USJ Beginner’s Guide 2026 | Preparation, Timed-Entry Tickets, Admission Tickets & Day-of Tips

For families with children or small kids, here’s how to enjoy USJ, plus routes for activeattractionsand tips for enjoying Mario Kart and other attractions with long waits efficiently.

How to Get Around USJ

Universal Studios Japan (USJ) has so many attractions and shows that you cannot experience everything in a single day. That is why many guests visit repeatedly with an Annual Pass.

In this guide, the Happyell editor-in-chief, who visits USJ more than 50 times a year, sharestips and routes for enjoying USJ efficiently in one dayand much more.

Preparing carefully before your USJ visit can make your day in the park much smoother, so read through to the end.

Halloween Horror Nights tips

USJ Zombies 2026: High-School Zombie Types & Locations, Zombie de Dance, Street Zombies, and Final-Show FavoritesPublished: 2026.07.17

It has been 50 years since JAWS was released in Japan.
We introduce the limited-time events and new food menu items.

What is the new 2025 attraction, Minion Hacha-Mecha Mission?
How to Score Over 1 Million Points in Minion Mayhem Mission! Complete Guide to Blaster Customization and Becoming a SupervillainPublished: 2026.07.17

USJ Strategy & Touring: Before Your Visit

To get the most out of USJ, advance preparation is very important.
Here are the key points to know before you leave on your trip.

Buy your admission ticket in advance

There is one important thing to do if you want to tour USJ efficiently:
buy your ticket in advance.
You can also buy one at the Lawson in Universal City, but it is best to purchase it on the official website by the day before your visit.

How to Buy USJ Tickets for Less | Best Places to Buy, Discounts, and Price ListPublished: 2024.10.10
Universal Studios Japan Ticket Prices 2026 – 1-Day Pass Price CalendarPublished: 2026.07.17

USJ ticket types and how to buy them

USJ offers not only standard admission tickets, but also special tickets such as Express Passes that can greatly reduce wait times, as well as VIP tours.
Some attractions and restaurants are available only as paid experiences.

Later in this article, we explain whether these options are worth buying.

Things to check in advance

Checking the following points before your visit makes it easier to plan your day.

Attraction operating status

At Universal Studios Japan, attractions are typically closed for inspection or maintenance one to three times per year.
Some attractions also stop regular operation when they are converted into limited-time attractions.

Outside the busiest seasons, there are often attractions temporarily closed, so check theofficial USJ Show & Attraction Closure Information.

Space Fantasy – The Ride, for example, often operates as an XR Ride, so its regular version is a relatively rare attraction.

Show and parade times

Show times are not fixed at the same hour every day.
They vary by visit date.

Parade start times also change occasionally.
The NO LIMIT! Parade ～Discover U!!! Version～ runs from Wednesday, March 4, 2026 through Monday, January 11, 2027 and starts at 2:00 p.m. During summer it starts at 4:15 p.m. See the following article for details.

[USJ 25th Anniversary Parade] NO LIMIT! Parade ～Discover U!!! Version～: Best Viewing Spots, Stop Locations, and Every FloatPublished: 2026.07.17

Schedules are announced one week in advance, so when your visit is one week away, check theofficial USJ Park Hours & Schedule page.

Several shows may run at the same time, so if there are multiple shows you definitely want to see, check their schedules or you may miss one.

Areas and attractions that require timed-entry tickets

Some Horror Nights attractions, such as Biohazard, require a free timed-entry ticket.
Many Universal Wonderland attractions also offer a free timed-entry system called Yoyakunori, with some exceptions.

Check the official app in advance.

USJ Strategy & Touring: What to Do Right After Opening! Get Your Timed-Entry Ticket

After entering USJ, your first priority is to obtain timed-entry tickets. For some popular areas and attractions, if you cannot get a timed-entry ticket, you cannot experience them even by lining up.

Pattern 1: Get a Mario area timed-entry ticket or aim for open entry

The most popular area at USJ is SUPER NINTENDO WORLD. Securing a timed-entry ticket is your first mission.
On many days, timed-entry tickets are already required 20 minutes after opening.
As soon as everyone in your group has entered the park, get a timed-entry ticket in the app.

*You cannot obtain a ticket for someone who has not yet entered the park. Please note this.

①Aim for open entry

If you can pass the temporary barricade near JAWS within 20 minutes of the park opening, you can enter SUPER NINTENDO WORLD without a timed-entry ticket.

