Universal Studios Japan (USJ): Everything You Need to Know (2026 Review)

Universal Studios Japan, or USJ, is one of the world’s most popular theme parks, ranking among the top theme parks globally and becoming the third most visited theme park in the world in 2022. Located in Osaka, USJ was the first Universal Studios park built outside the United States and also the first in Asia. What makes Universal Studios Japan special is that it offers a mix you rarely find anywhere else in the world. It brings Japanese pop culture, manga, anime, and games like Mario, Pokémon, and seasonal events such as One Piece into the original world of Universal movies and characters, turning them into themed zones and rides throughout the park. Honestly, no other Universal Studios park in the world can do this quite like Japan.

With an intro this dramatic, of course this time I’m taking everyone back to Universal Studios Japan after several years away. This visit felt like the perfect chance to update the review and see what had changed inside the park. The best part of coming back this time was that I visited during the Halloween season, when the park hosts The Halloween Horror Nights. During this period, the entire park fills with zombies and all kinds of spooky characters running, dancing, and roaming around. There are also Halloween-themed attractions that only happen for about two months each year, from September to early November. The great thing is that if you visit USJ during Halloween Horror Nights, you do not need a separate ticket. One regular park ticket is enough to experience the full haunted atmosphere, from creepy walk-throughs to zombies roaming the park after dark.

This review is fully packed and detailed enough for everyone to follow along. I managed to cover almost all the highlight rides, and I also used Universal Express Pass 7, which helped me fit almost everything into one day so I could write this review properly. Alright, let’s go explore together.

Getting to Know Universal Studios Japan (USJ)

Universal Studios Japan, or USJ, is the first Universal Studios theme park in Asia, located in Osaka, Japan. It opened in 2001, and today Universal Studios Japan (USJ) is the most visited theme park in Japan. In 2022, it ranked third in the world with 12.35 million visitors, just slightly ahead of Tokyo Disneyland.

The must-see highlight of Universal Studios Japan, and the one you can only experience here, is the world’s first “Super Nintendo World,” a newer themed land that opened not too long ago. This is where you can step into the world of Super Mario and his friends. And honestly, this zone is extremely popular. Beyond that, the park is also filled with other Universal movie-themed areas, including Minions, Harry Potter, and Jurassic Park. But if you’re reading this and thinking that USJ sounds more like a theme park for adults and wondering whether it’s worth bringing kids, I’ll say this first: there are also areas made for little ones, especially “Wonderland,” which is divided into smaller zones like Snoopy, Hello Kitty, and Sesame Street. Kids can pick and enjoy what they like there. So yes, Universal Studios Japan (USJ) is one of those theme parks that has a bit of everything and is absolutely worth visiting at least once in your life.

How to Prepare Before Visiting Universal Studios Japan (USJ)

Some people might see this heading and wonder, “Is visiting Universal Studios Japan really something that requires that much preparation?” And my answer is yes. Absolutely yes. Especially if you want to get your money’s worth. To make the most of Universal Studios Japan (USJ) and cover as many rides as possible, you really need to plan ahead. There are so many attractions inside the park, and queues for popular rides can easily stretch for hours.

On top of that, USJ now has the world’s first “Super Nintendo World”, which limits the number of people allowed inside the area. A lot of visitors may get confused about how to enter, whether for free or with an additional paid option. USJ also has many ticket types, from regular park tickets to different Express Pass options, which can feel overwhelming. A regular 1-Day Studio Pass currently starts from 8,900 yen (around US$56), while Express Pass prices vary widely by date and package. Once you combine admission with an Express Pass, the total can easily reach around 19,000–40,000+ yen (roughly US$120–250+), depending on the date and pass combination. So if we’re spending that much money anyway, I really recommend planning properly so we can enjoy the highlight rides in the most worthwhile way. In this review, I’ll explain everything about Universal Studios Japan (USJ), from park tickets and Express Passes to tips for getting the most out of the rides. Let’s scroll down and go step by step.

Where Should You Buy Universal Studios Japan (USJ) Tickets, and What Ticket Types Are Available?

For anyone planning to visit Universal Studios Japan and deciding where to buy tickets, the first thing to know is that USJ admission tickets are called “Studio Passes.” These are available in several types, including 1-day, 1.5-day, and 2-day Studio Passes. The number of days simply refers to how long you can use the ticket to enter and enjoy the park.

There are also Studio Pass packages bundled with accommodation, train tickets, or early park entry, which you can purchase as add-ons. These package tickets are usually more expensive than regular daily Studio Passes, so choose the ticket type that best fits your travel plan.

There are several ways to buy USJ tickets, but the one I recommend is buying through OTAs like Klook or KKday. This is the method I personally use almost every time I visit theme parks around the world because it’s convenient and easy to book through the website or app. Tickets bought through Klook and KKday are issued as e-Tickets with QR codes, so when you arrive at the park entrance, you simply scan the QR code and walk right in.

