Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Puglia Italy - Matera
Italy • 8 days, 7 nights
Southern Italy: Castles, Caves & Coastal Treasures in Puglia
from
Turkmenistan Gates of Hell Darvaza crater
Turkmenistan • 10 days, 9 nights
Turkmenistan & the Gates of Hell
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Pinal Airpark
Note the chrysanthemum crests.
Hachiman Bridge
Clarendon War Memorial.
Clarendon War Memorial
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
Everything at Li’l Dizzy’s Cafe is served in takeout containers.
Li’l Dizzy’s Cafe
The fried green tomato sandwich comes on jalapeño cornbread toast.
Café Reconcile
BBQ shrimp braised in beer are a popular menu item.
High Hat Cafe
The pastries at Lagniappe Bakehouse are worth waking up for.
Lagniappe Bakehouse
Peter Vazquez has been quietly making a name for himself for years.
The Appetite Repair Shop
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Haleakalā National Park’s summit region, shrouded in the pre-dawn fog.
Beware the Legends Behind These National Park Souvenirs
16 days ago
For Aguilar-Carrasco, nature is a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of all life.
How Can National Parks Be Made Accessible to All? AO Wants to Know.
17 days ago
Podcast: Finding ‘The Great Gatsby’ in Louisville
18 days ago
Here’s which treats you can safely lug home without risking a fine.
Dear Atlas: What International Food Can I Legally Bring Into the U.S.?
19 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Japan Kurashiki-shi Washuzan Highland

Washuzan Highland

A dilapidated amusement park with a million-dollar view.

Kurashiki-shi, Japan

Added By
Caitlin Frunks
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Washuzan Highland.   caitlinfrunks / Atlas Obscura User
Washuzan Highland.   caitlinfrunks / Atlas Obscura User
Washuzan Highland.   caitlinfrunks / Atlas Obscura User
Washuzan Highland.   caitlinfrunks / Atlas Obscura User
Washuzan Highland.   caitlinfrunks / Atlas Obscura User
Washuzan Highland.   caitlinfrunks / Atlas Obscura User
Washuzan Highland.   caitlinfrunks / Atlas Obscura User
Washuzan Highland.   caitlinfrunks / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Washuzan Highland was once home to the Guinness World Record for longest rollercoaster ride, an uninterrupted 1,050 laps on the Star Jet Line lasting just over 35 hours (the record was surpassed in 2007). The park continues to offer thrills, though the erosion of time and a lack of maintenance has made for a slightly dystopian scene. But that’s not the main draw.

The vaguely Brazilian-themed park’s main attraction is its stunning view of the Seto Inland sea, the Seto Ohashi Bridge, connecting Honshu to Shikoku, and many small islands. One of the rides, the Turbo Drop, boasts the most spectacular view of all. It’s about 200 feet off the ground, and the hill it stands on is over 400 feet above sea level. It’s a dizzying sight to behold.

The Sky Cycle offers a less frightening view, and one from which you can actually photograph the bridge and surrounding islands. It’s a fixed bicycle track about four stories high, and visitors can ride at their own pace and are welcome to stop at any point to take photos.

The park opened in 1971 and most of its rides were installed by the late ‘80s. Though the park continues to be operational, its rides are discolored from rust, and many seem to be permanently closed for maintenance.  If you are looking for a state-of-the-art amusement park, this is not it. But the view, at the right time of the day, is worth the entry fee alone, and the pervasive strangeness of the run-down park is an added bonus.

Related Tags

Theme Parks Amusement Parks Bridges Panoramas World Record

Know Before You Go

Adult tickets are ¥2,800
There is a bus to the park from Kojima Station.

Atlas Obscura Adventures

Hidden Japan: Sado Island, Nara & Kyoto

Explore a different side of Japan.

Book Now

Community Contributors

Added By

caitlinfrunks

Published

December 14, 2017

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%B7%B2%E7%BE%BD%E5%B1%B1%E3%83%8F%E3%82%A4%E3%83%A9%E3%83%B3%E3%83%89
  • https://www.w-highland.co.jp/global_en/attraction/
Washuzan Highland
Kurashiki-shi
Japan
34.445783, 133.797572
Visit Website

Nearby Places

Matsuka Seimen Noodle Factory

Kurashiki, Japan

miles away

Bennesse Art Site Naoshima

Naoshima, Japan

miles away

Missing Post Office

Mitoyo, Japan

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Japan

Japan

Asia

Places 786
Stories 110

Nearby Places

Matsuka Seimen Noodle Factory

Kurashiki, Japan

miles away

Bennesse Art Site Naoshima

Naoshima, Japan

miles away

Missing Post Office

Mitoyo, Japan

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Japan

Japan

Asia

Places 786
Stories 110

Related Places

  • pictures from 2013

    Sodegaura, Japan

    Tokyo German Village

    This theme park is not in Tokyo, not especially German, and certainly not a village.

  • Jingles the carousel horse.

    Anaheim, California

    Jingles

    The lead horse on a Disneyland merry-go-round that is older than the park itself.

  • Anakie, Australia

    Fairy Park

    This slightly spooky yet nostalgic theme park claims to be the first of its kind in Australia.

  • Pixie Woods entrance.

    Stockton, California

    Pixie Woods

    This hidden amusement park is a magical escape for kids and kids-at-heart.

  • Jungfrau Park.

    Interlaken, Switzerland

    Jungfrau Park

    A Swiss amusement park entirely dedicated to the theory of ancient astronauts.

  • Duge Beipanjiang Bridge

    Qujing, China

    Duge Beipanjiang Bridge

    The highest bridge in the world rises a dizzying 1,854 feet above the river.

  • Lake Pontchartrain Causeway.

    New Orleans, Louisiana

    Lake Pontchartrain Causeway

    The world-record holder for the longest bridge stretching continuously over water.

  • Constantine, Algeria

    Sidi M'Cid Bridge

    This dizzying span over the ancient Algerian city was once the highest suspension bridge in the world.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.