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As Harry Potter and theme park followers, we couldn’t miss Universal Studios Japan on our go to to Osaka.
While wandering via the magical Harry Potter World was the spotlight of our day, we additionally rode the scariest rollercoaster we’ve ever been on and found many extra enjoyable points of interest.
Universal Studios Japan (USJ) is nicely value a day in case you are in Osaka. It’s simply accessible from town, and the massive park (a lot larger than Universal Singapore) has lots to maintain you busy all day.
In this submit, I share one of the best Universal Studios Japan rides for adults and older youngsters in addition to recommendations on avoiding queues, the best way to get there, one of the best place to purchase tickets, and way more to take advantage of your day.
I’ve additionally added an replace with the brand new Super Nintendo World after our second go to to USJ.
Contents
Time-Saving Universal Japan Tips
Universal Studios Japan is without doubt one of the busiest theme parks on the earth with queues which might be typically 1-3 hours lengthy. It’s important to plan prematurely.
To maximise the variety of USJ rides you’ll be able to expertise in a day, listed here are our high suggestions:
- Book your tickets prematurely right here with official companion Klook. You can then present the e-ticket in your telephone to get in. The park does commonly promote out.
- Pay additional for an Express Pass to skip the traces (and guide this two months prematurely if doable). See under for extra particulars on the kinds of passes. I might not go to USJ with out one (we saved 9 hours of queueing with ours!).
- Visit on a weekday (and test it’s not a Japan nationwide vacation).
- Download the Universal Studios Japan app to test wait instances on the day and get entry to the Area Timed Entry ticket wanted for Super Nintendo World.
- Arrive no less than 60 minutes earlier than park opening (except you’ve got an Express Pass 7). They typically open the gates as much as an hour earlier than official opening.
- Use the single-rider line if you happen to don’t have an Express Pass. This is extra helpful for some rides than others (as mentioned under).
- Stay till park closing – The final hour is the quietest time to discover Harry Potter World. Note that reentry to the park might not be allowed.
Top Universal Studios Japan Rides and Attractions
1) Exploring The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is my favorite space at Universal Studios Japan.
To get there you stroll down a protracted pathway lined with pine timber (previous the automotive that Ron crashed!), so it feels separate from the remainder of the park, like you’re coming into one other world.
Even if you happen to don’t go on one of many two rides right here, it’s a pleasure to wander the snowy cobbled streets of a superbly recreated Hogsmeade village.
You can store for wands at Ollivanders, jokes at Zonko’s and sweets at Honeydukes and have a pint of butterbeer within the Hog’s Head or Three Broomsticks. The heat butterbeer on a chilly day was scrumptious (if very candy).
You can even take a photograph subsequent to the Hogwarts Express, see owls ready to ship mail within the owlery, and ship letters with a Hogsmeade postmark in The Owl Post.
Most spectacular of all is Hogwarts Castle perched on rocks overlooking the village.
Harry Potter World does get very busy, however you now not want a timed entry ticket, so you could wish to go to a couple of instances throughout the day.
The space is especially pretty at sundown and after darkish.
2) Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
- Type of Ride: Thrill Ride, 3D Motion Simulator
- Minimum Height: 122cm (48 inches)
- Locker Required: Yes for baggage (free, out there in queue)
- Single Rider Available: Yes
- Location: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is the primary attraction in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and top-of-the-line rides at Universal Japan.
It takes place inside Hogwarts Castle, and I benefit from the stroll via the citadel seeing Dumbledore’s workplace, school rooms, and speaking work (in Japanese!) as a lot because the trip itself.
It’s a 3D trip however glasses aren’t wanted as you’re immersed on the earth of Hogwarts, participating in a Quidditch sport, feeling the warmth of a dragon’s fireplace in your face, and even getting spit at by large spiders.
It’s an exhilarating expertise with unbelievable results. It did set off my movement illness, nevertheless it was well worth the nausea and I recovered shortly.
If this is a matter for you, contemplate taking movement illness treatment like dramamine, as I did lately at Universal Studios Florida (which has lots of the identical rides as USJ).
