An observatory offering a panoramic view of Hakodate City and its suburbs. You can fully enjoy the view created by the unique topography, surrounded by the sea on both sides, especially the night view that sparkles in the crisp air. The wind is strong, so be sure to dress warmly even outside of winter. There is a restaurant on the second floor and a tea lounge on the third floor, allowing you to enjoy the spectacular view with food and drinks.

The building has a four-story structure, with the ropeway's summit station and waiting lobby on the first floor, a restaurant and event hall on the second floor, a tea lounge on the third floor, and the rooftop observation deck on the top floor. The convenience of a 3-minute ropeway ride from the ground is also a plus. In addition, a mountain bus service departs from in front of JR Hakodate Station. The mountain road for vehicles is open from mid-April to early November. During this period, private cars and rental cars are subject to traffic restrictions during the night view hours.

Mount Hakodate was formed on a base of ejecta from a submarine volcano about 1 million years ago, and through subsequent eruptions, it emerged as a large island after repeated uplifts and subsidences. It became an isolated island eroded by ocean currents, wind, and rain, and the outflowing sediment accumulated to form a sandbar, connecting it to Hokkaido about 5,000 years ago (a tombolo). The pointed summit was leveled during fortress construction in the Meiji era, resulting in its current shape.

After the war, Mount Hakodate, which had been a fortress zone, was opened to the public for the first time in about 50 years. An observatory was established on the summit in 1953 (Showa 28), and a ropeway connecting the base and the summit opened in 1958 (Showa 33). In 1988 (Showa 63), new 125-passenger gondolas were introduced, and in the autumn of 2015 (Heisei 27), ahead of the opening of the Hokkaido Shinkansen, the observatory was renovated, making it even more comfortable to enjoy the view.