Are you planning a trip to Osaka and thinking about including Universal Studios Japan in your itinerary? 

As a former Universal Studios employee who spent 6 weeks in Japan working at Universal Studios Japan, I have a lot to say on the topic! 

I spent countless hours in this park as an employee but also got to visit as a guest last March during our 10 day trip to Japan and see all my hard work (aka the gold coins, koopa shells, Goombas, etc. in the land). It was a dream!

In this detailed guide, I’ll cover everything you need to know about visiting Universal Studios Japan (with a special focus on Super Nintendo World), including how to get tickets, what areas to focus on, and what to expect in terms of food, lines, and more!

If you’re a theme park fan (or a Nintendo/Harry Potter nerd), USJ absolutely deserves a spot on your Japan itinerary. Let me show you why! 

How to Get to Universal Studios Japan

Universal Studios Japan is conveniently located just west of the city center in Osaka Bay. Depending on where you are staying in Osaka, you’ll either hop on the Osaka Loop Line  or the Osaka Metro to Nishikujō Station.

From Nishikujō Station, hop on the JR Yumesaki Line in the Sakurajima direction and ride until Universal-City Station! 

Note: Some trains leaving Osaka Station on the Loop Line go to Universal-City Station without needing to change trains at Nishikujo! If you can snag one of these, even better.

The Universal-City train station is located at the entrance to Universal City Walk (hence the name). After a short walk through City Walk (an outdoor shopping mall with restaurants and stores), you’ll reach the entrance to the park! 

Pssst: For more details on Osaka transportation options, head over to my 3 Day Osaka Itinerary where I break it all down!

Now, let’s talk about buying your tickets to USJ, which is way more complicated than it sounds!!

Getting Tickets for Universal Studios

Of course, you will need to purchase tickets for Universal Studios Japan, and I recommend buying them before your trip.

There’s no point in waiting until you get to the park to buy tickets, as it’s just another line you’ll have to stand it. (I actually saw news that USJ might be getting rid of the in-person ticket lines!). 

Plus, if you want to visit Super Nintendo World, I highly recommend buying a Studio Pass AND an Express Pass as soon as you can (more on that in a bit!).

Both park tickets (called Studio Passes) and Express Passes can be purchased up to 60 days in advance.

You can buy your tickets directly on the USJ website. But, it can be a little confusing.. 

I had problems while trying to book tickets and Express passes through the website, so I actually recommend booking through Klook instead!

Klook is a tour aggregator company (like GetYourGuide or Viator) that is very popular in Asia. If you’ve read any of my other Japan guides, you’ll see me mention or link to Klook!

Klook makes buying train and attraction tickets much easier for us English speakers instead of trying to navigate confusing Japanese websites that have been (poorly) translated. 

Plus, with almost all tickets on Klook, you’ll get a QR code that serves as your ticket (this includes Universal passes). So no need to go to a Will Call box or a train ticket counter to pick up your tickets – your phone is your ticket with Klook!

Ticket Pricing

On both Klook and direct through the USJ website, ticket prices for Universal Studios Japan start at around $50 (8,900 Japanese yen) but may be more depending on what day you are visiting. Universal uses a scaled pricing calendar to determine ticket cost for each day.

Check out the screenshot below from the Universal website which shows the ticket prices for April 2026!

In general, ticket prices are more expensive on weekends and during peak times (cherry blossom season, summer, holidays, etc.).

The highest ticket price I’ve seen is 11,900 yen (~$75), which is still significantly cheaper than park tickets to Universal Studios Orlando or Hollywood!

You can browse ticket prices for your dates on Klook here! 🎢

Express Passes Explained

If you only have one day at USJ and want to ride as much as possible, I highly recommend purchasing an Express Pass in addition to your normal Studio Pass.

Express Passes allow you to skip the normal ride lines, significantly reducing your wait time. Without Express Passes, it will be very hard to ride everything at the park in one day. 

