Haikara’t Yokocho + Kijima Kogen 05/26
Continuing ever westward, we found ourselves in Shimonoseki – the town that marks the entry point onto the island of Kyushu, via yet another big bridge.
Just before that though,
Day 6 – Haikara’t Yokocho
There’s a coaster to be had here. Guess I’m not retiring just yet.
Only the finest to break the fast of course, one of the nations many #1 Family Banana Coasters.
Alternative transport options are available.
In the interests of keeping things relatively leisurely, this was originally billed to be the only ‘park’ of the day. However, worrying weather reports were worryingly reporting that the following day was going to be a bit of a write off, so we upped the pace a bit in response.
But first, a horsecourse.
Via a bridge.
This is Kokura Racecourse, the biggest in Kyushu.
Nice place for a picnic.
Building was open, as other races were on elsewhere in the country, you can treat it like a big, fancy betting shop with free drinks.
And then, several down hours the road, you may have heard of this one.
Kijima Kogen
9 years ago, terrifyingly, we sort of almost came here. The circumstance birthed a quote of a lifetime in that we were done with Space World, put it in the Sat Nav, and were presented with arriving 5 minutes before close, with a cost of £70 in tolls. How times have changed.
Thus I suppose this was pseudo revenge, though mainly I’ve been haunted ever since by the relative significance of their signature coaster. And completing the Japanese wooden (not that impressive), Intamin wooden (better) and top 10 longest wooden (nice) sets of course.
Enough words, #2 Jupiter.
Ok, some more words. Similar tactics for the ‘biggest’ park of the trip, though a day early, this was intentionally a weekend for attraction availability over crowd comfort.
So, several hours into the day here, this had a pretty hefty, or at least slow-moving queue. As busy as it gets was only deemed worthy of one train operation.
Eventually made it on, the biggest source of discomfort being assigned seating taking fate out of my hands. Ended up near the front, in a non-wheel row.
Off we went. It’s got a fun little pre-lift section, one of the pioneers of the genre in that regard I guess. While only hitting moderate speeds here, this revealed that there probably was something to be worried about.
Up and round and down we go.
I kinda liked it.
A very interesting mix really. There’s sparks of it being a very good ride, with even a few moments of what would be impressive airtime, as you would expect from a more modern Intamin, but not at all after riding Regina and Elf.
The tracking is patchy at best. I assume some work has been done at some point as all these things change all the time of course, it varied from laughable jiggle, to stay on your guard, catch this at the wrong time and it’ll kill you.
Did I dare to ride again? Probably, through 40% morbid curiosity, 30% a sense of respect to the name and the size, 20% the decent chance it won’t be around forever and 10% actual enjoyment. It held the same queue all day though, so no.
On reflection now, glad I didn’t, as we so often learn these days, walk away on the high.
Back up the high end of the park are the other coasters.
The cold steel of a powered #3 Dragon.
The park’s signature steel, #4 Super LS Coaster, a Meisho rarity.
It has some of the charms of a jet coaster when wafting over the pathways, but loses the spirit a little bit in trying too hard with inversions.
Looks cool though.
Vekoma Junior, from both the old #5 Roller Skater days and a defunct park up the road. Should have saved their jet coaster instead.
And finally a ridiculously intense Meisho mine train thing by the name of #6 Gold Rush, that was nothing like the others of the trip in any way. Swear I took a picture of it, but have checked all 3 phones now so you’ll just have to believe me.
The warning signs – the back row is permanently closed off, more padding than usual, a 5 minute enthusiastic safety spiel form the operator before despatch (resulting in easily the second longest queue on park).
No idea what went on with this one, but every elevation change is marked by the most intense of transitions, which built and built until the very end. Like it wasn’t meant to have a long train or someone got their calculations off.
Amazing though, they accidentally stumbled onto a winning formula as it made everyone scream and shout every time. Sleeper hit of the park.
Was sad to learn that the building for this once housed the park’s only actual dark ride. It had an interesting history, originally being built as a showcase model over in Europe.
Chuck some 4D seats in a box and call it a day.
Had a cheeky go on the old Intamin drop tower, Newton (one of the mascots of the park), which became my most efficient amusement attraction of all time. No one else there at all. Nodded at the guy. Sat down. Despatch. Drop. Nodded at the guy. Done. Less than 30 seconds?
With that it was park complete, Perhaps not quite as significant as I’d built it up to be in my head after all these years, but great setting, interesting set of coasters, good vibes, all that fun stuff.