Theme: 2025 Winter Lifestyle Survey of Shonan and Kamakura Area
- Survey Period: November 26, 2025 to December 3, 2025
- Survey Target: Residents of Shonan and Kamakura area, Kanagawa Prefecture
- Valid Responses: 350 people
- Survey Method: Online Survey
- Survey Organization: Garage Standard Inc. (Regional Specialty Real Estate Service "roomap")
Survey Summary
- Approximately 6 in 10 (62.0%) answered that they "like winter in Shonan"
- Reasons for this evaluation include multiple factors such as "beautiful scenery" and "quietness"
- Winter activities are polarized between "beach walkers" and "indoor enthusiasts"
- Concerns center on daily life issues such as cold weather and condensation
- New Year visits are not concentrated at large shrines; most prefer nearby locations or don't visit
Winter Shonan Highly Rated from a "Living Perspective"! Approximately 6 in 10 Answer "I Like Winter Too"
In response to the question "Do you like winter in Shonan?", 62.0% answered "I really like it" or "I somewhat like it."
Contrary to the impression that it is the off-season for tourism, people actually living there view winter in Shonan positively.
Notably, this evaluation is not based on a single reason but appears to result from multiple overlapping elements:
Tourists decrease and the entire town becomes calm.
The air becomes clearer, and the scenery of the ocean and Mt. Fuji stands out.
Travel and outings become easier.
Winter's Unique Appeal: "Scenery" and "Views of Mt. Fuji"
The most common reasons for liking winter in Shonan were:
The sky and ocean colors are beautiful (63.1%)
Mt. Fuji and sunset are visible clearly (58.1%)
From these results, we can see that winter in Shonan is perceived not as a "season for enjoying events" but as a season for savoring the scenery itself. As the bustle settles down, the presence of nature becomes more prominent, making it easier to experience Shonan's original charm.
Winter Activities in Shonan are Polarized! "Beach Walkers and Indoor-Focused Residents"
Common winter activities in Shonan include:
Spending time at home (29.4%)
Coastal walks (23.4%)
Morning running and walking (22.0%)
Viewing sunsets and Mt. Fuji (20.9%)
While some people avoid the cold and spend time primarily indoors, many others enjoy walking along the coast even in winter, savoring the scenery regardless of season. This shows that winter lifestyles in Shonan are polarized. Notably, both choices represent "effortless ways of living" based on Shonan's environment.
Concerns Are About "Daily Life," Not "Tourism"
Difficulties faced during winter in Shonan include:
It's extremely cold (28.3%)
Laundry doesn't dry (20.0%)
Home humidity and condensation (17.7%)
Many concerns directly relate to daily life. This reflects how the unique climate characteristics of the Shonan area—close to the ocean with strong winds—affect everyday life. However, 23.4% answered "nothing in particular," indicating that a certain number of residents understand and accept the winter environment.
New Year Visits Show a "Decentralized" Tendency, Favoring Nearby Locations Over Large Shrines
Regarding New Year visits, responses most frequently included:
Don't visit every year (29.7%)
Small neighborhood shrine (24.0%)
This result reflects a lifestyle orientation unique to Shonan: avoiding crowds and enjoying seasonal traditions as an extension of daily life.
Winter Shonan: A "Hidden Gem Season"? Approximately 6 in 10 Have "Moments of Gratitude for Living Here"
To the question "Are there moments when you feel grateful for living in winter Shonan?", 58.5% answered "often" or "sometimes."
Although lacking glamour, the quiet sense of comfort felt in everyday life appears to support the positive evaluation of winter in Shonan.
Conclusion: "Winter Shonan is a Season Where 'Quality of Life' Stands Out"
This survey reveals that while the Shonan and Kamakura area experiences fewer tourists in winter, residents highly value "quietness," "beautiful scenery," and "spacious living." Although there are challenges like cold weather and condensation, the pleasantness brought by crisp air and proximity to nature ultimately supports winter Shonan's value.
Winter in Shonan is not a place seeking special events but a season that quietly enhances the quality of daily life. From a living perspective, the survey shows it is actually the season when one can most truly experience what makes Shonan special.