Do-Dodonpa

Like nearly every other Japanese amusement park, Fuji-Q has a large Ferris Wheel.  This one is called シャイニング・フラワー, or Shining Flower in English.  It is 50 meters (164 feet) tall and takes 12 minutes to complete one revolution.  Four of the gondolas are completely transparent and only can carry the weight of two passengers.  One of these "couple's cars" is visible in this picture.  It is the gondola with the illuminated heart on it.

The sign above the track says, "Mt. Fuji must be protected as a World Heritage Site forever."  With nearly a half million hikers climbing to Fuji's summit every year, the mountain has problems with garbage at times.  This sign is may be a nice reminder for people to treat the picturesque mountain well, but I don't think they will have time to read it while on the coaster!

©2022 Joel A. Rogers.