Fuji-Q Highland: Rides, Tickets, and How to Get There

Fuji-Q Highland may not be as famous as Tokyo Disneyland or USJ, but there can be no doubt about its premier status among thrill-seekers.

With enough record-breaking rollercoasters to keep your head spinning all day, and a legendary haunted house, Fuji-Q has earned its place as one of Japan’s favorite theme parks.

Besides the thrills and chills, the park boasts several family-friendly themed areas, onsen hot springs, and the incredible sight of Mt. Fuji towering above.

One of Fuji-Q's iconic coasters, Do-Dodonpa, has given its last ride. But visitors in 2024 will enjoy newer attractions like the new bike-type coaster Zokkon and the dizzying views from atop Fujiyama Tower. And the return of Attack on Titan: The Ride!

The park hours vary throughout the year, so it’s essential to check the current schedule here before you go. Usually, the park opens 9 am or 10 am and closes between 6 pm and 8 pm

It does close for maintenance a few days a year too, so keep this in mind too if you buy a flexible-use ticket. Just be aware their English schedule pages are machine-translated, and they only post a few months at a time.

They say fools rush in where angels fear to tread, but that doesn’t make foolishness a requirement for visiting Fuji-Q. Here’s what you need to know before you go.

Fuji-Q Highland tickets and prices

Entry to Fuji-Q is free! Rather than paying to get in, you buy tickets for individual rides. If you plan on staying the whole day, we recommend the Fuji-Q 1-Day Free Pass for unlimited fun at almost every attraction in the park. If you want to squeeze a lot of rides into a short time, there’s also an Afternoon Free Pass option. 

Or, if you prefer to take it slow, you can just buy tickets for a few rides, but the cost soon adds up if you like the thrill rides. 

Since just three tickets to the most popular rides cost almost as much as a Free Pass, it makes sense to buy one unless you’re really sure you won’t need it. If you book online, you can get an e-ticket valid for 90 days and usually save a few yen as well as your time. See this comparison of the Free Pass and some popular rides: 

*Ride prices vary slightly depending on the season

If you choose to get a Free Pass, note these prices are for e-tickets. If you buy your pass at the park you'll find that prices vary wildly, going as high as ¥8,800 in the "Golden Week" peak season. A Free Pass e-ticket is the same price for any day, and usually better value. 

Fuji-Q Priority Passes

Although they’re not well publicized in English, you can skip the line at certain rides with the Fuji-Q Priority Pass. Called a “Screaming Priority Ticket” in Japanese (絶叫優先券, Zekkyo Yūsen-Ken), they cost about ¥1,000 per person, per ride.

Prices vary seasonally, so expect higher prices around Golden Week and national holidays, but don’t expect to know in advance. The park sets the price as they choose, according to demand.

You can get Priority Passes for the following attractions. The first four are most popular, with lines up to 2–3 hours long on the weekend. Click on the ride to see recent waiting times (machine-translated).

•    Fujiyama
•    Takabisha
•    Eejanaika
•    Fortress of Despair
•    Nagashimasuka
•    Fuji Airways
•    Tentekomai
•    Tekkotsubanchou
•    Naruto X Boruto Ninja Voltage 3D Shooting Ride
•    Attack on Titan: The Ride
•    Zokkon

Supplies are limited for each ride, and may sell out, especially on national holidays. Advance purchase is possible, but requires using their Japanese mobile app, so you may prefer to try your luck on the day.

Buying Fuji-Q Priority Passes at the park

Although the passes can sell out early, we recommend buying onsite to save your sanity, unless you’re ready to book in Japanese. You can choose from all remaining Priority Passes at the Entrance 1 and Entrance 2 ticket counters before going in.

Once you’re in, the central ticket counter in the middle of the park (by the Merry-Go-Round) also sells them — worth checking when you break for lunch.

Buying Fuji-Q Priority Passes online

If you want to try in Japanese, you can buy “Screaming Tickets” in advance on the Fuji-Q App (download from here). They go on sale 3 days in advance at 6 pm, up until 30 minutes before your desired ride time.

The basic features of the app, like a park map with current waiting times, are offered in English and Chinese, besides Japanese of course. To book Priority Passes, tap the “Qちゃん Website” button, then “Park Tickets” on the next page. From there, it’s all in Japanese and you’ll need to create a Club Fuji Q account to continue, which requires a Japanese address and phone number.

Good luck! If you’re successful, those sweet Screaming Tickets will be all yours.

If knowing is half the battle, then get ready to kick Fuji-Q’s butt!

