Takabisha is a steel Euro-Fighter roller coaster at Fuji-Q Highland in Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi, Japan, that opened on July 16, 2011. Built by Gerstlauer on their Euro-Fighter 1000 model, the ride immediately earned the Guinness World Record for the steepest roller coaster in the world, thanks to its signature 121-degree beyond-vertical drop — a few degrees past straight down.
The name Takabisha (鷹飛車) is a Japanese pun meaning ‘domineering’ or ‘high-handed,’ while the three kanji literally translate to ‘high fly car’ — a fitting label for a ride that hurls eight riders at a time through seven inversions and a 0-to-100 km/h (62 mph) launch in just two seconds, all against the dramatic backdrop of Mount Fuji.
Stats at a Glance
- Park: Fuji-Q Highland, Fujiyoshida, Japan
- Manufacturer: Gerstlauer (Euro-Fighter 1000)
- Opened: July 16, 2011
- Height: 43 m (141 ft)
- Top Speed: 100 km/h (62 mph)
- Length: 1,000 m (3,280 ft)
- Inversions: 7
- Max Drop Angle: 121° (beyond vertical)
The Ride Experience
Takabisha begins with a sudden drop into pitch-black darkness, immediately throwing riders into a slow heartline roll before a linear motor launches the train at 100 km/h through a tunnel. Emerging into daylight, the train climbs to its peak and pauses — teetering riders over the 121-degree beyond-vertical drop — before plunging downward at an angle that exceeds straight down.
From there, the ride tears through seven inversions including a corkscrew, banana roll, airtime hills, a dive loop, an inverted top hat, and an Immelmann loop. The entire sequence lasts about one minute and 52 seconds, delivering a sustained G-force of 4.4 that makes Takabisha one of the most intense compact coasters ever built.
World Record Legacy
When Takabisha opened in July 2011, it claimed the Guinness World Record for steepest steel roller coaster from Fraispertuis City’s Timber Drop — a record that had been set only two weeks earlier. Takabisha’s 121-degree drop held the title for over eight years, until October 2019 when TMNT Shellraiser at American Dream in New Jersey surpassed it by a fraction of a degree at 121.5°.
Despite no longer holding the outright world record, Takabisha remains one of the most celebrated thrill rides in Asia, drawing coaster enthusiasts from around the world to Fuji-Q Highland — a park already famous for its extreme attractions and iconic views of Mount Fuji.
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Takabisha FAQs
Is Takabisha still the steepest roller coaster in the world?
No. Takabisha held the Guinness World Record for steepest steel coaster from 2011 to 2019. It was surpassed by TMNT Shellraiser at American Dream in New Jersey, which has a slightly steeper drop of 121.5 degrees versus Takabisha’s 121 degrees.
How many inversions does Takabisha have?
Takabisha features seven inversions, including a heartline roll, corkscrew, banana roll, dive loop, inverted top hat, and Immelmann loop — an unusually high inversion count for a coaster of its compact size.
Where is Takabisha located and how do you get there?
Takabisha is located at Fuji-Q Highland in Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi, Japan, near the base of Mount Fuji. The park is accessible by direct highway bus from Shinjuku Station in Tokyo, or by train to Fujisan Station on the Fujikyu Railway.
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Photo: Priscilla Du Preez artographybyp / CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.