Universal Studios Japan with Toddlers and Kids

Last Updated on November 14, 2024 by Kay

Thinking about visiting Universal Studios Japan with kids and looking for advice from a local mom?

Since I live in Osaka, I’ve visited Universal Studios Japan (USJ) countless times both with and without my daughter, so I’m super excited to share my ultimate guide to USJ with babies, toddlers, and children.

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Universal Studios Japan is a popular theme park in Osaka, and perhaps the second most visited in Japan (with the two Disney parks taking first place).  Similar to Disney, they have seasonal events throughout the year such as Halloween, Christmas, and Easter, parades, and of course amazing food with super fun rides.

USJ also has more affordable one-day passes than Disney and an entire zone dedicated just to kids, making it undeniably an excellent place to take little ones.

Best of all, they have a standard yearly pass (ユニバーサル・プライム年間パス・スタンダード), which I have bought three times so far, and children under the age of three are free. If you live in Kansai or visit often, I highly recommend investing in one.

In this article, I’ll be covering everything parents need to know about visiting Universal Studios Japan with kids, including tips, restaurants, and ride reviews for different ages. I am in love with Universal Studios Japan and my family prefers it to Disney because it’s smaller, less crowded, and more affordable. Not to mention they have cool collabs with popular anime like Doraemon, Demon Slayer, Sailor Moon, and Detective Conan.

(Other articles you might be interested in include where to stay in Osaka with kids, what to do in Osaka with kids, and my Osaka with kids itinerary.)

This post contains affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission on any purchases through those links at zero additional cost to you. Whatever I make goes to keeping this website running and I am forever grateful for the support.

Tickets and Hours at Universal Studios Japan

A 1-Day Studio Pass for adults (age 12 and up) ranges from 8600 yen to 10,400 yen depending on when you go (weekends are more expensive) while for kids ages 4-11 is 5600 yen to 6800 yen. You can also get a 2-Day Studio Pass, which will save you about 300 yen. If you’re a Club Universal member, you can get discounted tickets for the month of your birthday and the following month as well.

You can either buy the pass in advance online through:

• The official USJ website
• Klook (Use the Klook discount code TINYTOTINTOKYO to get up to $10 off!)
• Trip.com

You can also buy passes when you arrive at USJ, although I recommend buying them in advance as it’s much faster than if you buy them at the park (usually).

As mentioned earlier, I am a fan of the yearly pass. At 20,000 yen, it pays for itself on your third visit! But of course, this only makes sense if you live nearby and travel enough to USJ to make it worth it. Note that there are blackout dates for this pass, such as during Golden Week, but honestly, it’s probably best to avoid busy periods anyway!

If you want to get the yearly pass, note that you cannot buy it online on the day you’re going, only in advance. However, you can get a One-Day Studio Pass and then change it to the yearly pass at Guest Services after you enter the park. The sooner you do this the better because Guest Services gets very crowded as it nears closing since it’s also the lost and found area.

The hours of operation tend to vary so make sure you check USJ’s website before you go!

Donkey Kong Country will be opening at Super Nintendo World December 11, 2024, so expect it to be more crowded than usual! Consider getting the Universal Express Pass for guaranteed entry and much shorter wait times for rides.

Where is Universal Studios Japan and How to Get There

Universal Studios Japan is located in Osaka, specifically Universal City Station.

It takes about 11 minutes by train from Osaka Station to Universal City Station. Take the Osaka Loop Line and transfer at Nishikujo Station to the Yumesaki Line and ride until you reach Universal City Station.

My recommendation is to take the Osaka Loop line that changes into the Yumesaki line. It runs about once every ten minutes. This way you don’t have to transfer and can stay on one train! (Use Google Maps to find out the schedule but in general, look for the Osaka Loop line train that’s going to Sakurajima.)

Where to Stay When Visiting Universal Studios Japan with Kids

Unlike Tokyo Disney, Universal Studios Japan isn’t too far to get to if you’re staying in Osaka, for instance in Umeda or Namba (both are less than a 30-minute train ride from USJ). Klook even offers a direct bus from Dotonbori to Universal Studios Japan if you don’t want to take the rush hour train. How great is that? (I do not live near Dotonbori so I sadly can’t take advantage of this!)

But of course, if you want to make the most use of your time and don’t want to deal with crowded trains, it’s best to stay close to USJ.

Here are some top-rated hotels that are within walking distance from USJ and are also great for kids.

When my brother-in-law and his family visited USJ from Hiroshima, they stayed at Port Vita and loved the atmosphere, the view, and the convenience!

