A comparative study on user satisfaction with an observatory between Sarakura and Takato Mountain, Japan

Abstract

The hilltop observatory is a basic sightseeing facility, which is often built with tourist attractions and natural scenery. So, although an observatory is a type of architectural space with both indoor and outdoor designing, they have received little attention and research. Whether the facilities will be effectively utilized is not only related to the management, operation and maintenance of scenic spots, but also determines the tourist experience. In Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, Japan has its two main mountains: the Sarakura Mountain and the Takato Mountain. The peak observatories on the hills are open facilities for free use by the public. In addition, the traditional tourist, leisure, exercise, assembly, photography, outdoor learning and other types of civic activities are also here. Whether the original construction of the facilities for tourists could meet our new demands or not is questionable. In this study, two objects and the evaluation of the users toward their using experiences were compared, and the space demand of the users and the degree of satisfaction were explored. It puts forward suggestions to optimize the observatory facilities, and provide a reference for the future design of this type of observatory.