Universal's first theme park outside the United States, Universal Studios Japan opened March 31, 2001 in Osaka. Today, it's Universal's most-visited theme park, drawing 16 million visitors in last year, ranking third in the world behind Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom and the original Disneyland. In addition to familiar Universal theme park properties - such as Harry Potter, the Minions, and Jurassic Park - Universal Studios Japan also is home to Super Nintendo World as well as characters from Peanuts and Sesame Street, which are found at rival parks in the United States.
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Villain-Con Minion Blast: The interactive walk-through attraction that first opened at Universal Studios Florida in 2023 debuts in Minion Park this summer.
Hollywood
Minion Park
Super Nintendo World
Universal Wonderland
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Take JR (Japan Railways) Osaka Loop Line or Hanshin-Namba Line to Nishikujo Station and then onto Universal City station via the JR Yumesaki Line. If you are taking the Shinkansen (bullet train) from Tokyo, when you arrive at at Shin-Osaka Station take the JR Kyoto Line to Omeda/Osaka to transfer onto the Osaka Loop Line to Nishikujo Station. It's 16 minutes from Shin-Osaka Station to Universal City Station.
As Universal's busiest theme park, buying your ticket in advance and arriving early are musts here to get the most from a visit. You can get tickets easily through our ticket partner, Klook: Universal Studios Japan tickets.
You also will want to download the official Universal Studios Japan app and scan your ticket into the app before you arrive. Get to the park early, as it often opens 60 minutes in advance of its posted opening time.
Given the crowd levels here - especially on weekends - we recommend upgrading and buying a Universal Express pass on your first visit. Universal Studios Japan offers a wider variety of Express pass options than the Universal Studios theme parks in the United States. You can get passes for various groups of four select attractions, seven select attractions, or a Premium pass that offers minimum-wait access to up to 13 attractions. Most Express passes also include reserved time access to the Super Nintendo World and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter areas when access to those lands are restricted. Prices vary from US$43 to US$388 per person, in addition to park admission and these will be available online in advance as well as at the park. Pass quantities are limited, so we recommend purchasing as soon as you get your park ticket.
Once you are admitted to the park, the seasonal VR overlay for the Space Fantasy coaster likely will be the longest mid-day wait in the park, so head there first, especially if you are a fan of Manga. Your next priorities should be the two highly-rated coasters: Flying Dinosaur and Hollywood Dream.
You also will want to use the official park app while inside the park to check wait times and to reserve e-tickets for select attractions, dining areas, and shows, when required.
Universal offers single-rider queues at certain times on select attractions:
If you can avoid weekends, visiting on Tuesday through Thursday will allow you more manageable crowd levels in the park. Crowds are smallest in July and August, with May through September being generally a better time to visit for crowd levels than the rest of the year. March tends to be the most crowded month of the year at Universal Studios Japan.
The flip side of this is that the summer months can be quite hot and humid, which is why crowds tend to come during the more temperate months. Stay hydrated if you visit during the summer.