*On quieter days, this open-entry period may last a little longer.

However, it takes about 5–7 minutes to walk from the entrance gate to the barricade near JAWS.

Entering through the gate itself also takes time.
If you can line up around 30th from the front, you may be able to enter in about 5–10 minutes; combined with walking time, you may just make it into the area without a timed-entry ticket.

If open entry is no longer available, immediately get a timed-entry ticket in the app.
Refresh the app, and if it shows “Timed Entry Tickets Available,” you can obtain one.

Fastest Route to SUPER NINTENDO WORLD: Photo and Map Guide from the USJ Entrance to the Mario AreaPublished: 2026.07.17

On quieter days, SUPER NINTENDO WORLD may remain open for entry without timed-entry tickets all day.
For the latest situation, see this article.

What Time Do USJ Mario Timed Entry eTickets Run Out? Weekdays vs. Weekends in 2026Published: 2024.10.02

Pattern 2: Head to a popular attraction

Immediately after opening, an XR Ride can often be experienced with an actual wait of around 30 minutes, even if the posted time is more than an hour.
If you want to enjoy both the XR Ride and SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, head to the XR Ride first.

All belongings must be placed in a free coin locker. Prepare a 100-yen coin in advance. (A change machine is available next to the lockers.)

You can bring your smartphone into the queue, so wear pants or a jacket with a pocket.
While you are waiting, distribution of SUPER NINTENDO WORLD timed-entry tickets will begin, so claim yours then.

*If you wait until after riding the attraction to get your timed-entry ticket, your experience time may be in the evening or later.

Suggested Sample Itineraries

We suggest several sample itineraries based on your goals and preferences at USJ.

For a recommended itinerary tailored to your visit date’s opening time and crowd forecast, see the Happyell Navi below.

For guests who want to enjoy Donkey Kong Country and other attractions

For guests arriving around 8:00 a.m. on a weekday or around 7:00 a.m. on a weekend and leaving in the evening:

1) As soon as you enter, use the app to get a SUPER NINTENDO WORLD timed-entry ticket.

2) Ride Hollywood Dream – The Ride or The Flying Dinosaur.

3) Experience Detective Conan 4-D Live, or head to The Flying Dinosaur or Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey.
(Around 9:00–10:00 a.m., waits for The Flying Dinosaur and Forbidden Journey tend to be shorter.)

4) Have lunch. (It gets very crowded after 11:30 a.m., so go as early as possible.)
*Booking a restaurant in advance is also recommended, although the choices are limited.

5) If the timing works, Kuromi Live is also recommended.
(Near Conan.)

6) Enter SUPER NINTENDO WORLD.
Mine-Cart Madness is expected to have a 120–180 minute wait.
(Even when the posted wait is 120 minutes, you may sometimes experience it in about 90 minutes.)

If you do not need to see the temple interior along the way, the Single Rider line is also recommended and may shorten the wait somewhat.

7) Experience Mario Kart and Yoshi’s Adventure.

8) If the timing works, see WaterWorld. (It is right next to the exit of SUPER NINTENDO WORLD.)

9) Ride JAWS.

10) Ride Hollywood Dream – The Ride.

11) Buy souvenirs.

For guests who want an active day

This plan is recommended for guests who want an active day in the park.

Get an area timed-entry ticket first thing in the morning

First, secure a SUPER NINTENDO WORLD area timed-entry ticket in the morning.

Attractions to visit in the morning

Morning is a time when waits tend to be relatively short.
Use it to experience attractions that normally have long waits.

Riding Hollywood Dream first thing in the morning gives you excitement and anticipation while you wait, followed by a refreshing rush after the ride—a fun way to start the day.

Recommended lunch spots

For lunch, restaurants with shorter waits are recommended. Around 11:00 a.m., seats are often still available and service is smoother.
Since you started early, you will probably be hungry even with an early lunch.

1) Discovery Restaurant
A dinosaur-themed restaurant. In summer it becomes a ONE PIECE restaurant and gets crowded, so avoid 12:00–1:00 p.m.

2) Mel’s Drive-In
Takeout is available, so even if it is full, on a nice day you can eat on a bench by the lagoon or rose garden.

3) Amity Landing Restaurant
You can eat a menu item made with shark meat.