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is a well-liked USJ trip, so it’s greatest ridden with an Express Pass. We did this on our final go to and nonetheless received to stroll via Hogwarts however with out the lengthy waits.
Alternatively, trip it very first thing (in case you have secured Timed Entry for Super Nintendo World), or wait till the top of the day.
The different trip in Harry Potter World is Flight of the Hippogriff, a delicate out of doors rollercoaster for youths. Simon discovered it enjoyable however very brief and never well worth the typical lengthy waits (it was included in our Express Pass).
3) Wand Magic
The different factor we love doing in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is Wand Magic the place we solid our personal spells!
This may not be for everybody as you first have to purchase a magical wand from one of many shops, however for large Harry Potter followers, it’s value it, and you find yourself with a fantastically created memento.
There are a number of factors across the village the place you’ll be able to carry out spells—you get a map along with your wand and can even search for the bronze medallions on the ground that present the spell.
We used the Incendio spell to mild a chimney (after many failed makes an attempt!) and one other to make it snow down a again alley. It’s lots of enjoyable and actually added to the expertise.
Of course, probably the most genuine place to buy your wand is Ollivanders, however there’s often a ten–15 minute wait to get in.
You can even purchase the magic wands at different shops within the space. Or we had no wait from the wand cart on the primary avenue. Make certain you get the particular magic wand and never the common wands which you’ll’t use for spells.
An interactive wand price 5500 yen ($36) on our go to. To go the entire hog, you may additionally purchase a Hogwarts robe for 16,000 yen ($104).
We purchased our robes from the Harry Potter Studio Tour in Tokyo, which gave us double the photograph alternatives and was a bit cheaper at 13,000 yen.
There are sometimes lengthy traces to solid the spells, so I like to recommend returning to the realm within the final hour of park opening, when it’s a lot quieter.
4) The Flying Dinosaur
- Type of Ride: Thrill Ride, Rollercoaster with Inversions
- Minimum Height: 132cm (52 inches)
- Locker Required: Yes for baggage and telephones (free, out there in queue)
- Single Rider Available: Yes (however doesn’t save a lot)
- Location: Jurassic Park
Oh my—The Flying Dinosaur is intense! It’s the scariest rollercoaster we’ve ever been on, and it’s sensible enjoyable!
It’s positioned in Jurassic Park and the concept is that an out-of-control Pteranodon seizes you from behind and pulls you excessive into the sky.
This implies that when you’ve sat down, your seat is turned 90 levels in direction of the ground so that you’re going through straight down. There is nothing between your face and the bottom far under!
The trip is so quick and disorientating that I don’t bear in mind precisely what occurred, nevertheless it concerned a number of 360º inversions, many twists and turns, and an underground part.
This wild and distinctive coaster ought to to not be missed by thrill-seekers—it’s top-of-the-line Universal Studios Japan points of interest.
As The Flying Dinosaur wasn’t included in our Express Pass (embrace it if you happen to can), Simon rode this by himself on our newest go to. The single rider line right here doesn’t prevent a lot time, although. He ended up ready 60 minutes when the standby queue was 70 minutes.
Note which you can’t take any free objects on the trip, however you’re allowed to maintain your telephone till the final 20 minutes of the queue whenever you put every thing in lockers.
5) Play in Super Nintendo World
Super Nintendo World is a brand new themed land that opened at Universal Studios Japan in March 2021. Accessed through an enormous warp pipe, you’re transported to a Super Mario sport.
It’s now the most well-liked space within the park and nearly all the time requires a timed entry ticket. You can get one at no cost on the USJ app (arrive earlier than park opening and do that as quickly as you enter the gates—they run out quick).
Or for assured entry, I like to recommend you buy an Express Pass, as we did (you’ll be given a time to enter the realm). It’s one of many high Japan points of interest, so don’t miss out!
Alongside Harry Potter World, that is one of the best themed space in USJ. It’s such a enjoyable and vibrant world that impresses as quickly as you enter.
Our timed entry was an evening, which we have been initially upset about (and we did miss out on consuming within the cafe), however the vibrant land seems unbelievable towards the black evening sky—you overlook you’re exterior.
