Do you want to go to Universal Studios Japan? Are you looking for help because you don't know where to start planning your visit? If you want to Get to know the Nintendo zone and you have no idea which ticket you have to buy? Look no further! In today's post, I want to share with you information about Universal Studios Japan and above all, resolve all doubts about tickets, schedules, transportation… Are you ready to find out?
Universal Studios Japan opened on March 31, 2001 and welcomed over 11 million visitors in its first year!
Universal Studios Japan - Osaka
Since its opening, the park has undergone changes over the years, offering unique attractions and experiences exclusive to Japan, including “The Flying Dinosaur” and the first Super Nintendo World area in a Universal park.
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Universal Studios Japan, also known as "USJ", is one of four Universal Studios theme parks in the world.
Since 2010, the park has seen an increase in visitor numbers each year. In 2018, Universal Studios Japan was named the second most visited theme park in Asia-Pacific and the fifth most visited in the world. With the recent boom in tourism in Japan, attendance is expected to continue to rise.
Nintendo Park, Harry Potter...
Universal Studios Japan offers some of the world’s biggest and most recognizable franchises, from Harry Potter to Sesame Street. With the recent opening of Super Nintendo World in 2021, Universal Studios Japan has become a “must-see” destination in Japan for both theme park lovers and geeky tourists like us.
Best Time to Visit Universal Studios Japan in Osaka
Planning your trip to Universal Studios Japan is an overwhelming experience. You are not only planning a visit to a theme park, but also traveling to the wonderful country of Japan. The question “What is the best time to visit?” is one of the most frequently asked questions, and with good reason. This is the most important part of planning your trip, so you want to be informed.
DREAMER TIPS
When deciding when to visit Universal Studios Japan in Osaka, we give you some Dreamer Tips that you should consider. Following them will put you in the best possible position to make an informed decision.
- «The “perfect” moment doesn’t exist, so don’t stress.
- Avoid weekends and holidays.
- Always check if any attraction is closed.
- Use a crowd prediction calendar to get an idea of attendance levels.
- Keep in mind that things can change.
Crowds at Universal Studios Japan
The first thing to think about when planning your trip to Universal Studios Japan is when to go, what time of year will have fewer visitors…
Most visitors to Universal Studios Japan are locals who enjoy the parks in their own way. There are those who don't mind waiting for hours for a parade while sitting on picnic mats or arriving at the gates at least 2-3 hours before they open, even on a weekday.
This unique way of experiencing the park influences the overall culture and atmosphere of Universal Studios Japan. Understanding these differences helps you navigate this unique yet familiar landscape.
Please note that large crowds are common even during the week, and wait times for popular attractions can be up to 240 minutes, especially in the Nintendo zone. And on weekends and holidays, expect even larger crowds and longer wait times. To avoid the crowds, be sure to arrive early and plan ahead.
Don't even think about arriving 30 minutes before the park opens on a weekend thinking you'll get into the park in 10 minutes (it will probably take you at least half an hour). Even if you arrive an hour early, you'll find that there are already hundreds of people lined up.
The best advice for dealing with crowds is to be prepared. Do everything early and add extra time to everything you want to accomplish. Based on my experience, even on the usual busy days, wait times and crowd levels are not as intense as they were years ago.
How many days should you spend at Universal Studios Japan?
It depends on whether your trip is exclusively for the park or is part of a larger itinerary in Japan.
For most dreamers, a full day will be enough to do most everything if you use the Express Pass. However, I would recommend 1.5 days if time permits, that way you won't have to rely on the Express Pass (depending on the time of year).
If your only reason for visiting Universal Studios Japan is Super Nintendo World, then I highly recommend 1.5 days so you have enough time to enjoy the area without rushing.
How to get to Universal Studios Japan
Once you arrive in Osaka, you'll need to head to Universal Studios Japan. Since the park is right in the city.
📍 Universal Studios Japan, 2 Chome-1-33 Sakurajima, Konohana Ward, Osaka, 554-0031, Japan
From Kansai International Airport
Duration: 70 minutes
Price: Adult (One way): ¥1,600
Child (one way): ¥800
This is a hassle-free way to travel without having to go on trains with all your luggage. Plus, it's ideal for families with children.
Make sure you get off at the last stop, “Universal City Walk Osaka (Hotel Kintetsu Universal City).” The previous stop is “Universal Studios Japan” and if you get off here, you will have to walk for about 10 minutes to get to your hotel. Don’t do that. Please note that the first bus leaves at 08:40 and the last one at 21:00, leaving from Terminal 1.
Local train
Duration: 65 minutes
Price: Adult (One Way): ¥1,210
From Kansai International Airport, you will take the JR Hanzawa Line to Nishikujo Station, where you will transfer to the JR Yumesaki Line (JR Sakurajima Line) and then continue to Universal City Station.
Important: Enter cars 1 to 4, as the later cars do not go in that direction.
From Osaka
Bus transfer between Osaka and Universal Studios Japan - Dotomburi area
Shin-Osaka Station
Duration: 25 minutes
Price: Adult (One way): ¥220
If you are coming by Shinkansen (bullet train), you will arrive at Shin-Osaka Station. Take the JR Tokaido-Sanyo Line to Osaka Station and transfer here.
From Osaka Station, there are direct trains running at different times, taking approximately 15 minutes. You will make an easy transfer at Nishikujo Station, as these trains are more frequent. All signage is in English.
