Super Nintendo World in Japan with Babies, Toddlers, and Kids
Last Updated on December 16, 2024 by Kay
This post may contain 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. See my Privacy Policy for more information.
As an annual pass holder for Universal Studios Japan (USJ), I’ve been to Super Nintendo World with my kid more times than I can count. So I thought I should share a quick guide about what to expect when visiting this popular area with kids and tips so you’re prepared if this is your first time.
If you’re wondering whether Super Nintendo World is worth visiting with kids, my answer is… absolutely YES!
My daughter has been obsessed with this area ever since she was a two-year-old toddler and didn’t even know a thing about Mario. Universal Studios Japan has done such a good job with this area that it will wow absolutely anyone, especially kids. Now she can play Mario Party so she loves Super Nintendo World even more.
However, I will say that there isn’t much for babies to do other than look around. But given how colorful Super Nintendo World is, I think babies would enjoy it. (Note that it is crowded so it might be hard to move a stroller around.)
In this article, I’ll share everything parents should know before their visit to Universal Studio Japan’s Super Nintendo World with kids so that everyone has a great time.
Make sure to also read my comprehensive guide to Universal Studios Japan with kids.
Curious about Donkey Kong Country? I have a guide on Donkey Kong Country as well!
Table of Contents
What to Know When Visiting Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Japan with Kids
Consider Buying a Universal Express Pass
If you want to guarantee entry to Super Nintendo World and skip the lines, get a Universal Express Pass. Now that Donkey Kong Country is opening on December 11th, 2024, I believe the Universal Express Pass will be more necessary than ever (unless you arrive at USJ really, really early).
This pass guarantees you admission to Super Nintendo World and you can skip the line for the Yoshi ride AND Donkey Kong ride (Mine Cart Madness) if you purchase the Universal Express Pass 4 OR you can skip the line for Mario Kart; Koopa’s Challenge ride, Yoshi, AND Donkey Kong if you get the Universal Express Pass 7.
Some other rides throughout the park are included as well.
You can purchase this pass through the official Universal Studios Japan website or through Klook. Note that you need to purchase a general admission ticket for Universal Studios Japan separately (in other words, the general admission ticket PLUS the Universal Express Pass, so it can be pricey!).
Keep in mind that these sell out in advance for certain dates.
I’ve heard of people living outside of Japan having trouble purchasing tickets through USJ’s official website so if this happens, use Klook. Klook is an official partner with USJ so it’s completely safe to use.
Go to USJ Early
For those who don’t want to spring for an Express Pass, arrive at USJ early to improve your chances of getting an Area Time Entry Ticket. Note that the gates open earlier than the official opening time on USJ’s website. I’ve heard these gates open anytime from 15 minutes to an hour early, so arrive at least an hour early to increase the likelihood you’ll get an Area Time Entry Ticket.
Once you pass the gates for Universal Studios Japan, use their official app (which I will talk about below) to apply for the Area Time Entry Ticket. You can also get a ticket from a Park Ticket Booth in Central Park if you don’t want to use the app.
If you don’t go on weekends or holidays, or during Halloween season, there’s a good chance you’ll be able to get into Super Nintendo World. I arrived on a weekday 15 minutes before (8:45 AM) the official opening time (9:00 AM) and after entering the park (8:55 AM), I was able to get an Area Time Entry Ticket for 1:20 PM. Since the park wasn’t busy, I checked again at 1:00 PM and saw that there were still Area Time Entry Tickets for 7:00 PM.
However, this isn’t always the case. Another time when I arrived at 9:30 AM, so 30 minutes after the official opening time, I could only get a ticket for 5 PM! So it’s always a gamble.
You can also head straight to Super Nintendo World if you’re one of the first to get into the park and you might be able to go in.
Note that children aged three and under do not need an Area Time Entry Ticket.
Download the Official Universal Studios Japan App
You are going to need this official Universal Studios Japan app to obtain an Area Time Entry Ticket to get into Super Nintendo World.
Go to the Mario Cafe Outside Super Nintendo World
Make sure you don’t forget to check out the Mario Cafe on Hollywood Boulevard. Their sandwich cakes and drinks not only look good but taste amazing!
I like to grab these before the parade so I have something to enjoy while I wait.
Don’t Miss the Parade
October 2024 Update: The NO LIMIT! Parade is currently not running. There is currently no information regarding when it will resume.
The NO LIMIT! Parade from 2 PM- 3 PM is something that can’t be missed if you have kids. It features all the Universal Studios Japan characters that kids love like Snoopy, Hello Kitty, Pokemon, and of course, Mario characters. Note that this parade is not year-round. For instance, there is no parade
This parade is throughout the park but does not go into Super Nintendo World, so try to time your entry to Super Nintendo World outside of the parade time.
