The SPOT.ph Guide to Universal Studios Japan
Here's how to make the most out of your visit.
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(SPOT.ph) Whether it’s your first or your fifth time visiting Osaka, a city located roughly at the center of Japan, Universal Studios Japan should be a not-to-miss spot in your holiday itinerary. Although it has been around since early March 2001, the theme park has surprisingly easily adapted to the evolving trends. It also has a seamless fusion between Eastern and Western cultures—the concept of huge theme parks mimicking famous Western cities such as New York and Los Angeles, and the introduction of iconic Japanese characters such as Mario and Luigi from Super Mario Bros., Doraemon, and Yuji Itadori from Jujutsu Kaisen.
This is why Universal Studios Japan is the third most visited theme park globally, surpassing grander theme parks from the other side of the world. The theme park attracted more than 12 million visitors from across the globe last year, even amid the pandemic. The area has 10 major zones, so be ready to get in as many as 20,000 steps in the park alone.
Ticket Prices at Universal Studios Japan
Currently, Universal Studios Japan’s site offers one to two-day Studio Passes, which include park entrance and use of all park attractions. The one-day Studio Pass starts at ¥8,600 (P3,300) for adults, ¥5,600 (P2,200) for kids, and ¥7,700 (P3,000) for seniors. The one-and-a-half-day Studio Pass starts at ¥13,100 (P5,100) for adults and ¥8,600 (P3,300) for kids, and the two-day Studio Pass from ¥16,300 (P6,300) for adults and ¥10,600 (P4,100) for kids. You can also get tickets through Klook with the one-day Universal Studios Japan Studio Pass available for P3,386.
Another pass that can be purchased on top of the Studio Pass is the Universal Express Pass to cut down long waiting times for attractions and grant guaranteed admission to popular areas such as Nintendo World. The attractions have two types: time-designated and not time-designated. For those that are time-designated, you can only enjoy the rides during the window designated on the ticket. You need to present the entire ticket screen with a QR code at the Express Pass section of every attraction, and the passes are only valid on the day printed on the ticket.
Two kinds of Universal Express Pass packages exist: Express Pass 4 and Express Pass 7. This is also available through Klook, where you can buy the Universal Studios Express Pass 4—with priority for four attractions—for P3,766; or the Universal Studios Express Pass 7 for P5,418.
The Express Pass 4 package contains four attractions, package variations include Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem from ¥10,800 (P4,200) per person, The Flying Dinosaur from ¥7,800 (P3,000), Fun Ride from ¥7,800 (P3,000), Variety Choice from ¥9,800 (P3,800), and Limited from ¥9,800 (P3,800).
The Express Pass 7 package contains seven attractions, variations all costing ¥10,800 (P4,200) per person, include Flying Dinosaur and Jurassic Park package, the Backdrop and Spiderman package, and the Limited and Variety package. As a tip, choose the express pass package that includes passes for attractions with long waiting times, according to the app. You can download the Universal Studios Japan app on your iPhone or Android phone for easy reference.
Zones and Must-Ride Attractions at USJ
Super Nintendo World
If you’re a fan of Super Mario Land from the good old Nintendo Game Boy or Mario Kart from the more trendy Nintendo Switch, you are in for a treat! This immersive and interactive wonderland will make you feel like you’re inside the renowned adventure game. To gain entry, you will need an Area Timed Entry Ticket because this newest attraction in the park attracts so many visitors. You can get a guaranteed advanced booking through specific Universal Express Pass packages. You can also get an Area Timed Entry Ticket on the day of your visit through the app or at the ticket booths in the park. Since the Area Timed Entry Tickets are limited in quantity for the day, you may also opt for the Standby Entry Ticket once the guaranteed tickets run out. These Standby Entry Tickets will be raffled off, and lottery winners will be announced one hour before admission time at the entrance of Super Nintendo World. Since these latter tickets are not guaranteed, we suggest you go to the park early and get those Area Timed Entry Tickets already.
The famous rides here are Mario Kart: Koopa Challenge and Yoshi’s Adventure. For Mario Kart: Koopa Challenge, you get to live your dream of actually racing and finishing with Mario and Peach. For Yoshi’s Adventure, you will go with Yoshi as you search for Captain Toad on a treasure hunt. This kiddie ride will also give you the most amazing view of the Mushroom Kingdom from Mount Beanpole. Take your experience to the next level by purchasing a Power-up Band. You can experience challenges, collect virtual coins and items through this, and even sync this to the official Super Nintendo World app. The app will update the leaderboard and give you more information on all activities available in the zone.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Lifted from the well-loved movie and book series Harry Potter, this zone brings to life the Wizarding World of Harry Potter with much scale and attention to detail. The top reproductions are Hogwarts Castle, Hogsmeade, and Hogwarts Express. Inside the Hogwarts castle, you will discover the classrooms and corridors of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Hogsmeade is the village where wizards reside, while the Hogwarts Express is the steam engine that takes you to this enchanting world.
The two attractions in this zone are Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, and Flight of the Hippogriff. Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, an unforgettable sensory journey with Harry Potter, is the world’s number one ride for five consecutive years because its magic brings you to a new dimension. Meanwhile, have an adventure through Hagrid’s garden by riding a Hippogriff in this kid-friendly Flight of the Hippogriff ride. There are street shows here, such as the Triwizard Spirit Rally and Frog Choir.
Minion Park
We're sure everyone is familiar with these cute yellow characters from the Despicable Me! series, the Minions. These Minions live to serve, but their adventure begins when they find themselves working for a series of unsuccessful masters. The zone is divided into the East Side and West Side - with the East Side having a sweets factory and games, and the West Side featuring the Minion Marketplace.
