Japan has some of the best theme parks in the world. From marquee names like Disney to local gems like Fuji-Q Highland, there’s a park for everyone. If your Japan adventure includes time in Kyoto or Osaka then you might want to make time for Universal Studios Japan!
Mark has visited a few theme parks around the world but USJ was by far his favourite experience. The park is not a secret so you will need planning and little luck to avoid crowds. Keep reading to see if Universal Studios Japan is right for you and top tips to get the most out of your visit.
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How to get there
Universal Studios Japan is located just outside of Osaka in Japan’s Kansai Region. You could technically make a day trip from Tokyo but that wouldn’t give you a lot of time in the park. We recommend making the trip while you are staying in either Osaka, Kyoto, or Kobe.
From Osaka
If you’re staying in Osaka, it’s very easy to make your way to Universal Studios Japan. The park is a short walk from Universal City Station on the JR Yumesaki Line. This fare is included with your JR Pass if you bought one for your trip. You can get to the station from either Osaka Station or even Kansai Airport. If you leave from the airport, however, you will need to take the JR Airport Rapid to Nishikujo Station and transfer to the JR Yumesaki Line.
From Kyoto
Kyoto was our home base while exploring the region. It was so easy to get back and forth to Osaka that we felt we didn’t need to physically stay in the city. If you are in Kyoto you can get to Universal Studios Japan quickly and easily. Take the Shinkansen from Kyoto Station to Shin-Osaka Station using your JR Pass. This leg of the journey is less than 30 minutes if you get the right train.
Be aware that Shin-Osaka Station is NOT the same as Osaka Station. You can get from Shin-Osaka to Osaka in 5 minutes on the metro using your SUICA Card. Get your JR Pass ready when you arrive at Osaka Station because you’ll be taking the JR Line to Universal City Station. We made it from our hotel to the gates of USJ in under and hour!
Ticket Info
Park Hours
USJ is open 365 days a year except for extenuating circumstances like a typhoon or 2020. The park is open from 9:00am to 7:00pm most days. We recommend getting to the park at least 30 minutes before opening. This is because the park is known to open earlier than 9 if they think it will be a busy day. Also, you can head straight to ride or area that excites you the most and avoid as much line-time as possible.
The park will not kick you out right at 7pm so there is no need to rush. The closing time is more meant for the last time you can enter the grounds. The park is beautifully lit up at night so we recommend staying until after dark. This is especially true in winter where we were able to admire the Christmas decorations until 9pm!
Ticket Price
If you’ve been to any theme park you know they are not known for cheap ticket prices. Universal Studios Japan is no exception but it’s cheaper than Tokyo Disney or DisneySea. It’s also a huge park with lots to see and do so you’ll definitely get your money’s worth!
As of January 2021, single-day park tickets are:
Adults 12+ – ¥7,800 (about $97CAD/$76 USD)
Seniors 65+ – ¥7,100 (about $88 CAD/$69 USD)
Kids Under 12 – ¥5,400 (about $67 CAD/$52 USD)
Ticket prices fluctuate throughout the year depending on the season. You can expect to pay higher prices during high season (Spring-Fall) and lower during the off season (Winter). Discounts on tickets are rare but you might be able to find a deal if you plan far enough ahead.
Where to Buy Tickets
It is possible to buy tickets at the gate when you arrive but we strongly recommend you buy them in advance. Universal Studios Japan has a set number of tickets they’ll allow on any given day so the park may already be sold out if you go in person. Buying a ticket online also helps you avoid lining up for a ticket so you can have more time in the park.
USJ doesn’t pre-sell tickets online directly so you will need to go through a third party. Sites like Klook, TripAdvisor, kkday, Voyagin, and Traveloka have partnerships with Universal Studios Japan to sell tickets on their behalf. Do not buy a ticket from any other site because they might be fake and they generally charge high “convenience fees” so you’ll end up paying more.
When to Visit
Spring and Summer are high-season for international and domestic tourists in Japan. This means a lot of attractions, like Universal Studios Japan, are going to be really busy. USJ also capitalizes on this demand by charging more for tickets during the busy times. In the end, you’ll be paying more to stand in longer lines!
If you find yourself in Japan during the busy season there are some ways to avoid the worst of the crowds. First, avoid weekends if you can. Attendance surges on Saturdays and Sundays so you can expect to spend most of your day in lines. Try and plan your visit mid-week to get a little more breathing room. Wednesdays are generally the “quietest” but don’t expect an empty park.
