This article examines the leisure activities of Japanese schoolchildren, which foster educational, cultural, and physical engagement while involving parents in the educational process. Different semesters include sports competitions and cultural festivals that develop teamwork and creative skills. The structure of the school year in Japan is analyzed, including school entry ceremonies, sports days, cultural festivals and graduation ceremonies. The impact of holidays and public holidays on students' leisure time is also discussed. Although students have vacation periods, they complete assignments during them. The high level of “academic achievement” leads to stress and fatigue, as indicated by the PISA 2022 results. Japan’s experience may be useful for Ukrainian schools in implementing activities that foster children's personal development. The method of comparative analysis allowed us to identify differences and similarities in the organization of leisure activities for schoolchildren in Japan and Ukraine. The use of empirical observations made it possible to describe in more detail the impact of extracurricular activities on the psychological well-being of children. PISA 2022 data was studied to assess the impact of the academic workload on students' academic performance and psychological state. The Japanese education system successfully integrates learning with cultural development, involving parents as well. Extracurricular activities play an important role in helping students not only develop physically, but also build personal and social skills.