Spatial Behavior in Urban Park Seating: Distinct Explanatory Patterns of Interpersonal Distance and Body Orientation in Nagano City, Japan

Interpersonal distance and body orientation are theoretically related but non-interchangeable dimensions of spatial behavior. However, park-sitting studies have generally examined them separately, leaving limited evidence on whether the same human, spatial, and contextual conditions are associated with each behavior differently. This observational case study examined and directly compared these associations in two urban parks in Nagano, Japan. Systematic observations using video recording produced 1422 sitting instances, each representing a solitary user or seated group. Separate hierarchical multinomial logistic regression models were applied to both behavioral dimensions using the same set of variables. Separated sitting (47.0%) and pathway-facing orientation (58.7%) were the most common patterns. Adding contextual factors produced the greatest improvement in model fit for interpersonal distance, particularly through park setting, day type, and time of day. In contrast, body orientation was more strongly associated with immediate spatial conditions, especially seating constraints and spatial openness. These findings extend the theoretical distinction between distance and orientation to naturally occurring park behavior and demonstrate that they should not be treated as interchangeable indicators. Park design should therefore provide both proximity and directional choices through distributed and varied seating configurations adapted to site-specific conditions.