Another advantage of buying through OTAs is that you can often get a good price while avoiding the risk of tickets selling out, higher prices, or the hassle of queueing to buy tickets at the gate. This is honestly the most convenient way. One thing to note is that USJ usually opens ticket sales only around two months in advance. So if you plan to visit, book early. During peak season, tickets can sell out very quickly, and the park does not sell unlimited tickets. Once tickets are sold out, they are sold out. You cannot just plead your way into buying one at the entrance.

Express Pass 4 and Express Pass 7

For anyone who has the budget and does not want to spend the day queueing for rides, solving the problem with an Express Pass is one option I highly recommend. An Express Pass is basically what many of us understand as a queue-skipping pass.

🥹 One thing I need to emphasize is that Express Pass is an add-on ticket purchased separately from park admission. So an Express Pass is not a park entry ticket. To enter the park, you must first buy a Studio Pass.

This pass is ideal for anyone who wants to cover the major rides properly. It comes mainly in two types: Express Pass 4 and Express Pass 7. Each type is then divided into different ride combinations depending on which attractions you want most. Different Express Passes include different ride lists, and you can only use the pass to skip the queues for the specific attractions included in the pass you bought. When booking, you can choose which version you want and see which rides are included. Once you purchase an Express Pass, you will receive a QR code that staff can scan at the ride entrance, allowing you to enter through the Express queue without waiting in the regular line.

⚡️ Another important thing to know is that every type of Express Pass includes access to Super Nintendo World. So you do not need to worry about missing out because you will definitely be allowed into the area. The system will randomly assign your entry time, and you must enter according to that assigned time. You cannot choose it yourself.

How to Get to Universal Studios Japan (USJ)

Universal Studios Japan (USJ) is located in Osaka, one of the main cities that many travelers choose as their gateway to the Kansai region. So instead of explaining how to get to Osaka itself, I’ll focus on how to travel from within Osaka to USJ. Getting there is very convenient because the city has excellent public transportation. I’ve gathered the main options below, so choose whichever suits your travel style best.

Must-Ride Attractions at Universal Studios Japan (USJ)

When it comes to must-ride attractions at Universal Studios Japan (USJ), it really depends on personal preference. But if I had to choose my favorites, I would divide them into three categories. This is purely my own opinion, and the rides I think are especially great have three stars next to their names. If you do not know where to start, use this as a guide and pick according to your own style.

Let’s Start Exploring Universal Studios Japan (USJ)!
Super Nintendo World

The first area I headed straight to was Super Nintendo World, the newest zone at USJ, which opened on March 18, 2021. That date perfectly coincided with the 20th anniversary of Universal Studios Japan (USJ). Super Nintendo World recreates the world of Mario inside the park and was the first of its kind in the world.

Super Nintendo World is designed to look almost exactly like the Mario games. The person involved in designing it is none other than Shigeru Miyamoto, the legendary Japanese game designer, Nintendo executive, and creator of Mario and Donkey Kong. That alone pretty much guarantees that Super Nintendo World feels incredibly immersive, as if the Mario game we used to play has actually come to life. So if you are a Mario fan, this is absolutely not a zone to miss.

To enter Super Nintendo World, you walk through a giant green warp pipe just like in the game, which takes you into Nintendo’s kingdom. There is Princess Peach’s Castle, a colorful Mario town, and familiar characters and living details everywhere, including Mario, Luigi, Toad, Princess Peach, and Piranha Plants that move so realistically. The area brings together many iconic scenes from the Mario games, from Bowser’s Castle to Koopa Troopas, the yellow turtles with green shells that are Mario’s classic enemies. The characters, props, and settings are honestly so grand and incredibly cute.

In the games, we always see Mario jumping up to hit blocks and collect coins, right? Inside Super Nintendo World, they actually place blocks around the area so we can jump up and hit them ourselves. If you have ever dreamed of punching a Mario block and collecting points, that dream comes true here.

Power-Up Band Key Challenges

As I mentioned, inside Super Nintendo World there are square blocks that people can actually punch and hit just like in Super Mario. If you are walking around and suddenly feel the urge to jump into one, you can do it. But here is the catch: if you do not buy a Power-Up Band, the sound when you hit the block is a sad failed sound, almost like there are no coins to collect. This is absolutely USJ’s trap to make people buy the “Power-Up Band”. The regular Power-Up Band currently costs 4,900 yen each (roughly US$31). Once you wear the Power-Up Band on your wrist, hitting the blocks makes that iconic “ping” sound as you collect coins or mushrooms, just like in the game.

The fun is not only about hitting blocks for coins. You also get to join a mission to recover the Golden Mushroom stolen by Bowser. To complete the mission, you need to collect keys hidden in different corners and complete several mini-game challenges inside the area. Once you collect three keys according to the mission in the app, you can use them as a ticket to enter Bowser’s Castle and continue the mission to defeat the villain and chase the Golden Mushroom. If you want to know what happens inside, you’ll have to try the challenge yourself. I skipped this part because I wanted to save time for more rides, but it is definitely one of the more playful details that makes this area feel like a real-life Mario game.

Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge™

The must-ride highlight inside Super Nintendo World has to be Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge™, a futuristic racing attraction that makes you feel like you have stepped into the popular Mario Kart 8 game. The excitement starts right at the entrance, where Bowser’s giant mischievous face opens wide like a gateway, almost as if he is saying, “Come on in. I dare you.”

The mission for us as players is to board a Mario Kart race vehicle and wear a Mario-style visor on our head. This visor has a transparent screen positioned right in front of our eyes, working almost like a personal projector. Through it, we can see competitors and targets on the race track. We have to steer, shoot targets and rivals, and collect points along the way.

For Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge™, I initially thought it would feel like a serious racing game. But in reality, the ride system is already set along the track. Even if you do not touch the steering wheel or turn along the route, your kart still moves according to the attraction’s path. The real competition is more about collecting points, grabbing items, and shooting targets or rivals on the course. Personally, I was a little disappointed because I expected a more realistic driving experience with more actual steering control. Still, I can see why kids would find it fun and exciting. It is one of those rides worth trying once, especially if you want to experience the full Super Nintendo World concept.

Yoshi’s Adventure

Yoshi’s Adventure is another ride inside Super Nintendo World, and this one is especially perfect for babies and young kids. If you want to bring children on a slow-moving train-style ride and enjoy the Mario world and its characters, this is the ride to go for. Yoshi’s Adventure is a Yoshi-themed train ride. Yoshi, the green dinosaur from the Mario games, is one of Mario’s long-time allies. The ride lets us sit on a train and travel with Yoshi to search for Captain Toad’s map, which will guide us toward a treasure hunt.

Personally, I think Yoshi’s Adventure is simple: you just sit on the train, relax, and enjoy the view of the Mushroom Kingdom on Mount Beanpole. But the charming part is that some sections of the ride pass through areas that people outside cannot see. If you want to see the tiny decorations, characters, and props up close, this ride gives you that. The golden coins look perfectly detailed up close, the Piranha Plants open their mouths as if they are about to snap at you, Mount Beanpole looks even cuter and more realistic when seen nearby, and the gardens and flowers are adorable from every angle. It feels special because you can only see this view by riding the Yoshi train.

Jurassic Park Area

Fans of Jurassic Park cannot skip the Jurassic Park area when visiting Universal Studios Japan (USJ). This zone recreates scenes and dinosaurs from the Jurassic Park films, letting us step into a prehistoric world surrounded by jungle and various dinosaur species. The excitement starts from the moment you walk in, almost as if you have landed on Isla Nublar, the island where Jurassic Park is set in the movie. Most attractions in the Jurassic Park area are based on the films, including the famous highlight “The Flying Dinosaur,” a dinosaur roller coaster that flips you face down through the air at high speed. I’ll say this now: this one is seriously thrilling, and anyone visiting USJ should try it. For me, it is the number one roller coaster here.

The Flying Dinosaur

The Flying Dinosaur is the intense roller coaster that I personally consider the scariest and most fun ride at USJ. If you see it for the first time, it may not look that fast or terrifying from the outside. The front of the train is decorated with a dinosaur, giving the feeling that you are riding on the back of a dinosaur through the world of Jurassic Park. At first, sitting upright feels fine. But only a moment later, the ride flips your body into a face-down flying position, lifts you up to the highest point at 46 meters above the ground, and releases you into the open air. This is where the ride gets properly intense.

The Flying Dinosaur launches at speeds of over 100 kilometers per hour. At that moment, there is nothing you can do except scream. The scariest part is when it climbs high, drops toward the ground, and flips 360 degrees all at once. If you are brave enough, do not forget to look around, because from up there you can see the whole USJ park. The Flying Dinosaur is incredibly fun and terrifying. If you love roller coasters, do not miss it.

New York Area

New York Area is the place to go if you want to soak up the vibe of New York, the city of fashion and entertainment. This zone recreates New York streets from the 1930s, including Fifth Avenue, one of the world’s famous shopping streets, and Delancey Street, one of the main roads in the Lower East Side. Together, they create a mood that feels like stepping into old New York. The buildings are recreated from that era, and the alleys are full of entertainment and classic charm. The highlight ride in this zone is The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man, a ride that takes us into Spider-Man’s world in sharp 4K. If you are a fan of Peter Parker, this is one to collect.

The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man The Ride 4K3D (❌ Permanently Closed)

For The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man The Ride 4K3D, if you have been to Universal Studios Singapore (USS), I would say this Spider-Man ride feels almost exactly like Transformers, just with a Spider-Man storyline and visuals instead. In terms of fun and excitement, if you have never tried either Spider-Man or Transformers before, this ride is genuinely fun and thrilling. But if you have already ridden Transformers in Singapore, the excitement may be slightly reduced because the ride pattern feels quite familiar.

