Yamanashi · Fujiyoshida / Fuji Five LakesNo.217★★★Open in map →

Fuji-Q Highland

— Japan's most extreme roller coaster park

entertainmentThe classic — done right

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.

FromShinjuku Stn
~110 minFujikyuko Line (limited trains)
Get off atFujikyu-Highland Station (Fujikyuko Line)
On foot
Fuji-Q Highland

Directions ↗

Where it is

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What to look for — in walking order

licensed photographVanvelthem Cédric / CC BY-SA 4.0

Fujiyama79 metres tall, 2,045 metres long, top speed 130 km/h — Japan's tallest roller coaster
Takabishaa 121-degree beyond-vertical drop; held the Guinness record for world's steepest roller coaster angle when it opened in 2011
Eejanaikaa '4th dimension' coaster with freely rotating seats and among the world's highest inversion counts
Thomas Landa licensed Thomas the Tank Engine area with rides and photo spots for families with young children

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.

Directions from my location (Google Maps) ↗

About the place

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.

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.

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.

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.
Good to know: 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.