【Love-Struck Middle-Aged and Seniors Won't Stop】88.8% of Those in Their 40s to 80s Like Driving Dates! Top Destination is 'Scenic Coastal Drives'

株式会社ラス恋 (Rasu Koi, part of the Isaac Group, headquartered in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, CEO: Kosei Yamaguchi), which operates the matching app 'Rasu Koi' that connects people through life experience, conducted a 'Survey on the Happiness of Middle-Aged and Seniors' targeting 1,365 Rasu Koi users in May 2026. This release, the fourth in a series from the survey that asked about various factors shaping the happiness of middle-aged and seniors, such as loneliness, housing, and future dreams, discloses the results related to 'driving dates'.

88.8% of respondents aged 40 and over answered that they 'like driving dates', revealing that driving is a central way to spend romantic time for the middle-aged and senior generation. When proposed a driving date for a first date, 75.1% of men welcomed it, saying they would be 'happy and definitely want to go'. The top desired destinations were 'scenic coastal drives' (56.6%), 'roadside stations and local gourmet tours' (38.8%), and 'hot spring areas' (35.8%), indicating a tendency to prefer longer trips over nearby spots.

Survey Overview

Survey Name

Survey on the Happiness of Middle-Aged and Seniors

Survey Period

May 3 (Sun) to May 6 (Wed), 2026

Survey Subjects

1,365 users in their 40s to 80s

Survey Method

In-app questionnaire on 'Rasu Koi'

Survey Results (Summary)

・88.8% of those aged 40 and over answered 'I like driving dates'

- Total of 'Like very much' (44.0%) and 'Like somewhat' (44.8%) - Only 3.6% answered 'Dislike' - 88-89% of those in their 40s, 50s, and 60s answered 'Like', showing consistent support across age groups

・75.1% of men welcome a driving date proposal for a first date

- 75.1% of men and 35.0% of women answered 'Happy, definitely want to go' - The most common response from women was 'I would be nervous on a first date' (55.1%), suggesting that while women are positive about driving dates themselves, they are cautious in first-meeting situations

・Top desired destination ranking: 1st 'Scenic coastal drive' 56.6%

- 2nd 'Roadside stations and local gourmet tours' 38.8%, 3rd 'Hot spring areas' 35.8% - 'Short drive from meeting point to meal' 20.4%, 'Short drive after work' 6.2%, showing longer trips are preferred over nearby spots - Women preferred 'Seasonal spots like cherry blossoms and autumn leaves' at 45.8%, 18 points higher than men at 27.5%

・Observations unique to middle-aged and seniors: 'Driving reveals personality', 'Conversation flows in the car'

- Multiple free-text responses mentioned 'Driving really shows your personality' and 'It reveals the other person's character' - Comments like 'I've come to prefer driving dates where you can enjoy casual conversation over cafe dates' reflect values gained with age.

Survey Background

In recent years, record-high summer temperatures have continued. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the average temperature deviation for the summer of 2025 in Japan was +2.36°C, the highest since records began in 1898, following record heat in 2023 and 2024 (*1). With another severe summer expected, interest in how to spend outdoor dates is higher than usual.

Meanwhile, the national average price for regular gasoline reached an all-time high of 190.8 yen per liter on March 16, 2026, and has since been hovering around 170 yen, suppressed by subsidies (*2).

Amidst this, the trend of young people moving away from cars is accelerating. A 2025 survey by KINTO reported that 72.8% of Generation Z in Tokyo 'are aware of moving away from cars', a significant increase of 21.5 points from the previous year (*3). Economic burdens and changing values seem to be reducing the desire of younger generations to own and use cars.

On the other hand, in a previous summer date survey conducted by Rasu Koi in July 2025, the top choice for 'ideal date this summer' was 'day trip/drive' (42.2%), with 53.3% of men in their 60s supporting it (*4). In contrast to the heat, fuel costs, and trends among the younger generation, it appears that driving remains a classic date activity for the more experienced generation.

Therefore, the 'Rasu Koi / Rasu Kon Research Institute' conducted this survey on the actual state of driving dates among middle-aged and seniors.

*1 Source: 'Weather in Summer 2025 (June-August)', Japan Meteorological Agency *2 Source: 'Petroleum Product Price Survey', Agency for Natural Resources and Energy *3 Source: 'Survey on Generation Z's Awareness of Cars (2025)', KINTO Corporation *4 Source: 'Survey on Awareness of Summer Dates (2025)', Rasu Koi Corporation

Detailed Survey Results

[1] 88.8% of those aged 40 and over like driving dates, widely supported across generations

In response to the question 'Do you like driving dates?', the combined total of 'Like very much' (44.0%) and 'Like somewhat' (44.8%) reached 88.8%, showing that driving dates are widely supported among the middle-aged and senior demographic. Only 3.6% answered 'Dislike', and 7.5% answered 'Not really'.

By age group, support was nearly uniform: 88.6% for those in their 40s, 89.6% for those in their 50s, and 88.9% for those in their 60s, indicating that driving is a firmly established date activity across a wide range of middle-aged and senior people.

In free-text responses: 'Anywhere is fun if I'm with someone I get along with' (Gifu, 60s, Male) 'I've come to prefer driving dates where you can enjoy casual conversation over face-to-face cafe dates' (Aichi, 40s, Female) 'When we go for a drive, I end up wanting to stay with them forever, which is a problem' (Osaka, 50s, Female) Many comments reflected enjoying drives as a relaxed, pressure-free time that comes with age.

[2] 75.1% of men are happy with a driving date proposal for a first date, 55.1% of women feel nervous

To the question 'How would you feel if a driving date was proposed for a first date?', 62.6% of all respondents answered 'Happy, definitely want to go', but a large gender gap emerged. While 75.1% of men welcomed it, only 35.0% of women did, a difference of 40.1 points. The most common response from women was 'I would be nervous on a first date' at 55.1% (vs. 17.6% for men), a gap of 37.5 points.

From the male side, experiences of deepening conversation and connection during drives were shared: 'We talked about the future in the car' (Yamagata, 60s, Male) 'It was so fun I lost track of time, and it was past midnight when I dropped her off' (Yamagata, 60s, Male) 'I took her to a scenic night view spot without saying anything, she was delighted and hugged me' (Kyoto, 60s, Male)