• A 4-minute walk from Universal Studios Japan
• Official partner hotel of Universal Studios Japan
• Opened in 2018 so quite new
• Bigger rooms than average and comfortable beds
• Breakfast buffet option
• Minion decor in the lobby

🏨 Check availability 

Hotel Universal Port

• Located next to Hotel Universal Port Vita
• Official partner hotel of Universal Studios Japan
• Minion decor throughout and Minion rooms
• Coin laundry available

🏨 Check availability 

Hotel Keihan Universal Tower

• A 6-minute walk from Universal Studios Japan
• Official partner hotel of Universal Studios Japan
• Hot spring bath on the 31st floor overlooking the city and water (it looks seriously gorgeous, and if you’re wondering about taking your kids, read my article about onsen with little ones)
• Renovated in 2017

🏨 Check availability 

• 1-minute walk to USJ
• Official partner hotel of Universal Studios Japan
• Rated 9.5 by parents on Booking.com
• Coin laundry available
• Currency machine available

🏨 Check availability 

• Located about a 6-minute walk from USJ
• Official partner hotel of Universal Studios Japan
• Recently renovated

🏨 Check availability 

Hotel Kintetsu Universal City

• Official partner hotel of Universal Studios Japan
• Located right next to USJ
• Colorful rooms, including Sesame Street-themed ones

🏨 Check availability 

The Singulari Hotel & Skyspa at Universal Studios Japan

• Connected to the station
• Official partner hotel of Universal Studios Japan
• Coin laundry available

🏨 Check availability 

Liber Hotel at Universal Studios Japan

• Recently built in 2019
• Located near Sakurajima Station, one stop away from USJ
• Spacious rooms

🏨 Check availability 

Helpful Tips for Visiting Universal Studios Japan with Small Kids

🎃 Halloween at Universal Studios Japan with Kids: Note that September 6th to November 4th is Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Japan. Cast members dressed like zombies will come out from 6 PM and it’s not recommended for children ages five and under because it’s quite scary. I’ve written an in-depth article about Halloween at USJ with kids so make sure to give it a read if you’re thinking about visiting during this time of year! 🎃

Universal Studios App is a Must

Download the Universal Studios Japan app. This will allow you to get Area Time Entry Tickets to popular places such as Super Nintendo World and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter as well as Timed Entry eTickets (e整理券) for attractions (usually for adults, called アトラクション整理券) and rides for kids (よやくのり or Ride Reservation Ticket).

This app also allows you to see wait times for rides, times for parades and shows, access a map of the park as well as see other information such as restaurants.

You can reserve seats for certain restaurants online, which is a lifesaver if you don’t want to wait in line to eat and have small kids. (More on where to eat further in the article.)

Buy a One-Day Studio Pass Ahead of Time

To help make the trip easier, you may want to consider buying a One-Day Studio Pass in advance. This way you don’t have to wait in line with people who are buying it at the gate.

Arrive Early for Super Nintendo World

I highly recommend going before opening time because there are far fewer people and wait times are super short. It starts getting crowded at around 10:00 AM.

If you want to enter Super Nintendo World, arrive before USJ opens as the entry tickets are gone fast.

When my daughter was younger, I didn’t want to take her on crowded trains so we didn’t arrive until around 10:00 AM and by then the tickets were all swooped up. However, I was able to get a ticket for 3:30 PM entry when I arrived at 8:30 AM.

If you’re short on time and want to guarantee you get into this area and don’t have to wait in line for certain rides, you might want to splurge on the Universal Express Pass. (Note that a separate admission ticket is required to enter the park.)

My brother-in-law with kids in Hiroshima got this pass when they visited USJ and they said it was absolutely worth the cost since they didn’t want to be disappointed after traveling from so far away.

I’ve also heard from multiple friends that the gates open 15-30 minutes before the official opening time. So if the official website says USJ opens at 8:00 AM, you might be able to get in at 7:30 or 7:45 AM. Some friends have reported that they got into Super Nintendo World right away when they were among one of the first to enter the park and headed straight for Super Nintendo World!

If you can’t get into Super Nintendo World right away, get an Area Timed Entry Ticket through the app or the Park Ticket Booth in Central Park. I’ve honestly never been able to waltz straight into Super Nintendo World so I always use the USJ app to get an Area Timed Entry Ticket.

In May 2024, my friend went before opening, and although she wasn’t able to get to Super Nintendo World fast enough to go straight inside (due to having kids, they take time to travel anywhere), she was able to use the app to obtain an Area Timed Entry Ticket for 8:50 AM. Not bad at all! 

So when considering this, you may not need a Universal Express Pass. It’s just a gamble that you have to take I suppose.

(Again, I have never gotten the Universal Express Pass and I have gotten entry tickets to Super Nintendo World as long as I arrived early! However, I believe it will be substantially more difficult to get into Super Nintendo World after Donkey Kong Country opens on December 11th, 2024.)

I’ve written more in an article on Super Nintendo World with kids so feel free to take a look!

Avoid Going During School and Public Holidays

Unsurprisingly, Universal Studios Japan is quite busy during school and public holidays in Japan, so keep that in mind when planning your trip!

Weekends are Busy

This is probably not going to be much of a surprise but weekends are quite busy at USJ. Some people like to go on Fridays or Mondays as well so they have a three-day weekend in Osaka, so expect those days to be busier than mid-week.

