This observatory was christened “Hachibodai'' by the Takamatsunomiya imperial family in 1952 due to its majestic, panoramic view of the entire peninsula. Edo-Period travelogue author Masumi Sugae left behind drawings that feature views of Ichi-no-megata, Ni-no-megata, and Tosa Port - a view that remains unchanged to this day.

Ichi-no-megata, together with Ni-no-megata and San-no-megata, form the Megata Range, and features the only volcanic maar, or active crater, in the Tohoku Region. Its lake also acts as a freshwater fountainhead for the city of Oga. These volcanoes emit peridotite from deep underground, which then settles at the bottom of the lake into a recognizable varve, making this range a world-famous national monument.