You absolutely do not need an Express Pass, but it does get you automatic Timed-Entry into Super Nintendo World (which I’ll cover further in the next section!).

If you’ve purchased Express Passes at a Universal Park in the USA, the general idea is the same: you get access to a special (and often much shorter) line for each ride. 

However, there are two main differences for Express Passes at USJ: there are multiple types of Express Passes available, depending on which rides you want to ride, and you have specific, 1-hour time slots for each ride.

If you browse on Klook or on the Universal Studios Japan website, you’ll see options like:

• Universal Express Pass 8 – Minion & Mine Cart Special
• Universal Express Pass 5 – Race & Minion Special 
• Universal Express Pass 4 – Flying Dinosaur & 4D
• And more! 

Each Express Pass gets you skip-the-line access to a specific set of rides, so it’s important to review each one and decide based on what rides are most important to you.

Express Passes range from to 6,800 yen to 23,900 yen, based on the date you choose and the type of pass you choose. Of course, the more expensive options are the ones with more rides (or just the most popular rides, like the ones in Super Nintendo World).

If your priority is riding all 3 rides inside Super Nintendo World, you’ll want to get Universal Express Pass 7: Minecart & Selection OR Universal Express Pass 8: Minion ＆ MineCart Special.

Naturally, these are the most expensive ones (and the ones that sell out first). 

If those are out of your budget or are sold out for your dates, browse through the “4” and “5” options, most of which include 2 out of 3 Nintendo rides. Then, you can just wait in the normal line for the other! 

And if Nintendo isn’t your priority (maybe Harry Potter or the roller coasters are), there are plenty of other options to consider!

Once you select the type of Express Pass you want, you’ll select what time option you want. As mentioned, you’ll have a 1-hour time slot for each ride, so this will require you to plan your day at Universal a bit in advance (see screenshot below for an example!).

If you’re visiting Super Nintendo World, your ride time slots will correspond to your Area Timed Entry ticket.

In the example below, you’d need to enter Super Nintendo World at 10:10, then ride Mario Kart, Yoshi’s Adventure, and Mine Cart Madness (in that order). Then, later that day, head over to the Wizarding World to ride Flight of the Hippogriff between 15:40 and 16:10.

Timed-Entry Explained

To control crowds inside the extremely popular Super Nintendo World, USJ has instituted a timed entry system. This means you cannot simply walk into the land like you can for all other lands in the park. 

Note: Some people online said they were able to get into the land right when the park opens without needing the Timed Entry ticket, so this can be a back-up option if you do not get one (but I wouldn’t rely on it).

Instead of entering SNW whenever, you must have an Area Timed Entry Ticket. This ticket will give you a 1 hour range for when you can enter. You will not be able to enter before or after this time slot. Once you’re inside, you can stay as long as you want!

These “tickets” are free, and there are 2 different ways to get them.

The first and easiest way is by purchasing an Express Pass. Almost every single Express Pass includes the Area Timed Entry to Super Nintendo World. 

These Express passes do not include the Area Timed Entry to Super Nintendo World: 

• Universal Express Pass 4~Flying Dinosaur & 4-D～
• Universal Express Pass 4: 4-D & Backdrop
• Universal Express Pass 4: Space Fantasy & Minion Blast
• Universal Express Pass 4: The Flying Dinosaur & Jurassic Park

Basically, if you purchase an Express Pass that includes one of the Super Nintendo World rides, you will also get the Area Timed Entry Ticket to Super Nintendo World.

Hot Tip: Buy your Express Pass in advance to secure your timed-entry ticket to SNW! 🍄

The other way to secure an Area Timed Entry Ticket is through the Universal Studios Japan app or at a ticket kiosk right when you arrive at the park. 

This is the free option, but it also comes with a risk, as they do “sell out”, and you won’t know what time your entry is until you arrive at the park (it will most likely be later in the day). You cannot do this option until you are through the gates on the day of your visit!

Personally, I think it’s 100% worth it to purchase an Express Pass with your Studio Pass, so you have guaranteed entry to Super Nintendo World (at the time you want) and you’ll get to skip the lines at the most popular rides in the park.