Attractions from early afternoon to evening

Many attractions have longer waits in the afternoon.
Shows such as the Summer Splash Parade (summer only), WaterWorld, and Universal Monsters Live Rock and Roll Show are recommended.

Attractions in the evening and at night

The Harry Potter area is recommended from evening onward. At night, the Wizarding World atmosphere becomes even more immersive.
Flight of the Hippogriff, which has long waits during the day, also tends to have shorter waits.

The Flying Dinosaur’s wait becomes much shorter as well.
I think fewer people ride at night because it feels scarier, and because it is located toward the far end of USJ.

Relaxed family plan

This route is for enjoying the park with elementary-school-age children and other kids.
If a child is at least 92 cm tall, they can ride many attractions with an accompanying adult.

Get an area timed-entry ticket as soon as you enter

As soon as you enter, first secure a SUPER NINTENDO WORLD area timed-entry ticket.
If you enter USJ slowly with small children, you may only be able to get a ticket for the afternoon or evening.

Get a “Yoyakunori” ticket as soon as you enter

Yoyakunori is a free timed-entry ticket with a specified ride time.
Get it as early as possible after entering USJ.

Kids’ attractions: Universal Wonderland

In Universal Wonderland, you can enjoy attractions featuring Snoopy and Hello Kitty.
It is an area designed for children.

Kids’ attractions: Minion Park

Minion Hacha-Mecha Ice in Minion Park is a four-person ride.
A family of up to four can ride together.

The ride moves unpredictably.
Surrounded by Minions, it is a fun space.

There is a little thrill as well, so both children and adults can enjoy it.

Universal Wonderland Snoopy & Kitty shows

Universal Wonderland holds shows about five times a day where Snoopy, Hello Kitty, and friends dance, followed by a commemorative photo opportunity.
Watch from the location where your favorite character appears.

For the route we actually used with 3- and 5-year-old children, plus photos and recommended items to bring, see this article

Pattern 3: How to enjoy a rainy day

Rain on your USJ day is disappointing, but there are still attractions and shows you can enjoy. Here are some options for rainy weather.

Indoor attractions and shows

Indoor attractions are recommended on rainy days.
However, if rain starts in the afternoon, waits for indoor attractions tend to get longer.

Outdoor attractions may also operate when the rain is light and winds are weak.
Wait times can be very short, so if it is only raining a little, trying them can be worthwhile.

Rainy-day-only greetings

Outdoor shows are not held in the rain.
Depending on the show, you may instead be able to take commemorative photos with performers or characters.

Greeting locations are different from the usual show locations.

Recommended plan for couples in their 20s

A USJ date can be an active day packed with attractions, but there are romantic ways to enjoy the park too.

Romantic restaurant

Park Side Grille is a full-service restaurant serving Angus beef and, depending on the season, course meals.
Its calm atmosphere, unlike what you might expect inside a theme park, and professional hospitality make it a good fit for a date.

You can reserve in advance or join a same-day virtual queue in front of the restaurant, helping reduce the time you spend waiting.

Best attractions for a date

Hollywood Dream – The Ride is a popular attraction for couples.
It is a roller coaster that climbs high while you listen to upbeat music.

The so-called suspension bridge effect often mentioned in psychology might even bring the two of you closer.

The classic JAWS attraction is also recommended.
You can sit together on a boat and enjoy an ocean adventure where a shark appears.

Visit photo spots and take commemorative pictures

The park has many photogenic spots.
Take photos with characters or against beautiful scenery and make memorable keepsakes.

For photogenic spots in the New York and San Francisco areas, see this article

For other areas, see this article

This article introduces movie-set props and retro items in the New York area

Schedule idea: route for first-time or returning visitors

This schedule assumes an official 8:00 a.m. opening on a day when the park actually opens early at 7:15 a.m., taking walking time and estimated waits into account.

Press the “black button” to show or hide the schedule.

↑ This route includes 11 attractions such as Donkey Kong, plus Key Challenges and shows.

Schedule idea: route with kindergarten and elementary-school children

This schedule assumes an official 8:00 a.m. opening on a day when the park actually opens early at 7:15 a.m., taking walking time and estimated waits into account.

Press the “black button” to show or hide the schedule.

↑ This route includes seven attractions plus Key Challenges, lets you enjoy the parade, and leaves in the evening.

Schedule idea: route when arriving around 9:00 a.m.

