Zoos of Tokyo: Visitors' Space Use Characteristics

Abstract

Recent studies on the geography of tourism in Japan have investigated tourist behavior in relation to geographic characteristics in a variety of ways. The purpose of this study was to analyze the characteristics of visitors' space use in Ueno Zoo (Ueno Zoological Garden) in an urban district of Tokyo and Tama Zoo (Tama Zoological Park) in an urban suburb of Tokyo. Two tools were used: first, a questionnaire was administered to determine the purpose of and time spent during a zoo visit as well as the home address and other demographic information on visitors; and second, visitors' movements were recorded by global positioning system (GPS) tracking devices that the zoo visitors agreed to wear. The resulting data were analyzed statistically using the Geographical Information System (GIS). The analysis of data collected from questionnaires showed that visitors' responses to the questions could be divided into three categories: “Experience and Purpose,” “Age of Main Person in Group,” and “Usage of Zoo.” Many visitors to Ueno Zoo had traveled long distances. Furthermore, Ueno Zoo visitors had more varied reasons for traveling there than Tama Zoo visitors. Analysis of the GPS data showed that visitors' space use was influenced by five space elements: “Site Condition,” “Landform,” “Animal Exhibits,” “Rest Facilities,” and “Waterfront and Green Space.” Visitors' space use of Ueno Zoo was mainly influenced by “Rest Facilities.” On the other hand, visitors' space use of Tama Zoo, which is in the midst of a more natural environment, was mainly influenced by “Animal Exhibits” and not by environmental features such as “Waterfront and Green Space.” Complex interrelations of space use in tourism spaces were found between tourist types and space elements in this research. This paper explains these complex interrelations as geographic characteristics of an urban district and an urban suburb.