Whenever I tell people I went to Tokyo, people always ask: "Did you go to Disneyland?" My answer would always be: "Why Disneyland when you have Fuji-Q Highland!" May be due to my personal experience with Paris Disneyland because it bored the shit out of me, I would say that Disneyland is for the kids and tourists, good for pictures and souvenir-shopping, and nothing else. Meanwhile Fuji-Q highland is for thrill-seekers!
Fuji-Q Highland is not as near as Disneyland if departing from Tokyo downtown. We took the bus transport to and fro from Shinjuku + 1day entry ticket package, which amounted to 8000 Yen (~RM320). I have never heard of Fuji-Q before. Little to my knowledge, the amusement park used to hold or still holds multiple Guinness world records for the roller coasters and amusement rides in the park. The fastest, the tallest, the most twist-and-turns, everything, Fuji-Q currently holds the records or at least once holds so.
We arrived there at 10am. After a light breakfast, we first tackled the infamous Haunted Hospital. No queue is needed but an extra 1000 Yen and time slot booking were needed. Each time slot was limited to 4 people and between each group there was a 20min gap. Our wait was not that long though. It started off with a short clip to introduce the "history of the hospital", and then we were left to walk through the hospital on our own pace. Our strategy was to hold shoulders, single file, and trying to walk as fast as
we could. Even walking
really fast, it still took us more than half an hour to finish. In the end,
we didn't get as much jump scare as anticipated. But the hype before
going in, the creepy and unsettling atmosphere, and our own wild imagination
scared the shit out of us. We were just so relieved when we finally got out. Thumbs up for this scary shit!
After that we took the Red Tower to slowly ease ourselves into the 4 main rides of the day: Fujiyama, Do-dodonpa, Takabisha, and Eejanaika. Our first one: Takabisha with its world record 121 degree drop. Out of the 4, I would say that this is my favorite. The ride could really be separated into 2 parts, each part was unique in itself. What's memorable about the ride was it went against all my expectations, such as it straight-away started off with a few drops and inversions in the dark, and the 121 degree drop was not the first thing we did; it was actually in the second part of the ride. The design of some inversions was very unique but the highlight must be the 121 degree drop: 90 degree vertical climb to the top and then brief stop at the apex of the 121 degree drop to let you see your doom.
At the apex of the 121 degree drop. We are all smiling,
while the row behind us, their expressions are just GOLD!
Takabisha
Next: Do-dodonpa. The world fastest acceleration ride, 0 to 180km/h within 1.56s, subjecting the passengers to 3.3G. That's more than astronauts who are subjected to during space shuttle launch time! The figures and the facts were not very telling, until we sat for the ride for ourselves. That world record acceleration was just not something one could get used to even after a few rides. Even with a count down, the G-force still could hit me unexpectedly. Unexpected because it really packed a punch. But besides that acceleration, there was nothing much it offered. Don't get me wrong, it was still very very impressive.
We then tackled the Fujiyama - the flagship ride of the park. One thing for sure: it was huge. In fact, the Fujiyama track dominated the skyline of the park, the first thing you would see when you entered the park. It used to be the fastest and the highest roller coaster in the world in the 90s but right now it became the "tamest" of the 4. To survive the other 3, I would say that you must first pass this test, because although "tamer" in comparison, the height and the speed would still deter many people. For me, I was laughing during the entire ride, because the two girls sitting in front of me were shouting so damn hysterically.
And finally: Eejanaika. This is my least favorite because it gave a headache after the ride. I think my sister puts it the best: the entire ride is like a memory loss. It is what so called 4-dimension roller coaster, so this is not conventional in any way possible. First the seat is independently rotatable. Second the track itself is intense enough without the rotatable seat. So combining both element, you have a vomit inducing ride. The whole thing was just so fast, so disorienting, I didn't remember anything from the ride except that I was flipped and rotated around in all sort of unexpected directions. Just before I was able to grasp what'd just happened, the ride just ended, leaving no time for me to process the all sensations thrown straight at my face. Intense? Yea. Second round? May be not.
This guy's reaction describes pretty much how I felt for Eejanaika.
Each of these 4 rides didn't take very long. In fact we spent most of our time there just queuing. During the day of our visit, the crowd was average. Even so, the queue
for the most famous rides would still take more than an hour each. So at the end Eejanaika, it was already 5.30pm, time to hit the bus to go back to Shinjuku.
Was the RM320 worth it? Yes, every penny! It was an EXPERIENCE! I would even go as far as Fuji-Q is THE highlight of my first Japan trip.
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