Fuji-Q Highland
A major Japanese amusement park near Mount Fuji, known for record-setting roller coasters, immersive attractions, and licensed character-themed areas.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Fuji-Q Highland is an amusement park in Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan, located near the base of Mount Fuji. The park opened on 2 March 1968 and is owned and operated by Fujikyu Co. Its identity is built around large-scale thrill rides, distinctive height and speed records, horror-themed attractions, family entertainment, and licensed intellectual property. The park is particularly associated with high-intensity roller coasters. Fujiyama, which opened in 1996, was promoted at launch as the world's tallest roller coaster and remains one of the park's signature attractions. Eejanaika, opened in 2006, is a fourth-dimension coaster whose seats rotate independently of the track, creating multiple inversions and unusual changes in orientation. Takabisha, introduced in 2011, became known for its 121-degree drop and was recognized at opening as the world's steepest roller coaster. Zokkon, a launched steel family coaster, opened in 2023 and expanded the park's contemporary coaster portfolio. Fuji-Q Highland also operates attractions for visitors seeking experiences other than conventional roller coasters. The Haunted Hospital and Hopeless Fortress are major horror-oriented attractions, while rides such as Tekkotsu Bancho, Tondemina, Red Tower, Panic Clock, Tentekomai, and Nagashimasuka provide a range of spinning, dropping, swinging, and water-based experiences. Fuji Airways offers an aerial simulation-style attraction. The park's family offering includes Thomas Land, a children's area themed around Thomas the Tank Engine, as well as the smaller coaster now known as Nia and Animal Coaster. Licensed and media-related themes have been an important part of the park's programming. In addition to Thomas Land, Fuji-Q Highland has presented attractions and areas connected with GeGeGe no Kitarō, Naruto, and Attack on Titan. Earlier collaborations included Mobile Suit Gundam, Hamtaro, and Neon Genesis Evangelion. These themes allow the park to combine rides with character environments, seasonal events, and destination-oriented merchandising. The park has also been a setting for popular culture. It appeared as a location in the 1985 Hong Kong film My Lucky Stars, and it was visited by contestants during the ninth season of the American reality competition The Amazing Race in 2006. Its location beside Mount Fuji gives the brand a strong tourism association and distinguishes it from urban amusement parks in Japan. Safety and ride operations have become a significant part of Fuji-Q Highland's public record. At least six visitors were injured on Do-Dodonpa between December 2020 and August 2021. The attraction was subsequently taken out of service and was ultimately closed in 2024. Separately, an employee died in February 2025 after being crushed between an Eejanaika train and the track during maintenance work. The incident prompted public and media scrutiny concerning maintenance procedures and compliance with safety requirements. Despite these incidents, Fuji-Q Highland remains an active amusement-park brand, with its core proposition centered on major thrill rides, family attractions, themed entertainment, and its Mount Fuji setting.
History
Fuji-Q Highland opened on 2 March 1968 in Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi Prefecture, near Mount Fuji. Operated by Fujikyu Co., the park developed as a large-scale leisure destination serving domestic tourists and visitors traveling through the Mount Fuji area. Its location provided both a scenic setting and a strong tourism identity, while its ride program increasingly emphasized major roller coasters and highly themed attractions. The park's modern thrill-ride profile took shape through a series of coaster additions. Fujiyama opened in 1996 and became an internationally recognized landmark after being introduced as the world's tallest roller coaster. The family-oriented coaster now called Nia and Animal Coaster opened in 1998 under the name Rock 'N Roll Duncan and was associated with the park's Thomas-themed children's offering. A flying coaster called Birdmen opened in 2000; after mechanical issues, it was converted into an inverted coaster in 2003 and later operated under a different themed identity. Fuji-Q expanded its non-coaster portfolio with family attractions, thrill rides, and large horror experiences. Thomas Land became a central children's area, while the Haunted Hospital and Hopeless Fortress helped establish a distinctive horror and immersive-attraction proposition. The park also used licensed entertainment properties to refresh its offer, including GeGeGe no Kitarō, Naruto, and Attack on Titan, alongside earlier themes connected to Mobile Suit Gundam, Hamtaro, and Neon Genesis Evangelion. Eejanaika opened in 2006 as a fourth-dimension roller coaster. Its independently rotating seats produce controlled forward and backward rotation in addition to the inversions created by the track. Takabisha followed in 2011 with a 121-degree freefall and seven major inversions, helping reinforce Fuji-Q Highland's reputation for extreme ride engineering and record-oriented attractions. Do-Dodonpa was another major part of this identity, having been known for its exceptionally rapid acceleration and for previously holding a world record related to roller-coaster launch speed. A newer phase of development included Zokkon, a launched steel family coaster opened in July 2023. The ride broadened the park's coaster range beyond the most extreme attractions and gave the park a contemporary family-oriented addition. The former Rock 'N Roll Duncan was also renamed Nia and Animal Coaster in 2023, reflecting continued changes to the park's family presentation. Ride safety became a prominent issue in the 2020s. At least six visitors were injured on Do-Dodonpa between December 2020 and August 2021. The coaster was removed from service and was eventually closed in 2024. On 28 February 2025, a fatal workplace incident occurred during maintenance on Eejanaika when an employee was crushed between a train and the track. Public discussion following the incident focused on whether the train had moved unintentionally and whether required maintenance safeguards, including power disconnection, had been properly applied. Fuji-Q Highland has also maintained visibility beyond Japan's amusement-park market through film and television. It served as a location in the 1985 Hong Kong action comedy My Lucky Stars and appeared as a destination in the ninth season of The Amazing Race in 2006. Its combination of large rides, licensed themes, horror attractions, and proximity to Mount Fuji continues to define the brand.
