Fuji-Q Highland (5-6-1 Shin-Nishihara, Fujiyoshida City, Yamanashi Prefecture) will open “San-X Paradise,” a permanent area where visitors can enjoy the world of San-X characters, on August 1.
“Rilakkuma’s Makumaku Sweets Buffet” is a pendulum-style outdoor attraction where visitors board a “sweets ship” filled with cookies and cream to enjoy a nautical adventure with Rilakkuma. The ride has a capacity of 32 passengers (4 people per row, 8 rows), and the height restriction is 120 cm or taller but less than 194 cm. Children under 140 cm must be accompanied by a junior high school student or older, and children under 6 years of age are not permitted to ride.
It’s located just past the entrance to the San-X Area, and the fee is 800 yen per ride (included in the One-Day Pass). You must store all your belongings in a locker before boarding. You may keep your glasses and sunglasses on, but hats, headbands, and any items worn around the neck (such as keys, ticket cases, or neck coolers) are not permitted.
At a preview event, a reporter actually rode the ride and found that the ride time—from the start-up announcement to the stop—was about two and a half minutes (officially, it’s about two minutes).
Since this ride moves like a swing, the level of thrills you experience varies depending on where you sit. If you sit on the left side—near Rilakkuma—you can look out over the San-X Area, and if you sit on the right side—near Korilakkuma—you should be able to look down on the “Thrilling Maze.” This time, I rode in the outer row on the Rilakkuma side, where the swing has the greatest amplitude.
By the way, although I’m a reporter covering theme parks, I really can’t stand the sensation of floating on roller coasters. Plus, it’s been about 10 months since I last rode a ride that moves up and down. If I were riding for fun, I would absolutely never choose the seat on the very end.
This time, I was allowed to take photos while riding as part of a special report, but the moment I started falling from the top was so terrifying that my hand holding the action camera shook repeatedly. Since the drop is slower and more gentle than a roller coaster, if you’re just comparing the sensation of floating, the Viking ride is far scarier. Plus, the top was higher and the angle steeper than I’d imagined…
According to the official website, the ride’s “thrill level” is a whopping 4 out of 5 stars. It reaches a top speed of 38 km/h, stands 11.3 meters tall, and has a maximum incline of 65 degrees. Don’t let the “It’s Rilakkuma, right?” vibe lull you into a false sense of security—if you’re not a fan of that floating sensation, we recommend sitting as close to the center as possible.
A total of two outdoor attractions have opened at San-X Paradise. We’ll cover the other attraction, “Sumikko Gurashi’s Balloons & Cupcakes,” in a separate article. Additionally, one indoor attraction is scheduled to open this fall.
© Source travel watch