This The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man The Ride 4K3D attraction is based on Marvel Comics’ Spider-Man. We board a vehicle called the “Scoop” and take on the role of a reporter from the Daily Bugle, the newspaper where Peter Parker works. One day, a source reports that the villains known as the Sinister Syndicate, including Doctor Octopus, Scream, Electro, Hydro-Man, and Hobgoblin, have taken over the Statue of Liberty using an anti-gravity gun. So we set off with Spider-Man to stop the villains and retrieve the Statue of Liberty.

The thrill comes from the way the ride tricks your senses using 4K3D projection effects. Whenever there is an attack scene, the vehicle shakes so much that it feels like we are actually about to fall. The moment the vehicle drops from a building is especially nerve-racking and surprisingly realistic. Even though I knew the ride was not physically moving that far, the immersive visuals and scenes around us made the whole experience exciting from start to finish. That is why I considered The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man The Ride 4K3D another attraction worth trying.

One final note for anyone planning to ride The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man The Ride 4K3D: you had to hurry, because this attraction closed on January 22, 2024. The following day, January 23, would have marked its 20th anniversary, so it closed just before reaching that milestone.

At the time, Universal Studios Japan (USJ) had not officially announced which character or attraction would replace The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man The Ride 4K3D. There were rumors that it might become a Pokémon area, especially since USJ partnered with The Pokémon Company at the end of 2021. In recent years, Pokémon has clearly become one of the park’s major character franchises. Whether the rumor is true or not, we will have to keep following the updates.

NO LIMIT! Parade

If you want to see Universal characters all together, plus Pokémon and Mario, USJ has the NO LIMIT! Parade. This parade brings together Universal characters in a lively procession of singing, dancing, and colorful floats moving around the New York area for about 50 minutes per day. If you enjoy parades, I really do not want you to miss this one because you get to see so many characters up close. There are Pokémon characters, including Pikachu and his partner Ash Ketchum, plus the fire-type Charizard spreading its fiery wings as if ready to breathe fire, along with many other Pokémon. And yes, this Pokémon parade exists only at Universal Studios Japan (USJ).

There is also a Super Mario section with go-karts and familiar characters, plus the cheeky yellow Minions dancing around and making everyone smile. And that is not all. The NO LIMIT! Parade also features characters from SING, along with Elmo from Sesame Street, Snoopy, Hello Kitty, and other characters appearing amid vibrant floats. Everywhere you look, it is colorful, lively, and genuinely fun to watch.

My favorite part, and also something new I learned, was the Hello Kitty parade section. Maybe everyone else already knew this, but I had only just found out that there is a male Hello Kitty character too, and he was extremely cute. All the characters danced, waved to the audience in every direction, and sang “NO LIMIT! Parade” loudly as the procession moved past. The energy was so uplifting that even standing by the road waiting made me feel refreshed. It was one of those moments where you feel like you are letting go and happily dancing along with cartoon characters in the park. If you want to watch the parade, it usually takes place daily from 2:00 PM onward in the New York area.

Minion Park

Minion Park says everything in its name: this is the zone Minion lovers need to visit. This area is the world of the yellow Minions from the famous Minions animation, which later continued into the Despicable Me movie franchise loved by fans around the world. What makes this zone special is that it is one of the largest Minion areas in the world. If you remember the peaceful suburban neighborhood surrounded by homes, Gru’s house, and his three adopted daughters Margo, Agnes, and Edith, Minion Park brings that whole atmosphere to life.

Inside Minion Park, USJ recreates the neighborhood where Gru and the Minions live, including Gru’s full house set among rows of neighboring homes on both sides. The cutest part is that as you walk through the area, you will find Minions hiding all over the buildings, from rooftops and balconies to windows and doors. Walking through this zone feels a bit like playing hide-and-seek while spotting mischievous Minions in every corner.

This zone also has the popular ride Despicable Me Minion Mayhem, which takes us into Gru’s house and turns us into Minions. If you want cute activities, there are small game booths like Banana Cabana, where you can throw bananas into Minion buckets to win prizes. One thing I recommend checking out is the Bank of Evil, which appears as a real ATM you can actually use. The concept is that this evil bank lets you withdraw money from someone else’s account. How exactly it works? I’ll leave that for you to try in person, because the surprise is part of the fun.

Finally, Minion fans who want to bring home Minion merchandise will find plenty of shops inside the zone that make it very easy to spend more than planned. There are also many cute snacks that are great for photos. Overall, this is another adorable, playful zone that kids and Minion fans will probably love.