Have breakfast at your hotel. This route is recommended for guests who cannot arrive very early.

Press the “black button” to show or hide the schedule.

↑ This route includes seven attractions plus Key Challenges and lets you enjoy the parade.

Recommended attractions and shows

Here is a curated selection of attractions and shows you should not miss at USJ.

New attractions

New attractions often use the latest technology, feature interesting effects, and generate plenty of buzz.
Here are some recommended newer attractions.

Mario Kart

This attraction uses cutting-edge technology to immerse you in the world of Nintendo games inside SUPER NINTENDO WORLD.
It debuted in 2021.

Because it is located in SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, an area timed-entry ticket is often required to enter the area.
On some days, distribution ends before 9:00 a.m.

For details on how to get a timed-entry ticket or guaranteed-entry ticket, see this guide

2026 USJ Mario Timed-Entry Tickets: App Steps, Lottery Tickets & Guaranteed EntryPublished: 2026.08.13

Detective Conan Theater

This show attraction features live appearances by Kaito Kid, Ran Mouri, and Sonoko Suzuki.
If you like Detective Conan, it is well worth experiencing.

It is a newer attraction that opened in March 2024.
It can accommodate many guests at once, so the wait also tends to be relatively short.

SING on Tour

It is a theater-show attraction that feels as though you are watching a show scene from the movie SING right in front of you.
In the movie, theater manager Buster Moon (a koala) and performers such as shy elephant Meena overcome various setbacks to put on a show.
USJ’s SING on Tour is set on the opening day of the show that takes place afterward.

Recommended point: In the first room, a video shows the kind of hectic backstage activity seen in the movie SING. Even if you have not seen the movie, the video gives you a sense of the atmosphere. SING fans should find it especially exciting.

After moving into the main theater, you see a live show performed by real performers. You can enjoy live vocals of familiar songs featured in SING.
The concert-like energy you can share with the crowd and the USJ-style staging make it enjoyable for both children and adults.

Curious George

This children’s attraction features the popular animated character Curious George.
Animation and the real-world stage blend together, creating a show full of excitement and laughs that makes it feel as if George is really there.

It also includes many elements of a magic show, so adults can enjoy the mysterious world too.

Popular thrill rides

In recent years, some people may think of USJ as a theme park known for thrill rides.
Among amusement parks and theme parks in Japan, it offers major thrill attractions alongside places such as Fuji-Q Highland and Nagashima Spa Land.

If you are not good with scary rides, scream as much as you like and let off some steam.
If you love scary rides, there are attractions where you can fully enjoy the thrills.

The Flying Dinosaur

USJ’s scariest attraction.
It is a relatively new ride that debuted in 2016.

You can experience centrifugal force that feels as if a dinosaur is swinging you around, plus the thrill of plunging from a high point.
The height difference is 37.8 m, and the 1,124 m course is the world’s longest among flying coasters.

How scary is The Flying Dinosaur? 5 ways to make it less scary

The moment before launch when your body is suddenly tilted sideways is startling. Then, just after the start, the ride climbs slowly toward its highest point and you can see the ground below—it can feel extremely scary, or you can have fun waving to people walking beneath you. From the moment the ride gets going, the strong centrifugal force and the sensation of being swung around are intense.

Hollywood Dream – The Ride

This is a roller coaster where each rider can choose a favorite song and enjoy the sensation of flying through the air while listening to music.
It emphasizes a floating feeling and has an exhilarating ride experience.
Choosing the same song as the person riding with you can make it even more fun to share the same rhythm.

Limited-time collaboration songs and stories are another attraction.

[2026 Latest] USJ Hollywood Dream – The Ride Song List: Fear Level, Wait Times & Backdrop DifferencesPublished: 2026.07.22

Popular attractions

Here are popular attractions that you can only find at a movie theme park.
Some of these experiences are available only at USJ in Japan.

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey

This is the main attraction in the Harry Potter area.
You enter Hogwarts Castle and travel through the world of Harry Potter, flying with Harry on a magical broom and encountering Hermione, Ron, and others.

USJ Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey Guide: Scares, Motion Sickness Tips, and Story ExplainedPublished: 2026.07.25

Minion Mayhem

This attraction debuted in 2017. You tour Gru’s laboratory together with the Minions.
The ride moves in sync with images projected on an enormous screen, creating the feeling that you have entered the movie and are adventuring with the Minions.
Before the ride, there is also a story section featuring Gru and his three daughters, which is quite enjoyable.

