Universal Studios Japan

Introduction and history of Universal Studios Japan

Universal Studios Japan (ユニバーサルスタジオジャパン) opened its doors on March 31, 2001, marking the international expansion of the famous American franchise. As the brand's third location, it was an immediate success, and has expanded rapidly ever since. The park's popularity continues unabated among the Japanese, many of whom have an Annual Pass allowing them to visit their favorite park at any time.

Strategically located in Osaka Bay, the park is easily accessible by public transport, notably via the JR Yumesaki line to Universal City station. This privileged position, combined with its rich entertainment offering, partly explains its dazzling success. In 2015, Comcast acquired 51% of the park for $1.5 billion, testifying to its considerable value in the global theme park market.

Despite a slowdown during the Covid-19 pandemic, which saw attendance drop to 4.9 million visitors in 2020, the park has rebounded spectacularly to reach 16 million visitors in 2023, an average of 43,000 people a day. This impressive figure places the park third in the world in terms of visitor numbers.

Theme zones and their star attractions

Universal Studios Japan is divided into nine distinct sections, each offering a unique immersive experience. These themed zones enable visitors of all ages to fully experience the cinematic adventure and world of their favorite films.

Hollywood: The first zone you'll encounter on entering the park, it features a main arcade lined with stores and restaurants. The star attraction is "Hollywood Dream - The Ride", a roller coaster with a choice of soundtracks. A variant called "Hollywood Dream - The Ride Backdrop" offers the experience in reverse, with participants placed in the opposite direction of travel. This section is also home to "Shrek's 4-D Adventure" and "Space Fantasy: The Ride".

New York: This area reproduces the atmosphere of the famous American metropolis, with its bustling streets and iconic buildings. Don't miss "The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man - The Ride 4K3D", an immersive experience where you accompany the superhero on a frantic race through the streets of New York.

San Francisco: Mainly dedicated to restaurants and stores, this area is home to the "Backdraft" attraction, based on the film of the same name, which plunges you into the world of firefighters battling flames.

Jurassic Park: Experience a dinosaur adventure in this area inspired by Steven Spielberg's film. "Jurassic Park: The Ride" takes you on a rapids ride among the dinosaurs, while "The Flying Dinosaur" offers a roller-coaster experience where you're suspended above the void for the entire ride. The latter is particularly popular with thrill-seekers.

Minion Park: Dedicated to the world of the "Despicable Me" films, this colorful zone will delight the youngest visitors with fun attractions such as "Despicable Me Minion Mayhem" and "Freeze Ray Sliders".

Amity Village: Based on the film "Jaws", this zone features the "Jaws" attraction, which takes you back to the most thrilling moments of the famous movie.

WaterWorld: Inspired by the film of the same name, this section features an impressive stunt show staging the film's final battle, with live performances, breathtaking stunts and stunning special effects.

Universal Wonderland: This area is particularly child-friendly, featuring characters such as Hello Kitty, Snoopy and Sesame Street characters in a variety of gentle, interactive attractions.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Super Nintendo World: the park's star universes

In 2024, to celebrate its 10th anniversary, this zone offers a special year with magical experiences such as the "Hogwarts Castle Walk", "Death Eaters Takeover" and "Hogwarts Magical Night - Winter Magic".

Super Nintendo World, opening in March 2021, is the park's newest and one of its most eagerly awaited zones. This colorful, interactive world is dedicated to the world of Mario and offers total immersion in the Mushroom Kingdom. The main attraction, "Mario Kart: Koopa's Challenge", combines augmented reality technology and physical sets to take you on a frantic race through Bowser's castle.

"Yoshi's Adventure" offers a more leisurely ride on Yoshi's back across Mont Kiléraide, ideal for families. The area also features a unique interactive system thanks to the "Power-Up Band", a connected bracelet that allows visitors to collect coins, take part in mini-games and interact with the scenery. At the end of 2024, Super Nintendo World will expand with the opening of an extension dedicated to Donkey Kong Country, increasing the size of the park by 70%.

Both worlds stand out for their extraordinary level of detail and their ability to completely immerse visitors in imaginary worlds they know and love. Access to Super Nintendo World often requires a specific time reservation, due to its great popularity.

Temporary attractions and seasonal events

Universal Studios Japan stands out for its ability to constantly renew its offering with temporary attractions and seasonal events that attract a loyal audience throughout the year. These time-limited events allow regular visitors to discover new experiences with every visit.

The park regularly showcases the most popular Japanesemanga and anime franchises through exclusive attractions. Series such as One Piece, Dragon Ball, Attack of the Titans, Evangelion, Sailor Moon and Demon Slayer have all been celebrated with immersive attractions. These temporary collaborations are particularly popular with Japanese and international fans, who can experience their favorite series in a whole new way.

Seasonal events also punctuate the life of the park. For Halloween, USJ transforms into a spooky universe with haunted houses and terrifying shows. Christmas sees the park decked out in fairytale decorations and offering enchanting shows such as the "Universal Spectacle Night Parade". Spring is marked by cherry blossom and special events celebrating this emblematic Japanese season.

For 2025, Universal Studios Japan has already announced several major events, including "Peril at the Masquerade", an interactive show inspired by Keigo Higashino's series of detective novels, and an immersive "Detective Conan: The World" experience featuring several attractions based on the famous manga. These events promise "Super Shocking, Super Real" experiences transforming popular Japanese franchises into life-size attractions.

