Classic Route Day 3

Universal Studios Japan

USJ

Universal Studios Japan (USJ) is one of Japan’s representative movie theme parks, built around Hollywood films and famous games.

Rather than a typical amusement park centered purely on rides, it is closer to an immersive theme park where you can experience movie/game worlds in a highly realistic way.

There are some roller coasters and attractions, but more than an activity-heavy amusement park, it is a place that emphasizes world-building experiences based on content.

Buy a Studio Pass (Admission Ticket)

Since on-site ticket sales at Universal Studios Japan ended on May 6, 2025, if you plan to visit, you must purchase your admission ticket online in advance.

• Prices are categorized by Adult, Child (ages 4–11), and Senior (65+).
• Ticket types include 1-Day, 1.5-Day, and 2-Day, so you can choose based on your itinerary.
• Prices vary by season (A–F), so be sure to check which season applies to your visit date.
  • Season F means a mid-season between A and B.
• Limited-time 15:00 or 17:00 entry tickets, accessibility discount tickets, etc. can be purchased only on the official website.
• Tickets are non-refundable under any circumstances.

Express Pass

USJ is one of the most popular theme parks even among locals in Japan, and it is very crowded for most of the year. Popular attractions often come with at least a 1-hour wait by default, so if saving time matters, an Express Pass is worth considering.

An Express Pass lets you enjoy attractions with reduced waiting, and it is usually sold as bundles of 4 or 7 attractions.

• You must purchase it separately from the Studio Pass (admission ticket).
• The biggest advantage is that you can enter without waiting in the regular line.
• Depending on the ticket type, included attractions and whether it includes guaranteed entry time (Timed Entry) can differ, so check details before buying.
• Express Passes that include popular attractions often sell out early.
• It can cost nearly as much as the admission ticket and is non-refundable, so purchase carefully.

Key Tips to Beat the Crowds at USJ

1) Timed Entry Ticket

At Universal Studios Japan, besides the Studio Pass (admission) and the Express Pass, there is also a concept called Timed Entry.

For highly popular areas like Super Nintendo World, Timed Entry may be required in advance for entry.

How to get Timed Entry

1. Buy an Express Pass that includes Timed Entry: the most reliable option, but it is expensive.
2. Buy an admission ticket bundle that includes Timed Entry: e.g., Studio Pass + Super Nintendo World Timed Entry.
3. Apply on-site via the official app or a ticketing kiosk: if you win/get a ticket, you can enter the area during the assigned time.

How to apply for a Timed Entry Ticket in the app

It is best to install the USJ app and register your ticket before you arrive. The app is also very useful because it shows real-time attraction wait times.

• If multiple people are applying together, the representative should register all tickets in the app and apply once, so you are assigned the same time slot.
• If you purchase tickets on the same day, app registration may not work immediately. Usually it becomes available from the next day, so consider your schedule and buy early.

1. Install the Universal Studios Japan app
2. Register your tickets in the app under the e-Timed Entry menu
3. After entering the park, if the Timed Entry menu shows “You can enter without a numbered ticket now,” you can enter without Timed Entry
4. If not, select all tickets → choose a time slot → select number of people → apply
5. If you win, enter at the assigned time

Important notes about Timed Entry

1. Each person can receive a numbered ticket only once per day
2. You can only enter during your assigned time slot (be on time)
3. Timed Entry tickets cannot be reissued or time-changed
4. Once you leave an area, re-entry is not allowed
5. If you have both an Express Pass and Timed Entry, you may be able to use the area up to two times

2) Rope drop

USJ usually opens between 8–9 AM, but in reality it sometimes opens 30 minutes to 1 hour earlier than scheduled.

If you enter and immediately head straight to Super Nintendo World, you may be able to enter without Timed Entry—so many visitors try a “rope drop,” lining up early in the morning.

A Fun Fact About Super Mario

The final boss in the Super Mario series, the horned turtle Koopa, has a surprisingly unexpected origin.

During a development meeting, a developer said something like, “Let’s wrap this up and go eat gukbap (a Korean dish) at a meat restaurant.” Shigeru Miyamoto (Mario’s creator) found it interesting and reacted with “Ku-ppa (クッパ)? Sounds strong.”—and that story became the origin of the character’s name. (Of course, the meeting itself was conducted in Japanese, not Korean.)

There is also another surprising fact related to Super Mario.

Even after minimizing this image as much as possible, it is still about 44KB. But surprisingly, the entire Super Mario game released in 1985 was only 40KB.

In other words, a complete game was created with less data than this single image.

To save memory, the developers used many creative tricks. For example, they built large clouds by repeating small cloud sprites, reused the same shapes for bushes with only color changes, and designed enemy characters with left-right symmetry to minimize graphic data.

Great Pairings After USJ: Nearby Spots That Match Perfectly

1) Solaniwa Onsen

After a full day of excitement at USJ, you may want a more relaxed pace the next day. And since you are in Japan, it can feel like a shame to miss an onsen.

A great option in that case is Solaniwa Onsen.

It is only two stops away from USJ, so you can get there with one transfer. If you adjust your schedule slightly earlier, it becomes a perfect course to recover from the crowds and fatigue. You can enjoy the onsen in a yukata, have a meal, and the atmospheric footbath area is also popular as an Instagram photo spot.

• Hours: 11:00–23:00 (last entry 22:00 / public bath until 22:30)
  • Under 16 using alone: until 19:00 / under 18 using alone: until 22:00
• Admission
  • Weekdays: Adult 2,790 yen / Child 1,320 yen
  • Weekends & holidays: Adult 3,010 yen / Child 1,430 yen
  • Special days: Adult 3,230 yen / Child 1,540 yen
  • Child age criteria: ages 4–11 / 12+ is adult / under 4 is free
  • Age 60+: Weekdays 11:00–17:00 is 1,320 yen (passport required)

2) Tempozan Giant Ferris Wheel

It used to be the largest Ferris wheel in Osaka, but recently it ceded the spotlight to OSAKA WHEEL (123m). Still, the Tempozan Giant Ferris Wheel, at 112.5m tall with a 100m diameter, is more than enough to enjoy 15 minutes of romantic night views.

• Hours: 10:00–21:00 or 22:00 (last boarding 15 minutes before closing)
• Ticket: 900 yen (same price for ages 3 and up)
• Closed days: Same as the Kaiyukan schedule