We wrote a post about the surprising benefits of visiting Japan in winter and USJ was high on that list. Universal Studios Japan is at its quietest from early January to mid-February. The busy tourist season hasn’t yet begun and most locals don’t take time off until Spring. Also, it’s a busy time for students at school so they won’t be at the park either. The stars aligned for us being in Japan for Mark’s birthday in January. His big day fell on a Wednesday so we had that in our favour as well.
Check out our Universal Studios Japan Walkthrough video on YouTube to see what the park is like on at its quietest. There were still a lot of people in the park but probably about 1/4 of what it’s like on a busy day. The longest we had to wait for a ride was about 30 minutes – not bad for a popular theme park!
Top USJ Attractions
Platform 9 3/4
USJ’s main attraction is the immersive Wizarding World of Harry Potter area. This part of the park gets really busy so we recommend heading there first if you’re a fan. You will need to book a time slot to visit if you’re there during high season. If you’re lucky like us and there during a slow period you can walk in and out to your heart’s content. We still recommend going there first so you can get on the rides and geek out at all the cool stuff before the mid-afternoon crowds.
Our favourite ride was the 4D Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey inside the huge Hogwarts replica. The ride really makes you feel like you’re fighting dragons and spiders while flying high above the school grounds. Head from the ride to the nearest Butterbeer stand to give it a try. Then make your way into Ollivander’s Wand Shop to pick up a very special souvenir. You can buy a replica wand from any of your favourite characters! These wands aren’t just keepsakes; they can be used at certain points around the area for a truly interactive experience. You’ll be expecting your Hogwarts letter after casting your first spell!
The Princess Is In Another Castle
We are already planning another trip to Universal Studios Japan because of the new area of the park that wasn’t open yet. Starting on February 4, 2021, USJ is opening Super Nintendo World for fans of all things Mario. The park finally launched a teaser video to show off what you can expect to see, do, and eat when it opens. It looks like they’ve put their trademark attention to detail into every aspect to make your favourite video games come to life. Universal Studios will be opening similar areas at their other parks but something about visiting a Nintendo theme in Japan just feels like the best!
You're Gonna Need a Bigger Boat
Mark has been to Universal in Orlando a few times and was devastated when he heard his favourite ride, Jaws, was closing. Luckily, Universal Studios Japan still has the ride and the entire Amity Island Village area! Get your picture taken with the massive shark then head to the boat ride to get up close and personal. The entire ride is in Japanese (obviously) but this makes it more exciting because you don’t know what’s coming next!
Hold on To Your Butts
Keep heading past Amity Village and back through time to Jurassic Park. This area is small but a must-see for any fans of the franchise. Hop on a boat to cruise down a dinosaur-infested river before narrowly avoiding the massive T-Rex. The hitch a ride on a Pterodactyl to fly high over the park on the world’s longest track coaster. After you’ve worked up an appetite you can head to one of the prehistoric cafes for some seriously tasty treats.
Minions, Assemble!
If you’re visiting Universal Studios Japan with kids (or even if you’re a kid at heart) you need to stop by Minion Park to be immersed in the world of Despicable Me. We’re casual fans at best but we could not resist exploring the area and getting up close with some Minion pals. There is so much detail put into the park and Minion Village is no exception. You’ll find yourself wandering through the bright colours and fun shops while snapping tons of fun photos!
Special Events
The best part about Universal Studios Japan is that you can visit at different times and have a different experience! If you visit between mid-November to early January you will find every corner of USJ decorated for Christmas. We were lucky enough to make it to the park before they took down the decorations. The grounds were beautiful during the day but the real magic came at night.
The entire park is covered in hundreds of thousands of twinkling lights! The main attraction is their MASSIVE Crystal Promise Christmas Tree that serves as a backdrop for their nightly shows. Visit the Universal Studios Japan Event Calendar to know what special event you can expect during your visit.
Visit USJ
Universal Studios Japan is one of the best theme parks in the world and so worth a visit! Even if you’re not big into rides or roller coasters there is so much to see and do at USJ. There is so much attention to detail in every area of the park that you’ll spend the whole day immersed in your favourite movies.
What part of Universal Studios Japan appeals the most to you? Let us know in the comments below!
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