Fuji-Q Highland (富士急ハイランド) is a theme park in Fujiyoshida, Japan. Founded in 1964, the park is themed around (and in close distance to) Mount Fuji, and features a variety of franchise-licensed rides and attractions.
In July of 2003, a Hamtaro-themed section of the park was opened, also referred to as the Ham-Ham Doki Doki Kingdom! (ハムハムどきどき!おうこく). Over the course of its life, the Ham-Ham Kingdom featured four unique Hamtaro rides, a Hamtaro-focused gift shop, and even a new hamster character created exclusively for the park: Fuji-Q. However, the Hamtaro section of the park was abruptly closed in June of 2017, reportedly due to an undisclosed issue regarding Fuji-Q's Hamtaro license. Some of the Hamtaro attractions were rebranded/replaced by "La Ville de Gaspard et Lisa", based on the book/TV series Gaspard and Lisa.
Hamtaro-themed attractions[]
Rides[]
🔴富士急ハイランド フワフワお空の大冒険
The Great Fluffy Sky Adventure video
- The Great Fluffy Sky Adventure (フワフワお空の大冒険)
Google Maps streetview- A large rollercoaster, with the carts hovering from the bottom of the track. Each cart was shaped like a cloud, and featured two Ham-Hams sitting on the front. Statues of characters like Nin-Ham, Penelope, and Jingle could be seen surrounding the track.
- This ride was originally opened as "Flying Coaster Birdmen" in July 2000. However, the ride was permanently closed following serious injury of two passengers. It was reworked into "The Great Fluffy Sky Adventure" (with the Hamtaro branding) in 2003, which was presumably altered to be safer.
- Following the closure of the Hamtaro area, the ride was reworked again into "Lisa and Gaspard's Sky Day".
- Hide-and-Seek in the Doki Doki Forest (どきどき森のかくれんぼ)
- Another large rollercoaster. The visitor(s) would ride on bicycle-like carts, moving across rails high in the air. There were various character statues hidden around the forest to find.
- This ride was originally opened as "Super Sky Cycle" at an unknown date. Following the closure of the Hamtaro area, it was reworked back into "Sky Cycle" (now sans-super).
- Swaying Sea-Ham Ship (ゆらゆら海のハムSHIP)
Google Maps streetview- A classic pirate ship ride. It featured statues of sailor-dressed Hamtaro, Bijou, Boss, and Snoozer.
- This ride was originally opened as "Kaizoku Ship Pirates" at an unknown date. When reworked into the "Swaying Sea-Ham Ship", its altitude was lowered to make it safer for children. It appears that the ride was completely removed from the park in 2017, and was not reworked into something else.
- Ticky-Ticky Sunflower Ferris Wheel (てちてちひまわりかんらんしゃ)
- A small ferris wheel, branded with Solara. It was opened later than the other rides, in April 2005; and also closed much earlier, in May of 2009.
Around the park[]
- "Kids Park"
Google Maps streetview - Ham-Ham Kuru-Kuru Market! (ハムハムぐるぐる！マーケット)
- A Hamtaro gift shop. Alongside the typical Hamtaro merchandise pieces (toys, t-shirts, etc.), there were exclusive products based on the Fuji-Q character, including plush toys and keychains.
- Towards the end of its life, the shop was rebranded as "Kids Studio Character's Shop!". While it still had Hamtaro artwork on the building itself, there was very little Hamtaro merchandise available at all during this time. From roughly 2012 up until the store's 2017 closure, only a box of Hamtaro cookies could be purchased, while the rest of the shop housed mainly Pokémon and Doraemon products.
- Snow and Ice Ham-Ham Kingdom - Tottoko Slope Play~ (雪と氷のハムハム王国～とっとこゲレンデ遊び～)
- An event which was held in the Winter of 2003 and 2004. There was a slope for sledding, and a boat race in a pool. There were rentable Hamtaro sleds and go-karts, with lots of Hamtaro decor throughout the area.
- Hotel room
- At least one of the hotel rooms at Fuji-Q was decorated with a Hamtaro theme. There were paintings of Ham-Hams on the walls, including a giant sailor Hamtaro; and a large model of a house, featuring a Fuji-Q plush and various Epoch figures living inside. There was also a circular lamp modeled in the likeness of Penelope.
- Nintendo Joy-Spot
- It appears that a Nintendo Joy Spot was held in the park, which allowed players to download four exclusive Friend Cards in Hamtaro: Ham-Ham Games. These included numbers 26 to 29: Hamtaro⚘, Bijou⚘, Bo⚘, and FUJI-Q-KUN.
Gallery[]
- Main article: Fuji-Q Highland/Gallery