Get a Photo at the Entrance
If you want a printed photo of your family popping out of green warp pipes Mario-style, you can do that right before you go inside Super Nintendo World.
This costs 2200 yen and you can download the photo later on as well.
Buy a Power-Up Band
To do the Power-Up Band Key Challenges and Bowser Jr. Shadow Showdown at Super Nintendo World, you’ll need to get a power band. These are for sale in carts right outside of Super Nintendo World as well as inside, so if you see a long line to buy the bands before you go through the green pipe, just go inside and the lines will likely be shorter.
The Power-Up Bands cost 4900 yen each and come in Mario, Luigi, Peach, Daisy, Yoshi, Kinopio (Toad), and Donkey Kong designs. Whichever character design you buy will become your team.
Is a Power-Up Band necessary, especially for kids?
Not really, but it’s fun to do the key challenges and collect coins for your team. You also won’t be able to hear the famous Mario coin sound when you punch a Question Block.
My daughter has had a Power-Up Band ever since she was two years old and she loves it. (It’s gotten a little ragged though over the years.)
You also don’t need a Power-Up Band for rides like Yoshi’s Adventure but you do need it for Mario Kart. However, if your kid is little, they might be too short for Mario Kart anyway! (More on that below.)
Make sure to connect your Power-Up Band to the Universal Studios Japan app to see the number of coins and stamps you’ve obtained, as well as the number of keys from the mini-games.
Through the app, you can also see your team’s ranking and where certain things are in the park, like rides and Question Blocks.
Other fun games to play with the Power-Up Band are punching the music blocks, pictured below:
You can play different songs using these blocks, which might be a bit challenging for younger kids (especially since they may not be able to reach the higher blocks).
For a great explanation of how to do this, watch this video:
My daughter also loves the slot machine mini-game, where you need to match all four pictures to win. She hasn’t managed to do this but she still has fun.
Power-Up Band Key Challenges
Bowser Jr. has stolen the Golden Mushroom and in order to defeat him and get it back, you’ll need to get three keys. These can be obtained through the Power-Up Band Key Challenges, which are fun mini-games.
There are five mini-games in total, but you only need to do three to get the key. These can be found on the app, just tap on the orange key icon.
Keep in mind that there can be long lines depending on the game.
Goomba Crazy Crank
For this game, you need to turn a crank as fast as you can to make a Goomba fall over.
My daughter needed some help from her father when she played this game at age two. At age five, she’s able to do it on her own now and enjoys it.
Koopa Troopa POWer Punch
Players need to hit a POW block in order to knock over a Koopa Troopa using a turtle shell.
The timing is still a little difficult for my five-year-old daughter.
Thwomp Panel Panic
Flip over the panels on a giant screen so that they match the same icon (! or ?). This is a team effort so everyone needs to be on the same page! Otherwise, Thwomp will crash down.
My daughter likes this game but it’s hard for her to flip all the panels to the right icon in time. Note that the room is dark so young kids might get scared.
Bob-omb Kaboom Room
This involves collecting pieces of a puzzle within a certain amount of time within a room — otherwise, the bomb will explode.
My daughter is scared of this game because the bomb exploded and now she refuses to do it again.
Pac-n-Flower Alarm Panic
Stop 12 alarm clocks from ringing by hitting them to ensure the Piranha Plant continues to sleep.
My daughter has a lot of fun with this game and likes that it’s outdoors because it’s not dark. Note that you might be paired with a stranger if a single participant wants to do this game. If you would prefer a stranger not join you or your kid, talk to the staff. They will likely let someone behind you go first.
Bowser Jr. Shadow Showdown
Once you get all three keys, you can do the Bowser Jr. Shadow Showdown.
This is recommended for children ages five and up. It’s quite dark so if your child is scared of the dark, they might not like it.
In the Showdown, you battle enemies on a huge screen with other players. There’s a lot going on but my daughter enjoys it (once she’s past the scary dark part in the beginning).
Food at Super Nintendo World
There is one sit-down restaurant at Super Nintendo World, Kinopio’s Cafe.
This is by reservation only and only via QR Code once you’re in Super Nintendo World. Look for an employee holding a board with the QR Code in front of the cafe.
Once you leave Super Nintendo World, you can’t get back in. This means if your reservation time is a few hours later, you’ll need to stay at Super Nintendo World until then.