And the earlier you secure your Express Pass, the more time options you will have! So buy early (they open 60 days in advance!)

Crowds and Lines

Before we get into the details of visiting, I wanted to touch on what to expect in terms of crowds and wait times! 

Of course, it’s impossible to predict what the wait times will be like. You can expect longer lines and a more crowded park on the weekend compared to weekdays.

In addition, the summer months are going to be the busiest.

When we visited on a Wednesday in March, the wait times were average, around 1-2 hours for most rides a few hours after opening, and more for the roller coasters. 

The thing is: Japanese people do not mind lines, at all. There were 50 person lines just for the popcorn stand. 

What we discovered, however, is that the single-rider line is not popular in Japan. 

If you’ve never visited Universal, the single-rider line is separate from the normal line and Express line. When you’re in the single rider line, your party may be split up, as you’re used to fill empty seats on the ride vehicle.

So, if you’re okay with not sitting next to your group on the ride itself, I highly recommend using the single rider line in Japan. We skipped an hour-long wait for Jaws by using the single rider line and walking right on!

Not every ride has a single-rider line, but most do! And what I love about Japan is that it shows the estimated wait time for the single rider line too. We used the single-rider lines a few times and skipped hour-long waits!

🎢 USJ tickets need to be booked well in advance, and so do your flights and accommodation. My Passport to Confidence guide is a $7 month-by-month planning roadmap covering every international trip decision, including exactly what to book and when. Download it instantly!

Lands at Universal Studios Japan

No two Universal Studios parks are the same, and Universal Studios Japan is no exception!

While there are some shared lands and rides with other Universal parks, USJ also has rides (and one land) that are completely unique to Japan! 

Here is the list of the different lands at USJ:

• Minion Park 🤓🍌
• Hollywood 🎬
• Amity Village🦈
• Jurassic Park🦖
• Super Nintendo World🍄
• Universal Wonderland (unique to USJ!!) 🧸
• The Wizarding World of Harry Potter⚡

While some lands are very similar to their counter parks (see what I did there?!), most have at least one unique feature (if not more). 

For example, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at USJ is very similar to the one at Universal Studios Hollywood (and are both smaller than the Wizarding World in Orlando). Here, you can ride the flagship Forbidden Journey and the smaller Flight of the Hippogriff coaster, and walk around Hogsmeade Village.

However, the USJ one includes the Black Lake in front of the Castle, which makes for a very cool photo op. 

In addition, they had a realistic Buckbeak puppet that we definitely do not have in Orlando!

While the Hollywood and Jurassic Park lands are technically named the same, they both have unique rollercoasters that can’t be found outside of Universal Studios Japan! 

Hollywood has Hollywood Dream – The Ride, an impressive rollercoaster and Hollywood Dream – The Ride: Backdrop, the sister coaster that goes backwards instead. There’s also Space Fantasy, which I don’t recommend if you get queasy easily.

And while Orlando has the famous Velocicoaster ride, Jurassic Park in Japan has The Flying Dinosaur, where you are strapped in parallel to the ground on a Pteranodon so it feels like you’re flying!

Universal Wonderland is the only land that is entirely unique to USJ and includes a ton of kid-friendly rides like Snoopy’s Flying Ace Adventure, Moppy’s Balloon Trip, Hello Kitty’s Cupcake Dream, and more.

We absolutely loved getting to ride the Jaws ride in Amity Village again (even if it was fully in Japanese), since the one in Orlando was replaced in 2016 by Harry Potter’s Diagon Alley.

Also geared towards kids, there’s Minion Land, which is pretty expansive compared to its counterpart in Orlando, and New York, which just has the one ride: Detective Conan 4-D Live Show.

While not technically an official land, in between Super Nintendo World and Jurassic Park, you’ll find the famous Water World show, which is an absolute must-see!! 

And lastly, we have Super Nintendo World, which deserves its own section!!

