Universal Studios Japan (USJ)

Universal Studios Japan (USJ)

Located in Osaka, Universal Studios Japan is one of six Universal Studios theme parks. It is owned and operated by USJ LLC, which is wholly owned by NBCUniversal. The park is similar to Universal Orlando Resort, as it also includes selected attractions from Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood.

The park opened on March 31, 2001. In its opening year, over 11 million guests visited, making it the world’s fastest amusement park at the time to reach the 10 million-visitor milestone. Since then, Universal Studios Japan has welcomed approximately 8 million visitors each year. Most visitors are Japanese tourists, as well as travelers from other Asian countries such as South Korea and China.

Universal Studios Japan currently has eleven sections. Guests can enjoy a wide range of attractions, from child-friendly carousels to thrilling roller coasters and simulators based on popular films such as Spiderman, Back to the Future, Terminator 2, and Jurassic Park. In addition to rides, the park offers many opportunities to take photos with character mascots including Snoopy, Hello Kitty, and the Muppets. Various shows are staged daily, including a night parade with illuminated floats that travel through the streets.

Outside the park gates is Universal Citywalk Osaka, a shopping mall with multiple official Universal hotels plus many restaurants and shops, including stores selling Universal Studios merchandise and Osaka souvenirs. The Osaka Takoyaki Museum—essentially a collection of several popular vendors of the local dish under one roof—is located on the mall’s fourth floor.

Park Information

• Style: Amusement theme park
• Theme: Show business and Universal entertainment
• Address: 2 Chome-1-33 Sakurajima, Konohana Ward, Osaka, Japan
• Information Center Telephone:
• Opening Hours: 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. (hours may vary by day)
• Roller coasters: 5
• Area: 54 ha
• Opening day: March 31, 2001

Ease of Access

The entrance gate of Universal Studios Japan is a five-minute walk from Universal City Station on the JR Yumesaki Line (also referred to as the JR Sakurajima Line).

Admission Fees and Ticket Types

Studio One-Day Passes

• Adult: 7,800 yen
• Child: 5,400 yen
• Seniors: 7,100 yen

Studio Two-Day Passes

• Adult: 15,400 yen
• Child: 10,500 yen

Lands and Attractions

The park is 54 hectares in size. Attractions are spread across nine different areas of the park. A tenth area, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, opened on July 15, 2014, with its flagship attraction, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. This area was modeled on similarly named areas at Universal Orlando and Universal Studios Hollywood. Universal Studios Japan also offers attractions not found in the United States and unique to the park, such as Black Lake and Hogwarts Express Photo Op.

An eleventh area, Super Nintendo World, opened on March 18, 2021.

1. Hollywood
2. New York City
3. San Francisco
4. Minion Park
5. Jurassic Park
6. Amity Village
7. Universal Wonderland: Snoopy Studio, Hello Kitty's Fashion Avenue and Sesame Street
8. Fun Zone
9. WaterWorld
10. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
11. Super Nintendo World

Official Hotels

• Hotel Keihan Universal City
• Hotel Kintetsu Universal City
• Hotel Keihan Universal Tower
• Hotel Universal Port
• Park Front Hotel at Universal Studios Japan

Social Media

• Website: https://www.usj.co.jp/web/en/us
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UniversalStudiosJapan/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/universal_studios_japan/?hl=en
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/usj_official?lang=en

Map

Universal Studios Japan (Google Maps)