The thrill of the ride - Tokyo's theme parks I

I sincerely have to apologise for my long absence – work has been hectic and my early mornings were taking their toll. Not to mention that my weekends have been just as packed as my week. But, I’m finally, once again, in the swing of things and I’ve got many more exciting adventures to share! Today I want to travel back to the Far East, to a country where I’ve truly lost my heart – Japan.

For me, one of the greatest things about Tokyo’s popular culture (or the Japanese popular culture) is how it brings out your inner child. Around all the major shopping centres you get Taito stations -  the cacophonic jingles of arcade games and their intensely focused players glued to their screens , UFO catchers with the latest of the most kawaii animated characters plush toys (like Hello Kitty, Nyanpira or Rilakkuma) and photo booths where girls of all ages transform their pictures taken with their boyfriend or girlfriends in the green screen-type booths to photos fit for fashion magazines, manga novels or even travel journals. (There are photo booths where you can place yourself in a Parisian street scene).

All my Kawaii plush toys (caught in UFO catchers)  - thanks Armand! 

The Japanese are often known for the ways in which they blow off steam – from Karaoke to drinking Sake after work with your colleagues. But one of the best ways to blow off steam and bringing out your inner (screaming) child? Going to one of Tokyo’s three major theme parks! Today I’m going to focus on the theme park that boasts some of the worlds’ fastest roller coaster rides – Fuji-Q Highland!

Fuji-Q Highland Entrance

Giant Maneki-Neko (lucky beckoning cat)

The theme park isn’t in Tokyo City but it is a  train drive away (to the Mount Fuji area). There lies the mecca for speed- and thrill-seekers alike. The theme park boasts a few famous rides, such as the Dodonpa and the Eejanaika. My favourite was the Eejanaika, which is definitely any speed seeker’s thrill!

Rides rides everywhere you can see! 

The Eejanaika

The Eejanaika is a 4 Dimensional roller coaster. Not only does the roller coaster roll around its tracks at around 126 km per hour, its seats also rotate forward and backward while the separate carts (with the free-rotating seats attached to it) itself spin around in 360 degrees!  The ride is so crazy that one cannot even shout anymore because your body is so confused as to its whereabouts and the direction it’s going to turn to, that shouting seems redundant. Needless to say, everybody walks a bit askew when climbing off of the ride...

The other ride is the Dodonpa. We probably waited for 2 hours in the freezing cold to get onto this ride and it was well worth it. The ride’s name comes from the sound of a Japanese Taiko drum beat (Don-Don-Pa), which resembles warfare music. As you stand in the queue a drum beat continues to hammer through the aisles, heightening your anticipation even more. The train slowly exits into a tunnel where “engineers” sit, constantly checking the monitors and orange and red lights flashing. As soon as the train enters the tunnel several warnings are given about bracing your head tightly against the headrest as it counts down 3-2-1. Then you suddenly accelerate from 0 to 172 km/hour in 1.8 seconds. Your body is just blasted against the seat as you wizzzzzzzzzzzzzz past several thrilling loops and turns. 

Paniclock - it goes round and round and round!

This ride is extremely fun - a giant wheel turning while swinging up and down! 

Entrance to the park is about 4500 Yen for a day pass. The theme park offers several other interactive and technologically based games, such as a Gundam-inspired game (Gundam is an anime, featuring robots) where you run around on a space-ship trying to get clues to take you to the next level. There is also a big ice rink, a big Thomas the Tank Engine park for children and the best of all – a very VERY freaky haunted house.

Gundam-themed game

Entrance to the haunted house

Perhaps she is a patient missing from her ward?

The haunted house is themed on an abandoned psychiatric hospital with patients (mostly Japanese students getting a few kicks from scaring others) running around and scaring you in different parts of a very dirty and very scary-looking. (What is it about abandoned asylums and hospitals that is so weird?). The one wing in the hospital has a maternity ward where blood and gunk and echoes of crying babies fill the hallway. At one stage your torch which you are given at the beginning of the haunted house, is taken away from you and a “crazy” person runs after you, chasing you out of the building. The haunted house really is one of the best scares I’ve had in my life and all the detail in the “hospital” makes for an authentic experience. (Well, as authentic as a run-down asylum with insane people running around can be!)

Fuji-Q offers many strange quirks around the park, like this little guy. He isn't even pointing to something specific!

The giant Ferris wheel with the Dodonpa in the background. 

Mt Fuji

Yet another funny Japanese sign - do not fight the bear! 

Not only does Fuji-Q Highland offer more than a day’s thrills and screams, you can also view Mount Fuji from several viewing points in the park. And you can also buy special Mount Fuji (Blue Berry Cheese Cake flavoured) Kit Kats! 

Mt Fuji Kit Kats

The ice rink

So tell me, have you ever been to Fuji-Q (or Fujikyu) Highland? Or what are your favourite rides at theme parks? Do you like theme parks? And have you ever tasted Blue Berry Cheese Cake Kit Kats?