You should buy a Super Nintendo World wristband to entry numerous mini video games within the space. Sync it with the USJ app to maintain monitor of your rating.
Queues are pretty lengthy for these video games, so enable loads of time to expertise all of them (3-4 hours together with rides with Express Pass). We skipped the wristbands however nonetheless took benefit of some photograph ops.
The greatest trip in Super Nintendo World is Mario Kart (see under), but when queues are brief, or it’s included in your Express Pass (because it was for us), you’ll additionally wish to trip Yoshi’s Adventure.
This is a delicate, family-friendly trip the place you go on a treasure hunt to gather mysterious eggs. It’s not terribly thrilling, however it’s cute, and the elevated partially exterior monitor has a great view over the realm.
6) Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge
- Type of Ride: Augmented Reality Dark Ride
- Minimum Height: 107cm (42 inches)
- Locker Required: No
- Single Rider Available: Yes
- Location: Super Nintendo World
The signature trip in Super Nintendo World is Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge. (Bowser is called Koopa in Japan).
It’s a dream come true for Mario geeks like Simon as the long-lasting Mario Kart programs are delivered to life.
The interactive, augmented actuality trip is housed inside Bowser’s Castle and the queue via right here is a part of the enjoyable with a number of particulars to discover. This was our longest wait with an Express Pass (25 minutes with a standby estimate of 80 minutes), however we didn’t thoughts.
Note that I’ve heard the only rider line misses one of the best particulars, so perhaps preserve that for a repeat trip.
At the top of the queue, you placed on a Mario visor, which plugs right into a particular lens whenever you get into your kart as a way to see the AR imagery.
The trip entails rushing across the race tracks, throwing shells on the villains to earn cash. It’s fairly chaotic with a number of particulars to absorb, nevertheless it’s actually enjoyable and Mario followers will like it.
This is greatest ridden with an Express Pass, which you’ll additionally seemingly must enter the realm. Otherwise, head right here very first thing.
7) Mine Cart Madness (Coming Soon)
Donkey Kong Country is a brand new space resulting from open in 2024 inside Super Nintendo World.
It will embrace USJ’s latest trip, Mine Cart Madness, an unpredictable rollercoaster that launches from the Golden Temple, races via the jungle, and leaps throughout collapsed tracks.
I’ve included it on this Universal Japan trip checklist as I do know it is going to be some of the common rides as soon as it opens.
8) Hollywood Dream – The Ride
- Type of Ride: Thrill Ride, Rollercoaster
- Minimum Height: 132cm (52 inches)
- Locker Required: Bags and free objects (together with telephones) aren’t allowed however everybody leaves them on the platform earlier than the trip.
- Single Rider Available: Yes (however doesn’t save a lot)
- Location: Hollywood
If you favor your rollercoasters barely much less terrifying than The Flying Dinosaur, then Hollywood Dream is for you.
This easy, non-inverting, high-speed coaster has some abdomen dropping ramps and vertical drops.
I really like which you can select a tune as your private soundtrack. It’s a really enjoyable trip.
Hollywood Dream is without doubt one of the hottest rides at USJ with wait instances over two hours all through the day on our final go to. You positively need Express for this one—with our go we waited Quarter-hour when the standby queue was 130 minutes.
9) Hollywood Dream – The Ride (Backdrop)
You can even trip the identical coaster backwards on Hollywood Dream – The Ride (Backdrop). It has the identical entrance and monitor as Hollywood Dream, however you trip in several automobiles that go in reverse.
As one of many busiest USJ rides, it’s greatest ridden with an Express Pass (ours included each coasters).
If you must select only one, I most well-liked the common model. I discovered going backwards a bit disorientating however much less scary than going through the entrance as you’ll be able to’t see what’s coming.
10) Despicable Me Minion Mayhem
- Type of Ride: 3D Motion Simulator
- Minimum Height: 102cm (40 inches)
- Locker Required: No
- Single Rider Available: Yes
- Location: Minion Park
Despicable Me Minion Mayhem is positioned within the enjoyable, vibrant Minion Park and is an immersive 3D simulator trip with out glasses utilizing an enormous dome display.
