Newly up to date USJ Information for these heading there in 2022!
In case you’re travelling to Osaka, spending not less than a day at Common Studios Japan is a should! Whether or not you’re a rollercoaster-loving particular person, couple, household with youngsters, or Harry Potter fan, there’s one thing for everybody.
We final visited USJ in 2017 and it’s been 5 years since we got here again! We’re glad to say that the majority of our beloved points of interest are nonetheless there like Minion Park and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
However we have been most wanting ahead to the latest addition of Tremendous Nintendo World — which has efficiently reworked us into literal sport characters.
To completely maximise your time, right here’s our complete USJ information to planning an ideal day on the theme park.
The issue with USJ is that it’s EXTREMELY widespread with each native Japanese and international vacationers. Plan your day wrongly and also you would possibly find yourself caught within the queues for hours as a substitute of having fun with the rides. It additionally doesn’t assist that the official Common Studios Japan web site affords restricted data. Some stuff can solely be present in Japanese!
That can assist you out, I’ve cut up this information into three major sections: Pre-USJ Planning, USJ Day Information, and Often Requested Questions. Pay shut consideration to Part One!
Observe: Will strive updating this incessantly so it ought to keep related!
See additionally: JR Cross Japan Finances Itinerary: 8 Days 9 Cities for beneath $1.1k incl. flights and lodging
Pre-USJ Planning
1) Purchase your USJ tickets upfront — Save money and time
Tickets may be purchased on the day itself on the entrance counter. However until you’re a BIG FAN of queuing, please save your self a while and purchase your USJ tickets beforehand. Don’t be one of many clueless vacationers caught within the queue lengthy after the park has opened.
There are a number of methods to get your tickets on-line, both by means of the official USJ ticketing web site or through authorised companions like Klook. We most popular the latter as the method was fuss-free and we have been issued an e-ticket immediately. We merely needed to scan the QR code on the automated entrance gantry. Discuss skipping the queues!
One of the best half although, is that the retail value is actually the identical!
– Single day studio cross at USJ ticketing sales space: ¥8400 or ~S$80
– Single day studio cross through Klook: ~S$80
*Professional-tip: For individuals who need somewhat extra time, there’s a brand new 1.5day USJ Cross. Begin at 3PM on the primary day, and benefit from the park for all the second day.
2) Greatest time to go to – Wednesdays & Thursdays are greatest
In case your journey schedule permits, attempt to plan your go to to USJ in the midst of the week. The weekends are often notoriously crowded, with an inflow of Japanese vacationers.
In keeping with park officers, the times close to the weekends may also be fairly packed as locals might take go away for an extended weekend, and faculties might ship college students on excursions to USJ.
In fact please keep away from holidays! Right here’s a listing of Japanese public holidays.
3) Determine whether or not you want the USJ Categorical Cross or USJ VIP Cross
The Flying Dinosaur Journey
In case you learn this information fastidiously and observe the ideas from begin to finish, there’s a superb probability that you’ll not want the USJ Categorical Cross or USJ VIP Cross.
Nonetheless, when you’re travelling in an enormous group or unable to keep away from the height days of the week, I undoubtedly recommend getting them to have extra time having fun with the park.
USJ Categorical Cross
This principally provides you the extremely coveted timed-entry ticket to Tremendous Nintendo World and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter (so that you don’t must run throughout the park to gather your timed ticket on busy days). It means that you can skip the queues for sure rides relying on the sort of USJ Categorical Cross you get.
One thing to notice is that the value of the USJ Categorical Cross ranges from ¥2000-¥10,800 relying on demand and provide — you should buy your USJ Categorical Passes right here.
Sadly magic received’t assist you lower the queues. Solely the USJ Categorical Cross can.
USJ VIP Cross
*Observe: The USJ VIP Cross is presently unavailable on Klook.
The USJ VIP Wristband Cross is a less expensive and fascinating various to the Categorical Cross. As an alternative of gaining precedence entry to chose rides, you get to enter USJ half-hour to 1 hour sooner than the conventional crowd! This implies you get to not less than hop on two rides earlier than the primary crowd streams in.
