An X-ray free electron laser (XFEL) has been constructed at the SPring-8 site and will be open for users at the beginning of 2012. Fundamental experimental facilities for user experiments have been developed; for example, photon beamline, beam diagnostics systems, two dimensional X-ray detectors, and a femtosecond laser system which is synchronized to XFEL pulses. Extensive researches using SPring-8 and a prototype free electron laser (SCSS test accelerator) have been performed for developing experimental techniques for XFEL applications.