Effects of Spatial Configuration and Environmental Factors on Route Choice Behavior during Urban Strolling in Commercial Districts

This study examines the relationship between urban spatial configuration and pedestrians’ route choices during urban strolling activities, focusing on two major commercial districts in Tokyo: Shibuya and Ginza. These districts differ markedly in their urban spatial configurations. Empirical data were collected from 20 participants using GPS tracking and post-walk interviews, and the results were analyzed in relation to indicators derived from space syntax theory. The findings indicate that, although urban spatial configuration indicators derived from Angular Segment Analysis account for a substantial proportion of pedestrians’ route choices, they do not fully explain route choices during urban strolling. Interviews investigating the reasons for choosing routes with low Choice values revealed that 86.8% of route choices were related to environmental factors. Participants chose back streets and alleys rather than consistently choosing highly connected main streets. In Shibuya, characterized by a complex and irregular street network, pedestrians tended to choose routes driven by curiosity and the desire to discover new places. In contrast, Ginza’s grid-based street network encouraged sequential route choices guided by visually prominent “points.” These results highlight important implications for urban design: while physical urban spatial configuration plays a significant role, visual “points” and open “surfaces” that attract attention and encourage lingering are also critical elements in shaping urban strolling behavior.