Osaka Station
Duration: 15 minutes
Price: Adult (One way): ¥180
There are direct trains that operate at different times and take approximately 15 minutes. You will make a simple transfer at Nishikujo Station as these trains are more frequent. All signage is in English.
Universal Studios Japan - Tickets & Express Pass
There are several park ticket options at Universal Studios Japan. They may seem like a lot of information at first, but thankfully they aren't too complicated. Things get confusing once you start looking into the Express Pass.
I'll explain how to buy park tickets and the Express Pass, how they work, how to save money, and tips to make your visit go more smoothly. Let's get started!
Buy tickets for Universal Studios Japan on the official website
You can purchase your ticket and Express Pass up to 2 months in advance of your visit dates.
Of course, you can buy tickets and the Express Pass directly through the Universal Studios Japan Official Website here. The website will also offer tickets for special events.
Some Visa and Mastercard credit cards may not work. You can use Apple Pay on the website using an iPhone.
Note: Disabled tickets are not available for purchase on the English website. They are only available at the ticket office.
Buy tickets for Universal Studios Japan on Klook
You can purchase your tickets for Universal Studios Japan from an authorized company. I highly recommend Klook. It is a service that the entire Experience Your Dream team uses and trusts. You can buy your tickets from our link here.
The price of tickets when you buy them on Klook is identical to that on the official website (even lower if there is a promotion), with the advantage that you won't have any problems when making the payment.
BUY YOUR TICKETS IN ADVANCE
If you want to save time and have everything ready to enjoy Universal Studios Japan and Super Nintendo World. Buy your ticket in advance online, you can do it from our trusted suppliers, They are the best option if you don't want to be left without a ticket or Express Pass.
1-day ticket prices vary depending on the time of year and demand. There is no difference between Studio Pass A, B, C or D, they just use those letters to differentiate the ticket price.
What are Express Passes for Universal Studios Japan?
An Express Pass is an additional ticket you can purchase in addition to your regular park admission to skip the regular lines. Again, this is an option in addition to your park admission (which you must purchase separately). The Express Pass will significantly reduce wait times at certain attractions in the park.
Express Passes are available up to two months in advance and I highly recommend purchasing them before you arrive at the park as they tend to sell out quickly. There are a number of different options, and you'll need to choose the one that best suits your tastes and the number of attractions. Here are some of the existing passes, you can see them all on the official website and on Klook.
In addition to permanent attractions, there are Express Pass options for limited-time events like Halloween Horror Nights and Cool Japan.
Where to Buy Your Express Pass
You can purchase your Express Pass on the Universal Studios Japan website and on Klook, which also has Express Pass.
Your Express Pass will have time slots in which you can ride the attractions corresponding to the pass and, above all, a predetermined time to visit the Nintendo area and the Harry Potter area. Therefore, when purchasing the Express Pass, if you want everyone in your group to have the same time slots, you must purchase them together.
DREAMER ADVICE
The park has different hours depending on the day, here You can see the calendar with their opening hours.
How to secure access to Super Nintendo World
Express Pass to access Super Nintendo World
Super Nintendo World is extremely popular, and with an Express Pass, you're guaranteed entry to that area and reduced wait times at attractions.
As we will tell you in our Dreamer Opinion, for us Purchasing a Universal Express Pass is the best option for foreign travelers, as this way you can be sure to enter both Super Nintendo World and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter even if there are large crowds.
BUY YOUR EXPRESS PASS
If you want to ensure entry to popular areas such as Harry Potter or Super Nintendo World, the best option is to purchase an Express Pass, as there are options that include the hourly ticket required to enter these areas. Buy it through our trusted official suppliers.
Area-Timed Entry Ticket to access Super Nintendo World 👨🏻🔧🍄🐢
Another option to enter Super Nintendo World is to get a Area-Timed Entry Ticket from the USJ app.
Once you have arrived at the entrance (a couple of hours before opening) there is an option within the app where you enter a virtual waiting line and if you are lucky you are assigned an entrance time to Nintendo.
The problem with this option is that these passes usually fly by super fast. Therefore, we confirm again that if you want to make sure you get in, we recommend buying a Express Pass and go calmly with your already assigned time.
Dreamer Review – Is an Express Pass worth buying?
You can do it without an Express Pass if you are willing to use the Single Rider lines and arrive early. If you just want to go through the park in a relaxed way, enjoying it without too many pretensions, you can do it without this pass.
Speaking from personal experience, I have always bought an Express Pass. Yes, it is quite expensive, it can even be more expensive than the regular ticket that you also have to buy. BUT it makes everything much easier for you, you have access to the most popular areas of the park without having to do any juggling, you have your own time slot to go to the Nintendo and Harry Potter areas.
Plus, you won't have to wait in line for the attractions that have a time slot for you, which is something you'll appreciate considering the wait times for such popular attractions as MarioKart or Forbidden Journey...
This was the Express Pass I used on my last visit, it includes the Nintendo and Harry Potter areas:
We hope you find this information useful.
We hope you found it useful Our guide to Universal Studios Japan and our tips for planning a magical experience! keep you up to date with all the news About Universal Studios Japan, subscribe to our blog and follow us on our social networks.
If you have any questions, please feel free to leave us a comment or email us at info@experienceyourdream.com.au.
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