I know it’s been a bit under two years since I went to Universal Studios Japan but I wanted still to share my footage, photos, and tips as they can be relevant if you plan on going, especially to Japan this year! In this review, I will discuss the different rides I went on, some tips you can use to have a better experience, and how I compare it to the other Universal Studios (Hollywood and Singapore coming soon). I already posted about the food I ate at Universal Studios Japan which you can also check out. Before you read below, make sure to follow me on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook for more content like this! For a preview of what to expect see below!
About and Location
Universal Studios Japan (USJ) is the first Universal Studios park (opened in 2001) outside the U.S. and is now one of the most visited theme parks in the world. It is located at 2 Chome-1-33 Sakurajima, Konohana Ward, Osaka and you can take the JR Yumesaki Line to Universal City Station from Osaka Station which is usually about 15 minutes. I might do another post specifically about Japan transit but I highly recommend this and people working at the stations are nice enough to help you if you’re lost but you will definitely see people going with you on this train. You should definitely arrive early, at least 30 minutes before 9 a.m. (opening) because you might catch rare characters greeting you and there will also be seasonal anime collaborations and freebies. Tip: as soon as you enter ask the staff if there are any special freebies or activities to do so you don’t miss out I tried asking later in the day and unfortunately they sold out. Arriving early also helps you beat the line for special merch and lines including the exclusive popcorn buckets (Mario, JJK, Jurrasic Park, Minions, etc.) which are unique to Japan. I lowkey regret not getting one because it was cool and I didn’t see it anywhere else after, but it was a bit pricey and smaller than expected.
Like Hollywood, they also host Horror Nights and Christmas celebrations later in the year. Keep in mind, the park is massive and you will most likely spend the entire day there regardless of what type of ticket you have. However, it’s important to note that there is no re-entry allowed with limited locker rentals. Also good to bring a jacket in case it rains or gets chilly. The park also has different areas including New York, Hollywood, Minion Park, Jurassic Park, Harry Potter World, and Super Nintendo World.
Tickets
Since USJ is extremely popular, tickets often sell out, especially for weekends and holidays. I’d recommend getting it from the site if you can or just using websites like Klook if you can (which I’ve used before). We technically got our tickets from Klook because our trip was so last-minute and they sell the studio pass and express pass separately. The pass came up to $188.90 for two people while the Express Pass (which covers 4 rides) came up to a whopping total of $399.10. I know that is super expensive and I feel like you can get it for much cheaper if you buy ahead but trust me, this was worth it. The express pass is the best way to utilize your time there especially if you were only in Japan for a few days like we were. The pass can be used to skip long lines for The Flying Dinosaur, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, and Super Nintendo World. Although it is pricey, these passes do sell out quickly. Another benefit of the express pass is that it guarantees you entry into the Super Nintendo World since it is a timed entry. You can get one for free via the USJ app but it is first come, first served, so not guaranteed. TIP: Regardless if you have an express pass or not, make sure to download the USJ app to keep track of wait times for all the rides and any important announcements.
Attractions
Below are some of the attractions I went to and I grouped some together but I share my brief thoughts on each one.
Jujustu Kaisen: 4D Ride
Every Universal Studios always has a fun 4D ride for everyone to enjoy but the one in Japan was of the popular anime, Jujutsu Kaisen (JJK). Hollywood has Kung Fu Panda and Singapore has Shrek, but I will say this was in my opinion, the best 4D ride I experienced! TIP: Go to this ride early, maybe as soon as you enter because there is a bit of a lineup if it is still there (keep in mind there are rumors of JJK coming back to USJ in some format. You are not allowed to take photos inside and there were no English subtitles, but it was very immersive which might not be suitable for certain individuals e.g., those who wear a pacemaker or who are pregnant. There is a really cool gift shop at the end but since I didn’t watch the anime at the time I never really checked it out. I loved how the ride combined the unique animation style of JJK which is a mix of classic and modern anime and had an interesting storyline. Because of this ride, I wanted to see the anime and read the manga. It’s now one of my favorite animes and I even went as one of the characters for Halloween last year.
Doraemon
If you follow my personal Instagram account you know I post about Doraemon here and there because I love what he embodies, so I was ecstatic to see there was a Doraemon ride here. This was a limited-time ride to help promote the 2023 film, Nobita’s Sky Utopia. I know this is not there right now but you never know if they might do something similar later on because, unlike other Universal parks, USJ is known for rotating temporary attractions based on anime, video games, and movies. They were pretty strict about the ride where you have to put everything into a locker so it’s good to keep a 100 yen coin with you and you are not allowed to take any photos or videos inside. You get to take a really cool photo and walk through this beautiful spaceship that only Doraemon can offer. The ride came with 3D aviator goggles which is already really cool and you get to fly through with the crew. Unfortunately, the ride had glitches but it never took away from my amazement at how well-produced and fun the ride was. There was some merchandise and nice Doraemon statue at the end and of course, the cool Doremon churros!
Spiderman
I believe Doraemon was in the Hollywood area but we ended up migrating to the East Coast and visiting New York to see the friendly, web-swinging, neighborhood hero, Spiderman! Firstly, I was shocked to see Spiderman there since Disney owns Marvel but this ride was awesome! Not only do you walk through the Daily Bugle but you get to see old-school Spiderman comics that were printed in Japanese! The line moves fast but as you wait there are a lot of cool things to look at and take pics of from the office desks, the published photos but my personal favourite was Peter Parker’s dark room used to develop his eye-catching photos! I also loved that in the ride they split each zone into the different boroughs of New York! The ride itself was fun and you felt all the different elements. It really is different from the Webslingers ride in Avengers Campus at Disneyland California. There is a gift shop at the end with some interesting things but make sure to walk outside and take a picture with the Spiderman hanging upside down!
