Yamanashi · Fujiyoshida / Fuji Five LakesNo.217★★★Open in map →
Fuji-Q Highland
— Japan's most extreme roller coaster park
An amusement park in Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi, sitting directly beneath Mount Fuji. It is known for several extreme roller coasters, including Fujiyama — Japan's tallest at 79 metres — and Takabisha, which held the Guinness record for steepest drop with a 121-degree angle.
Fuji-Q Highland sits at the edge of the Fuji Five Lakes district, with Mount Fuji as a constant backdrop over the park. Opened in 1968, it built its reputation on extreme ride engineering: Fujiyama held the world record for height and speed when it opened in 1996, rising to 79 metres and reaching 130 km/h. Takabisha, added in 2011, held the Guinness record for the steepest roller coaster drop in the world at the time, at 121 degrees beyond vertical. Eejanaika (2006) is a fourth-dimension coaster with freely rotating seats and one of the highest inversion counts of any coaster. Park entry is free — rides are purchased individually or as a day pass — so the park draws visitors who come to ride, and also families with young children drawn to Thomas Land. The station for the park sits right at the main gate.
Background & history
Fuji-Q Highland opened on 2 March 1968, developed by the Fujikyu Railway company that runs the Fujikyuko Line connecting Otsuki to Kawaguchiko. The park's identity shifted in the 1990s toward world-record coasters: Fujiyama (1996) was at the time the world's tallest and fastest roller coaster, and the park has continued to pursue engineering extremes since. Thomas Land, a licensed attraction featuring the British children's character Thomas the Tank Engine, opened in 1998 and expanded substantially, giving the park a second major identity alongside its extreme-ride reputation.
What to look for — in walking order
- Fujiyama
- 79 metres tall, 2,045 metres long, top speed 130 km/h — Japan's tallest roller coaster
- Takabisha
- a 121-degree beyond-vertical drop; held the Guinness record for world's steepest roller coaster angle when it opened in 2011
- Eejanaika
- a '4th dimension' coaster with freely rotating seats and among the world's highest inversion counts
- Thomas Land
- a licensed Thomas the Tank Engine area with rides and photo spots for families with young children
How to enjoy it
Ride-specific tickets and day passes are sold at the gate and online. To spend the least time queuing, arrive at opening or go on a weekday outside school holidays. The coasters face Mount Fuji, so a clear-weather visit makes the backdrop worth the ride. Park entry itself is free — pay only for the rides you want.
How to actually get there
- Shinjuku Station → Otsuki Station (JR Chuo Line Special Rapid, ~70 min).
- Otsuki Station → Fujikyu-Highland Station (Fujikyuko Line, ~40 min, roughly every 30 min). IC cards accepted; JR Pass not valid.
- Station exit → Fuji-Q Highland main gate (directly in front).
- JR Chuo Line to Otsuki → Fujikyuko Line to Fujikyu-Highland
- Shinjuku Station →(JR Chuo Line Special Rapid, ~70 min)→ Otsuki Station →(Fujikyuko Line, ~40 min)→ Fujikyu-Highland Station. Total about 110 min. IC cards (Suica, PASMO) are accepted on the Fujikyuko Line; the JR Pass is not valid. Trains on the Fujikyuko Line run roughly every 30 minutes. The station exit faces the park's main gate directly.
- Return from Fujikyu-Highland Station to Shinjuku
- Return on the Fujikyuko Line from Fujikyu-Highland Station to Otsuki (~40 min), then the JR Chuo Line Special Rapid back to Shinjuku (~70 min). Trains run throughout the day and evening. Check the last Fujikyuko Line departure from the station before you arrive, as evening service thins out.
Before you go
- Cash
- Gate entry to the park is free. Rides are paid individually, or you can buy a day ride pass at the gate or online in advance. IC cards (Suica, PASMO) are accepted on the Fujikyuko Line; the JR Pass is not valid on this private line.
- Closing days
- Some rides close for inspection or weather conditions. Avoid the park on summer Saturdays, Sundays, and Golden Week (late April – early May) when queues for the main coasters can exceed 2 hours. Check the official website for ride closures and current operating status.
- Another way
- Direct express buses to Fuji-Q Highland depart from Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal (Busta Shinjuku) in about 100 minutes; useful if train connections are inconvenient. Reserve online in advance during peak periods.
- After you get off
- Fujikyu-Highland Station (Fujikyuko Line) exit faces the park's main gate directly — no additional walking needed.