My daughter always enjoys getting the kids’ set from here, which is a small Mario burger with fried shrimp (ebi fry), a small omelet, a star fry, and a Question Block dessert.
My favorite dish is Mario’s Bacon Cheeseburger and my least favorite is the Super Mushroom Pizza Bowl.
The pasta is quite good as well.
You can also get a calzone with yakisoba and cheese or a lassi from Yoshi’s Snack Island, or the famous Mario Kart or Super Star popcorn bucket from Pit Stop Popcorn (next to the Mario Kart ride).
Rides
There are three rides at Super Nintendo World — Yoshi’s Adventure, Mario Kart, and Mine Cart Madness.
These rides have a Child Switch system, meaning that one parent can ride while the other waits in a designated waiting area with their child. Then they can switch and the other parent can ride without having to wait in line again. This is what my husband and I did when our daughter was too small to go on any of the rides.
Yoshi’s Adventure
Kids need to be at least 92 cm tall to ride with a guardian.
This is a very simple and leisurely ride that involves moving along a track in a Yoshi car and pressing an egg button whenever one of the same colors is spotted. The ride goes by quite quickly but my daughter loves it, especially seeing all the different kinds of Yoshis throughout. The view of Super Nintendo World from the ride is great as well, I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of it.
I’ve found that the wait time is always shorter than what’s displayed on the screen, and the queue area is fun for kids as well. It’s colorful, there are Question Boxes and eggs that kids can punch, as well as a screen with Toadette on it.
Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge
Kids need to be at least 107 cm tall to go on this ride with a guardian. Just like Yoshi’s Adventure, there’s a Child Switch system that you can use if you’re visiting with another adult but your child cannot go on the ride.
On this ride, you wear a Mario visor and goggles and then ride in a 4-person kart as if you’re in the actual game. You steer, collect 3D coins, and throw turtle shells while making your way to the finish line.
Similar to Yoshi’s Adventure, the queue area is quite interesting, making you feel like you’re in Bowser’s (Koopa’s) castle.
Unfortunately, my daughter is too short to go on this ride. However, my friend’s son went on it when he was four years old and was scared.
I’ve been on this ride on my own and although I enjoyed it, there was a lot going on and I can see my daughter being very confused the first time she gets to ride it.
Mine Cart Madness
Super Nintendo World’s newest attraction, Mine Cart Madness is a roller coaster in Donkey Kong Country. This ride opened on December 11th, 2024.
Kids must be at least 107 cm tall to go on the Donkey Kong ride when accompanied by an adult and 122 cm tall to ride alone.
I really enjoyed this ride and highly recommend it if your child is tall enough to ride and likes roller coasters. Read my guide to Donkey Kong Country at USJ to learn more about the ride and what else you can enjoy in this new area.
Character Greetings
There are two paid character greeting experiences at Super Nintendo World — Mario & Luigi, and Princess Peach.
My family did both and despite the cost, it was worth it for us to get a nice photo. You can download the photo as well.
Peach is located near the entrance while Mario and Luigi are at the bottom of the stairs.
Kinopio (Toad) appears throughout Super Nintendo World and it’s completely free to take a photo with him, although it can be a bit overwhelming and disorganized with everyone trying to get a photo. There isn’t a formal line so try to pay attention to people waiting before you.
You can also get a free photo with Donkey Kong at Donkey Kong Country.
Souvenirs
There are two souvenir shops in Super Nintendo World — 1UP Factory on the 1st floor and Mario Motors on the 2nd (next to Mario Kart).
I’ve found that Mario Motors is far less crowded than 1UP Factory but 1UP Factory has more souvenirs.
You can also get Super Nintendo World souvenirs from many of the souvenir shops near the entrance of Universal Studios Japan. For instance, you can get a Mario hat or headband for other characters before you enter Super Nintendo World, so you can enjoy wearing it all day and get the most out of it.
FAQ
How Long Should I Expect to Stay at Super Nintendo World?
The time you spend at Super Nintendo World depends on a number of factors, but I would expect to spend at the very least two hours here for a first-time visit if you don’t eat at Kinopio’s Cafe.
Are there places to change diapers in Super Nintendo World?
Yes! Check out the barrier-free restrooms next to Kinopio’s Cafe and 1UP Factory (a souvenir store).
Where can I get hot water to prepare formula or baby food? How about a microwave?
Go to Kinopio’s Cafe for free hot water and a microwave.
Wrap-up: Super Nintendo World at USJ
I hope this article on what to expect when you visit Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Japan is helpful to you. Although it can be quite crowded, kids will likely have a great time here and make wonderful memories.
Make sure to also read my article on Universal Studios Japan with kids!