Super Nintendo World Spotlight

Oh Super Nintendo World, you will always hold a special place in my heart! 

I spent two internships and 2 years as an associate engineer working on Super Nintendo World for Universal Studios Japan.

Specifically, I oversaw the design and development of the small animatronics throughout the land: think coins, Koopa shells, Goombas, Yoshis, mushrooms, etc.

It was my job to get them built, approved by Nintendo, and shipped to Japan. Then, I got to visit Japan twice during the installation of said animatronics – a dream come true! 

Finally, 5 years later, I got to return to USJ to see my finished products in action, and it did not disappoint! 

The feeling of walking through a green warp pipe to Princess Peach’s castle and seeing Mount Beanpole and the rest of the land come to life in front of you is unlike any other, even if you didn’t work on it!! 

The land was also recently expanded to include Donkey Kong’s Country! This area is accessed through a themed tunnel path inside the main SNW land, in the back right corner!

Below, I’ll cover all the must-know details before visiting Super Nintendo World.

Rides at Super Nintendo World

There are 3 different rides inside Super Nintendo World: 

• Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge 🏎️🏆🏁
• Yoshi’s Adventure 🐢🥚👅
• Mine Cart Madness 🦧🎢🍌

Mario Kart and Yoshi’s Adventure are located inside the main portion of SNW, while Mine Cart Madness is of course located inside Donkey Kong Country. 

All 3 rides are extremely popular, but Mario Kart and Mine Cart Madness tend to have the longer waits, which is why I recommend prioritizing an Express Pass for these two.

Mario Kart is an interactive ride thanks to Augmented Reality technology. You’ll race through different “levels” you’ll recognize from the Mario Kart games (including the famous Rainbow Road!).

Along the way, your AR glasses will project Koopa shells, Bomb-bombs, and more that you can shoot at targets throughout the ride.

Yoshi’s Adventure is a slow-moving ride that winds you through the upper level of the land. It’s my personal favorite because a lot of my animatronics are in this ride – you’ll see many popular characters here.

Make sure to look for 3 hidden eggs and hit the buttons on your ride vehicle when you find them! 

And lastly, Mine Cart Madness is a kid-friendly coaster that feels exactly like the game, complete with Donkey Kong himself and all his friends.

Mini Games & Power-Up Band

To maximize your fun while in Super Nintendo World, I highly recommend purchasing a Power-Up Band! 

These custom bands sync with the Universal app and are required to play the 3 “Key” games throughout the land (more on those in a bit!).

Of course, there are different character-themed bands, including Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Yoshi, Donkey Kong, and more! 

I went with Yoshi to match my headband 🙂

You can purchase these at the kiosk right outside the land or when you get inside the land too! They cost JPY 3,200 (around $20). 

The best part? They also work at the Super Nintendo World in Orlando and Hollywood (where they cost $40!!). 

Once you get your band, you’ll use the Universal Studios Japan app to scan the QR code on the back and sync them together. 

Then, you can track your progress across the land in the app or by visiting one of the check-point screens, including how many coins you’ve collected, what rides you’ve ridden, and more! 

Power-Up Band Key Challenges

While the rides in Super Nintendo World are amazing, I personally think the mini games and interactive elements are really what make it. 

Throughout the land, you’ll find a variety of different punch blocks (that you can actually punch – they have a soft pad on the bottom!) and different interactive games that will really make you feel like a kid again. 

There are also 3 different Power-Up Band Key Challenges as well as the Bowser Jr. Shadow Showdown you can take part in as long as you have a Power-Up Band! 

The three Power-Up Band Key Challenges are:

1. Koopa Troopa POWer Punch
2. Piranha Plant Nap Mishap
3. Goomba Crazy Crank

All 3 of these games are right next to each other on the upper level of the land (on the left side). 

The Koopa Troopa and Goomba ones are solo games, and the Piranha Plant one is a group game!

Note: The Koopa Troopa game can be a little tricky to win. I helped program it and even I couldn’t get it on the first try!

