Universal Studios Japan Tips for First-Timers

Last Updated on September 5, 2025 by Kay

Thinking of visiting Universal Studios Japan while you’re in Osaka?

I am a huge fan of Universal Studios Japan (USJ) and think it should be on everyone’s list when they visit the city. This massive theme park has rides for visitors of all types, amazing food, and unlike Tokyo Disney, it’s just the right size, so you don’t feel super overwhelmed when you visit.

Since I live in Osaka, I visit Universal Studios Japan almost every month, so I thought I would share my tips that I feel every visitor should know before they go. This includes my thoughts on Express Passes, ride strategies, food, and more, so that you’re prepared and can make the most of your time there.

Know There is Only ONE Universal Studios Japan!

There is only one Universal Studios Japan, and it’s located in Osaka. The closest train station is Universal City Station, and from there it’s only a 6-minute walk to Universal Studios Japan. You can also take a direct bus from Dotonbori to Universal Studios Japan.

My friend told me she came across someone who had no idea USJ was in Osaka, as they assumed it would be located in Japan’s capital, Tokyo. So just in case, don’t make this mistake!

Use a Crowd Prediction Calendar to Decide When to Go

If you want to avoid busy periods, use a crowd prediction calendar.

Lately, especially because of the recent boom in tourism, Universal Studios Japan tends to always be busy. But there are times when it is exceptionally crowded. A crowd prediction calendar will help you figure out a less busy time to visit.

This is the crowd prediction calendar that I like to use. As you can see, it’s in Japanese but it’s fairly easy to figure out if you don’t understand the language.

The colored boxes above give you a rough idea of how crowded Universal Studios Japan might be on any given day. Green usually means it’ll be quieter, typically Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.

That said, I’ve visited on a few of those “green” days, and while it definitely wasn’t chaos-level busy, it was still more crowded than I expected. So… helpful? Yes. 100% accurate? Not always. Use it as a guide, not a guarantee!

Here is another calendar that you can use. The letter A means not crowded while F is very crowded.

Note that October is especially crowded at Universal Studios Japan because of Halloween. I have also found that cherry blossom season (mid-March to early April) is pretty hectic.

If it’s raining, there will be fewer people at the park, but you rides also sometimes shut down when there’s lightning and heavy rain.

Buy Tickets in Advance

If you want to skip long lines at the ticket counter, you need to purchase your tickets for Universal Studios Japan in advance.

Unlike some bloggers, I am not saying this to try to make money off you. The ticket lines at USJ can be long and will cost you precious time that you could have used to enjoy the park and get into Super Nintendo World.

Once last year, I visited USJ with my sister-in-law, and she hadn’t bought her tickets online in advance. So we waited a whopping thirty minutes just to get in, and this was in the afternoon! (SIL, if you happen to read this, I am not blaming you, I enjoyed the extra bonding time.)

Note that the Universal Studios Japan website sometimes does not accept credit cards issued outside of Japan, so I recommend using Klook. I have used Klook several times, and they are a reputable service.

Download the Official USJ App

Like many theme parks, Universal Studios Japan has its own official app. Download the official USJ app before you visit the park because you will need it.

It not only has a map that will update your location in real time, but there, but the app also allows you to apply for an Area Time Entry Ticket (eTicket) so you can get into Super Nintendo World. Note that you can only apply for this once your ticket is scanned and you’ve passed the gates.

If you see a red notification stating, “No Timed Entry Tickets” for the Super Nintendo World eTicket, as shown below, don’t panic!

This just means that you don’t need an entry ticket to get in, so you can head straight to Super Nintendo World and get those coins!

For those who do not want to wait in line for certain rides, you can also use the app to get a Yoyakunori (Reserve&Ride) Ticket. This is listed under Timed Entry eTickets and applies to the following (kid-centric) rides:

• The Flying Snoopy
• Snoopy’s Flying Ace Adventure
• Elmo’s Bubble Bubble
• Moppy’s Balloon Trip
• Elmo’s Go-Go Skateboard

Other helpful information on the app includes Wait Times for rides, show times, restaurants, and shops.

If you downloaded your USJ app well before your visit, make sure you update it before going in. If you update if after you’ve entered the park, you risk losing any eTickets for Super Nintendo World or Yoyakunori (Reserve&Ride) you have.