The USJ VIP Wristband Cross comes with Harukas 300 Observatory ticket, which implies you get to see Osaka from excessive above on high of stepping into USJ early. You’d get a secret password to be used on a particular hyperlink so as to get hold of the assembly time for the particular entry. Fairly cool eh?
*Professional-tip: Attempt to arrive sooner than the designated time so that you may be on the entrance of the Particular Entry queue.
4) Determine in your route — Gaming, Journey, Harry Potter, or Cute?
For individuals who didn’t get the USJ Categorical Passes, listed here are 4 doable USJ itineraries or trip routes you possibly can observe to maximise your time on the park.
I’ve cut up them by pursuits so even when the park is packed, not less than you get to expertise the issues you’re most considering! I’ve excluded the much less fascinating points of interest that are typically misplaced in translation.
For the routes under, prioritise the primary three rides earlier than slowing all the way down to discover the decor. In case you’re quick, you need to be capable of end the primary two rides with minimal queuing and the third with a reasonably brief queue time.
Gaming Route
For all Tremendous Mario players on the market.
Begin:
– Mario Kart: Koopa’s Problem
– Yoshi’s Journey
– Discover Tremendous Nintendo World
– The Flying Dinosaur
– Despicable Me Minion Mayhem
– Hollywood Dream The Journey: Backdrop
– Jaws
– Harry Potter and The Forbidden Journey
Journey Route
For the fun seekers who love rollercoasters.
Begin:
– Hollywood Dream The Journey: Backdrop
– The Flying Dinosaur
– Jurassic Park: The Journey
– Despicable Me Minion Mayhem
– Mario Kart: Koopa’s Problem
– Jaws
– Harry Potter and The Forbidden Journey
Harry Potter Fan Route
Expecto a grand welcome at Hogwarts fort.
Begin:
– Harry Potter and The Forbidden Journey
– Discover The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
– The Flying Dinosaur
– Jurassic Park: The Journey
– Despicable Me Minion Mayhem
– Discover Hollywood Zone
– Jaws
– Discover Tremendous Nintendo World
Cute Stuff Route
For individuals who love the Minions, Hi there Kitty, Snoopy or Sesame road.
Begin:
– Despicable Me Minion Mayhem
– Discover Minion Park
– The Flying Dinosaur
– Discover Tremendous Nintendo World
– Discover Hollywood Zone
– Hi there Kitty Style Avenue & Snoopy Studios (you possibly can come right here anytime as queues are usually brief)
– Jaws
– Discover The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Fireworks above Hogwarts Fort
Alternatively, you possibly can plan your individual route utilizing the USJ Park Map. Try the Reveals & Sights Timetable too and also you would possibly simply be capable of catch Hogwarts gentle up with fireworks at night time!
*Professional-tip: The varied picture factors clear up close to showtimes and in the direction of the night. So don’t waste time queuing for them within the first half of the day if the road is lengthy.
5) The place to remain close to Common Studios Japan
Photograph credit score: Klook
If you wish to get to USJ early and simply, it’s best to remain close to the park. There are a few official lodges simply exterior the park, equivalent to The Park Entrance Resort which boasts a stunning night time view of the park.
For these on a finances like us, you can even contemplate staying at J-Hoppers Osaka Common Hostel, which is barely one JR cease (Ajikawaguchi Station) or a 15mins stroll away.
It’s a very stunning hostel, low-cost, and tremendous handy for attending to and away from USJ. Particularly cherished the pleasant workers and film screenings each night time!
USJ Day Information
6) Arrive earlier than the gates open — 1hr forward
Strive to not crash something in your solution to USJ.
In case you didn’t get the USJ VIP Wristband Cross, do strive arriving about an hour earlier than the gates open. Even then, anticipate a small queue in entrance of you. The Japanese college students are fairly hardcore in terms of queueing! Slightly bit like Singaporeans. 😛
Common Studios Japan’s opening hours range, so examine the official web site for calendar timings.
Too dangerous the Hogwarts Categorical can’t take you straight into USJ.
Instructions to Common Studios Japan:
By Practice
Take the JR Yumesaki Line (also referred to as JR Sakurajima Line) to Common Metropolis Station. USJ is only a 5mins stroll from the station.
