Fuji-Q Highland

Fujiyoshida, Japan

“If Six Flags Japan existed, it would look and feel like this”

Fuji-Q Highland can easily be described as one of Japan’s coaster capitals. If Nagashima Spa Land is called the Japanese Cedar Point, Fuji-Q deserves to be described as the local version of Six Flags Magic Mountain. The park is located at the base of Mount Fuji, Japan’s ultra-famous volcano. It’s approximately 110 kilometres west of Tokyo and there’s a direct bus from Tokyo’s main train station. The ride lasts for about two and a half hours and the bus drops you directly at the park entrance. Combo tickets including round-trip transportation and park entry are available for purchase at the bus station.

ROLLER COASTERS

As you might expect, roller coasters are an important part of Fuji-Q Highland. The park features seven coasters, including a strange Wild Mouse and two family coasters. The other coasters may be described as the big 4, since these thrills are the main draws for coaster enthusiasts. The most intense ride is Eejanaika, a 4th Dimension Coaster manufactured by S&S. This ride is similar to X2 at Magic Mountain, but it felt smoother and even crazier than its American brother.

Another forceful ride is Dodonpa, the coaster with the most powerful launch on Earth today. Dodonpa reaches its top speed of 170 km/h in two seconds, which makes it one of the most incredible accelerations I’ve ever experienced. By the way… the ride was revamped in 2017 and it now features a looping instead of a top hat. The park’s other big rides are Fujiyama (a hyper coaster with a track length of over 2 kilometres) and Takabisha, a Euro-Fighter with seven inversions and a beyond vertical drop. Both coasters are rather shaky, so one ride was more than enough for me. Besides, queues at the four major coasters were pretty lengthy.

ANYTHING ELSE?

Of course, Fuji-Q Highland offers more than just a bunch of coasters. The park is also home to two water attractions, a kiddie area themed to Thomas The Tank Engine and multiple flat rides. Interested in a Huss Giant Frisee, a Star Flyer, a Gerstlauer Sky Fly or a Space Shot tower? Fuji-Q has them all on offer. Unsurprisingly, this should be considered as a true thrill destination. No need to come here with young children, if you ask me.

BEAT THE CROWDS

Avoid public holidays and weekends at all cost! No really, I’m serious: you don’t want to be here on a sunny Saturday or during a Japanese school holiday. Although we visited the park on a very quiet day, operations were so slow that we had to wait 40 to 60 minutes for our rides on Eejanaika, Dodonpa, Fujiyama and Takabisha. Other coaster parks do better jobs when it comes to operations. And yes, that even includes Six Flags.

WORTH A VISIT?

I’m glad that I visited this legendary coaster park once, but I’m definitely not planning a return visit. Operations are horrible, queues are long and if I’m really honest… the four big coasters aren’t that good after all. I’d like to point out that the staff are very friendly, but that’s the case at every Japanese theme park. Unless you really want to ride these world-famous coasters and you’re willing to have a frustrating day, I’d recommend visiting other theme parks while you’re in Japan.

PHOTO GALLERY

Would you conquer the queues to ride Eejanaika and Dodonpa? Do you believe that operations could get any worse than here? Is this Japan’s coaster capital or would you prefer Nagashima Spa Land? Share your opinion in the comments section at the bottom of this page.