Universal Studios Japan

Universal Studios Japan, on the waterfront of Osaka Bay in Konohana Ward, opened in March 2001 and celebrated its 25th anniversary on 31 March 2026, with a year of anniversary entertainment under the banner "Discover U!!!". It is now one of the most visited theme parks in the world, and for many travelers it is the single biggest reason to come to Osaka. The headline is Super Nintendo World, the first Nintendo land anywhere when it opened in 2021: you enter through a green warp pipe into a living, beeping version of the Mushroom Kingdom, punch blocks with a Power-Up Band on your wrist to collect digital coins, and ride Mario Kart: Koopa's Challenge, an augmented-reality kart race through Bowser's castle, and Yoshi's Adventure. Donkey Kong Country, added beside it in December 2024, brings Mine-Cart Madness, a coaster on which the carts appear to leap over broken track. Beyond Nintendo, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter has Hogsmeade, Hogwarts castle and the excellent Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey; Minion Park is loud, bright and much loved by children; Jurassic Park has The Flying Dinosaur, one of the most intense coasters in Japan, on which you ride face-down; and the Hollywood and New York areas hold big indoor rides and the park's famous parades and shows. Japanese visitors dress up enthusiastically, seasonal events change the atmosphere through the year, and the food, from themed snacks to full restaurants, is part of the fun. Tickets, called Studio Passes, are date-specific and priced by date, so book ahead for the day you want.

The most important thing to understand is how entry to Super Nintendo World works, because on most days you cannot simply walk in. Once your Studio Pass has scanned you through the main gate, you use the official USJ app to claim a free Area Timed Entry Ticket, which gives your group a one-hour window to enter the Nintendo area. Since January 2026 these are issued only in the app, paper tickets having ended, and everyone in your group must already be inside the park before you can claim one. On busy days the slots run out early, and once they are gone the app offers a lottery with low odds. The only way to guarantee entry is to buy an Express Pass that includes a designated Nintendo entry time, or a hotel package that includes it. Express Passes are sold in limited numbers, priced by date, and on peak days they can cost more than the admission ticket; they also let you skip the main queues on a set list of rides, which is the other big lever for a crowded day.

A good day starts early. Arrive well before the official opening time, since the gates often open earlier than advertised and the first hour is the quietest of the day. Claim your Nintendo timed entry the moment you are through the gate, then ride the biggest headliners while the lines are short. Weekdays outside Japanese school holidays are far calmer than weekends, Golden Week in late April and early May, the August summer break and the end-of-year holidays. Halloween season, with its zombie-filled evenings, is wildly popular with locals. The ticket link here sells the 1-day, 1.5-day and 2-day Studio Pass; read the voucher instructions carefully, since tickets are nonrefundable and the full QR voucher must be shown at the gate.

Getting there is simple. The JR Yumesaki Line runs to Universal City Station, a few minutes' walk from the gate along the Universal CityWalk shopping and dining street, with through trains from JR Osaka Station on the Loop Line taking around fifteen minutes. A small ferry, the Captain Line, also links the park with Tempozan and the Kaiyukan aquarium across the harbor in about ten minutes. Bring a power bank for the app, wear comfortable shoes, and expect to spend the entire day, from opening until the evening parade or lights.