By Bus
Except you’re coming straight from the airport, I don’t advocate taking a bus. Busses from Kansai Worldwide Airport take 35-75 minutes (¥1600) relying on site visitors.
By Ferry
In case you purchased the Osaka Wonderful Cross (which is a good way to discover Osaka), you possibly can take the “Captain Line” at no cost (regular value ¥800) from Kaiyukan West Pier (close to Osaka Aquarium) to Common Metropolis Port in 10 minutes.
The draw back is that the ferry service solely begins working at 9:30AM. It’s a good various for getting away from USJ when you go away earlier than 8PM although!
7) Get some meals from Lawson & deliver a bottle
Whereas meals inside USJ isn’t insanely costly, it isn’t precisely finances. If you want to stretch your greenback for the lovable desserts as a substitute of the primary meals.
There’s a Lawson comfort retailer simply exterior Common Metropolis Station and is a superb place to get some breakfast. Technically you aren’t allowed to deliver exterior meals into the park, but it surely’s simple to sneak an onigiri or two in your jacket. On the 2 events we have been there, our baggage obtained checked as soon as, however they didn’t examine our pockets.
Do additionally deliver a water bottle as there are water coolers across the park. It might get fairly costly to purchase drinks continuously for hydration!
In case you are sport and don’t thoughts getting moist taking the Jurassic Park: The Journey, deliver alongside your individual disposable poncho. It’s less expensive than getting it inside USJ.
8) Seize a free timed entry ticket for widespread points of interest
We extremely advocate getting a timed entry ticket for points of interest you’d wanna catch, particularly when it’s crowded and queues are lengthy.
Some areas, equivalent to Tremendous Nintendo World, additionally received’t will let you enter until you have got an entry ticket so it’s greatest to examine beforehand!
By getting a timed ticket, you’re assured of an entry time into the themed zone. Observe that the timed ticket is barely legitimate as soon as, and isn’t relevant for re-entry. Whereas it states that you’ve got an hour to discover the realm, fortunately there isn’t anybody to chase you out as soon as you’re inside.
Beforehand, we’d must queue at a ticketing web site inside USJ at Central Park to acquire our timed ticket, however now you possibly can simply do it on the official USJ app. One of the best half? It’s completely free.
Select your time slots correctly although and also you would possibly catch spectacular exhibits just like the Expecto Patronum Evening Present at Hogwarts Fort at night time.
*Professional-tip: The view on the restaurant 3 Broomsticks is the very best, so attempt to get a butterbeer there to benefit from the present. Head inside half-hour earlier than the present because the workers will block the aspect entrance when the present is about to start out.
*Observe: The Expecto Patronum Evening Present is presently not accessible however hold a lookout on the present schedule for upcoming ones.
9) Keep on with the plan however be versatile
In case you adopted level 4, you need to have a sport plan in thoughts earlier than coming into the park.
Whereas it’s good to stay to the plan, hold a watch out for the digital signboards that present the queue instances across the park or simply examine the official USJ app. You by no means know as a preferred attraction would possibly turn out to be accessible for no matter purpose!
10) Queue at Single Rider Lanes
Jurassic Park: The Journey
Jaws
Except you actually need to take the trip with your pals or household, at all times queue at Single Rider Lanes if the ready time is lengthy. The Japanese desire sticking collectively, so the Single Rider Lanes are typically emptier and transfer so much quicker.
Who is aware of, you would possibly simply make a brand new good friend with a stranger screaming your lungs out collectively.
11) Don’t be shy — ask for stickers
Minion stickers in entrance of the Despicable Me Minion Mayhem Journey.
Souvenirs and merchandise from USJ may be fairly expensive. If you need one thing small as a memento, do ask the pleasant workers for stickers! They’ll be more than pleased to oblige.
In case they will’t perceive your English, do that with a BIG SMILE:
すみません。ステッカーがありますか？
Sumimasen. Sutekkā ga arimasu ka?
(Translation: Excuse me, do you have got stickers?)
*Professional-tip: The Minion stickers can solely be obtained in Minion Park!