Fuji-Q strategy

Everyone going to Tokyo Disneyland knows they need an attack strategy: a plan for what to ride and when, to make the most of the day. Fuji-Q Highland is deceptively small in comparison, but all those world-beating rides crammed in there get pretty competitive.

Here, a little planning goes a long way towards a great day.

When to arrive

Fuji-Q opens at different times every day. Check the hours for your chosen day here, and make sure you can be at the gates at least 30 minutes before opening. The crowds lining up are not as massive as at some Tokyo theme parks, but you’ll still want to be in the first wave toward your chosen ride.

What to ride first

Once you’re through the gates, head straight to whichever ride has the longest wait time of the ones you want to hit. Takabisha, Eejanaika, and Fujiyama usually have the longest lines, in that order.

We recommend starting with Eejanaika.

We’re not saying you should run, but don’t get left behind by too many others waiting at the gates!

Using priority passes

You can certainly hit the Big Three rides, the Labyrinth of Fear, and do a bit more on the side if you’re there the whole day. Unless you’re there at the peak.

If you’re going when it’s super busy, want to hit as many thrill rides as possible, or need time for one of the themed areas as well as the coasters, try to grab some Priority Passes. It’s really up to you how many you get, but you don’t really need them for the first and last rides of the day.

Since time is money, consider grabbing a pass for Fujiyama or Takabisha right after your first ride, which should probably be Eejanaika.

Single rider lines

If you’re riding solo, or you’re happy to line up together and report back when the screaming is over, just use the Single Rider Lines. These are the same priority queues as the Priority Passes use, although pass-holders may be ushered in ahead of you by staff.

Food and drink at Fuji-Q

Fuji-Q has 22 restaurants, cafes, and food stands to grab a bite at throughout the day, and the food is goooood. Wait times for rides tend to peak around 11 am–1 pm, so it’s not a bad idea to enjoy a themed restaurant about that time.

All the same, Fuji-Q doesn’t have any rules against bringing food into the park. So if it suits you, bring a small bag with plenty of snacks, and you can keep going with the odd break for a hot dog or Naruto-themed taiyaki. You’ll have plenty of time for onigiri and sandwiches while you’re waiting in line.

Just remember, food and drinks are not allowed on the rides!

What to ride last

Keep aware of when the park will close, and how long are the waiting times on the day. Staff at each ride will stop more people lining up once they estimate that those already waiting will keep them busy until closing.

Since lines get shorter at the end of the day, you want to keep one of the big rides like Fujiyama or Takabisha for next-to-last. Jump in there before there’s a chance of getting shut out, and finish off with a quieter attraction if you’ve time when it’s done.

Fuji-Q Highland rides: the record breakers

Fuji-Q’s main claim to fame is its Big Three trio of record-breaking coasters: Fujiyama, Takabisha, and Eejanaika — plus its legendary haunted house. Don’t visit without checking all of them off your list!

In a full day, you can fit in all these plus a few others — and even more if you use Priority Passes or pass on the haunted house. So have a look at what’s on offer and work out your priorities!

Fujiyama is the park’s representative ride, and it long held the record for the tallest and fastest rollercoaster in the world. Reaching speeds of 130 km/h (80 mph) you’ll be hard-pressed to keep your screams in, especially when your jaw drops at the incredible view of Mt. Fuji at the highest point.

The second steepest roller coaster on the planet, Takabisha plunges you straight down and then some, with a hair-raising 121-degree drop! After eight years at the top, Takabisha lost its crown by a fraction to TMNT Shellraiser in 2019. Nonetheless, it certainly remains one of the world’s scariest coaster drops.

Eejanaika’s record is for most inversions, and with seats that roll independently of the track, it flips you over 14 times during the ride! For this reason, it’s styled as a “4th dimension hypercoaster” — whatever that means, it’s one heck of a ride and recognized as the fastest of its kind.

You start the ride with a long, slow, backward ascent to the coaster’s highest point. Once at the peak, the chairs slowly rotate until you’re staring straight down, and then you drop!

Do be sure you leave plenty of time for this walk-through attraction that claims to be the longest haunted house in the world — this baby takes an average of 50 minutes to complete, and is almost a kilometer long! That record may have since been beaten, but it’s still long!

Take note that this is one of the few major attractions not included in any Free Pass ticket, but you’ll get a discount on entry if you have the 1-Day Pass.

The theme of this labyrinth is “haunted hospital containment ward,” and your journey begins with an exposition on the grisly history of the ruined, boarded-off building. Then, the long walk through the darkness begins.

