All You Need To Know About Visiting Fuji-Q Highland

Japan may not be the first country that springs to mind when you think of theme parks and the high-speed thrills they offer, but a visit to Fuji-Q Highland, just a couple of hours out of Tokyo, will have you singing a different tune.

Home to two Guinness World Record-holding rollercoasters (and many more crazy rides!), Fuji-Q Highland also provides a great place to take in the stunning views of Mount Fuji, which is perfect if you don’t have time to tackle both attractions. 

Want to know how to make the most of your time at Fuji-Q? We’ve got the lowdown.

Despite its name and location, Fuji-Q Highland isn’t a Mount Fuji-themed amusement park. Although, when you discover the heights and inclines of some of the rollercoasters, you could be forgiven for believing it was created because of the mountain.

Regardless of this, the centrepiece of the park - a rollercoaster called “Fujiyama” - is named after the famed mountain, but surprisingly despite its size, speed and design it has failed to break any records unlike its newer counterparts.

Disney theme parks around the world have an excellent reputation for creating an unparalleled magical experience that is inclusive for adults and children alike. That said, they’re usually less about the thrilling rides and more about the character-centric food and shopping options and adorable meet and greets. So, while Fuji-Q Highland can’t offer photo ops with Ariel and Cinderella, there are definitely some more cutesy aspects to the park.

If you do want to feel like royalty, you can start by taking a ride on the Merry-Go-Round. Painted in a brilliant duck egg blue and featuring golden glazed carriages and handsome white horses, you will be conjuring up images of yourself on the way to the ball as soon as the music strikes up. Don’t forget to wave to your loyal subjects!

Flying away into the night sky isn’t only for Peter Pan and Wendy. At Fuji-Q Highland you can hop aboard the Lisa and Gaspard Dairy of Sky Journey for an aerial view of the park from the comfort of your cloud-shaped gondola.

If this isn’t enough, Fuji-Q also has its own spinning teacups ride to whisk you away to an imaginary mad hatter’s tea party.

Fuji-Q Highland consists of super scary rides and experiences for adults and very mild, yet very amusing bundles of fun for kids - so the short answer is yes, it is equally as awesome for adults as it is for children. 

There are an equal number of adults-only rides as there are creative experiences for children, including Thomas World (a section of the park dedicated purely to Thomas the Tank Engine) and a ninja museum, which is fun for all ages.

So, if you’re the kind of grown-up who absolutely loves to go on rollercoasters, then it’s a no-brainer, really. If you can’t have fun going from 0 to 180 kilometres per hour in 1.56 seconds, then when can you enjoy yourself? 

 It would honestly be quicker to list the few attractions that won’t make you scream as opposed to the many that will, but for the ultimate and absolutely most scary, here are our top picks.

It wouldn’t be a trip to Fuji-Q Highland without a ride on Do-Dodonpa, which boasts the world’s largest loop on a rollercoaster as well as the fastest acceleration. You know, if you’re into being launched into the sky at almost 200 kilometres per hour.

For the world’s steepest rollercoaster, you’ll want to try out the Takabisha, which drops at an angle of 121 degrees from a height of 43 metres and a speed of 100 kilometres per hour. Phew! I’m dizzy just thinking about it.

Is being dropped from great heights at steep inclines not enough for you? Does whizzing around at 180 kilometres an hour make you yawn? Why not try the Eejanaika, which is considered a ‘fourth dimension’ rollercoaster and whose seats rotate within the car? This insane ride possesses the most inversions of any rollercoaster the world over and will have you doing flip upon flip as you hurtle through the air. Is this even real life?

Less of a ride but a thrill no less, the Super Scary Labyrinth of Fear is an almost-hour-long trip through a (fictional) abandoned hospital that is now haunted by the ghosts who were held captive here and tested on during their time in the living realm. This is definitely not for the faint of heart, but 4 million visitors so far can’t be wrong!

For those who aren’t so fond of scary rides (*raises hand*), you have plenty of other options to choose from in the form of more tame thrills such as the Shining Flower Ferris Wheel (the best way to cop views of Mount Fuji), the Wave Swinger (aka flying chairs) and the Sky Cycle, which is exactly what it sounds: a bicycle track up in the air that lets you see the park from a few metres above the crowds. Ah, that sounds better. Much more palatable.

If you don’t want to go on any rides at all, you can still have a great day out. Fuji-Q Highland features a tricky maze, water rides, a Mount Fuji museum that is located inside the grounds of the park and, depending on the season, an ice-skating rink and a snow park.

If you need some time to wind down and relax after all of the excitement (or stress?) you can visit Fujiyama Onsen, a bathhouse facility that is located just outside the park at the nearby hotel. Here you will find both indoor and outdoor baths that are separated by gender.

Go on, your nervous system deserves it.

Fuji-Q offers a number of dining options, including a place called…wait for it: Food Stadium. Is your mouth watering yet?

Food stadium features an extensive menu, including themed foods, and is appropriate for all ages, budgets and fussy eaters.

Restaurant options range from the traditional to the good ol’ grill, but my personal fave is Thomas Restaurant, which is a performance restaurant based on Thomas the Tank Engine. Thankfully there’s no coal on this menu.

For a taste of France while in Japan, you can’t go past Les Reves Salon de The or Café Brioche, which are part of the Lisa and Gaspard section of the park. Here you can enjoy elegant sweets and afternoon tea and freshly baked bread and pastries respectively.

If you want to hang around the area for a little bit longer, you’re in luck. Highland Resort Hotel and Hot Spring is located right next to the park for easy access and provides a comfortable and convenient stay with uninterrupted views of Mount Fuji, as well as free entry to the onsen. There’s even a few themed rooms including Lisa and Gaspard and one that’s decked out in Thomas the Tank Engine bed linens, curtains and other merch that’s totally engine-ious if you are travelling with small children. 

There are plenty of other hotels, resorts and hostels in the general area, but being an official hotel, the Highland Resort Hotel and Hot Spring should be a preference due to its easy access and inclusions.

Fuji-Q Highland is located near Fuji Five Lakes at the foot of Mount Fuji, which is around two hours out of Tokyo.

From Shinjuku Station, you can catch the JR Chuo Line to Otsuki Station, which should take around one hour. From there you will need to travel to Fuji-Q Highland Station on the Fuji Kyuko Line (approximately a further 50 minutes), but please note JR passes are not accepted on this line. 

You could also take almost any highway bus headed for the Fuji Five Lakes area, as the majority stop at Fuji-Q Highland on their way from Shinjuku, Tokyo and Tokohama Stations. For this option, you must book in advance. There’s more info here.

Who wants to wait in line at the ticket booth when there’s a jam-packed day of fun ahead? Not you, right? Well, luckily you can pre-purchase your ticket so there’s one less thing to worry about on the day.

Your ticket includes one day’s park admission plus unlimited rides within the park. Some exclusions apply (such as the Super Scary Labyrinth of Fear and special events).

With the Fuji-Q Highland Free Pass you’ll be ready to scan your way in and head for the most enticing rollercoaster. So, what will it be first? Do-Dodonpa or Takabisha?