The complete expertise is about 25 minutes as there’s a protracted intro video (with English subtitles) that provides to the context.
The trip itself is narrative heavy, and though we couldn’t observe the Japanese, we received the final concept, and it’s nonetheless a enjoyable expertise as you bounce round an enormous manufacturing unit in your technique to turning into a Minion.
Unfortunately, that is one other trip that’s not nice for these with movement illness (I selected to skip it on our second go to).
If it’s not included along with your Express Pass (it’s not a precedence for us), wait till the top of the day when the queues drop off at this family-friendly attraction.
11) Jurassic Park – The Ride
Update 2024: Jurassic Park is closed till 2025 for a serious refurbishment.
Jurassic Park is a largely light water trip via a park full of dinosaurs. There’s an enormous and enjoyable drop on the finish the place you could get moist (particularly within the entrance row).
We purchased ponchos (400 yen) simply in case as we didn’t wish to threat getting moist on a chilly day. There are additionally lockers out there (100 yen which will get returned to you).
In winter this was one of many best rides to get on, however I think about it’s busier in the summertime.
12) JAWS
- Type of Ride: Boat Ride
- Minimum Height: None when accompanied by an grownup.
- Locker Required: No
- Single Rider Available: Yes
- Location: Amity Village
JAWS is a basic Universal attraction, and because the model at Universal Studios Florida has closed, that is the one place on the earth to trip it now.
What begins as a leisurely boat tour (in Japanese) of Amity Harbour turns into extra thrilling when a huge man-eating shark seems. It’s a scary one!
JAWS is an effective attraction to make use of the only rider queue as Japanese households desire to trip this collectively. Simon solely waited two minutes when the standby queue was 40 minutes.
Wait instances additionally drop within the night, so this is without doubt one of the solely rides on this checklist the place an Express Pass isn’t mandatory.
13) Waterworld Show
If you’ve got time in your itinerary, maybe within the afternoon when wait instances are longest, contemplate watching the Waterworld present. Check the app for present instances and arrive no less than Quarter-hour early.
This dramatic, water-based stunt present takes place in an outside amphitheatre and options jet ski chases, explosions, fights, and spectacular jumps. If you sit within the entrance rows, anticipate to get very moist!
While the present is in Japanese, you’ll be able to nonetheless benefit from the particular results.
I did discover the present (as with the entire park) very loud, so appreciated my AirPods.
14) Space Fantasy (Seasonal Overlays)
Space Fantasy is an indoor rollercoaster in the dead of night. It used to have an area theme however the authentic trip is closed indefinitely.
Now it solely opens with overlays for particular occasions comparable to with VR for Cool Japan and when it turns into Sadako’s Curse at Halloween.
These have combined opinions however are value testing if wait instances are low.
Universal Studios Osaka Tickets
Universal Studios Japan is a really busy park all year long, so we extremely advocate reserving your tickets prematurely. They do promote out.
A someday ticket prices from 8,600 yen ($56) with greater costs at peak instances. You might also wish to pay additional for an Express Pass (see under).
Buy Universal Studios Japan tickets right here with Klook, an authorised companion of USJ and the simplest approach for English audio system to purchase. International playing cards don’t work on the official USJ web site.
We used Klook for our tickets on our final journey and it was very easy. We acquired a PDF ticket with a QR code that we saved on our telephone and scanned on the ticket gates for entry. Once within the park, scan the ticket into the USJ app to have entry to timed entry requests.
Is a Universal Studios Japan Express Pass Worth It?
Even once we visited in winter, Universal Studios Japan was the busiest theme park we’ve visited (sure, even busier than Disney).
The park options many main points of interest that you simply received’t wish to miss, however all of them have very lengthy queue instances from as quickly because the park opens.
You may get on a couple of rides shortly at first of the day if you happen to arrive early, however you received’t have the ability to do every thing with out waits of no less than an hour and often for much longer.
The solely technique to assure to get on every thing with out lengthy waits is shopping for an Express Pass, which prices greater than the doorway ticket.
You’ll be assigned a particular time to trip every attraction and can solely have a minimal wait. We often waited 5-Quarter-hour (the exception was Mario Kart at 25 minutes).
