Super-cool Japanese Freefall Ride

 

Tower of Terror and Maliboomer fans, you’re gonna wanna visit Osaka in December 2007. From Pink Tentacle:

Japan’s first building-mounted free-fall amusement ride, called Yabafo, will be integrated into an exterior wall of Osaka’s 12-story namBa H!PS entertainment complex scheduled to open in December. From 74 meters (240 feet) up, the 6-person ride will provide passengers a panoramic view of the city before dropping them 60 meters (200 feet) down the side of the building at a top speed of 22 meters per second (50 miles per hour).

Osaka’s a pretty cool city, actually. And I’m not just saying it because it’s Shonen Knife’s favorite town (though that doesn’t really hurt, now does it?).

While you’re there, you also might want to check out the coolest ferris wheel I’ve ever seen up close, the Hep Five Ferris Wheel. Mr Broke Hoedown rode it one evening in June 2002 . . . but yours truly is a tad scared of heights, and happily sat in the ice cream shop eating an unidentifiable but delicious dessert.

And of course, Osaka’s just a couple hours by Shinkansen to Tokyo Disneyland, which you know you want to see anyway.