Minion Mayhem

How to enter the Harry Potter area

During crowded periods, entering the Harry Potter area requires either an area timed-entry ticket or a guaranteed-entry ticket for the Harry Potter area.
Recently, however, a timed-entry ticket is rarely required during the daytime.

If ticket distribution begins, you need to bring admission tickets for everyone in your group and obtain the timed-entry tickets from the ticket machine.
Early tickets issued are likely to specify an entry time about one hour later.

Timed-entry ticket machine location: near the rose garden close to Mel’s Drive-In

Limited-time attractions

USJ almost always offers attractions available only for a limited time, such as collaborations with anime and games or horror attractions.

These collaborations often feature anime, games, TV-related content, and other properties that are currently drawing attention or expected to become popular that year, so they are worth experiencing.

The same attraction is rarely brought back in a later year after its run ends, so enjoy the opportunity while it is available.

Even if you know nothing about the original anime or game, pre-show explanations and introductory videos make it easy to understand the setting and story as part of the attraction.

For other up-to-date attraction information, see this article
2026 Latest USJ Attraction Guide: Rankings, Thrills, Wait Times, and Fear LevelsPublished: 2026.07.18

Recommended lunch times

Park restaurants are very crowded from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m.
The biggest problem is not being able to find a seat, and waiting for one to open up can be stressful.

If possible, have lunch by 11:30 a.m. or after 2:00 p.m.
Around 4:00 p.m., restaurants that also sell cafe items can sometimes be crowded, so keep that in mind.
(Especially during Horror Nights and Christmas event seasons, guests may be resting in the evening to prepare for the night.)

At Kinopio’s Cafe in SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, waits can reach 30 minutes to one hour shortly after 11:00 a.m.
After 2:30 p.m. is recommended.

Reserve a restaurant

At this restaurant, you can reserve a time to join the priority waiting line.
For priority seating, go to the entrance within one hour of your reserved time and you will be shown to a table as soon as one is available.

For an adults-only outing, you may also want to enjoy beer or wine here.

Reservations can be made from 11:00 a.m. one month before your visit.
You can reserve until midnight the day before.

*SAIDO and Lombard’s Landing often become collaboration restaurants, in which case reservations may not be available.

Our recommended restaurants are summarized in the following article.

USJ Strategy & Touring: Attractions

Here are tips for experiencing USJ attractions efficiently. Reduce wait times and fit more attractions into your day.

Top 5 less-crowded times for shorter attraction waits

• No. 1: One hour before park closing
• No. 2: Immediately after opening
• No. 3: After 6:00 p.m.
• No. 4: About 15 minutes before to 15 minutes after the parade starts
• No. 5: Around noon, especially for attractions with strong centrifugal force

To ride as many attractions as possible, target the less-crowded times.
This is especially effective for attractions with long waits.

②Save time with an Express Pass

Using an Express Pass can greatly reduce wait times.
It must be purchased separately from admission, and many Express Passes are expensive.

However, they are recommended for guests traveling from far away who may not be able to return to USJ easily.
Especially on crowded days, a first-time visitor without an Express Pass may only manage four or five attractions, which could reduce overall satisfaction.

Express Pass types and how to buy them

Express Passes are available in packages covering four attractions or seven attractions.
There are also more expensive tickets that include access to even more attractions.

Express Passes are often sold out by the day of your visit.
Once you know your USJ date, purchase one as early as possible.

Recommended ways to use an Express Pass

They are especially effective for popular attractions with long waits.
Buy an Express Pass that includes the attractions you want.
Popular versions can sell out quickly.

③You can tour USJ successfully even without an Express Pass!

Even without an Express Pass, you can still have a full day if you move around efficiently.

Tips for efficient touring

Target attractions with long waits immediately after opening or close to park closing.
During the daytime, visit attractions with shorter waits first.

Check real-time waits in the official app before heading to your next attraction.

It is also a good idea to decide what to do next while you are already waiting in a queue, when you cannot do much else.

Use Single Rider

Single Rideris a service offered on popular attractions that normally seat two or more people together.
When a single seat opens, one person can fill it.

Because you cannot ride together with friends, family, or a partner, it is best for guests whose priority is simply getting on the attraction or who want to ride multiple times.
Use it when you are comfortable riding separately from your group.