Alternatively you possibly can go window buying within the merchandise outlets.
12) Keep on with the centre in Theatre Reveals
For the very best seats in the home, attempt to shuffle your solution to the center of the ready room when watching Theatre Reveals. The workers will usher visitors from left to proper. By standing within the center, you’ll find yourself near the centre of the stage for a greater expertise!
13) Arrive early for widespread road exhibits & parades
Minion Parade.
Harry Potter Wand Magic Present.
In case you’re considering catching any of the parades, plan to reach not less than half-hour earlier than the beginning of the present to get a very good view. We needed to catch the Minion Parade and Harry Potter Expecto Patronum Evening Present twice as a result of our spots have been so dangerous.
14) Discover your environment
A go to to Common Studios Japan isn’t solely concerning the rides. It’s concerning the environment and vibe too! Quite a lot of consideration has really been put into the decor so keep in mind to discover your environment.
We particularly cherished the “Financial institution of Evil” in Minion Park the place you possibly can withdraw cash from “another person’s” checking account.
It’s also possible to hear Moaning Myrtle crying within the women bathroom inside The Wizarding World of Harry Potter!
Do share with us different enjoyable particulars you uncovered within the feedback under. 🙂
15) Dinner at Common Metropolis Stroll
In case you don’t wish to eat in USJ, there are many eating places for all budgets simply exterior at Common Metropolis Stroll. The park closes between 7-9PM relying on the day, so you possibly can simply finish the day with a meal after maximising your time within the park.
We had dinner at Udon Kineya Mugimaru on the primary ground, which serves hearty and low-cost udon.
Often Requested Questions for USJ
Are the rides and exhibits in English?
Sadly, nearly all of the rides and points of interest are in Japanese. It’s somewhat odd listening to Harry Potter in Japanese although. Nonetheless, the Despicable Me Minion Mayhem trip has English subtitles!
Banana? Minion discuss might be simpler to grasp than the exhibits.
Ought to I purchase a 1 day or 2 day USJ Studio Cross?
Personally I’ll get the 1 day USJ Studio Cross as a result of I want to spend extra time exploring different components of the Kansai area. However when you wish to take issues sluggish, it’s additionally high quality to get a 2 day USJ Studio Cross.
Learn additionally: 8-Day Japan Itinerary: 9 Cities in Kansai for Below S$900
Can I re-enter the park after heading exterior for lunch?
You’ll not be allowed to re-enter the park. I’m positive when you’ve got a real “emergency”, the workers will be capable of make particular preparations although.
*Professional-tip: We propose grabbing breakfast from Lawson earlier than coming into the park, munch on snacks for lunch, and have dinner at Common Metropolis Stroll.
Minion bao.
Turkey Leg.
What if I want to alter my USJ Ticket dates?
Sadly, your USJ tickets and specific passes are legitimate solely on the desired date so remember to plan your itinerary effectively to keep away from any cancellations!
What are your favorite points of interest in USJ?
Indubitably, Tremendous Nintendo World, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Minion Park, and Hollywood Dream Backdrop the trip!
We love Tremendous Nintendo World and Harry Potter a lot that we even purchased wristbands and wands at Ollivanders to work together with completely different zones inside the areas.
Minion Park however was only a bunch of cuteness. Remember to grasp round for the Minion Parade and photo-taking ops. Hollywood Dream Backdrop is just the very best trip within the park.
What snacks ought to I strive in USJ?
Mario’s Cap Strawberry Shortcake and Luigi’s Cap No-Bake Grape Cheesecake.
Mario’s/Lugi’s Cap Pancake Sandwich, Minion Cookies at Minion Park (although it’s too cute to eat), and frozen Butterbeer at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter!
Minion Cookies.
Butterbeer! Sadly it’s non-alcoholic.
Yummm, perhaps it’s time to ebook your tickets to Common Studios Japan now 😉
Learn additionally: Common Cool Japan 2018: 4 New Sights at Common Studios Japan To Relive Your Childhood Nostalgia
Hope you discovered our final USJ information and suggestions for planning a magical expertise helpful. Do share with us your suggestions and expertise within the feedback part under!
This submit is dropped at you by Klook.
