江戶時代朝鮮十二次派遣使節至日本，目的是交涉送還俘虜、探聽日本國情、祝賀將軍襲職、文化交流等。朝鮮使節至日本，對日本的政治、軍事、社會風俗、生活習慣、秉性好惡、學術文物、自然人文等，都有相當程度的觀察，並且留下不少紀錄。本論文主要根據這些紀錄，探討其對日本自然與人文景觀的觀察。
朝鮮使節在其使行錄中，對日本的地勢、山脈、湖川、平原等自然景觀，及名剎、史蹟、浮橋、三都（京都、大、江戶）的地理形勢、城池結構、都市規劃、市容景象等人文景觀，或地震的感受、水車的功能、甘藷的作用等，都有詳細紀錄。
通信使對日本自然景觀的觀察，並沒有太大差異。使節最遠至日光山，東北陸奧並未踏足，對陸奧及以北地區的景觀記載不多，且多推測。對富士山的印象是，山頂白雪皚皚四時不融，四日路程之遙亦能遠見。京都琵琶湖的景致，應當不亞於洞庭湖。連亙不絕的翠竹蒼松，幾乎所有使節都有著墨。人文景觀方面，通信使比較三都，但隨三都的發展，對三都的重要性、人口成長、繁榮程度等，看法有很大差異。對名剎、史蹟的觀察，則常以自國立場作批判。另一方面，他們對「利用厚生」問題，注意並不多。
通信使所至地區有限，其對日本自然景觀和人文景觀的觀察，僅是部分，並非全貌。朝鮮王朝的對外觀，基本上是慕華思想，視日本為文化低劣的國家。此種文化優越意識，使通信使常無法用較客觀的角度觀察日本。

Korean envoys to Japan recorded detailed observations of the elements of the Japanese natural landscape such as terrain, mountains, lakes and streams and plains. They also described artificial landscapes, including famous temples, historical monuments, bridges, Kyoto, Osaka, Edo, their experiences of earthquakes, the function of waterwheels, and the usefulness of sweet potatoes, etc.
There were no big differences between their observations. They made many records relating to Fuji Mountain, Lake Biwa, emerald green pines and bamboos along the way. With regard to artificial landscapes, the envoys made comparisons of the three metropolises, but the envoys’ views on their relative importance, population growth, and degrees of prosperity differed widely as they developed. Conversely, famous temples and historical monuments were frequently criticized from a Korean perspective.
The Korean envoys often failed to observe Japan objectively, and their observations were merely partial and incomplete.