A test ride at the foot of Mount Fuji on a magnetically levitated (maglev) train is proving extremely popular with curious people who want to experience a ride on the world's fastest train, which runs at a speed of 500 kph.

"This is a good chance to get in touch with next-generation technology," said Kazuhiko Nozue, 32, from Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, as he boarded a maglev train with his two children. "We wanted to experience ultra high speed,"

Nozue was among 246 groups of people selected from among about 16,700 applicants to ride on a maglev train in May. He was chosen after two unsuccessful applications.