Freeze Ray Sliders

Let’s warm up with the first ride, Freeze Ray Sliders in Minion Park, which is a good one for families visiting with kids. Freeze Ray Sliders feels a bit like a cute bumper-car-style ride for children. The gameplay is simple: you jump into the ride vehicle and glide across a fountain plaza in the middle of a green garden. But in a blink, chaos begins when the peaceful fountain overflows onto the ground below, and the water turns boiling hot.

We then become helpers alongside the Minions, trying to stop the boiling fountain by using Gru’s freeze ray to blast the water until it turns into ice. This creates a giant ice rink where our ride vehicles slide around. Freeze Ray Sliders is a cute attraction that kids will probably love, and judging from all the cheerful voices around me, they definitely did.

Despicable Me Minion Mayhem

After a ride for younger kids, it is time for older kids and adults like us with Despicable Me Minion Mayhem, which is based on “Despicable Me (2010).” We board a vehicle and enter a giant dome that works as a 3D screen, pulling us into the Minion world in a surprisingly realistic way. The adventure here is that we are on a vehicle entering the process of being transformed into Minions.

In the story, we ride a vehicle rushing through a laboratory with millions of Minions, along with Gru’s three mischievous daughters. Along the way, obstacles pop up in front of us, the vehicle bounces and shakes, and we slide through machinery while Minions act as staff checking the transformation process to make sure we become perfect Minions. If you have ever played Minion Rush on mobile, the scenes feel very similar. It is like running inside that game for real. It is kind of amazing that everything comes from images projected across a giant dome and the shaking movement of the ride vehicle we are sitting in. Honestly, it is impressive.

Despicable Me Minion Mayhem is another 3D-style attraction that I think does a great job with visuals, Minion characters, and scene design. It feels similar to The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man The Ride 4K3D, but the Minion version feels like an upgraded dome-screen experience where the visuals extend beyond your field of vision, making it feel like you are really inside the Minion world. Overall, I recommend it and think it is worth trying, especially if you have watched the films or played the Minion games before. You will not be disappointed.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™

And now we arrive at another major highlight: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™, one of the most beloved areas at Universal Studios Japan (USJ) across almost every era. If you want to experience the magical atmosphere of the wizarding world from the Harry Potter films, I can tell you now that this area will not disappoint. Inside The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™, you will step into Harry’s world with Hogsmeade Village, The Hogwarts Express, and Hogwarts Castle brought to life right in front of you.

The moment you walk into the Harry Potter area, it really feels like you have slipped into Hogwarts. It starts from the pine forest entrance, where the classic blue Ford Anglia from the Weasley family is stuck in the Forbidden Forest. The setting feels incredibly realistic and also makes for very cute photos. After passing through the gate, you will see the large Hogwarts Express parked at the station in the middle of Hogsmeade Village, not far from Hogwarts Castle itself.

If you want to do something fun, I recommend going into the shops and buying a wand first. This magical wand can be used to cast spells in the air at certain spots around the area. For example, near the train station, there are stacks of luggage. If you have a wand, you can say the spell and point the wand at the luggage, and it will open by itself as if you truly have magic. Wands are available for many characters, and there are different versions, including interactive wands that work with spell spots in the area and regular souvenir wands.

For anyone who may not know much about Harry Potter, the village full of shops that we walk through in this zone is “Hogsmeade,” the only village in Britain inhabited entirely by witches and wizards and free from Muggles, or ordinary humans without magical abilities. The atmosphere is incredibly well done. It really feels like stepping into the world we have seen in the films. The buildings and shops have snow-covered rooftops that make the place feel cold all year round. Photos come out beautifully here. If you want to try Butterbeer, you can buy it in this area too. But I’ll be honest: the queue was too long for me, so I decided to skip it this time.

Of course, the unmissable highlight of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ has to be Hogwarts Castle, the large scaled-down castle that is the most iconic spot in the area. It is both a major photo spot and the home of the main attraction Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey™, which includes Dumbledore’s office and the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom inside.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ is truly a zone for witches, wizards, and anyone who loves the Harry Potter films. You can have so much fun taking photos here that you almost forget the time.

Flight of the Hippogriff™

Flight of the Hippogriff™ is a gentle roller coaster where we fly through the air with a Hippogriff, a magical creature from the Harry Potter films with the head of a giant eagle and the body of a horse. The ride glides through the Forbidden Forest and past Hagrid’s hut. Personally, I think Flight of the Hippogriff™ is a roller coaster that children will definitely enjoy, but adults who love strong thrills may feel it is fairly mild. The speed is not very fast, and it feels more like a breezy ride around The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ than a full-on thrill coaster.

Personally, because of this level of speed, I think Flight of the Hippogriff™ is more suitable for children than adults. Kids will probably find it exciting and a little scary, while adults may feel like they are just sitting back and enjoying the breeze. It is still fun in a light, easy way. The only pity is that the track is quite short. I had barely gotten on before the ride was already over. If you are short on time, this is one you can skip without feeling too guilty.