I like to go on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.

You can use a crowd prediction calendar as well to assess how busy a certain day will be.

Here’s how to read the one linked above.

The colored boxes above indicate how crowded Universal Studios Japan will be on a certain date. For example, the green boxes, mostly from Tuesdays to Thursdays, are not crowded at all. (Having been to USJ during some of the dates above, I would say that it’s somewhat accurate, although I think it was more crowded than what the calendar made it out to be.)

Another calendar you can use is this one. The letter A means not crowded while F is very crowded.

Personally, I don’t use these because I find they can be hit or miss but I suppose it’s better than nothing!

Wait Times for Rides at USJ

Wait times for children’s rides vary depending on the ride and how busy the park is. On average, the wait times tend to be around 25 minutes on weekdays when there are no national holidays.

I’ve also noticed that wait times are shorter than the estimated time that are displayed on the rides.

Note Washroom Locations

If your little one needs to go pee right after you enter the park, head to the universal washroom to the right of the entrance/exit. It has a tiny child-sized toilet seat that you can pull down right on top of the regular-sized one. It’s amazing!

There are also other washrooms throughout the park that have this, such as near the Bubble Bubble Elmo ride in Universal Wonderland (the area for small kids, which I’ll talk about later).

Note Breastfeeding Spaces

For a family-friendly space to breastfeed, feed your baby, or change diapers, look for Family Services. There are two, one in Guest Services near the entrance/exit, and another inside Universal Wonderland. There is also a First Aid room near Guest Services where you can get some bandages or medical attention if your child gets injured.

Bring or Rent a Stroller

If you’re wondering “Can I bring a stroller to USJ?”, the answer is yes! My friend does it all the time.

You can also rent a stroller for 1100 yen from Stroller/Wheelchair Rentals, which is near the park entrance/exit.

My daughter never needed one but I know that strollers are really helpful for some kids, especially when it comes to naps!

Child Switch System

If you’re visiting with another adult and both of you want to go on a ride but your child doesn’t meet the height restriction, you can use the Child Switch system.

With this system, you both wait in the Single Rider line and then take turns going on the ride while the other waits in a designated space with your child. I’ve used this before with my husband so we could go on the Mario Kart ride since our daughter was too short to go on it.

Get Stickers

Kids can get special stickers from the staff or crew, especially in the Universal Wonderland Area, so make sure you ask!

Birthday Goodies from Universal Studios Japan

If you visit on your child’s birthday (or your own), you can get a special birthday sticker badge and get lots of birthday greetings from the staff and crew throughout the park.

Tax Refund Counter

If you’re visiting from outside of Japan, make sure to visit the tax refund counter at Studio Gifts West near the entrance/exit of the park. Make sure to read this to find out what’s eligible or not.

Mobile Phone Chargers

If your phone is low on batteries, you can rent a charger at seven different locations throughout the park

• • Inside the lockers near the park entrance/exit
  • In front of the washroom next to Kinopio’s Cafe
  • Next to the washroom near Louie’s N.Y. Pizza Parlor
  • Next to the washroom near Elmo’s Go-Go Skateboard
  • In front of the men’s washroom in front of the Jaws ride
  • In front of the washroom inside of Amity Village

Baby, Toddler, and Kid-Friendly Rides at Universal Studios Japan

Based on my experience with my daughter and her friends, here are areas and their rides that I think are great for little ones:

Universal Wonderland Area

The best place to find rides that are great for all ages is Universal Wonderland, which is Sanrio, Peanuts, and Sesame Street-themed. There are also two indoor play areas with rides and activities, Snoopy’s Sound Adventure and Imagination Playland, making it a perfect place for kids if it’s raining, too hot, or too cold outside. My daughter gets very cranky when it’s hot so she loves spending hours in the indoor areas!

You can also find universal washrooms here (inside Imagination Playland near Elmo’s Bubble Bubble) that have a small toilet seat attached to a larger one, which is perfect for little kids.

The Flying Snoopy

This is one of the few rides that took some time for my daughter to go on because she was scared of it. But I think it’s gentle enough for small children and there’s always a line!

My daughter finally rode it when we visited shortly after she turned five and she LOVED it! She was laughing the entire time! I really like rides that soar through the sky so I had a great time, too. You can adjust the height so you don’t have to go all the way to the top (or you can just go up and down over and over again like we do).

You can use the よやくのり (Yoyakunori or Ride Reservation) ticket for this ride, which will give you a scheduled time to ride and cut the wait time significantly. Note that this can only be reserved through the Universal Studios Japan app.

For children who are 92 cm or taller when accompanied by an adult. Children 122 cm or taller can ride alone. 

Parent Fun Factor: ★★★★★

5 YO Toddler Fun Factor: ★★★★★

Snoopy’s Sound Adventure

My daughter loves this indoor area as there is so much to do! Kids can play in a small playground called Spike’s Corral or do many interactive activities such as push buttons or pull levers to make things move or answer questions after watching short Peanuts videos.

