Abstract
Geographers have made a variety of studies using guidebooks to clarify the meaning and distribution of tourist sites in cities. Nevertheless, few studies quantitatively examine the spatial distribution of tourism sites in detail. In addition, little is known about differences among attractions in terms of the cultural backgrounds of tourists. Hence, this study made a spatial analysis of tourist attractions described in guidebooks written for Japanese and English-speaking readers. Applying kernel density estimation and raster operation method with GIS, this study clarifies that tourism attractions in guidebooks differ between Japanese and Anglophone countries. English guidebooks recommend readers to visit not only cultural sites (e.g., historic places, museums, and theatres) but also sites for nightlife (e.g., bars and taverns). In contrast, Japanese guidebooks show less interest in these types of attraction, and tend to focus more on shopping and eating. The spatial distribution of the tourism attractions also indicates some differences between Japanese and Anglophone guidebooks. Specifically, the spatial extent of tourist attractions in English guidebooks is smaller than that in Japanese guidebooks, being located close to railway stations along Yamanote Line. English guidebooks are also characterized by tourist sites for nightlife, centering on the Roppongi district. Thus, attractions listed in guidebooks are regarded as a reflection of the interests and behavior patterns of tourists.
Translated title of the contribution | Spatial analysis of tourist attractions listed in Japanese and English guidebooks to Tokyo |
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Original language | Japanese |
Pages (from-to) | 522-533 |
Number of pages | 12 |
Journal | 地学雑誌 |
Volume | 117 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2008 |