- 2025
Fatal Eejanaika maintenance incident
[1]A park employee died on 28 February after being crushed between an Eejanaika train and the track during maintenance.
- 2024
Do-Dodonpa closes
[1]Do-Dodonpa was permanently closed after its period out of service following injury reports.
- 2023
Zokkon opens
[1]Zokkon, a launched steel family coaster, opened on 20 July.
- 2023
Rock 'N Roll Duncan is renamed
[1]The family coaster adopted the name Nia and Animal Coaster.
- 2021
Do-Dodonpa injury reports
[1]At least six visitor injuries were associated with Do-Dodonpa between December 2020 and August 2021.
- 2011
Takabisha opens
[1]Takabisha opened with a 121-degree drop and seven major inversions, earning recognition as the world's steepest roller coaster at launch.
- 2006
Eejanaika opens
[1]Eejanaika opened as a fourth-dimension roller coaster with independently rotating seats.
- 2003
Birdmen is converted
[1]Following mechanical issues, Birdmen was converted into an inverted coaster.
- 2000
Birdmen opens
[1]A flying coaster called Birdmen opened as part of the park's expanding ride portfolio.
- 1998
Rock 'N Roll Duncan opens
[1]The small family coaster later renamed Nia and Animal Coaster opened as Rock 'N Roll Duncan.
Products and positioning
A destination amusement park positioned around extreme roller coasters, immersive horror attractions, character-themed entertainment, and views and tourism access associated with Mount Fuji.
roller coaster · 1996
Fujiyama
A large steel roller coaster opened in 1996. Fujiyama reaches approximately 79 metres in height and 130 kilometres per hour. It was once the world's tallest roller coaster and remains one of Fuji-Q Highland's defining attractions.
fourth-dimension roller coaster · 2006
Eejanaika
A fourth-dimension coaster opened in 2006. Its seats rotate forward and backward independently of the track, creating a complex ride profile with multiple controlled inversions. The attraction is one of the park's signature extreme rides.
roller coaster · 2011
Takabisha
A steel coaster opened in 2011 with a 121-degree freefall, seven major inversions, and roughly one kilometre of track. It was recognized as the world's steepest roller coaster when introduced.
family roller coaster · 2023
Zokkon
A launched steel family coaster opened in July 2023. With a more accessible positioning than the park's most extreme coasters, Zokkon adds a contemporary family-oriented option to Fuji-Q Highland's lineup.
children's roller coaster · 1998
Nia and Animal Coaster
A small coaster associated with the park's children's entertainment offer. It opened in 1998 as Rock 'N Roll Duncan and was renamed Nia and Animal Coaster in 2023.
children's themed area
Thomas Land
A family area themed around Thomas the Tank Engine. Thomas Land provides character-based rides and environments aimed primarily at children and families, complementing the park's extreme-coaster identity.
haunted attraction
Haunted Hospital
A large horror-themed attraction built around a haunted hospital concept. It is one of Fuji-Q Highland's best-known non-coaster experiences and supports the park's immersive horror positioning.
haunted attraction
Hopeless Fortress
An immersive horror attraction centered on a fortress or escape-style premise. It forms part of Fuji-Q Highland's distinctive portfolio of fear and suspense experiences.
launch roller coaster
Do-Dodonpa
A former high-speed launch coaster known for its exceptionally rapid acceleration and previous world-record status. After visitor injuries were reported between 2020 and 2021, it was taken out of service and closed in 2024.
simulation attraction
Fuji Airways
An aerial simulation-style attraction that presents a flying experience connected with the park's Fuji-region setting.
Controversies
2025
Fatal maintenance accident involving Eejanaika
A park employee was fatally injured on 28 February 2025 after being crushed between an Eejanaika train and the track. Media scrutiny focused on possible unintended train movement and compliance with maintenance safety requirements, including power isolation.
2021
Do-Dodonpa visitor injuries
At least six visitors were injured while riding Do-Dodonpa between December 2020 and August 2021. The attraction was subsequently taken out of service and later closed permanently.
Marketing campaigns
- Licensed character-themed attractions
Japan
Fuji-Q Highland has used licensed and media-related themes to create attractions and areas connected with Thomas the Tank Engine, GeGeGe no Kitarō, Naruto, and Attack on Titan. Earlier themed attractions included Mobile Suit Gundam, Hamtaro, and Neon Genesis Evangelion.
Outcome. Expanded the park's appeal beyond thrill rides and supported family, fan, and seasonal visitation.
Brand decisions
2024
Close Do-DodonpaOtherBackground
The ride had been associated with at least six visitor injuries reported between December 2020 and August 2021.
Action taken
Do-Dodonpa was permanently closed after being out of service.
Aftermath
The closure removed one of the park's most recognizable high-speed launch coasters.
2023
Open ZokkonProduct launchBackground
The park continued adding contemporary coaster products while maintaining a mix of extreme and family-oriented rides.
Action taken
Fuji-Q Highland opened Zokkon, a launched steel family coaster, on 20 July.
Aftermath
Zokkon added a family-focused coaster option to the park's attraction mix.
2011
Launch TakabishaProduct launchBackground
Fuji-Q Highland continued its strategy of differentiating the park through record-oriented thrill rides.
Action taken
The park opened Takabisha with a 121-degree drop and seven major inversions.
Aftermath
Takabisha was recognized as the world's steepest roller coaster at opening.
2003
Convert Birdmen into an inverted coasterStrategyBackground
The original Birdmen flying coaster experienced mechanical issues.
Action taken
The attraction was converted into an inverted coaster and later operated under other names and themes.
Aftermath
The conversion kept the site within the park's active ride portfolio while changing the ride format.
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