Steepest roller coaster

This item appears on page 70 of the April 2012 issue.
Takabisha roller coaster near Mt. Fuji. Photo courtesy of the Japan National Tourism Organization

With a drop angle of 121 degrees, the world’s steepest roller coaster is Takabisha at Japan’s Fuji-Q High Land amusement park (5-6-1 ShinNishihara, Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi, Honshu, Japan; phone 055-23-2111).

The 2-minute-long ride, which opened in 2011, includes seven inversions, attains a height of 141 feet and reaches speeds of 100 kph (62 mph). It’s one of seven roller coasters at Fuji-Q park, southeast of Mt. Fuji.

In addition to height restrictions for riders (no one under 4'3" may ride), roller coasters at Fuji-Q have age restrictions. On many, no one over 54 years old can ride; on some, the cutoff age is 59.

Fuji-Q High Land is open 9-5 Mon.-Fri. or 9-8 weekends, April 1-Sept. 30. Hours are 8 a.m.-9 p.m., July 20-Sept. 20. Park entry costs ¥1,200 (near $16) adult, ¥600 child. Rides cost an extra ¥200-¥1,000 each. Or visitors can buy a ticket for entry plus unlimited rides for ¥4,500 ($55) adult, ¥3,300 child or ¥2,000 ($25) senior.