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey™

After taking photos outside Hogwarts Castle, do not forget to go inside and ride the main highlight of this zone: Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey™. This is one of USJ’s top attractions, and the queue can get very long. But even with a long queue, the waiting route is not boring because you gradually walk through the castle’s interior. Along the way, you will see many props, including moving portraits of important Hogwarts figures along the staircases, film scenes shown on screens, the Sorting Hat moving and speaking, and Dumbledore’s large office, which you can peek into in great detail. All of this is part of the queue experience.

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey™ lets us board a ride vehicle and travel through the magical world of Hogwarts with highly immersive upgraded effects that do not require 3D glasses. The adventure begins by following Hermione into the observatory inside Hogwarts. The ride swoops around so convincingly that it feels like I am sitting on a magical broomstick, even though in reality it is a regular ride vehicle.

After flying for a moment, we suddenly meet Harry and Ron on their broomsticks, guiding us into a Quidditch match. Then the scene changes and we encounter Hagrid’s dragon breathing fire and chasing us, before everything shifts again and we come face to face with Dementors. They are not only huge, but they also fly past our heads so closely and realistically that I was genuinely scared.

I can say that Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey™ is one of the attractions you absolutely should ride. It is a true highlight of USJ. If you want to go on an adventure in the magical world of Harry and his friends, with excitement, suspense, and fun all mixed together, head straight for this ride.

Hollywood Area

Hollywood Area is another popular zone at Universal Studios Japan (USJ). It recreates the busy streets of Hollywood in Los Angeles, with landmarks, tourist spots, and shops from the 1930s lined up to create that bright, energetic Hollywood vibe. In the Hollywood Area, the ride I recommend most is Hollywood Dream – The Ride, a feel-good roller coaster that I will review in detail in its own section. If you want to shop for souvenirs, this zone also has plenty of shops. It is definitely one of those areas where you walk in and end up spending money.

Hollywood Dream The Ride

Hollywood Dream The Ride was the first ride I ran to in the Hollywood area. It is a feel-good roller coaster, and I mean that quite literally. Designed by Bolliger & Mabillard, the coaster has built-in sound and lighting, so it feels like riding a roller coaster while listening to music with sparkling lights around you. Once you sit down, you can choose the song you want to hear. Choose whatever you like, because the music will play loudly in both ears until the ride ends.

The ride format of Hollywood Dream The Ride is not complicated. The coaster leaves the station and climbs up to a height of 44 meters. Just as the train is about to plunge down the track, the song you selected starts blending with the wind hitting your face so hard that, in that moment, you almost cannot tell the difference between the sound of the wind and the music. The best part is that you can see the Hollywood area clearly from the track. If you ride around dusk, the charm of Hollywood Dream The Ride is that sparkling lights shine from the coaster itself, glittering like a comet. That is why I call it a feel-good roller coaster, because the thrill is softened by the joy of listening to music. I really liked this one.

This coaster, Hollywood Dream The Ride, actually has two formats: the regular forward-facing ride and a backward-facing version where the train runs in reverse. The backward version only has one train, and whether you get which version depends on luck and assignment. I got the normal forward-facing one, even though I really wanted to try the backward version. But queuing again just to take that chance felt impossible because the line was already too long.

Overall, I would rate the thrill level around 7/10. The scary moments come in waves, but the track is long enough to give a satisfying amount of excitement. Overall, I really liked it. It is a charming, sparkly coaster that manages to be both fun and surprisingly gentle.

Amity Village

The final zone I’ll take you to is Amity Village, a recreation of a small seaside fishing village turned tourist spot where ocean explorers can board a boat and cruise through a village surrounded by water. The atmosphere is based on the film Jaws, the story of a giant great white shark that attacks people around Amity Beach, causing several deaths. Some villagers still do not believe the shark is responsible, so a small boat tour is created to search for the truth, based on the belief that sharks would not normally attack in this area. Inside Amity Village, USJ recreates houses, docks, and wreckage in a way that feels like stepping into the film. The must-ride attraction here is JAWS, which today remains only at Universal Studios Japan (USJ).

Jaws

Jaws turns us into boat tour guests heading out to explore areas around Amity Island. At first, we sit comfortably on a boat floating across the water, with views of a small village on both sides and a guide casually narrating the area’s history. Do not ask me what the guide was saying, though, because it was all in rapid Japanese and I understood none of it.

Then the boat keeps moving until things reach a peak when something starts moving underwater. The guide keeps calling out, but there is only silence, making me wonder if it might actually be a ghost because I have listened to too many ghost stories. Even though the atmosphere becomes mysterious, the guide keeps doing the job properly and continues talking. Finally, we see the culprit: Jaws, the shark, emerging near the surface to attack our boat. Suddenly, everyone on board, including the guide, becomes alert because we need to escape from Jaws. The boat does not only speed away, though. It also fights back.