Parent Fun Factor: ★★★☆☆

2 YO Toddler Fun Factor: ★★★☆☆

3 YO Toddler Fun Factor: ★★★★☆

4 YO Toddler Fun Factor: ★★★★★

5 YO Fun Factor: ★★★★★

☔ Recommended if it’s raining

Hello Kitty’s Cupcake Dream

My daughter adores this ride, which is Hello Kitty-themed spinning teacups (but colorful sprinkled cupcakes instead of teacups). The line moves fairly quickly so the wait time tends to be short (unless someone drops popcorn, as I have unfortunately witnessed).

Children need to be at least 122 cm tall to ride alone but there is no height restriction if they are accompanied by an adult. (Note, though, that children need to be able to sit up unrestricted.)

Parent Fun Factor: ★★★★★

2 YO Toddler Fun Factor: ★★★☆☆

3 YO Toddler Fun Factor: ★★★★☆

4 YO Toddler Fun Factor: ★★★★★

5 YO Fun Factor: ★★★★★

Hello Kitty’s Ribbon Collection

This is a super adorable place to take lots of kawaii photos, including one with Hello Kitty! You can take the photo on your phone but a high-quality photo is available for purchase as well.

There’s a slide for children ages three to six, too, which my daughter and her friend loved going down repeatedly. They liked looking at the variety of fashionable and unique Hello Kitty shoes on display as well!

Recommended for children ages 3 to 6, although this hasn’t stopped only adults from going in!

Parent Fun Factor: This really depends on whether you’re a fan of Hello Kitty and cute things. I am so it was a ★★★★★ for me!

5 YO Fun Factor: ★★★★★

☔ Recommended if it’s raining

Big Bird’s Big Top Circus

This is a merry-go-round that kids of all ages can ride (they even have bench seats for parents with babies!). My daughter adores this ride and it helps that the wait time isn’t very long at all!

Children need to be at least 122 cm tall to ride alone.

I suggest using one of the benches if you want to sit with your child. For smaller children, use the shorter animals located on the inside of the ride.

Parent Fun Factor: ★★★★★

2 YO Toddler Fun Factor: ★★★☆☆

3 YO Toddler Fun Factor: ★★★★☆

4 YO Toddler Fun Factor: ★★★★★

5 YO Toddler Fun Factor: ★★★★★

Elmo’s Go-Go Skateboard

This is basically a much smaller version of those Viking boat rides at amusement parks.

My daughter was too scared to go on until recently. It’s her kindergarten friend’s favorite ride so she wanted to give it a try, and she ended up loving it so much we went on twice!

I loved this ride as well. I’m in my late thirties and can’t take thrill rides as much as I used to but find the kiddie rides a little boring, so this had just the right amount of thrill for me. I could ride it repeatedly!

Sometimes the wait times are short but if it’s busy, it’s best to get a よやくのり (Yoyakunori or Ride Reservation) ticket for this, which will give you a scheduled time to ride and cut the wait time significantly. You can get this through the app or at the machine near Moppy’s Balloon Trip. Note that if you have one Yoyakunori ticket, you cannot get another one until after you have gone on the ride your ticket is for.

For children who are 92 cm or taller when accompanied by an adult. Children 122 cm or taller can ride alone. 

Parent Fun Factor: ★★★★★

2 YO Toddler Fun Factor: N/A

3 YO Toddler Fun Factor: N/A

4 YO Toddler Fun Factor: N/A

5 YO Fun Factor: ★★★★★

Moppy’s Balloon Trip

This is something my daughter was hesitant about riding at first when she was two, refused to ride when she was three, and then was suddenly okay with at four.

This ride is basically like taking a mini trip on a hot air balloon that goes in a circle. Kids can see the entire park from way up high, which delights my daughter (it helps to point out things like Hogwarts Castle and the Super Nintendo Area if they’re feeling a bit scared).

It’s best to get a よやくのり (Yoyakunori or Ride Reservation) ticket for this as well, which will give you a scheduled time to ride and cut the wait time significantly. You can get this through the app or at one of the machines located in an area to the left of this ride. Note that if you have one Yoyakunori ticket, you cannot get another one until after you have gone on the ride your ticket is for.

For children who are 92 cm or taller. Children 122 cm or taller can ride alone. 

Parent Fun Factor: ★★★★★

2 YO Toddler Fun Factor: N/A

3 YO Toddler Fun Factor: ★★★☆☆

4 YO Toddler Fun Factor: ★★★★☆

5 YO Fun Factor: ★★★★☆

Elmo’s Little Drive

This is a cute (and very picture-worthy) ride where kids can ride on Sesame Street cars along a small course. If your kid has trouble getting the hang of how to drive, the staff will help them. (Parents are not allowed on the ride, not that they would fit anyway!)

My daughter had some trouble when she rode the car at age three and for a period of time, she didn’t want to ride it again. However, when she was 4.5, she was brave and gave it a go again and enjoyed it!

