Abstract
Kyushu nature trail is a part of long-distance nature trails built by the Ministry of the Environment throughout Japan. This trail was built to provide an opportunity to access nature and increase people’s awareness of the natural environment. However, previous studies have not clarified the characteristics of hikers and their level of environmental consciousness. This study fills this gap by conducting an on-site, questionnaire-based survey for hikers along the Kyushu nature trail. The results indicate that most hikers used the trail to enjoy nature and promote fitness. Over 70% of them were repetitive users of the nature trail. Most were singleday users. However, depending on definition of long-distance trail hikers, around 10 to 20% of the users were long-distance trail hikers. In addition, regarding environmental awareness, the users of the Kyusyu nature trail were more environmentally aware with respect to nature and environmental problems compared to that of the Japanese public. Furthermore, the more frequently a hiker used the trail, the more environmentally aware he or she tended to be.
