Tips & Tricks for Your First Visit to Universal Studios Japan

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Since its opening in 2001, Universal Studios Japan has not only become one of the top attractions in Osaka but in all of Japan. Given that it was the first Universal park to open outside the United States, many theme park enthusiasts from across the world specifically come to experience the amazing and unique attractions at Universal Studios Japan. 

Although going to the park is an incredible experience, it can also be stressful. Unsurprisingly, since it is one of the most popular attractions in all of Japan, it can easily get crowded and feel rather overwhelming.

In this article, we will be providing you with some of our top tips to ensure that your first visit to Universal Studios Japan is a successful one!  

When to Get to the Park

The best time to get to the park is when it first opens. This will give you the best chance to beat some of the queues and allow you to book slots for the most popular attractions. Parking opening times vary but are usually either 8:30 am or 9 am. It is best to check in advance on the website to see what time the park will open on the day you plan to visit.

Have Your Tickets Ready

To enter the park and go on all the attractions, you will need a Studio Pass (Park Entry Ticket). Prices for a 1 Day Studio Pass vary depending on the day but are usually ¥8,600 for adults (over 12), ¥5,600 for children (4-11) and ¥7,700 for seniors (over 65).

 

To enter the park and go on all the attractions, you will need a Studio Pass (Park Entry Ticket). Prices for a 1 Day Studio Pass vary depending on the day but are usually ¥8,600 for adults (over 12), ¥5,600 for children (4-11) and ¥7,700 for seniors (over 65).

 

If you do purchase your ticket online, make sure to either print or save the entire ticket screen with the QR code. You may not be allowed entry if you just show the QR code.

If you are willing to pay more, you could consider getting the Universal Express Pass. This special ticket allows you access to the Express Pass Lanes at the attractions. This can drastically cut your waiting time, making the day even more enjoyable. You can also purchase this pass in advance. Notably, its price can vary depending on the day. 

IMPORTANT: Keep a hold of your ticket even after you have entered the park. You will need it for booking Timed Entry and certain attractions.

Download the Official App

Before you even enter the park, make sure you have downloaded the official Universal Studios Japan app. Available on both iPhone and Android, this app is a literal game changer and will help you make the most out of your day. Through this app, you can get a Timed Entry eTicket, check attraction wait times and see a map of the whole park. It is free to download and is a must-have, especially for those who are wanting to go to Super Nintendo World.

Know Your Lands and the Rides

Universal Studios Japan is made up of a bunch of different lands – based on either iconic blockbuster films or popular animated characters. Although both children and adults will find something appealing in each land, some are aimed more for children than others.

The different lands are as follows: 

SUPER NINTENDO WORLD

The latest land to be introduced is Super Nintendo World. Since its opening back in 2021, it has been the most popular section of the park because of its flawless concept and entertaining rides. Currently Super Nintendo World is home to two rides, Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge and Yoshi’s Adventure, with many claiming that Mario Kart is the best ride in the whole park. It has recently been announced that a new area, based on Donkey Kong, will open in 2024. As well as the rides, there are a few shops, food places and even a meet-up spot where you can say hi to your favorite Mario characters.

One of the other cool features of Super Nintendo world is the Power-Up Band Key Challenges. For an additional cost, guests can purchase a special Power-Up Band and play different interactive games throughout the park. 

IMPORTANT: Due to its immense popularity, you cannot just spontaneously enter this section of the park. You will need to get an Area Timed Entry Ticket: Advance Booking or an Area Timed Entry Ticket/Standby Entry Ticket. These can be acquired through the official app or at a ticket kiosk in the park. Unsurprisingly, the timed entry slots fill up insanely fast so we recommend trying to book on the app as early in the morning as possible.

THE WIZARDING WORLD OF HARRY POTTER

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is one of the other most popular places in the park. Experience the world of Harry Potter by walking through Hogsmeade as well as seeing both the Hogwarts Express and Hogwarts castle up-close. There are also two main enchanting attractions to enjoy – Flight of the Hippogriff and Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey.

Guests can also become a wizard by using your wand to interact with different parts of the world. If you don’t own your own wand, don’t worry, you can buy one from the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. There is also a collection of other shops, a few restaurants, and even a few special performances.

 

MINION WORLD 

Loved by kids especially, Minion Park is where you will find… Well, a lot of Minions. Families can have a lot of fun on the two main attractions – Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem and Freeze Ray Sliders. Alongside this, guests can meet the Minions, shop for Minion merchandise and eat some sweet treats at the Delicious Me! The Cookie Kitchen.

 

 

Universal Wonderland

Wonderland is home to Elmo, Snoopy, Hello Kitty as well as 30 different attractions. In the Snoopy Studios section is where you will find The Flying Snoopy ride and Snoopy’s Sound Stage Adventure. At Hello Kitty Fashion Avenue, you can go on Hello Kitty’s Cupcake Dream and see Hello Kitty’s Ribbon Collection. Finally at Sesame Street Fun World, you can go on Elmo’s Go-Go Skateboard, Moppy’s Balloon Trip and Elmo’s Little Drive. There are also two cafes and four shops. 