Recommended for children ages 3 to 5.

Parent Fun Factor: N/A

2 YO Toddler Fun Factor: N/A

3 YO Toddler Fun Factor: ★★★☆☆

4 YO Toddler Fun Factor: ★★★★☆

5 YO Fun Factor: ★★★★☆

Attractions Inside Imagination Playland

Moppy’s Lucky Dance Party

This is a small theatre where Moppy and another cast member perform songs and dances for little ones, and kids can participate as well! The area is still fun to visit when there’s no show, especially with the heart and star-shaped lights throughout the theatre.

Parent Fun Factor: ★★★★☆

2 YO Toddler Fun Factor: ★★★★☆

3 YO Toddler Fun Factor: ★★★★☆

4 YO Toddler Fun Factor: ★★★★★

5 YO Fun Factor: ★★★★★

☔ Recommended if it’s raining

Abby’s Magical Party

This is one of my daughter’s favorite places to play. Kids can climb up the different star shapes and play with the giant balloons. (And yet, they do pop so try to make sure your child doesn’t roll or bounce on it!)

It’s good to supervise your child just in case because accidents happen and you don’t want them to get hurt (or unintentionally hurt others).

Recommended for children ages 3 to 6.

Parent Fun Factor: N/A

2 YO Toddler Fun Factor: ★★★☆☆

3 YO Toddler Fun Factor: ★★★★★

4 YO Toddler Fun Factor: ★★★★★

5 YO Fun Factor: ★★★★★

☔ Recommended if it’s raining

Bert and Ernie’s Wonder: The Sea

This is a simple attraction where kids go down a short slide straight into a ball pit. They can continue to play with the balls once down or climb up and slide back down again.

Try to make sure your kid doesn’t cut in front of others or step on hands when they’re climbing up! (I noticed a few kids doing this to my daughter and unfortunately, the staff didn’t say anything.)

Recommended for children ages 3 to 6.

Parent Fun Factor: N/A

2 YO Toddler Fun Factor: N/A (it was closed due to the pandemic and reopened in mid-2023)

3 YO Toddler Fun Factor: N/A (it was closed due to the pandemic and reopened in mid-2023)

4 YO Toddler Fun Factor: ★★★★☆

5 YO Fun Factor: ★★★★★

☔ Recommended if it’s raining

Big Bird’s Big Nest 

Another simple attraction, kids can climb up and down the ropes or go through the surrounding structures.

My daughter and her friend have a lot of fun climbing up and down this. Just make sure your kid is able to get down on their own — otherwise you’ll have to get them yourself, which is what happened to my friend!

Recommended for children ages 5 to 12, although I have definitely seen younger kids on it.

Parent Fun Factor: N/A

2 YO Toddler Fun Factor: N/A (it was closed due to the pandemic and reopened in mid-2023)

3 YO Toddler Fun Factor: N/A (it was closed due to the pandemic and reopened in mid-2023)

4 YO Toddler Fun Factor: ★★★★☆

5 YO Fun Factor: ★★★★★

☔ Recommended if it’s raining

Elmo’s Bubble Bubble

This is another one of my daughter’s favorites. It’s a leisurely and short boat ride that ends with a small incline and a little bit of a splash (you’re unlikely to get wet).  Note that only two people can ride on one boat at a time.

It’s best to get a よやくのり (Yoyakunori or Ride Reservation) ticket for this, which will give you a scheduled time to ride and cut the wait time significantly. You can get this through the app or at the machine to the right of the ride near Grover’s Construction Company. Note that if you have one Yoyakunori ticket, you cannot get another one until after you have gone on the ride your ticket is for.

Note that there’s a universal washroom near this ride that has little toilet seats for tiny bottoms (attached to the main toilet).

For children who are 92 cm or taller when accompanied by an adult. Children 122 cm or taller can ride alone. 

Parent Fun Factor: ★★★★★

2 YO Toddler Fun Factor: N/A

3 YO Toddler Fun Factor: ★★★★★

4 YO Toddler Fun Factor: ★★★★★

5 YO Fun Factor: ★★★★★

☔ Recommended if it’s raining

Grover’s Construction Company 

This is another attraction that had been closed during the pandemic and only recently re-opened. Kids can play with big foam blocks and tubes and use them to build forts or other creations. My daughter is a fan and can easily spend an hour here.

Recommended for children ages 3 to 9.

Parent Fun Factor: N/A

2 YO Toddler Fun Factor: N/A (it was closed due to the pandemic and reopened in mid-2023)

3 YO Toddler Fun Factor: N/A (it was closed due to the pandemic and reopened in mid-2023)

4 YO Toddler Fun Factor: ★★★★☆

5 YO Fun Factor: ★★★★★

☔ Recommended if it’s raining

Minion Park

Freezing Ray Sliders

My daughter adores this ride and can’t stop laughing whenever she’s on it (I wrote that and later found out that USJ wrote the same thing for the ride’s description, so it’s very true!). It’s fun for even adults to sit in a car that spins and slides as if you’re on ice.