Head Straight to the Park

The closest train station to Universal Studios Japan is Universal-City Station. Once you are out of the gates, turn left to head to the park, but it will be easy to figure out where to go because everyone will be heading in the same direction!

We usually stop by the 7-11 convenience store or LAWSON next to the station to grab a bottle of water (if we forget our water bottle) because bottled drinks at USJ cost a whopping 300 yen!

Now, you might be overwhelmed by all the huge and colorful signs and shops along the path that leads to Universal Studios Japan, including USJ souvenir shops, but do not let that distract you. Keep your eyes on the prize and head straight to Universal Studios Japan. Again, follow where everyone else is going. Do not stop to look in the shops for character headbands because you will be able to get those once you are in the park.

Arrive 30 Minutes Before Opening

I suggest arriving at least 30 minutes before Universal Studios Japan opens. This way, you will be guaranteed entrance into Super Nintendo World. Sometimes you won’t even have to apply for an Area Time Entry Ticket on the app!

If you arrive before opening and try to apply for an Area Time Entry Ticket for USJ once you are through the gates and it is not working (or says there are no spots available), this probably means you don’t need to apply for one and can head straight into Super Nintendo World. To confirm, go to Super Nintendo World and read the sign outside the entrance. (You can also ask staff, they are super helpful.)

It is also far less busy in the morning. By around 10 AM, it tends to get crowded.

It is also important to know that sometimes USJ opens its gate 15-30 minutes before the opening time listed on its website.

Know the Areas in Universal Studios Japan

Universal Studios Japan consists of ten different areas, and it is essential that you know these as well as their rides before you go so that you can plan your day at the park properly.

I’ve written an in-depth article about USJ’s areas and the rides, so make sure to give it a read.

You (Usually) Cannot Go Inside Super Nintendo World Twice

Typically, you can only go inside Super Nintendo World once, so if you leave, you cannot go back in. (This is probably why when you go, you might see some people sitting inside the Warp Pipe killing time… Please don’t do this!) 

However, if Super Nintendo World is not busy and you don’t need a Timed Entry Ticket (which sometimes happens), you can waltz in and out as many times as you like.

And if you have an Express Pass, you can apply for a Timed Entry Ticket when you get inside the park, which will give you two opportunities to go inside Super Nintendo World. (Just make sure the Timed Entry Ticket time doesn’t overlap with your Express Pass.)

For instance, you can enter Super Nintendo World using a Timed Entry Ticket in the morning or afternoon, and then use your Express Pass in the evening (note that you’ll need to reserve the ride times in advance).

Skip the Line Using an Express Pass

A Universal Express Pass allows you to skip the main line and use a dedicated line for certain rides, such as Mario Kart. It also guarantees you entry to Super Nintendo World.

If you do not want to arrive at Universal Studios Japan early and want to save at least half your time waiting in lines, I recommend buying an Express Pass. I used it once, and although I did have to wait a bit in line, the Express Pass line was considerably shorter than the regular one. Note that for some rides, like Mario Kart, the Express Pass line merges with the normal line.

You need to purchase an Express Pass in advance if you want to use it, and make sure you have bought a regular ticket for Universal Studios Japan as well. (You need both, one to get into the park and the other to use the shorter lines.)

USJ Regular Ticket (Studio Pass) + Express Pass = Shorter Lines and Guaranteed Entry to Super Nintendo World.

Rides with the longest wait times are typically Mario Kart and Mine Cart Madness, both averaging around two hours long on a weekday. Other rides tend to be 1.5 hours or less, so personally, I have never felt the need to get an Express Pass, especially when visiting first thing in the morning. (Again, if you arrive before USJ opens, you’re practically guaranteed entry to Super Nintendo World.)

However, I live in Japan and I’m paid in Japanese yen, so if you come from a country where the exchange rate works in your favor (which is probably everywhere at this point, RIP yen), the Express Pass might be a great deal to save you time. This is especially true if you’re visiting during peak season (October, March, or April).

Know the Difference Between Express Pass 4 vs 7

As the name suggests, Express Pass 4 allows visitors to ride four different attractions, which is great for those who have a focused list of must-do rides on moderate crowd days or anyone who doesn’t want to splurge too much.

There are several different Express Pass 4 passes for sale, which differ according to the attractions. For instance, Universal Express Pass 4～Minecart & Fun～ will allow you to skip the main line for Mario Kart, Mine Cart Madness, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, and either JAWS or Jurassic Park The Ride. The price goes up depending on the ride combination you choose.

