Do you dare take the challenge and ride into an endless mineshaft?

No self-respecting theme park can truly be considered complete without an attraction filled with all manner of ghastly and creepy things waiting to spook visitors. Amusement park Fuji-Q Highland in Yamanashi Prefecture certainly satisfies that requirement, having just installed a new ride called the “Endless Mine”.

The backstory tells of an abandoned mine dug out by greedy robbers who attempted to pilfer untold riches and treasures left behind by the late Japanese feudal lord Takeda Shingen. Unexplained, gruesome deaths suddenly befell them, which led to the facility being sealed up to protect the locals.

Visitors will be sent down a disused shaft in an old minecart in order to discover the truth, with hands lightly bound to presumably simulate a sense of helplessness.

▼ Do you have what it takes to survive the ride?

Although the entire ride lasts only five minutes, 3-D surround sound headphones, pitch-black darkness, and over 30 types of contraptions all impart a sense of being carried deep down into the endless depths of a haunted mine.

The cart itself utilizes automated robot technology, scanning reflective tape on the floor using infrared. This relays signals to a computer that accelerates, slows or stops the vehicle without the need for manual input. Staff are also on board in case anything unexpected happens to the riders.

▼ Once you are suitably freaked out,
a visit into the adjacent Evangelion World ought to perk you up.

Entry into the Endless Mine costs 1,500 yen (US$13.60), but is absolutely free for those holding an annual pass. Japanese netizens were quite concerned about being handcuffed in the darkness, however:

“So I’m paying to have my hands bound. Is this some kind of SM club?”
“Sounds like an accident waiting to happen.”
“What happens if an earthquake strikes and we can’t escape?”
“I wouldn’t be surprised if the park closes down after this.”

Perhaps the handcuffs are loose enough for visitors to escape on their own should the need ever arises, a precaution the company would certainly take to maintain its place as one of the best amusement parks in Japan. If so, then rest assured that Endless Mine and its spooks will easily and safely satisfy any horror fan with a craving for the darkness.

Theme park information
Fuji-Q Highland / 富士急ハイランド
Address: Yamanashi-ken, Fujiyoshida-shi, Shin Nishihara 5-6-1
山梨県富士吉田市新西原５丁目６−１
Open: 9:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. (Weekdays)
9:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m. (Weekends)

Source: Fuji-Q Highland via Livedoor News, PR Times
Top image: PR Times
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