Universal Studios Japan in Osaka
2:56 AM
The Universal Studios is one of the most popular destinations
in Osaka. This year they are celebrating their 15th anniversary and
are usually packed even on weekdays. With the celebration of their anniversary,
there are additional shows and the Universal RE-BOOOOOORN parade is a must
watch.
An exhilarating ride they opened early this year is the
Flying Dinosaur, which is so far the longest flying coaster and farthest
initial drop. Lines are usually 2 hours long but worth the 3-minute ride. There
are 4 seats per row and your body is held up with the locking mechanism on your
body and ankles.
If you like roller coasters, the Hollywood Dream ride gives you two options. The Hollywood Dream – the ride moves forward while The Hollywood Dream – The backdrop goes backwards. There are 4 seats per row and there are song options to choose from you for your specific seat as background music during the ride. There are different genres to choose from although mostly Japanese songs there are also English options.
Narrations on the rides and inside the park are in Japanese. The Minions have their own area and have several shows within the day. In Universal Studios Japan the Sesame Street Characters, Snoopy and Hello Kitty are the characters featured. You can find some of them usually near the entrance and near their attractions.
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The most popular attraction is the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, being the only one in Asia. You are transported to the pages of the popular book and can enjoy the rides and attractions. You can enjoy the rides Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride (4 seater 4K3D ride) and Flight of the Hippograff. You will have to leave your belongings in designated lockers for the Harry Potter and Forbidden Journey for free. You can also explore Hogwarts Castle Walk on your own.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is on the side of the
park that limits the number of visitors inside as a cul de sac. I would suggest
heading here first to avoid the crowds. When they are limiting people you’ll
need to get at timed entrance ticket. The Express Pass with Harry Potter allows
you to choose your timed entry before hand. Your express pass to the Harry
Potter and Forbidden Journey ride will also be during your timed entrance. Even
the stores can get really packed.
When
you send a postcard from the Owl Post & Owlery, there will be a
commemorative Harry Potter stamped before it's sent to the post office.
One of the popular Japanese theme park features are the
character popcorn buckets. There are also different flavors to choose from and
some buckets like the Bob Minion talks. There
are of course character themed snacks throughout the park. The rain ponchos are
also really cute in
USJ.
Tips to avoid the lines is to arrive early, purchase Express
Pass tickets, and strategize your route.
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| Show & Parade Time Schedules |
Small kiosks close earlier than the park but those near the main entrance are open until closing. You can get Tax-free redemption for souvenirs you purchased near the main entrance.
The price of the Universal Express Pass differs depending on
the specific date of visit. This is why the price is a price range inside of a
definite number. There are also limited quantity of each Express Pass option
sold per day so I would suggest buying ahead of time to ensure you get the one
you wanted. If in Japan, you can purchase at certain stores like Lawson. You
can also buy tickets and print them at home through the Japanese language site
of the park. International issued credit cards are accepted but you’ll just
need a Japan address (you can use your hotel address) and translate into Kanji
your name. I would suggest using google chrome to auto translate the webpage. Some
travel agencies also sell them.
Website: http://www.usj.co.jp/e/
Entrance Fees:
1 day pass :Y 7400 adults, Y 4980 child
2 day Pass: Y 12450 adult; Y 8420 child
UNIVERSAL EXPRESS PASS: http://www.usj.co.jp/e/ticket/express_pass.html
Express Pass 7 : (3 kinds: Express Pass 7 – Flying Dinosaur; Standard;
Backdrop) Y 6900- Y 13200 Yen
Express Pass 4: (2 kinds: Expres Pass 4- Flying Dinosaur; Standard) Y 4500-
Y 8100
15th special express
pass (Flying Dinosaur,
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, and Universal RE-BOOOOOOORN Parade Y3900-
Y 6600
Nearest Train
Station: UNIVERSAL CITY
Hours of Operation: 8:30 to 9:00/10:00 PM For exact schedule you can visit the
link for your date of visit: http://www.usj.co.jp/e/parkguide/calendar.html
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