Travel Report: Fuji-Q Highland Amusement Park, Japan.

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February 2019. We’d just finished up at Mount Fuji’s 1^st station when Hiro announced it was time for lunch. Climbing back onto our coach, it was just a fifteen-minute drive down to Fuji-Q Highland, one of Japan’s most popular amusement parks located right at the foot of the volcano. An unusual venue perhaps for a bite between our Fuji morning and the afternoon sights of Hakone National Park, so we were all a little curious as Hiro led us through the entrance barriers.

Fujiyama rollercoaster, Fuji-Q Highland Amusement Park.

February 2019. Fuji-Q Highland Amusement Park is famous for its amazing rollercoasters, with four Guinness World Record structures scattered around the park. You’ve got Do-Dodonpa (fastest acceleration in the world), Eejanaika (most inversions) and Takabisha (the steepest). But it’s the steel monstrosity Fujiyama that you’ll invariably be drawn to. This is the park’s definitive centerpiece, a colossal 259-foot beast that, at the time of its completion in 1996, was unveiled as the world’s tallest and fastest rollercoaster.

Elsewhere, as Hiro led us to Fuji-Q Highland’s grand restaurant, I caught sight of an anime themed merry go round, a haunted hospital house, a Thomas the Tank Engine themed village and a log flume ride called Cool Jappaan with its 30-foot drop.

Creepy billboard, Fuji-Q Highland Amusement Park.

The ride itself actually looked like one of the more tamer experiences on offer, although this was more than compensated by its terrifying advertising billboard! Jack Nicholson from The Shining springs to mind: “Coooool Jappaaaan!” 

Lunch at Fuji-Q Highland’s excellent restaurant.

Lunch at Fuji-Q Highland’s main restaurant turned out to be far better than I’d expected. Nobody ever comes away from a theme park raving about the food but our lunch that day was freshly prepared, healthy and, most importantly, delicious.

Lunch at Fuji Q Highland Amusement Park.

Lunch at Fuji-Q Highland Amusement Park.

Swiftly served and beautifully presented, I wolfed down the vegetable-noodle stew, sweet pickles, chilled tofu, steamed white rice and assorted tempura before heading back outside to explore a bit more before we had to be back on the coach.

Fuji-Q Highland Amusement Park.

If I’d really put my skates on I could have squeezed in a ride or two before we left, but in the end I felt content simply wandering around getting a few shots. If you’re interested in coming here independently it’s important to note that entrance is actually free with tickets required for individual rides. Cool Jappaan for example is priced at 1500JPY (£10.35/€12/$13.40) so it’s worth bearing in mind that a full day could end up being expensive. A pass may be a better option, check their website for more details.

My visit to Fuji-Q Highland Amusement Park came as part of a day trip with Sunrise Tours. To find out more, check out my articles on Mount Fuji, Lake Ashi, Mount Hakone and the Shinkansen Bullet Train. This tour was booked through the online operator Viator and comes at a cost of 109GBP/126EUR/$141 per person.

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