Express Pass 7 is better during peak seasons or for those who want to experience the most rides in the smoothest manner. There is only one available with seven rides that include Mario Kart, Mine Cart Madness, Yoshi’s Adventure, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, Flight of the Hippogriff, the Flying Dinosaur OR Despicable Me, and either JAWS or Jurassic Park The Ride. 

When compared to Express Pass 5, I think Express Pass 7 is a much better deal, working out to around an additional 3685 yen per ride.

Between Express Pass 4 and 7, I guess it comes down to whether you want to spend an extra 7000 to 11,000 yen for three additional rides.

Note that although you can purchase Express Passes at the park, they might already be sold out for that particular day since many people purchase them in advance. So I recommend buying them in advance.

Also, as mentioned earlier, you cannot go back inside Super Nintendo World after you enter unless you have both a Timed Entry Ticket and an Express Pass, so make sure you don’t book a ride too close in time to your rides in Super Nintendo World.

Plan to Spend at Least 3 Hours at Super Nintendo World 

If you’re wondering how much time you need to enjoy Super Nintendo World, I would say about three hours if you have an Express Pass. Add an hour to that if you want to eat at Kinopio’s Cafe.

If you don’t have an Express Pass, you will be waiting about an hour to two hours for each ride. 

There are three rides at Super Nintendo World:

• Yoshi’s Adventure (usually a 60-70 minute wait)
• Mario Kart (usually 1.5 hours to 2)
• Mine Cart Madness (usually 2 hours)

Super Nintendo World is also the least busy first thing in the morning and late evening (about an hour or so before closing), which means wait times for rides are shorter.

Get a Power Up Band

For those who want to play the Power-Up Band Key Challenges in Super Nintendo World and punch question blocks for coins, you will need to purchase a Power-Up Band. This is for sale for 4900 yen at multiple carts at Super Nintendo World, so if a line looks quite long, skip it and search for another cart.

Lots of people go straight for the cart near the entrance of Super Nintendo World (before the pipe), but you will have no trouble finding another one selling Power Up Bands once through the pipe.

Can you enjoy Super Nintendo World without a Power-Up Band? Of course you can! But the Key Challenges are really fun and worth checking out.

Here’s a brief overview of the challenges:

Goomba Crazy Crank

In this one, you crank as fast as you can to knock a Goomba over.

Koopa Troopa POWer Punch

Here, you smack a POW block to send a turtle shell flying at a Koopa Troopa.

Thwomp Panel Panic

This is a big team game where everyone flips panels on a huge screen to match the same icon (! or ?). If you’re not fast enough, Thwomp comes crashing down!

Bob-omb Kaboom Room

This game has you scrambling to put together puzzle pieces before the bomb explodes.

Pac-n-Flower Alarm Panic

Stop 12 alarm clocks from ringing so the Piranha Plant can keep snoozing.

Bowser Jr. Shadow Showdown

Once you’ve collected all three keys, you’ll unlock the big finale: Bowser Jr. Shadow Showdown.

Separately from the challenges, you can also play the music block game with a Power-Up Band, which I personally think is a must-do.

Avoid Peak Meal Times

People tend to work on a schedule, so when it comes to lunch, expect restaurants to be very busy from 11:30 AM to around 1:30 PM or even 2 PM. If you want to avoid this, have lunch early in the day or later.

Be Prepared if Visiting in Summer

Summer in Japan is no joke (we just hit the hottest summer ever this year!) and temperatures surge past 35 degrees Celsius even in September.

This is why I’ve written an article all about what it’s like to visit Universal Studios Japan in summer, so you can determine whether it’s worth it and how to prepare.

Consider Staying at an Official USJ Hotel

My in-laws from Hiroshima always stay at one of USJ’s partner hotels when they visit Universal Studios Japan. These hotels are literally within a 5-minute walk to Universal Studios Japan, so they can quickly get to the park and not waste time on the train. Some of the hotels also have decor featuring characters like Minions.

• Hotel Universal Port Vita
• Hotel Universal Port
• Hotel Keihan Universal Tower
• The Park Front Hotel at Universal Studios Japan

However, it is important to note that, unlike Tokyo Disney, you do not get early entry if you stay at one of USJ’s partner hotels.

FAQ

Here are some commonly asked questions about Universal Studios Japan and my answers, which will hopefully help you out with your trip planning.

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