Jurassic World
There are two rides one being the Jurassic Park River Adventure which is the same as the one in Hollywood but I do feel there is more water splashed on you so you can either buy the poncho or just make sure to have a hoodie on because everyone on my ride got wet! The truly intense ride is the Flying Dinosaur. I was so terrified of this ride but I also didn’t want to regret not going on. This line had such a long lineup and fortunately, our express pass didn’t cover this. I say fortunately because I feel like I had enough time to secure my shoes with the rubber band and calm my nerves before we strapped in. I had my eyes open and smiling throughout because I thought there would be pictures taken but the machine was down. As I had my eyes open I was able to see the entire park as we went upside down and around and ultimately, all around the park. Due to the intensity of the roller coaster, you need to put all your stuff including your phone, wallet, and watch into your bag and make sure your shoes are not loose!
Harry Potter
As mentioned earlier, the theme park is massive and I wasn’t sure where the Wizarding World was but literally while on the Flying Dinosaur I was able to figure it out and make the visit. The lighting of the Hogwarts castle does get packed but it is always stunning to see but I did find there were more opportunities to take pictures here compared to the other Universal Studios. It was really similar to the one in Hollywood but I did notice that there were some sweets at Honeydukes that wasn’t at the one in Hollywood both times I went.
Jaws, Hollywood Dream Backdrop, Minions Mayhem
I personally found the Jaws ride very fun and it was cool to know that this ride was also in Orlando but was removed leaving this the only one that still operates which explains the nostalgic experience. It felt like an extended version of what you see in the Universal Studios Hollywood Tour with more water and explosion! However, what really made it special was our guide who had incredible charisma and her commitment never faded while on the ride. Hollywood Dream Backdrop is a fun and underrated ride. Initially, I was confused as to why there were 2 separate lines but apparently is if you choose to enjoy the ride backwards or forwards. I remember I chose the front and you also get to choose the song that gets played which was really interesting since you can’t hear what others are listening to. I went at nighttime and the view of the park from the roller coaster was beautiful! Lastly, the Minions Mayhem here is much better than Hollywood in my opinion because it’s bigger and it feels like a mashup of the minon mayhem in Hollywood mixed with the Hollywood Simpsons ride!
Super Nintendo World
I’m doing Super Nintendo World separately because there is a lot going on and I am not talking about the wait time for Kinopio’s Cafe! As mentioned earlier, this part of the park has timed entry and our express pass did help us guarantee it but I believe we initially had it for the evening and got to switch it for the morning. USJ was the first park to open Super Nintendo World, before Hollywood or Orlando and I believe I was one of the people who got to experience it early. As soon as you enter the world you will see a little booth where you can purchase your special power-up bands. The purpose of the bands is to allow visitors to collect virtual coins, track progress, and interact with various attractions which you will see me doing in the video. To be transparent, I wasn’t entirely sure what exactly I was doing I just knew that my band would interact with certain areas at the park which was fun. The power-up bands were about ¥3,800 and although optional, I would still recommend it if you have the chance to have a more interactive experience. The power-up band options are based on popular Super Mario characters (Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Princess Daisy, Yoshi, and Toad. I got a special limited edition gold version which may or may not be for Wario. TIP: I didn’t realize it at the time but the power-up band has an interactive map but you need to link it up with the USJ mobile app to track your progress and total coins. Also, once you unlock three keys from Power-Up Band Key Challenges in the land you can enjoy the interactive game, Bowser Jr. Shadow Showdown. As for physical rides, there are two main ones:
Koopa Challenge
You get to step into Bowser/ King Koopa’s castle which is really fascinating, especially the statue and the various props (e.g., MKTV satellite van). The express pass does help with this even though there is a little big line but essentially you wear an augmented reality (AR) headset that replicates Mario’s cap and embarks in a real-life Mario Kart race just like the video games where you can collect coins while throwing shells at your competition! It was so cool and fun especially because you are in a kart of four people competing as one team. The power-up bank helps track your performance and coin collection.
Yoshi’s Adventure
This is a very chill family-friendly ride that goes really slow but provides a scenic view of the Mushroom Kingdom and the entire Nintendo World once your kart steps outside. There are fun animatronics and just a very relaxing ride that is great for after you eat (especially after the Yoshi Yakisoba). This is great for young rides and the power-up band does unlock some hidden elements but I don’t think I really unlocked anything.
Gift Shop & City Walk
There are so many gift shops after each ride but there is a main one near the entrance I recommend you check out as they have a lot of cool souvenirs which weren’t too marked up. If I go again, I will definitely buy some more stuff from there. Also, when you step outside of the actual park like other Universal Studios, you can enjoy the City Walk. From what I remember, there wasn’t much open when I went except for the Hard Rock Cafe which I didn’t mind because I like going there in any city I got to around the world. The staff working were incredible, they were so efficient and kind to me and everyone there. Personally, this was the best service I ever had at any Hard Rock Cafe and even in any restaurant in Japan! They also had a store and I loved the t-shirts, especially the Sakura/Cherry Blossom t-shirt they had!
Overall
All in all, this is hands down my favorite Universal Studios I’ve been to from the friendly staff to the incredible rides and of course, the unique food and activations across the park. I highly recommend you visit if you can and use my tips to help you if you plan on going in the near future! Let me know your thoughts if you have enjoyed any of these rides or wish you could go! Let me know in the comments below or by following me on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook as I will be posting more Universal Studios content as well as Japan travel content!
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