Evaluations of Landscape Locations along Trails Based on Walking Experiences and Distances Traveled in the Akasawa Forest Therapy Base, Central Japan

Abstract

Forest planners are interested not only in forest spaces that visitors prefer but also in the preferred spatial arrangements of landscape features. In this study, we aimed to clarify walkers' evaluations of four landscape locations composed of various scenic features in various spatial arrangements along forest walking routes. We also analyzed the trends, differences, and common features associated with different walking distances and experiences. The results are summarized as follows: (1) The walkers' evaluations changed depending on the elements of the scene they observed and the spatial arrangements of those elements. The visitors preferred silent environments in forest spaces to the sounds of a stream. Meanwhile, they appreciated a good view in an open area. (2) The length of a walk prior to visiting a location on a route affected walkers' evaluations of that location. For example, a special landscape feature was more positively rated by the respondents who visited the location late in their walks than those in the early and middle walking stages. However, the early-passage walkers were more pleased by touching natural objects such as rocks and large trees than those later in their walks. (3) Analysis revealed that the ratings of certain parameters differed according to the route taken to a location, whereas other ratings remain unchanged. Consequently, we must consider the effects of spatial properties of scenic factors on OPEN ACCESSForests 2015, 6 2854 people's perceptions in forest planning. (4) Walkers provided similar ratings on three parameters within forest landscapes-"Open feeling", "Regular landscape" and "Natural" feel-even in the middle and near the end of their walks. Conversely, locations with water elements led to variations in parameter ratings that were maintained until the end of a person's walk. Based on these results, we suggest that positive walking experiences can be maintained by considering the open feeling, regularity, and natural landscape in all three passage stages in planning walking routes.

The tree-species-specific effect of forest bathing on perceived anxiety alleviation of young-adults in urban forests

“…Although few studies have focused on this issue, studies about forest bathing suggested that the significant effect on mental restoration also accompanied by hard-wood species of oak (Park et al 2007, Lee et al 2009, Han et al 2016) and maple (Lee et al 2014, Song et al 2015b, Han et al 2016). In addition, more studies suggested that the forest bathing effect on anxiety alleviation was accompanied by coniferous tree species, such as Japanese cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa) (Lee et al 2014, Song et al 2015a, Zhang et al 2015, Song et al 2016) and pine (Pinus spp.) (Sonntag-Öström et al 2015a, b, Chun et al 2016, Han et al 2016).…”

“…However, both oak and maple forests resulted in less perceived anxiety alleviation from employment than the birch forest. This may be caused by the visional view in the birch forest with easily accessible, open and bright settings with visible lake, which were all evaluated to be very attractive to visitors (Sonntag-Öström et al 2015b, Zhang et al 2015. Students may worry about their employment in the future before they went into the birch forest, but the forest bathing with specific view during their following minutes may have decreased some of the worry.…”

Assessing and Mapping Forest Landscape Quality in China

“…Self-report and psychophysical approaches have a high degree of flexibility and adaptability based on the perceptions and judgments of the lay public. However, they are usually used to assess FLQ that is case specific and on a small scale (e.g., forest parks or natural reserves) [4,[8][9][10][11][12][13][14]. In general, owing to the lack of appropriate data sources and evaluation criteria, no studies hitherto have assessed FLQ at the national level.…”

Influence of Selected Features of Forests on Forest Landscape Aesthetic Value – Example of Se Poland

“…The situation is similar in other types of landscape or in landscapes where forest constitutes one of its components (Dudek, 2012) which means it is not examined from the inside, as a distinctive type of landscape. Conversely, a study assessing forest landscapes in Japan showed that it was surface waters that were the most important element enhancing landscape aesthetics (Zhang et al, 2015). Russian and Japanese research confirms that the most important element of landscapes for the Japanese is water, and for Russians topography (Petrova et al, 2015).…”

“…By crossing the wall of forest we enter the interior of forest landscape. One of the main reasons why in many places worldwide people visit forests is the opportunity to enjoy attractive scenery (Hansson, Külvik, Bell, & Maikov, 2012;Paletto, Ferretti, Cantiani, & De Meo, 2012;Zhang et al, 2015;Tyrväinen, Silvennoinen, & Hallikaine, 2016). Due to these forest areas selected as a result of forest landscape assessment should be managed in ways making it possible to maintain or upgrade landscape value of the tree stands.…”