Birthdays can sometimes be a difficult time of year in deciding what to do. If you’ve already been everywhere you can think of and the thought of going out to another restaurant fails to inspire you, then fear not: there may be a way...the Fuji-Q Highland way!
Situated within a stone’s throw away from Mount-Fuji in Yamanashi Prefecture, Fuji-Q Highland offers a real high-adrenaline packed day for those who are not seeking anything soft, cute or cuddly.
The park is easily accessible by bus or train. I would highly recommend buying a ‘Toku-Q pack’ which covers both transport and park entry from around￥ 7,500 -￥8000. For further information visit https://www.fujiq.jp/en/ which provides details on prices, departure points, timetables and bus maps in English. Be sure to click on the pink boxed ‘Toku-Q’ link!
Wanting to experience as much action as possible, I took the 07:30 bus from Yokohama, arriving at the Fuji-Q bus terminal at around 09.50. If like me, bus rides make you drowsy don’t worry because there are plenty of rides guaranteed to wake you up. Without doubt, the four ‘heavy-weights’ amongst the rollercoaster’s are; Fujiyama, Eejanaika, Takabisha and Dodonpa. Each one is big, fast and packs its own special punch.
Leaving it to chance I headed straight for Eejanaika, a huge rollercoaster with a maximum height of 76 meters combined with a top speed of 126 km per hour. Perhaps it wasn’t these features which worried me the most but the fact that this coaster is capable of rotating 360 degrees both forwards and backwards. By the time I realized this it was too late to turn back, I had to take the plunge. After being spun around 14 times, I was now definitely awake.
With my adrenaline now pumping, I promptly made my way over to Fujiyama, dubbed the king of coasters with a maximum height of 79 meters and speeds of up to 130 km per hour. Amazingly, the queue for this ride wasn’t too long and the views of Mount Fuji seemed to make the time go even quicker. For obvious reasons the safety signs tell you not to lean forward during the ride, I would also suggest not leaning back too far either as I was worried my neck was going to snap at one point.
After having some lunch, I headed over to Dodonpa. With an acceleration rate of 172 km/h in 1.8 seconds, this is fast. Ironically however, the wait for this ride was anything but fast yet surprisingly very amusing. Perhaps it might be because I’m an Austin Powers fan but the music being played throughout this ride definitely had numerous erotic connotations. If you don’t believe me go and listen for yourself!
The last of the giant roller coasters was Takabisha, Known as the Big Dipper. This ride boasts an impressive drop angle of 121 degrees. This is made even more intense by this coasters deliberately slow climb to the top of the track which then stops and waits for several seconds before dropping you down 43 meters.
Despite the presence of these rides, Fuji-Q Highland does also offer many other attractions, including a Thomas Land, an onsen, a museum, and an ice-skating rink, making it a great place to bring your friends, family or loved ones .
Whoever you come with I’m sure that you’ll have a great time, especially if it’s your birthday!