A kind of holy grail for haunted house enthusiasts, the long waiting lines for this popular attraction only add to the anticipation of terror. For any reluctant friends along for the experience, you may wish to buy a glowing omamori charm, which will keep the monsters away and allow you to observe the horror from a distance.

Other rides

Besides the Big Three and the Labyrinth of Fear, Fuji-Q fits a surprising number of thrill rides, themed attractions, and kid-friendly rides into its modestly sized area.

Thrill rides

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Zokkon

Zokkon opened in July 2023 to much fanfare. A new bike-type coaster that has you straddle your seat and feel like you're flying your 'cycle through the air at breakneck speeds. And you are! Rapid acceleration, sharp turns, rolls, and a change in direction make it an intense addition to the Fuji Q lineup.

Nagashimasuka

A 500-meter rafting ride sub-titled “Shoot the Chute.” Your four-seater “water slider” goes up and splashes down, rides the “Uzumaki Waterfall” and seems to nearly get sucked into a whirlpool. Expect to get very, very wet.

Tentekomai

A “sky roller” ride that swings you in circles 32 meters above ground, with your legs hanging freely below (or above) you. Gripping the handles on a pair of wings, you control how much you spin on your own axis as you circle the tower.

Tekkotsubanchou

A 59-meter swing tower ride that reaches speeds of 51 km/h (31.6 mph). This one towers above the park, and it really feels as if you’re flying over Yamanashi Prefecture. Probably the best of the park’s rides for gawping at Mt. Fuji.

Simulations

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Attack on Titan: The Ride

This anime-themed thrill ride uses the tech behind the Fuji Airways simulator. But, instead of a virtual tour of Japan’s skies, it hurls you into the world of Attack on Titan. For fans of the show, the intense immersion as you join the final mission to recapture Wall Maria is a sure-fire hit.

Fuji Airways

A 4D flight simulator that takes you on a virtual tour around Mt. Fuji and Japan. A huge 20-meter 6K display wraps around the seats, showing footage from drones and paragliders designed to make you feel you’re riding on the wing of a plane.

The sounds, smells, wind, and mist thrown into the mix do make it a pretty captivating experience. Especially recommended if the weather on the day doesn’t afford you any Mt. Fuji views from the other rides!

Naruto X Boruto Ninja Voltage 3D Shooting Ride

An indoor, anime-themed four-seater shooting ride also called “3D Shooting Ride Kagaku Ninja Dojo.” Put on your 3D glasses and prepare to gun down a host of virtual ninjas as they leap out from the walls of the dojo.

You’ll compete with your friends for the high score, and can grab some exclusive Naruto merch on your way out.

Fortress of Despair: Impossible Games

Fortress of Despair (sometimes translated as Desperation Fortress) is a series of puzzle/escape games at Fuji-Q that claims to have defeated 3.2 million challengers to date! The latest version, Impossible Games, traps challengers in the “Red Mansion” which they must pass a series of fiendish mental and physical challenges to escape from.

Family-friendly rides

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When you want a rest from screaming, or have young kids in tow, you can choose from classics like the Merry-Go-Round, Tea Cups, and the Shining Flower Ferris Wheel — which grants great views of Mt. Fuji on clear days.

The Wave Swinger is an exciting yet family-friendly aerial swing that gradually lifts you about 10 meters in the air, giving a minute and a half of relatively scream-free airtime.

Thomas Land and the Gaspard and Lisa areas have a variety of attractions geared toward younger visitors, while the 3D and 4D rides are suitable for all ages so long as infants go with someone aged 12 or older.

It’s not just roller coaster fans who are spoiled for choice. Fuji-Q has a rich history of anime-themed attractions too. The biggest and newest is the Fuji Hidden Leaf Village, set in the Naruto universe.

The park has really gone all-in on this, with shooting and arcade games, a photo studio, 180-degree cinema, life-sized statues, and unique merchandise. And a restaurant selling everything from Naruto’s favorite Ichiraku Ramen to Boruto’s Cheeseburger Taiyaki. And themed buses and trains. And a special hotel suite room filled with tricks and puzzles. Like we said, all-in.

For the younger kids (or the especially nostalgic!), Fuji-Q also has Thomas Land, a whole section devoted to Thomas The Tank Engine, as well as a Parisian street lifted straight out of the Gaspard and Lisa series of children’s books. In the past, the park has hosted installations from Gundam and Hamtaro, and the lineup changes on a semi-regular basis.

How to get to Fuji-Q Highland

Fuji-Q hotels and onsen

Highland Resort Hotel & Spa

Fujikyu Group Cabin & Lounge Highland Station Inn

Fujisan Station Hotel

Fujiyama Onsen