 

Hollywood

Near the Park’s entrance is Hollywood. Inspired by the bright lights and aesthetics of the 1930s, this area is filled with the most attractions and shops in the whole park. The rides in Hollywood include Hollywood Dream – The Ride, Hollywood Dream – The Ride: Backdrop and Space Fantasy – The Ride, which has closed indefinitely. There are also six different shows, four restaurants and a whopping seventeen shops.

 

New York

Go back in time and experience 1930s New York. Although there are no rides in this section of the park, there are five different restaurants and a massive souvenir shop. There is also the 42nd Street Studio: Greeting Gallery where you can meet the Minions and Peanuts characters. 

 

San Francisco

Similar to New York, the area of San Francisco does not have any attractions but will make you feel as though you are really in America’s best port city. If you are feeling hungry, this is probably the best place to go as the area has four different restaurants.

 

Jurassic Park

See dinosaurs reimagined in Jurassic Park. This area is best for thrillseekers since there are two big rides here – The Flying Dinosaur and Jurassic Park – The Ride. Guests can even come face-to-face with dinosaurs as well as dine at one of the three restaurants and shop at the Jurassic Outfitters.

 

Amity Village

Beware… Amity Village is home to a man-eating shark. This area of the park, based on a small fishing village, is where you can go on the JAWS ride, enjoy some seaside snacks and shop for JAWS-inspired goodies.

 

Water World 

A ruined, floating city, Water World is the place to sit back and watch an exciting stunt show.

Single Riders

You won’t be surprised to hear that even on the least crowded days, the queues for the rides can easily be an hour or more. Standing in line for a long time is not only tiring but can easily taint your experience. 

That’s why we recommend making the most out of Single Rider. Single Rider refers to a separate queue designed for those riding by themselves. Given that so many people want to go on rides with friends and families, the Single Rider queue tends to be a lot shorter in many instances. Note, not all the rides offer Single Riders but many of the popular ones do. These include: 

Child Switch

Many people do not know about the child switch system offered at the parks. Child Switch allows guests with companions who don’t meet attractions requirements to take turns going on the attraction without waiting in the line again. This is a great way for families, with adults who may need thrillseekers, to experience the attractions that young children may not be able to go on. The list of attractions with the Child Switch system are as follows:

Yoyakunori (Reserve & Ride)

Yoyakunori (Reserve & Ride) is a free service available only in the Wonderland section of the park that helps shorten waiting times. This system enables guests to reserve a specific ride time so they can go and enjoy other areas in the park instead of waiting. All you have to do is go to the desired attraction with your Studio Pass and go to the ticket booth, located near the entrance of each attraction, to select your time. The Yoyakunori attractions include:

Take a Break and Enjoy a show

A day at Universal Studios Japan can end up being quite long, especially if you arrive at the park at opening time and have waited in long queues. That’s why it is important to take regular breaks so that you can feel more relaxed and break up the day better.


There are a few different shows and parades that take place throughout the day. For the most up-to-date information about each event, check out the Show and Attraction Schedule.

As previously mentioned, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter has a few different shows including the Frog Choir and Triwizard Spirit Rally.

Yet, one of the most popular shows is Water World. Performed 4 times a day, this action-packed water show is filled with incredible stunts, explosions and effects. This seated performance gives you an opportunity to not cool off but take a break from all the standing and walking around. We recommend heading to the 1:00 p.m. show as this is one of the busiest times for the attractions and restaurants.

Another popular and fun show is the Universal Monsters Live: Rock and Roll Show. Here you can sing along with popular characters in the world of horror including Beetlejuice, Dracula, Werewolf and Frankenstien and his bride.

Many people, especially young children, love watching the parades. Popular characters including those from Super Mario, Pokemon, Elmo, Snoopy, Hello Kitty, make a special appearance. Although you can find a spot to watch the parade from, to get the best views you will need to get a Special Viewing Area Admission Ticket which can cost anywhere between  ¥1,000 to  ¥1,800. Notably, the parade is only held once a day at 2 p.m. so it may not be the most convenient show to watch.

Where to Eat

The park is definitely not limited in terms of its restaurants and cafes. Although some may prefer to sit down in one of the many restaurants, the queues for them can get long quite quickly. If you are keen to have a sit-down meal, it is worth considering having an early lunch, somewhere between 11 am and midday, as the lunchtime rush tends to happen after this.

Around the park, there are also many carts selling light meals and snacks which you can take on-the-go with you. This is the better option if you want to make the most out of going on the different attractions and exploring the different lands. Here is a list of the on-the-go food places:

Where to Shop

Universal Studios Japan sells a lot of limited edition merchandise. The park is filled with shops – all selling different items which may not even be available at other parts of the park. The amount of merchandise is slightly overwhelming so for those who are a fan of a particular character or film franchise, it is worth having a look on the online shop beforehand.

Notably, there is a shop for each character in the park. However, if you aren’t keen on spending a lot of time wandering through all the individual shops, it is best to just head to the Universal Studios Store. This is the largest shop in the park and it sells all the most popular products.

Is Universal Studios Japan on your itinerary? If so, what part of the park are you most excited to see?

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