The Structuring of the Problems in Mt. Fuji Climbing using Users Consciousness Structure Analysis

Abstract

Too many visitors in natural parks threaten the quality of visitor experience as well as the integrity of natural and cultural resources. To identify the problems in natural parks caused by the utilization of the natural environments and to be able to solve the problems effectively, problem structuring is required. Therefore, it is very important to grasp the visitors consciousness structure based on the quality of the regional nature. The aims of this study are 1) to grasp the consciousness structure of climbers in Mt. Fuji, a symbol of Japan and 2) to structure the problems in Mt. Fuji climbing using Users Consciousness Structure Analysis (UCSA) with special emphasis on the problem of congestion. In the result, the elements of disamenity which lessen the satisfaction of visitors and the relationships among those elements were clarified. The group-climbers were identified near the core of the problems in Mt. Fuji climbing when the whole number of climbers was high. It was suggested that the deterioration of the quality of visitors experience in the crowded surroundings was strongly related to the group-climbing. These results could be applied to establish the ideal concept of an appropriate climbing in natural parks.