Our 7-ride Express Pass saved us an unimaginable 565 minutes (over 9 hours) of ready in traces!
Yes, it’s costly, however I completely assume an Express Pass is value it to keep away from frustration and make your park day extra pleasing.
Another main bonus of the Express Pass is that the majority embrace assured timed entry to Super Nintendo World.
Express Passes promote out much more shortly than tickets, so I counsel reserving two months prematurely for probably the most selection and greatest trip instances.
We booked a month prematurely for our November go to and all of the 4-ride passes have been already bought out.
Again, Klook is the simplest approach to purchase passes, because the USJ web site is in Japanese solely (I attempted utilizing Translate nevertheless it was too difficult a course of).
The draw back is that we couldn’t select the trip instances (though apparently you’ll be able to with the newest Klook app). We ended up with trip instances starting from 2pm to 8pm.
Initially I used to be upset to not have morning trip instances, nevertheless it ended up being a blessing as we may skip the rope drop rush, have a lie-in, and keep till 10pm park closing.
It’s relatively complicated as there are lots of totally different passes relying on which rides you should utilize them on and costs fluctuate by date. They do change incessantly.
USJ Express Pass 7
Currently, one of the best go out there is the Express Pass 7- Variety.
It prices no less than 18,000 yen ($117) and consists of:
- Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge
- Yoshi’s Adventure
- Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
- Flight of the Hippogriff
- The Flying Dinosaur
- Despicable Me Minion Mayhem
- Hollywood Dream or JAWS ( I might select Hollywood Dream)
The solely main trip lacking is Hollywood Dream Backdrop, nevertheless it’s not a giant deal to skip this in case you are driving Hollywood Dream. Ride JAWS single rider or on the finish of the day.
This is much like the go we had that saved us over 9 hours of queuing!
Buy the Express Pass 7 right here.
USJ Express Pass 4
A less expensive Express Pass consists of simply 4 rides. Again there are a selection of choices and it’s tougher to decide on one of the best one. You must resolve which rides are most vital to you.
I might go for the Express Pass 4 – Variety Ride because it consists of my three favorite rides. It prices from 15,000 yen ($97) and is legitimate on:
- Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge
- Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
- The Flying Dinosaur OR Hollywood Dream OR JAWS (I’d select Flying Dinosaur)
- Demon Slayer XR (a short lived overlay of Space Fantasy)
If you want rollercoasters, I’d advocate upgrading to Express Pass 7 so you’ll be able to trip each Flying Dinosaur and Hollywood Dream.
Buy the Express Pass 4 right here.
Average USJ Queue Times
If you’re undecided whether or not an Express Pass is value it or not, listed here are the common queue instances at Universal Japan all year long (anticipate greater in peak intervals).
- Hollywood Dream Backdrop – 103 minutes
- Mario Kart – 96 minutes
- Hollywood Dream – 86 minutes
- Flight of the Hippogriff – 81 minutes
- Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey – 73 minutes
- The Flying Dinosaur – 71 minutes
- Despicable Me Minion Mayhem – 67 minutes
- Yoshi’s Adventure – 63 minutes
- JAWS – 47 minutes
- Jurassic Park – 47 minutes
Universal Studios Japan Opening Hours
Universal Studios Osaka often opens between 8am and 10am and closes between 7pm and 10pm.
See the USJ calendar to test the hours (and trip closures) for the date you’re visiting. Times are solely launched a couple of months prematurely.
Unless you’ve got Express Pass 7, it’s best to arrive no less than an hour earlier than the official opening to get into the park as shortly as doable. They typically open early.
How to Get to Universal Studios Osaka
It’s simple to get to Universal Studios Japan by prepare from central Osaka and shouldn’t take greater than half-hour. Universal City Station is just a 5-minute stroll from the park.
To get right here, you’ll seemingly want to alter at Nishikujo station and switch to the JR Yumesaki Line (also called JR Sakurajima Line).
For instance, from Namba Station take the Hanshin Namba Line to Nishikujo then change there for Universal City Station.
You can use your ICOCA or SUICA card which is the simplest technique to pay for transport in Osaka.
