Fuji Fuji Fuji Fuji Fuji Q Highland!

In Japan it's true that travel agencies will often have some great deals. One of the great ones running while I studied abroad was a bundle package: a full pass to Fuji-Q Highland plus round trip night bus tickets. As for why we wanted to go to Fuji-Q Highland, well, it wasn't for its Guinness World Record holding haunted house, or the crazy roller coasters. We went to see the 1:1 scale Eva Unit 01.

This is not the 1:1 scale model

 Neon Genesis Evangelion is fairly well-known around the world, but what many people don't know is that is takes place in Kanagawa, just around Mount Fuji. In fact, they placed the attraction where they did because GeoFront is located right where Fuji-Q is. Closer to Hakone, where an even larger portion of the series takes place, is a special Evangelion Store, though I haven't visited it. Besides, one of the most important sites you should see should you decide to visit Japan is Mount Fuji during it's snowy season.

Seen here from the bus, but alongside the special traffic signals.

When we got off we were immediately surprised by how it was both chilly and hot in the sun, which is a pretty accurate description of spring in Japan in general, even if it was early May. My friend and I were most excited to head to the GeoFront though, where we discovered our tickets would let us enter again and again and again if we really wanted to. Though I had forgotten about it, we were also pleasantly surprised to find Eva Unit 02 that Asuka pilots bursting through a wall as well. It's a little less than 1:1 but still pretty awesome.

Maybe just a little beast-mode.

Much of the attraction though were maps illuminating where in real life parts of the show occurred, original cels and artwork from the original series and the movie reboots, and various recreations of scenes from the show itself. You could set at Gendo's desk and pull his infamous pose while surrounded by SEALE pillars, or sneak a kiss with Rei from the elevator scene. You could even recreate a certain infamous coffee scene.

Seriously bro, what do you want?

As you made your way through, however, you were finally met with the biggest attraction: the 1:1 Eva.

Much bigger than a Gundam

If you wait around, the special effects show will begin, and features a scenario straight out of the show, where they are testing a dummy plug and things, predictably, go awry. Afterwards you can even get your own NERV registration card, which features actual positions within the organization. This wasn't the only part of the park we explored, as we also checked out their rather large Ferris wheel, a Hamtaro themed roller coaster and generally relaxed. Before we knew it though, it was time to head home.

There's something about Ferris Wheel's at night in Japan.

Until Next Time