For children who are 92 cm or taller when accompanied by an adult. Children 122 cm or taller can ride alone.

Parent Fun Factor: ★★★★★

2 YO Toddler Fun Factor: N/A

3 YO Toddler Fun Factor: N/A

4 YO Toddler Fun Factor: ★★★★★

5 YO Fun Factor: ★★★★★

Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem

My daughter wasn’t tall enough for this ride until she was 4 years old, but even then, I didn’t think she would like it after she went on the Nemo ride at DisneySea and hated it.

So we put it off until one day, after she turned 5, she decided she would challenge it. (I think it helped that we went with one of her kindergarten friends.)

This ride is long. There are three videos to watch before you get on the ride, which I suppose is great for people who really love Minions. My kid and her friend were fine but I was over it pretty fast.

The ride itself seats eight people, so you might be sitting with strangers.

The vehicle moves a lot and I felt pretty queasy by the end. My daughter’s friend’s mom, who has gone on this ride before, kept her eyes closed so she wouldn’t get motion sick.

My daughter was pretty scared at the beginning but she was excitedly cheering near the end. And then when we got off, she asked to never go again, so I guess she didn’t like it. Her friend seemed scared as well and clutched her mother’s arm throughout the ride, but she said she enjoyed it. Kids are weird.

One thing to note is that the waiting area is indoors, so it’s a good option for when the weather isn’t great.

For children who are 102 cm or taller when accompanied by an adult. Children 122 cm or taller can ride alone.

Parent Fun Factor: ★★☆☆☆

2 YO Toddler Fun Factor: N/A

3 YO Toddler Fun Factor: N/A

4 YO Toddler Fun Factor: N/A (My friend’s son at age 4 went on this ride and he really enjoyed it.)

5 YO Fun Factor: ★★☆☆☆

Fun Factor:  Although my daughter hasn’t been on it yet,

☔ Recommended if it’s raining

Amity Village

Jaws

This is a ride I haven’t taken my daughter on yet because I feel like she will likely get very scared since the boat goes into a warehouse and it’s quite dark.

But I’m mentioning this ride anyway because as long as a child is accompanied by an adult, there is no height restriction (Note, though, that children need to be able to sit up unrestricted).

Children must be at least 122 cm tall to ride alone.

Parent Fun Factor: ★★★☆☆

Kid Fun Factor: N/A, hasn’t been on it yet! But my daughter’s friends have been on this ride (age 4) and they liked it.

Super Nintendo World

⭐️ I’ve written an entire article on Super Nintendo World with kids so make sure to give it a read! 

Yoshi’s Adventure

My daughter was finally tall enough to ride this around the time she turned four (she had a huge growth spurt suddenly, so it was a pleasant surprise — except for my wallet since I needed to buy new clothes!).

This is a leisurely and fun ride where you tap different colored eggs depending on the color you see throughout the journey. Make sure you press down hard on the egg until you hear a sound!

Everything is so cute and even the waiting area is adorably decorated, making you feel like you’re in the game. There are some spots in the waiting area where you can tap your Power-Up Band or punch blocks, which my daughter loved doing. It definitely helped the time go by faster!

As I mentioned earlier, sometimes the waiting time is actually shorter than advertised. For instance, once the waiting time was estimated to be 90 minutes but we only waited 45 minutes! This isn’t guaranteed, though, I’m just sharing my experience.

For children who are 92 cm or taller when accompanied by an adult. Children 122 cm or taller can ride alone. 

Parent Fun Factor: ★★★★★

2 YO Toddler Fun Factor: N/A

3 YO Toddler Fun Factor: N/A

4 YO Toddler Fun Factor: ★★★★★

5 YO Fun Factor: ★★★★★

Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge

On this ride, you wear a Mario hat with goggles and then drive along a course to get coins and defeat Team Koopa.

My husband and I loved this ride but since the minimum height for children is 107 cm, our daughter is still too small to ride it.

Parent Fun Factor: ★★★★★

My friend’s son, who is 4, went on this ride and he was scared of it. Unlike me and my husband, my friend thought the ride was underwhelming!

Mine Cart Madness

This roller coaster is Super Nintendo World’s newest attraction in Donkey Kong Country, set to open on December 11th, 2024.

Children must be at least 122 cm tall to go on this Donkey Kong ride alone or 107 cm tall when riding with an adult.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Flight of the Hippogriff

This is another ride my daughter hasn’t gone on yet as I think it’s too fast for her, she has zero interest, and for some reason the wait times are always really long. But it’s an option if your child likes thrills and is a fan of Harry Potter!

I think it’s important to note that the seats are on the smaller side. My friend’s sister-in-law almost didn’t get to ride it because the staff felt she was too big (!) and were somewhat rude to her about it.

For children who are 92 cm or taller when accompanied by an adult. Children 122 cm or taller can ride alone. 

