From Transit to Belonging Spaces: Exploring Tourists’ Emotional Bonds in the Minami-Machida Grandberry Park Station in Japan

Yuheng Wan ()
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Yuheng Wan: The Experimental High School Attached to Beijing Normal University

A chapter in Proceedings of the 2026 11th International Conference on Social Sciences and Economic Development (ICSSED 2026), 2026, pp 771-782 from Springer

Abstract: Abstract Against the global evolution of railway stations from transit hubs to multi-functional spaces, this study explores the formation mechanism of tourists’ sense of belonging in railway stations, focusing on Minami-Machida Grandberry Park Station, a representative “station-commerce-park” integrated Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) in Japan. Adopting a mixed-methods approach, the research analyzed tourist reviews from TripAdvisor, Google Reviews, and Dianping, using thematic analysis and text mining. Key findings revealed three dimensions of tourists’ sense of belonging formation: 1) functions, such as transfer efficiency, signage, and family-friendly facility provide the baseline for place dependence; 2) emotional triggers: interactive cultural and ecological elements are the drivers of affective-cognitive bonds; 3) behavioral consolidation via interactive engagement. Thus, this study bridges gaps between transit satisfaction and tourism emotional attachment and provides guidance for emotionalized railway station design, such as prioritizing interactive cultural experiences and evidence-based ecological integration.

Keywords: Railway Station; Place Attachment; Tourist Experience; TOD; Thematic Analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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DOI: 10.2991/978-94-6239-701-9_80

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