Does nationality affect landscape perceptions of urban sacred forests? A Japan–China cross-cultural comparison

This study explores the cultural ecosystem services of sacred forests in urban areas, focusing on the Meiji-Jingu Shrine's forest in Japan. We assessed the forest's sublimity and landscape perceptions among Japanese and Chinese visitors using a mixed-method approach. Data were gathered from 359 geotagged photographs and a questionnaire completed by 30 participants, evaluating sublimity and psychological aspects. GIS analysis identified scenic hotspots, and statistical methods compared landscape perceptions between the two visitor groups. Text mining analyzed differences in their forest evaluation. Key findings include (1) Cultural differences in perceiving landscape hotspots, (2) insights into the sublime nature of Meiji-Jingu Shrine's forest, and (3) varied perceptions of forest sublimity between Japanese and Chinese visitors. This cross-cultural study provides valuable insights for sacred forest conservation.