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 riders through seven inversions and a 0-to-100 km/h (62 mph) launch in about two seconds, all against the dramatic backdrop of Mount Fuji.
Quick Answer
Takabisha is a Gerstlauer Euro-Fighter coaster at Fuji-Q Highland with a 121-degree beyond-vertical drop, a 100 km/h (62 mph) launch, and seven inversions. It held the Guinness World Record for steepest roller coaster from 2011 until October 2019, when TMNT Shellraiser at American Dream in New Jersey edged past it with a 121.5-degree drop.
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 to 100 km/h through a tunnel in roughly two seconds. 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, delivering a sustained G-force of 4.4 that makes Takabisha one of the most intense compact coasters ever built. Fuji-Q Highland lists the full attraction cycle, including the loading sequence, at just under three minutes, though the actual moving track time is closer to two minutes.
Height, Age & Health Requirements
According to Fuji-Q Highland’s official rules, riders must be at least 125 cm (about 4’1″) tall, and the park sets an upper age limit of 54 — guests 55 and older are not permitted to ride Takabisha.
The park also restricts riders who are pregnant, have heart disease, high or low blood pressure, spinal conditions, diabetes, or relevant phobias, or who are intoxicated, prone to motion sickness, or wearing a cast. Before boarding, riders must remove glasses, watches, jewelry, and hair accessories, and press their head and body firmly against the seat and headrest — a rule the park enforces strictly given the extreme drop angle.
World Record Legacy: Then and Now
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.
In October 2019, TMNT Shellraiser at American Dream’s Nickelodeon Universe in East Rutherford, New Jersey, surpassed it by half a degree at 121.5°. Notably, Shellraiser is also a Gerstlauer Euro-Fighter, making it essentially a sibling design to Takabisha — the same manufacturer simply pushed its own model a fraction of a degree further. 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.
Planning Your Visit
Takabisha is a pay-per-ride attraction rather than one automatically included with a general Fuji-Q Highland admission ticket; the park’s official pricing lists a separate attraction fee for riding it (roughly ¥2,000 as of this year), on top of park entry. Fuji-Q also sells all-attraction Free Pass options and priority-boarding tickets that let you skip the standby line for Takabisha and its other flagship coasters — useful given that wait times for the ride regularly stretch beyond an hour on weekends.
Park hours vary by day and season rather than following a fixed schedule, so it’s worth checking the calendar before you go. For current admission prices, attraction fees, and the day’s opening hours, check the official Fuji-Q Highland website, which also lists English-language visitor information and access details from Tokyo.
Tips for First-Time Riders
Because the first drop happens in total darkness, most of the shock comes from the launch and the heartline roll before you ever see the 121-degree drop coming — riders who dislike surprise drops may want mental preparation more than physical bracing. The beyond-vertical drop itself is brief; the inversions that follow are where the sustained 4.4G forces are felt most.
Arrive early or use a priority ticket if crowds concern you, secure loose items before you’re in the queue rather than at the boarding platform, and note that Fuji-Q staff check height and health restrictions at the gate, so it’s worth confirming eligibility before waiting in line.
Takabisha roller coaster 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, another Gerstlauer Euro-Fighter, which has a slightly steeper drop of 121.5 degrees versus Takabisha’s 121 degrees.
How tall do you have to be to ride Takabisha?
Fuji-Q Highland requires riders to be at least 125 cm (about 4’1″) tall. There’s also a maximum age limit of 54; guests 55 and older are not permitted to ride.
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.
How much does it cost to ride Takabisha?
Takabisha requires a separate attraction fee beyond general park admission, priced at roughly ¥2,000. Fuji-Q Highland also sells all-attraction Free Passes and priority-boarding tickets that include Takabisha; check the official site for current pricing.
Is Takabisha scary or intense for a first-time rider?
Yes — it combines a dark, disorienting first drop, a two-second 100 km/h launch, a genuinely beyond-vertical drop, and seven inversions with sustained forces up to 4.4G, making it one of the more intense compact coasters anywhere, though the whole sequence lasts only a couple of minutes.
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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