Japan amusement park to open world’s steepest roller coaster

If walking around the ledge of the CN Tower is not thrilling enough, a new roller coaster with the steepest vertical drop of any in the world will open for thrill-seekers next month.

The ride, which will involve a 121-degree free fall, will open at the Fuji-Q Highland Amusement Park near Mount Fuji in Japan on July 16th. A new time-lapse online video has just been released that shows the giant structure being built with cranes over the past few years.

The ride called Takabisha, which translates into 'dominant', will dominate weak stomachs. According to the Daily Mail, it has seven major twists over 1,000 metres and the drop of well more than 90 degrees will be nine degrees steeper than the current world record holder at the Flamingo Land Park in England.

Riders will accelerate from zero to 100 kph in less than two seconds, experience weightlessness and feel G forces similar to those felt by fighter pilots as they are inverted through the free fall.

But setting world records comes at a cost. Takabisha has reportedly cost over $36 million (CAD) to build. Admission to the park is $14 and there is an additional $12 charge to ride Takabisha.

Even with the steepest drop, Takabisha will be nowhere close to the fastest ride in the world. That title belongs to Formula Rossa at Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi, which hits speeds of 240 kph.

If the Guinness Book of World Records ratifies the coaster as the world's steepest, it will be the 14th world record for the amusement park.