The park has also developed partnerships with other licenses such as Pokémon (since October 2021) and continues to expand its collaborations. This strategy of constant innovation ensures that Universal Studios Japan remains at the forefront of Asian theme parks, and that visitors keep coming back.

Practical information: opening times, prices and access

Opening hours: Universal Studios Japan's opening hours vary according to season and time of year. Generally, the park opens between 8:30 and 9:30 am and closes between 7 and 10 pm. We strongly recommend that you check the exact opening times on the official website before your visit. The average length of a full visit is a full day, but some visitors prefer to spread their experience over two days to take full advantage of all the attractions.

Prices: Ticket prices vary according to season and age. As a guide, expect to pay around :

• 8,600 yen (approx. €55) for an adult day pass (from age 12)
• 5,600 yen (approx. €35) for children (aged 4 to 11)
• 7,700 yen (approx. 48€) for seniors (65 and over)

Tickets can be purchased online up to three months in advance. You can still buy tickets on the day, but ticket offices are often crowded, especially during peak periods.

To avoid long queues at popular attractions, Universal Studios Japan also offers various Universal Express Passes at prices ranging from ¥4,500 to ¥19,800, depending on the number of attractions included. These can be particularly useful on busy days.

Access: Universal Studios Japan is easily accessible by public transport:

• By train: Take the JR Yumesaki line (also known as the JR Sakurajima line) to Universal City station, just a few minutes' walk from the park entrance.
• From Osaka (Umeda) station: Approx. 15-minute journey.
• From Kansai International Airport: Approx. 1-hour journey, with a change at Nishikujo station.
• From Kyoto: Approx. 60-75 minutes by taking the JR Kyoto line to Osaka station, then following the route from Osaka station.

For further information, please contact customer service on +81 (0)57 020 0606. or visit https://www.usj.co.jp/e/

Tips to optimize your visit and avoid queues

Plan your visit outside peak periods: Universal Studios Japan is a very busy park, especially on weekends, Japanese public holidays, school vacations and Golden Week (early May). For a more enjoyable experience, it's best to visit during the week and avoid these busy periods. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are generally the least crowded days.

Arrive early: We strongly recommend that you arrive at least one hour before the park officially opens. Gates often open earlier than advertised, sometimes up to an hour earlier. Being among the first visitors will enable you to enjoy popular attractions with minimal waiting times. This is particularly important if you wish to access Super Nintendo World without prior reservation.

Download the official app: Universal Studios Japan's mobile app is an invaluable tool that allows you to check waiting times in real time, book your Super Nintendo World admission slot, access show times and locate restaurants and stores. It will help you optimize your route through the park and plan your day efficiently.

Use the "single rider" queues: Some attractions offer special queues for single riders, to fill empty spaces in the vehicles. Even if you're in a group, using this option can save you considerable time, even though you won't be sitting together.

Invest in an Express Pass if your budget allows: Universal Express Passes allow access to certain popular attractions via priority queues. Although expensive, they can radically transform your experience by drastically reducing the time spent queuing, especially on busy days. Different versions are available (Express Pass 4 or 7), including guaranteed access to Super Nintendo World and popular attractions such as Mario Kart and The Flying Dinosaur.

Check show and parade schedules: Consult the show schedule here and plan your day accordingly. Shows like WaterWorld and the Universal Spectacle Night Parade are very popular and well worth including in your itinerary.

Prepare for the weather: Depending on the season, bring appropriate clothing. In summer, Osaka can be very hot and humid, while winter can be cool. Some attractions, such as Jurassic Park: The Ride, can get you wet, so take precautions accordingly.

Restaurants, stores and services available to visitors

Universal Studios Japan offers a wide range of dining options to suit all tastes and budgets. Numerous themed restaurants allow you to prolong your immersion in the park's universe while dining out.

In The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, don't miss the Three Broomsticks Tavern, where you can enjoy a traditional British meal and the famous Bièraubeurre. The quality of the food is decent if sometimes average, but the magical atmosphere is well worth the detour. Expect to pay around $20 for a full meal and drink.

Kinopio's Café (Toad's Café) in Super Nintendo World offers dishes based on the Mario universe, with a menu inspired by Italian and American cuisine. Presentations are particularly polished and Instagram-friendly, although flavors are sometimes average. Reservations are required and can be made via the park app or with on-site staff.

In Minion Park, you'll find stands offering colorful, playful Minion-inspired snacks. For fans of Japanese cuisine, several of the park's restaurants offer local specialties such as takoyaki (octopus dumplings) in the San Francisco area.

As for stores, each theme zone has its own souvenir stores offering exclusive products. In The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, you can buy your own wand at Ollivanders, or magical confectionery at Honeydukes. Super Nintendo World offers Nintendo merchandise not available elsewhere, while the Jurassic Park stores are packed with dinosaur-themed items.

Universal Studios Japan also offers a wide range of services to make your visit easier:

• Lockers: Lockers of various sizes are available at the park entrance and near certain attractions for depositing your belongings. You'll need 100 yen coins to use them.
• Stroller and wheelchair hire: Available near the main entrance.
• Photography service: Professional photographers are strategically positioned to capture your memories.
• Information desk: For questions or assistance during your visit.
• First aid: A medical center is available in case of need.

In the immediate vicinity of the park is Universal CityWalk, a shopping area with numerous restaurants, stores and entertainment venues. It's the ideal place to extend your day after the park closes, or to do some extra shopping. For a complete Osaka experience, why not combine your visit to Universal Studios Japan with Visit Osaka for a Day with our Travel Angel or discover other 5 typical Japanese theme parks.