Parent and Toddler Fun Factor: N/A

Baby, Toddler, and Kid-Friendly Shows at Universal Studios Japan

Kuromi Live

This is a rock show featuring Sanrio’s Kuromi and My Melody.

My daughter LOVES this show. However, it can be hard for little ones to see the stage unless they’re in the first row. People also start lining up about an hour or so early to watch it.

This show is cancelled if it rains (once they cancelled midway through, which was disappointing).

WaterWorld

My daughter’s friend’s mom is a big fan of this show and suggested, on our third or fourth visit to USJ together (I can’t keep track anymore), to watch it.

I wasn’t sure how my daughter would react but she ended up really enjoying it! There was lots of action and explosions, which was exciting for her. I found some parts a little boring and personally I wouldn’t go to this again, but if you want to take a break and sit down, this is a good place to do it.

Keep in mind that if you sit on the blue benches, you will very likely get soaked. And even if you’re not on those benches, you may get wet. If you don’t want to get wet, sit as far away from the stage as possible.

The show is 30 minutes long.

Jurassic Park Dinosaur Meet & Greet

My daughter has seen this a few times. She was scared at first when she saw the huge walking dinosaurs at age two, but as she got older she grew to love it, especially the little baby dinosaurs.

Playing with Curious George (Hollywood Area)

Okay, so my daughter likes Curious George, which is why I am baffled by the fact she refuses to go to this show every time I ask her. It looks really fun for kids and interactive.

☔ Recommended if it’s raining

SING on Tour (Hollywood Area)

My daughter refused to go here for the longest time. But on a playdate at USJ at age 4, she decided to go and enjoyed it!

The main characters from SING come out and entertain the audience with their powerful vocals. It’s fun for all ages and a favorite of one of my mom friends.

☔ Recommended if it’s raining

Conan 4-D

This is a show running for a limited time.

My daughter was quite scared of 4-D shows after she watched a Sailor Moon 4-D show when she was two years old. However, she loves Conan so at age four, she was brave and went to the show to see her favorite character.

She was a bit scared when the seat moved and the theatre filled with smoke but I made sure to reassure her and rub her arm, which I think helped her calm down.

If your child might not like dimmed areas or loud sounds, you may want to sit near an exit if they get upset and want to leave. The 4-D glasses also don’t come in child sizes so they might be too big for your child.

Note that the language for these shows is Japanese.

☔ Recommended if it’s raining

Sesame Street 4-D Movie Magic (Hollywood Area)

My daughter hasn’t been to this show yet.

Note that kids cannot sit on laps and must sit in their own seats (I think this is the case for the other shows as well.)

☔ Recommended if it’s raining

Shrek’s 4-D Adventure (Hollywood Area)

Same story as the shows above!

☔ Recommended if it’s raining

Universal Wonderland Feel the Rhythm (Universal Wonderland)

This is a mix between a greeting and a show featuring characters like Hello Kitty or those from Sesame Street, depending on the time and location. My daughter is a fan, especially since it’s outside and she doesn’t have to go into a dimmed room!

Greetings at Universal Studios Japan

Below are some of the character greetings at USJ where your child can take photos with the characters! My daughter is a huge fan of all of these, especially seasonal ones where there are characters from shows like Pokemon or Doraemon.

• Minions Greeting
• Super Nintendo Meet-Up (this is a paid greeting with either Princess Peach or Mario and Luigi, I believe around 2000-3000 yen for the greeting and a printed photo)

Parades at Universal Studios Japan

NOTE: As of October 2024, the No LIMIT! Parade is currently not running. We don’t know when it will resume.

Make sure you don’t miss the NO LIMIT! Parade, which is daily starting from 1:00 PM. It starts in the Hollywood Area and ends in New York. Here’s a map of the parade route.

This is a really fun parade for kids and a lot of popular characters show up from Mario and Pokemon. There’s also a little dance party in the middle of the parade where kids can join in the fun. My daughter always has a blast, especially when she can start dancing too so I try not to miss it.

You can save a spot in advance if you like but we’ve had no problem finding a place to see the parade about 10-30 minutes before it starts. One spot I recommend if you can’t find a spot and it’s getting close to the start of the parade is the path to the right of the Studio Stars Restaurant (when you’re facing it). It might be difficult for your child to participate in the dance party but they can generally see everything.

Kid-Friendly Food at Universal Studios Japan

There is so much cute kid-friendly food at USJ! Here are a couple of places that I recommend. Also, note that restaurants get very busy between 11:30-13:00, so the earlier (or later) you eat, the better.

Studio Stars Restaurant (Hollywood Area)

This place usually has kids’ meals that are themed according to the current special (and limited) event, such as Pokemon meals or Doraemon. The food is not only cute and plentiful, it also tastes good, too!

This restaurant sells baby food as well.

Kinopio’s Cafe (Super Nintendo World)

The inside of this cafe is a must-see as it’s really well-decorated and even adults will be excited to dine here.