The goal of these games is to defeat Bowser Jr.’s friends and collect the golden Keys from them. If you win the game, you’ll tap your Power-Up Band at the end to collect the Key!

Once you’ve collected all 3 keys (which will show up in your Universal app), you can proceed onto the Bowser Jr. Shadow Showdown to defeat Bowser Jr!

Donkey Kong Country also has its own interactive game (Rambi’s Bongo Breakout), as well as places to collect four letters: K-O-N-G!

Again, the bands and these games aren’t required by any means, but they do make the land that much more fun!

Food and Drink at Universal Studios Japan

When it comes to planning your day at Universal Studios Japan, of course food and drink are a huge part of it (if you’re anything like me).

Luckily, there are tons of options throughout the park, everything from quick service to sit-down restaurants.

You can browse on the Universal website here for a list of them all, but below I’ll share some of my favorites (and my no-go’s).

If you’re looking for Western food, you can’t go wrong with a meal at the Three Broomsticks in Harry Potter World, which has options identical to the American parks. Think rotisserie smoked chicken and ribs, shepherd’s pie, and roast beef.

I ate this a lot while working at the parks because it was a nice taste of home! And of course, don’t forget the butter beer!

You’ll find other Universal classics like burgers at Mel’s Drive-In, fish and chips at Finnegan’s and hot dogs at a variety of stands.

Of course, there’s Asian food too, like sushi at SAIDO in New York or Chinese at the Dragon’s Pearl in San Fransisco.

We chose to eat lunch in Amity Village after riding Jaws. I got the “shark nuggets” which I thought was just a cute name for chicken nuggets, but they were in fact actual shark🫣

There’s also Kinopio’s Cafe inside Super Nintendo World, which is a sit-down restaurant that requires reservations once you get inside the land (when we entered around 3pm, it was full for the day).

Instead, we grabbed a yummy snack (green shell calzones filled with yakisoba!) from Yoshi’s Snack Island. There’s also a popcorn stand and Jungle Beat Shakes inside Donkey Kong Country where you can grab one of the famous DK Crush sundaes!

In terms of what not to eat… I’m not sure I’d particularly recommend the shark nuggets (they were a bit fishy..). And do not get the minion burger in Minion Land… I don’t know what it was, but it definitely didn’t taste like beef, lol.

Of course, my American palette is very different from the Japanese, so foods that seem “weird” to me are completely normal in Japan – like a tuna shrimp pizza danish?? lol.

With all that said, there is something to eat at USJ for every type of person!

For more of my thoughts on must-try foods in Japan, head over to my Japan Beginner’s Guide!

Final Thoughts

If you have a few days in Osaka, I definitely think visiting Universal Studios Japan is worth your time! It’s one of the most unique theme parks I’ve been to, and getting to see Super Nintendo World after working on it made it feel even more special to me. 

That said, this is not a park where you want to just “wing it.” The crowds can be intense, and the most popular rides and Express Passes can sell out or hit long wait times fast.

If you take one thing away from this post, it’s this — buy your tickets and Express passes in advance. It will save you time, stress, and give you a much better shot at experiencing everything you came for. If Super Nintendo World is a priority for you, I personally wouldn’t risk waiting.

Once you’ve locked in your park day, you’ll probably still have more time in Osaka to fill. I always recommend pairing USJ with other experiences in the city so you get a good mix of theme park fun and local culture!

👉 Make sure to check out my full list of things to do in Osaka for more ideas on how to plan the rest of your trip.

Read more blog posts about Osaka, Japan below! ⬇️🏯
Detailed 3 Day Osaka, Japan Itinerary For First-Timers!
How To Spend One Day In Osaka: An Action-Packed Itinerary
How To Get From Osaka Airport (KIX) To The City Center
Where to Stay in Osaka, Japan: Umeda vs Namba Breakdown!
20 Incredible Things To Do In Osaka, Japan!
Visiting Universal Studios Japan: Your Ultimate Guide