You can use Google Maps or Navitime to seek out the route out of your nearest station.
Hotels Near Universal Studios Japan
Universal Studios Japan is definitely reachable from central Osaka, but when your journey is targeted on the park it might be handy to remain in one among these resorts only a few minutes stroll away:
- The Park Front Hotel at Universal Studios Japan – The latest official resort and the closest one to the park gates (proper in entrance!). It has giant rooms (uncommon for Japan) and plenty of facilities.
- Hotel Universal Port Vita – Colourful rooms, solely a 5-minute stroll to the park, and enjoyable Minion decor within the foyer. We stayed right here and appreciated the placement.
- Hotel Universal Port – Comfortable rooms, some with park views, and an amazing location.
- La’gent Hotel Osaka Bay – A great funds choice. Rooms are small however clear and it’s nonetheless walkable to the park (though additional than those above).
If you keep shut by, you may contemplate shopping for a 1.5 day USJ ticket, which lets you enter the park from 3pm on the primary day and for a full day on the second.
Food At Universal Studios Japan
Bringing meals and drinks into the park is prohibited, nevertheless it’s unlikely they’ll test your bag and it is perhaps a good suggestion for vegetarians to carry a couple of rice balls as meat-free choices are restricted.
Queues for meals may also be lengthy, so I like to recommend consuming earlier than you enter the park if doable (there are many locations exterior the gate together with Starbucks). We waited 35 minutes for each Amity Ice Cream and dinner at Three Broomsticks.
We cherished these candy treats:
- Salted caramel banana popcorn from the POP-A-NANA stand in Minion Park. You may even purchase a memento bucket.
- Cookie sandwiches from Despicable Me! The Cookie Kitchen. The chocolate orange one was particularly tasty.
- Chocolate desserts at Beverly Hills Boulangerie. There are tons to select from, however the chocolate fondant with a scorching melting center was scrumptious.
- Butterbeer at Three Broomsticks. It’s received to be accomplished! The chilly model is fizzier, however the heat one was higher on a cold day. You may in all probability share because it’s very candy. There are nice views of the citadel from the terrace out the again.
Savoury vegetarian choices in USJ are way more restricted:
- Three Broomsticks – This informal restaurant has nice Harry Potter theming. The vegetable plate consists of salad, corn on the cob, potato wedges, and steamed greens. It’s plain however filling. It’s vegan if you happen to skip the butter. We additionally received macaroni and cheese from the youngsters menu and shared each.
- Louis NY Pizza Parlour – This fast service restaurant has a Margherita pizza.
- Azzurra di Capri – A desk service restaurant with a vegetarian pizza. Go early to get a desk or guide prematurely.
- Kinopio’s Cafe – A preferred informal restaurant in Super Nintendo World (anticipate a protracted queue). The solely veggie choices are the Piranha Plan Caprese (tomato and mozzarella salad) and the Fruit & Veggie Salad.
See our vegetarian Osaka information for one of the best meat-free meals within the metropolis as there are tons of choices exterior the park.
On our approach again to Shinsaibashi we stopped for vegan ramen at Matsuri which is close to Noda station the place we wanted to alter trains.
If you propose to do any buying, carry your passport as you’ll be able to then store tax-free if you happen to spend over 5000 yen.
There are many choices for souvenirs within the park. Our favourites have been in Harry Potter World and It’s So Fluffy which is stuffed with cute fluffy unicorns from Despicable Me.
Is Universal Studios Japan Worth it?
Universal Studios Japan is crowded and costly (if you buy an Express Pass), however we nonetheless assume it’s nicely value visiting.
It’s a enjoyable day trip in Osaka with the magical Harry Potter World, immersive Super Nintendo World, and a few severely thrilling rollercoasters and distinctive 3D simulators.
It is a very fashionable park, so do be sure to keep away from peak instances, guide tickets prematurely, and both purchase an Express Pass or put together to queue.
If you’re theme park nuts like us, you may also wish to learn our posts on our favorite Universal Studios Singapore rides, Universal Islands of Adventure rides, and Tokyo DisneySea rides.
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