Those who dare to take on the Super Scary Labyrinth of Fear will find the abandoned Jikyu General Hospital at the back of Fuji-Q Highland amusement park near Mount Fuji. (Kelly Agee/Stars and Stripes)
At Fuji-Q Highland, a theme park near the base of Mount Fuji, lies what some consider to be the largest and most frightening haunted house in the world.
Those who dare to take on the Super Scary Labyrinth of Fear will find the abandoned Jikyu General Hospital at the back of the park.
It’ll take nearly an hour to navigate the decrepit structure, which is surrounded by warning signs and a creepy-looking stone wall topped with barbed wire.
Once inside, you’ll be guided to a large room with a big screen showing a video that explains in Japanese how zombies and ghosts have overrun the hospital. Be sure to glance up here for a surprise.
Then your group — between one and six people — will be set loose to wander the two-story hospital’s dark halls and creepy rooms with only a tiny flashlight.
I ventured alone, though I bumped into several groups that told me to go ahead of them; they looked too frightened to proceed.
Those who enter are not allowed to turn back, though emergency exits do exist for the extremely faint of heart. I witnessed four people bail out due to fear.
My favorite part was the decaying morgue. The room was cold and featured dead bodies lying on cadaver trollies. Some were in body bags, while others were sliced open or missing limbs from some brutal accident.
No more spoilers, but I will reveal that the most frightening part, for me, involved an elevator and one of my deepest fears.
Labyrinth of Fear tickets — 4,000 yen (nearly $27) for parkgoers with a one-day pass; 8,000 yen otherwise — often sell out quickly; guests are advised to arrive at Fuji-Q Highland early to secure a time slot for the experience. Tickets can be purchased near the attraction.
When I went around noon on a Saturday, only a handful of tickets remained for later in the day.
Be advised: elementary school students must be accompanied by someone who is junior high school age or older. There are steps in the building, so those who cannot climb stairs should not enter. No photography or videography is allowed inside the attraction.
Fuji-Q Highland is a popular Japanese amusement park near the base of Mount Fuji. (Kelly Agee/Stars and Stripes)
On the QT
Directions: Inside Fuji-Q Highland amusement park, about two hours or less by car from area military bases. 5-6-1 Shinnishihara, Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi 403-0017
Times: Open daily, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Costs: 4,000 yen for patrons with a one-day pass; 8,000 yen otherwise.
Food: There are a plethora of options throughout the park.
Information: Online: fujiq.jp