The attractions include the Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem and Freeze Ray Sliders rides. The Minion Mayhem ride will take you into the world of absolute mayhem, where you’ll explore the process of becoming a Minion through a thrilling ride. You will be transported through a vehicle designed by Gru to enter his laboratory, where the fun starts. The Freeze Ray Sliders, meanwhile, will be a slipping, sliding race ride on an ice rink.
Universal Wonderland
This Universal Wonderland zone is a delight for the kids because it houses the cutest characters on Earth, such as Hello Kitty, Snoopy, and Elmo. The Hello Kitty Fashion Avenue has some interesting attractions featuring Hello Kitty’s Cupcake Dream ride with spinning colorful cupcakes, and Hello Kitty’s Ribbon Collection with the character’s latest fashion items and a commemorative photo spot with Hello Kitty. Snoopy Studios has the Flying Snoopy ride where kids can test their piloting skills with Snoopy and also play at Snoopy’s Sound Stage Adventure. The Sesame Street Fun World also has the Elmo Go-Go’s Skateboard and Moppy’s Balloon Trip rides.
Hollywood
Experience the other side of the world with the Hollywood zone, which perfectly replicates the star-filled boulevard of Los Angeles. Let your inner 1930s movie star shine by partying at glamorous live shows and screaming your heart out on exhilarating roller coasters. The main attraction in this zone is the Hollywood Dream, the ultimate roller coaster in the amusement park. You’ll feel like you’re flying through the sky in two different directions with The Ride, which moves forward, and The Ride: Backdrop, which moves backward. In 2023, the ride is transformed to tell the story of the popular Jujutsu Kaisen anime. Another interesting ride is Space Fantasy, a spaceship that takes you to see the sky, stars, and space. True to the Hollywood spirit are shows such as SING on Tour, Universal Monsters Live: Rock and Roll Show, and Universal Spectacle Night Parade: The Best of Hollywood. There are also 4-D shows featuring Jujutsu Kaisen and Shrek.
New York
The New York zone conveniently brings the Big Apple to Asia as you stroll through the famous streets from 5th Avenue to Delancey Street. Experience the Amazing Adventure of Spider-Man in an immersive 4K3D ride as he traverses New York City with wall-crawling and sticking superpowers. Hailed as the World’s No. 1 Ride in recent years, don’t forget to catch it, as the experience is coming to a close by January 2024.
San Francisco
Now, we go to America’s number one port city, San Francisco. Stroll along the famous Fisherman’s Wharf and Chinatown and experience California cuisine through restaurants such as the Coca-Cola Happiness Cafe, Lombard’s Landing, The Dragon’s Pearl, and Wharf Cafe.
Jurassic Park
Travel back to the Mesozoic era of the Dinosaurs and see them through the Jurassic Park experience. The Jurassic Park ride takes you on a boat threatened by a containment breach and helps you find an escape from the wild T-Rex. On the other hand, the Flying Dinosaur coaster brings you on a wild journey as an out-of-control Pteranodon seizes you and tosses you into the sky.
Amity Village
Afraid of sharks because of the shark movies that you saw as a kid? Amity Village will surely bring back these hair-raising memories for you. The village now welcomes tourists as they believe that the man-eating shark in town is long gone. Or is it gone? Join the Jaws boat ride to know for yourself! After the ride, you can also win prizes at a village carnival game.
Waterworld
Have a glimpse of the ruined, floating city from the movie WaterWorld by participating in an intense water battle with unbelievable stunts and enhanced sound effects of explosions and gunfire.
Where to Eat and Shop at Universal Studios Japan
There are restaurants in every corner of the park, so it’s pretty safe to say that you won’t ever go hungry here. Sit-down restaurants serve mostly American food and also have happy meals for kids. There are also on-the-go food options such as butterbeer, hot dogs, smoked chicken legs, churros, burritos, popcorn, ice cream, and smoothies.
Fifty shops in the park are scattered in the different zones, most of them selling merchandise of a specific character. But in case you forget to buy something, check out the Universal Studios Store, Beverly Hills Gifts, and the California Confectionery on your way out because they are the biggest and house a wide range of popular products.
You also have an opportunity to immortalize your moments with your well-loved characters through photo ops. They have those for Hello Kitty, Mario and Luigi, the Minions, Hogwarts, Spiderman, Jaws, and Jurassic Park.
Where to Stay in Osaka, Japan
If you want convenience and to maximize the theme park experience, you can stay around the area. There are tons of official hotel partners to choose from, including Oriental Hotel Universal City, The Singulari Hotel & Skyspa, The Park Front Hotel, Hotel Kintetsu Universal City, Hotel Keihan Universal Tower, Hotel Universal Port, Hotel Universal Port Vita, and Liber Hotel.
Frequently Asked Questions About Universal Studios Japan
What are the operating hours?
The park's operating hours vary daily, but opening is from 8 to 9 a.m. and closing is from 6:30 to 10 p.m. To be updated on the hours, you can check the Universal Studios Japan site (https://www.usj.co.jp/web/en/us).
Is it accessible for PWDs?
The amusement park is also baby and PWD-friendly. Rental strollers with reclining seats are meant for children aged 1 to 48 months and cost ¥1,100 (P430) per head. Rental wheelchairs are stainless steel and have a handbrake, and cost ¥500 (P200) per head. Rentals are available on the right side upon entrance to the grounds.
How do you go to Universal Studios Japan?
Universal Studios Japan is also accessible from the biggest neighborhoods of Osaka. It is only a 15-minute train ride from Umeda-Osaka Station using the JR Osaka Loop Line, then interchanging to the JR Yumesaki Line, and 22 minutes from Osaka-Namba Station using the Hanshin-Namba Line, then interchanging to the JR Yumesaki Line.
Links are updated regularly and as much as possible, but note that products can run out of stock, discounts can expire, and listed prices can change without prior notice.
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