I really liked the counterattack scene because the effects felt very realistic. Flames burst above the water near the shark, and the heat reaches your skin as if there is actually fire burning right in front of you. In the end, we manage to defeat Jaws and return safely to shore. If you want to experience a classic shark adventure, jump aboard the Jaws ride.

Annual Halloween Horror Nights Event

Every year from September to early November, Universal Studios Japan (USJ) hosts a special annual event called Halloween Horror Nights. This is a special horror season where the park brings in Halloween-themed attractions along with parades of ghosts and zombies roaming throughout the park. Although the event name includes the word “Nights,” which may make some people think it only happens at night like in Singapore, that is not the case here. The Halloween-themed attractions are open from park opening until closing, except for the parades and street performances that start in the evening. The best part is that you do not need a separate event ticket like in Singapore. That makes the event feel even more worthwhile, especially because the spooky-but-fun atmosphere is one of the best parts of visiting USJ during this season.

The rides and activities during Halloween Horror Nights change slightly each year, but from my personal experience over several visits, many of the attractions and the ghost and zombie parades often follow similar themes. The year I visited was a little more special because it featured the largest zombie horde in Halloween Horror Nights history. If you missed it, do not be too sad. You can come again next year, because the overall experience is not drastically different.

Chucky’s Carnival of Chaos

The first Halloween Horror Nights attraction we headed to was Chucky’s Carnival of Chaos. If you are a fan of the terrifying possessed doll “Chucky” from the horror film Child’s Play, this is one you should not miss. Chucky’s Carnival of Chaos is a haunted-house-style attraction set inside a chaotic carnival created by Chucky himself.

Chucky’s Carnival of Chaos is only for guests aged 15 and older. The park pretty much guarantees that anyone who enters will scream with every step. The experience is like walking through a haunted house. Before entering, you have to wear 3D glasses, and once you put them on, everything around you looks hazy and blurry, almost like being inside a dream.

As we walked deeper inside, the maze-like path was filled with objects and props. The deeper we went, the more often Chucky appeared to surprise us. Sometimes the whole family showed up, including Chucky, Tiffany, and Glen, which made the atmosphere even creepier. In some sections, full-costume Chucky performers also appeared. But they were polite and did not chase us, so don’t worry.

Was Chucky’s Carnival of Chaos scary? Personally, I think yes. Wearing those blurry glasses made walking inside feel like floating through a dream where Chucky was actually trying to kill us. If you visit USJ during Halloween season, I recommend trying Chucky’s Carnival of Chaos for a different kind of spooky experience.

Biohazard™ : The Extreme

If you have ever wanted to step into a survival horror game, Biohazard™ : The Extreme answers that dream. This attraction is developed from the famous horror shooting game “Biohazard,” known in the United States as “Resident Evil.” The original comes from Japan, and the ride theme follows the game’s storyline closely. We enter the Raccoon City Police Station as the outside world is overrun by zombies trying to invade the building. Our mission is to protect the police station and survive.

At the beginning, we were grouped into teams of eight and walked into the Raccoon City Police Station together. There were two routes to choose from: Leon’s route and Claire’s route. The two routes offer different adventures and encounters with zombies and other monsters. My team chose Claire’s route. Claire is a college student who comes to the city to search for her brother, a member of the city’s special police force. When she encounters an apocalyptic disaster, her goal becomes surviving this burning hell.

Along the route we chose, there were puzzles to solve while zombies appeared and tried to attack us. The hardest part of this attraction was the puzzles, because everything was in Japanese. I could not read a single thing and had no idea what was going on. Luckily, the Japanese guests in our team helped solve the puzzles, so we passed each stage. At the end, we had to solve one final code. If you survive, great. If you do not, you receive a “You Are Dead” card as proof.

Universal Monsters: Legends of Fear

Universal Monsters: Legends of Fear is another very popular attraction from Universal Orlando Resort in the United States, and the theme and decorations at USJ are based almost entirely on the American version. The mission in Universal Monsters: Legends of Fear is simple: we walk into a maze filled with Universal Monsters ready to devour us, and our only job is to survive and get back out.

We started in groups of five to six people, then walked through a dark cemetery. Within moments, ugly and terrifying monsters and ghost costumes appeared to jump-scare us intensely. While playing, I had to act brave. If my teammates did not run, I would not run either. But eventually, once too many ghosts appeared at once, the whole team ended up running for our lives.

After surviving and coming back outside, I can say that Universal Monsters: Legends of Fear is one of those attractions that leaves you breathless. Why? Because from entering to exiting, there is basically no pause from running. Personally, I do not usually love haunted-house-style attractions. The mood here is different from Chucky earlier. With Chucky, we knew what to expect, but this one has too many different ghosts and feels more suffocating because you never know when something will appear. But if you like haunted houses, I recommend it. There are many terrifying props inside.

