I put off writing this post for a while because I originally wasn't sure how much I wanted to share about USJ on this blog. I think it's fun to go to a theme park without having done TOO much research online, but at the same time, it's good to be informed.
In this blog post I'll show you some different areas at USJ, and attempt not to spoil anything for anyone. I think part of the fun of going to a theme park is to exploring the place on your own and finding your own fun things to love.
First things first, you'll need a ticket to enter USJ. The official USJ ticket website can be found here. This makes entry into the park a little smoother, as you can jump right into the prepaid ticket line. I also strongly suggest downloading the USJ app which includes a map, showtimes, restaurant menus indicating allergens etc. I'm not much of an app person, but it's actually super helpful for planning your day. You can download it on Android and Apple here.
The current areas at USJ as of June 2022 include: Super Nintendo World, The Wizarding World of Happy Potter, Minion Park, Universal Wonderland, Hollywood, New York, San Francisco, Jurassic Park, Amity Village and Waterworld. I'll show you some photos from four of these areas today. Of course there are also seasonal events that happen throughout the year, including Christmas, Easter and Halloween, in addition to special limited events such as HunterxHunter, Detective Conan, Attack on Titan, etc.
Let's get into it!
Buy your ticket to USJ in advance and save time on the day of your visit. |
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
A true classic! Here you can find the classic Hogwarts school, Hogsmeade, lots of great food, butter beer, Ollivanders, Honeydukes and much, much more! Rides include Flight of the Hippogriff and Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. This area has plenty of Harry Potter themed merchandise to choose from, so be sure to stop by some of the stores for a look. I bought some Every Flavour Beans from Honeydukes but now I'm too scared to eat them. I also visited the Three Broomsticks for lunch and had fish and chips and a frozen butterbeer. I felt there was too much batter on the fish, but the butterbeer was of course delicious!
I'm always blown away when I visit this area. It honestly feels like stepping straight into the Harry Potter movies. You definitely don't need to be a Harry Potter fan to enjoy the Wizarding World of Harry Potter!
Click on the photos to expand.
Don't forget to buy an express pass to skip the line! |
Minion Park
The cutest! Minion Park is geared towards children a little, but there were plenty of adults just like me that were there having fun too! There are two ride attractions in this area which are Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem and Freeze Ray Sliders. Of course there is a Minions themed gift shop in the area, and plenty of cute things to take photos of.
I visited the cookie store called Delicious Me and had a banana flavoured ice-cream sandwich in this area, which I can definitely recommend. Minion Park is a great area for kids big and small!
Click on the photos to expand.
Super Nintendo World
Super Nintendo World is the newest addition at USJ! Entering this area really was like stepping into a real life video game - the photos I kept seeing online just didn't do it justice. You really need to see this place with your own eyes. In the time I was in the area I was able to spot Luigi, Mario, Peach and Toad available for photos. Toad was just the cutest!
Of course there is a cafe with Nintendo themed food (just be prepared to wait for a while), a store with excellent Mario themed merchandise, and much more. This area has two ride attractions - Mario Kart - Koopa's Challenge, and Yoshi's Adventure.
After enjoying both ride attractions I had a strawberry lassi from Yoshi's Snack Stand. I'd have loved to have visited Kinopio's Cafe (Kinopio is what Toad is called in Japanese), but the wait was wayyyy too long.
Please note that you may need a timed ticket to enter Super Nintendo World during busy times, so be sure to check with the staff on the day.
Click on the photos to expand.
New York
This area is said to represent 1930's New York. As with all other areas at USJ, there are food options in the area and plenty places to buy merchandise. The ride attraction in this area is The Amazing Adventures of Spiderman, 4D. I love the feeling of this area with its movie set vibes. I've never been to New York so I have no idea how accurate the representation is, but New York at USJ looks like New York looks like on TV! Let's have a look at a few photos I took! (The Minions Disco Fever Greeting was held in this area.)
Click on the photos to expand.
Below is a reel I made on Instagram about the Minions Disco Fever Greeting. Simply click to watch! While you're at it, why not give it a like or leave a comment to let me know you enjoyed the video :)
Final Thoughts
Well, that's it for this USJ post. Again, as I said at the start of this post, I really don't want to say TOO much about what to see and do at USJ, because I think that's something best experienced firsthand.
I also want to say that due to COVID, there was no parade and the showtimes have been limited, so please check the app or the website for more information before going. You can find the official USJ page here.
Universal Studios Japan is not the only theme park in Japan. In Chiba prefecture (close to Tokyo) you can find Tokyo Disney, and Tokyo Disney Sea - both great theme parks well worth visiting if you're a Disney fan!
Suggested Access: Universal-City station.
Address in English: 2 Chome-1-33 Sakurajima, Konohana Ward, Osaka, 554-0031
Name in Japanese: ユニバーサル・スタジオ・ジャパン
Address in Japanese: 〒554-0031 大阪府大阪市此花区桜島２丁目１−33
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This is awesome!! My husband and I plan to go to Japan and Universal Studios will definitely be added to our itinerary! I’m looking forward to experiencing Super Nintendo World for myself :)
I honestly had no idea there was a Universal Studios in Japan. I thought it was just based in the US. I would totally love to visit in person. Great tips, and I agree everyone has a different interest level when picking favorite rides.
i'm so jealousss!! 🤩🤩 We have a Universal Studios too where I am (Singapore) but there isn't a Wizarding World of Harry Potter - which is like, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING! USJ looks amazing!
USJ is on my list! We have been talking about a trip for next year!
I've always found Universal Studios so fascinating - the Minion Park looks the best. Thanks for sharing!