They offer two kids’ meals, a curry set and a hamburger one. My daughter always goes for the hamburger as it is topped with a Mario figure and the dessert in a question block is super cute as well! I also love how there’s so much for kids to eat on the plate, such as fried shrimp (ebi fry), a star nugget, and a little omelet (I kind of wish there were more veggies though!).

Another great thing about this restaurant is that the staff will take a photo of you with your phone at the table, which is really nice.

Note that you can only enter this restaurant via reservation. There will be a QR Code in front of the restaurant, so scan that to get a seat. Unfortunately, if your reservation is quite late, you can’t leave Super Nintendo World and come back, you have to stay until your reservation time!

Snoopy’s Backlot Cafe (Universal Wonderland)

Since this is located in Universal Wonderland, it’s the perfect place for kids to eat. Their kids’ set has a ham and egg sandwich but I feel like the other items on their menu would work for kids as well, like spaghetti bolognese or burgers. They also sell baby food as well.

Lost World Restaurant (Jurassic Park Area)

My daughter hasn’t had the kids’ meal here yet as it’s quite big, but I know she would love the corn, fries, and potato chips. The BBQ beef sandwich looks really good too, maybe we will get it and share it next time if she wants it!

This restaurant serves pureed dishes (ask a crew member about it if you can’t find it on the menu).

Discovery Restaurant (Jurassic Park Area)

I’ve been eying the Junior Expedition Set, which has such a cute box with a pterodactyl on it and contains what looks like a cookie with a dino footprint, fried chicken, fries, an egg, and rice.

The inside of the restaurant has lots of pictures of dinos as well, which is fun for kids to look at. However, I will note that I have dined here and the Volcano Cake is… not good.

This restaurant serves pureed dishes (ask a crew member about it if you can’t find it on the menu).

HAPPINESS Cafe (San Fransisco Area)

If your child likes the Minions, they might enjoy their curry set for kids (although they could have done a better job making it look more Minions).

Children over the age of three need to order a meal while those three and under can share a meal with their parents.

I shared a burger with my daughter and it was just the right amount for the both of us.

This restaurant serves pureed dishes, too (ask a crew member about it if you can’t find it on the menu).

Amity Landing Restaurant (Amity Village)

I think the Jaws-themed kids set with fried chicken and fries is adorable, especially the pancake with the shark on it and the blue jelly dessert.

Other Restaurants at Universal Studios Japan with Kids’ Meal Sets

Here are some other restaurants that have kids’ set meals but perhaps aren’t as cute or themed as the ones above.

• Finnegan’s Bar and Grill (New York Area)
  
  This is like an Irish pub so it’s a nice place to have a beer and snacks or something more hearty while your kid has their meal, which is two sliders, corn and fries. I like the booth seating as well so sometimes my daughter naps while I relax with a glass of wine. It helps that you can reserve seats online as well.
• Mel’s Drive-in (Hollywood Area)
  As this diner specializes in cheeseburgers, perhaps it’s no surprise that their kids’ meal is hamburger and fries with cookies.
• Park Side Grille (New York Area)
  Chicken and egg sandwiches with fries and dessert that include fresh fruit, one of the healthiest options at the park. The restaurant also offers special afternoon teas like Christmas (2-5 PM) and fancy meal options for adults. I haven’t been yet but I want to go soon! You can reserve seats online, too.
• Azzurra di Capri (New York Area)
  This Italian restaurant serves a kids’ set featuring ragu spaghetti, chicken sandwich, veggie tomato stew, scrambled eggs, fries, and dessert. You can also reserve seats online.
• Lombard’s Landing (San Fransisco Area)
  This is another fancy restaurant so food for adults is a little experience. The kids’ meal features omelet rice (omurice), hamburg steak, fries, fried shrimp, veggies, and dessert.
• Three Broomsticks (Harry Potter Area)
  Mac and cheese with veggies and the cheapest kids set at the park. They have really fun and magical desserts so it might be worth visiting for that as well!
  

I like to grab pizza from Louie’s N.Y. Pizza Parlor in the New York area sometimes as well depending on how busy it is.

There are also tons to eat from carts around the park, like hot dogs, sandwiches, and steamed buns (some with Pikachu butts, near the Hollywood Dream roller coaster, but it sells out fast).

Overall Impression of Universal Studios Japan with Small Kids

Needless to say, considering I’ve been to USJ multiple times with my daughter, I am a huge fan, especially when it comes to going there with kids, even babies. The park grounds aren’t as huge as Disney’s so you don’t get as tired and with the yearly pass it’s very affordable.

Even if you don’t live in Kansai, I highly recommend visiting at least once with your little one! In fact, now I really want to go again having written this article, so you might see me there!

Looking for more things to do in Osaka with kids? Then you’ll want to read these articles:

Things to do in Osaka with Kids

Osaka with Kids Itinerary

Things to do in Kyoto with Kids

Things to do in Kobe with Kids

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