Pokémon Jumpin’ Halloween Party

If you have already enjoyed concerts performed by humans, try switching things up with Pokémon Jumpin’ Halloween Party, one of the hottest Halloween parties ever held in Japan, hosted by Pokémon. This lively party features Pokémon and Pikachu mixing energetic music on stage, getting everyone below to dance along.

The highlight of Pokémon Jumpin’ Halloween Party is the crowd of ghost-type Pokémon performing on stage, dancing and jumping around to hype up the audience. It feels like being at a mini concert. Very cute and fun. My favorite Pokémon here was the pale cream-colored ghost Pikachu. Its face looked a little spooky, but I actually found it adorable. Especially when it danced on stage, it was almost impossible not to fall for it.

Street Zombies

For me, the biggest highlight of the Halloween event was the zombies running and roaming all over the park. From 6:00 PM until park closing, these zombies, called Street Zombies, appear throughout the park. The entire park fills with zombies and ghosts in full costumes and makeup, walking along the streets and blending into the crowd. When I was walking around the Hollywood area at exactly 6:00 PM, all kinds of zombies suddenly appeared. Some carried chainsaws and revved them at guests, some had terrifying wounded faces and walked toward us as if they wanted to bite us, and there were also all kinds of ghosts slowly moving in their own character themes.

After 6:00 PM, the zombies and ghosts gradually disperse and blend into the crowd, though not very seamlessly because their costumes are extremely intense. Another cool thing about watching Street Zombies after sunset is that some ghosts have lights and strange costume effects added in. This is really cool, and I recommend waiting to see it.

And that was my full one-day visit to Universal Studios Japan (USJ). Believe me now that there are so many details? Visiting this park properly requires serious planning. To summarize my feeling about USJ, I have to say it is very different from Tokyo Disneyland. For me, this is a theme park that suits older kids and adults more, especially because many of the roller coasters are genuinely thrilling and very well made, including “The Flying Dinosaur” and “Hollywood Dream: The Ride,” the feel-good roller coaster I really liked.

Another standout point of Universal Studios Japan (USJ) is its major highlight zones, especially Super Nintendo World, which recreates the Mario world in an incredibly cute way and really feels like stepping into the game. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ is another hugely popular zone, complete with an entire castle that everyone wants to visit. Finally, what makes USJ different from other Universal Studios parks is the way it brings in Japanese cartoons, anime, and games. When I visited, there were Pokémon characters, special attractions like Jujutsu Kaisen, and even Doraemon. This is exactly the kind of magic that only Japan can do.

Finally, if you visit during the Halloween season, it is even more worth the ticket price. Every evening, zombies appear in different zones, posing and walking among guests to create a fun and exciting atmosphere. If you are visiting Osaka, Universal Studios Japan (USJ) is a place you really should not miss. You will not find another theme park in the world that blends manga, Japanese cartoons, anime, and games into a Universal Studios experience like this. And if you are planning to visit only once and want to make the most of it, do not forget to buy Express Pass 7. I guarantee you will enjoy the rides much more fully. Here are the ticket links again, so go all in.

• Studio Pass with 1-day, 1.5-day, and 2-day options [Book via Klook] / [Book via KKday]
• Express Pass 4 [Book via Klook] / [Book via KKday]
• Express Pass 7 [Book via Klook] / [Book via KKday]
• [COMBO] Buy USJ 1-Day Studio Pass + Express Pass [Book via KKday]

รีวิวสวนสนุกทั่วโลกจาก HASHCORNER 💛💙🧡

ส่วนตัวเป็นคนที่ชอบเล่นสวนสนุกมากกกกก นี่ก็พยายามจะเก็บแต้มสวนสนุกทั่วโลกแล้วเอามาเขียนรีวิวแบบละเอียดๆ ให้ทุกคนได้อ่านและตามกันเนอะ สำหรับใครที่มีแพลนไปเที่ยวสวนสนุกที่ไหนตามลิสด้านล่างนี้ คลิกอ่านรีวิวได้เล้ยย

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อ่านรีวิวเมืองอื่นในญี่ปุ่นต่อกันเลย 🤗

ญี่ปุ่นเป็นประเทศไม่กี่ประเทศที่นี่รู้สึกว่า ไปกี่ครั้งก็ไม่น่าเบื่อ ไปแล้วไปอีกได้ตลอด และยังประเทศที่ตัวเองตั้งมิชชั่นว่า อยากจะเก็บให้หมดทั่วประเทศ ฮ่าา เอาเป็นว่า HASHCORNER นี่ก็มีรีวิวญี่ปุ่นให้อ่านและตามรอยเยอะพอสมควร ทั้งหมดนับแล้วเกือบ 50 รีวิวแล้ว เยอะโคตร ใครที่มีแพลนไปเมืองไหนในญี่ปุ่นที่มีชื่อเมืองตามลิสด้านล่าง สามารถคลิกลิงค์อ่านต่อได้เล้ย

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