Relationships between Urbanization Levels in Hometowns and Landscape Perceptions

Perceived Restorativeness, Sense of Place, and Landscape Preferences

Abstract

This study examined how urbanization levels in individuals’ hometowns affect their perceptions of landscapes, focusing on perceived restorativeness, sense of place, and landscape preference—factors associated with restorative environments. An online survey among Japanese adults assessed whether evaluations of urban, natural, and historical-cultural environments varied by hometown urbanization level. One-way ANOVA results showed that respondents from rural areas rated natural environments higher than those from other regions, while respondents from suburban areas rated historical-cultural environments higher than other groups. These findings suggest that preserving diverse landscape environments in suburban areas may enhance environmental sensitivity and improve residents’ mental health and well-being.