Many guests use Single Rider for Mario Kart because it is an attraction people often want to experience more than once.
(The regular queue involves a long route to the boarding area, while Single Rider can get you close to the loading area much more quickly, which is another major advantage.)

USJ Areas

With the opening of SUPER NINTENDO WORLD in 2021, USJ reached a total of 10 areas.
For first-time visitors, the following areas are especially easy to recognize as distinct zones.

• SUPER NINTENDO WORLD
• The Wizarding World of Harry Potter(commonly called the Harry Potter area)
• Universal Wonderland
• Jurassic Park
• WaterWorld
• Minion Park

These areas have clear signs of a transition, such as entrance arches, signs, or a major change in atmosphere, so you can tell you have entered a different area without thinking much about it.

Donkey Kong Countryis an area inside SUPER NINTENDO WORLD.

By contrast, the following areas do not have a single clearly defined entrance and have many ways in and out, so it can be harder to notice when you have crossed into another area.
Use the park map while heading to the attractions, shops, and photo spots you want to visit.

• Hollywood area
• New York area
• San Francisco area
• Amity Village

Differences from Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea

SUPER NINTENDO WORLD uses a timed-entry ticket simply to enter the area.
At Fantasy Springs, obtaining an attraction timed-entry ticket allows access to the area, but at USJ, once you enter the area you normally line up for each attraction unless you have an Express Pass or similar option.

USJ map

Some attraction entrances can be hard to find, so checking the official app’s park map or the attraction locations in this article before you go can help prevent getting lost.

The Hollywood area near the park entrance has many streets and similar-looking buildings, so taking one wrong road can make it difficult to find your target attraction.

USJ Map 2026: Easy Park Map, Attractions, Restrooms & Printable PDFPublished: 2025.12.06

Harry Potter area

The Harry Potter area mainly offers four types of attractions:

・Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, a ride inside Hogwarts Castle
・Flight of the Hippogriff, where you experience Hippogriff flight training (a mild roller coaster)
・Ollivanders
・Wand Magic

You can also see Hagrid’s hut while waiting in line.

If the Wandkeeper chooses you, you can experience being “chosen by a wand and becoming a wizard.”

Wand Magic is a magical experience available only to guests who purchase a magic wand.
Using the wand, you can perform magic involving fire, water, wind, and snow.

Magic is activated through a combination of the spell and wand movement.

You can find the magic locations in two ways:
・The map included in the box when you buy your wand
・Markings on the ground at magic spots
(If a magic instructor is present, they can also guide you.)

USJ Strategy & Touring: Restaurants & Food

Here are tips for enjoying meals at USJ. Avoid the crowds and have a more comfortable dining break.

①Avoid peak dining times

When eating in the park, the key is to avoid the busiest peak periods.

An early lunch around 11:00 a.m., a late lunch around 2:00–3:00 p.m., or a late dinner after 7:00 p.m. can help you avoid crowds and enjoy a more relaxed meal.

However, some restaurants close in the evening, so be sure to check operating hours, especially during quieter seasons.

During Halloween Horror Nights and summer night events, many guests use restaurants for a break around 4:00–5:00 p.m., which can make them crowded.

②Enjoy food while walking around

On the street between SING on Tour and Minion Park, there are three shops where you can buy takeout food, including food trucks.

The food is inexpensive and tasty.
You can sit on a bench overlooking the nearby lagoon, which makes this a recommended option.

Depending on the season, collaboration menu items may also be available.

See the food menu here

Churros are sold in various places throughout the park.
Anime- and Pokémon-collaboration churros are also often available.

Popular takeout foods and where to find them

Jurassic Park’s turkey leg is very popular and often has a line from lunchtime through the evening.

You can find it at a food cart on the way from JAWS to SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, as well as inside Jurassic Park.

The sweets shop at the entrance to Minion Park is also popular.

For drinks, Butterbeer in the Harry Potter area is another favorite.

③Want a relaxed meal? Use restaurant priority seating or a virtual queue!

If you want to enjoy a leisurely meal, take advantage of restaurant priority reservations or a virtual queue.

【Official USJ】Restaurant reservations

USJ Strategy & Touring: Souvenirs & Merchandise

Choosing souvenirs is part of the fun at USJ. Here are some tips for buying them efficiently.

①General souvenir merchandise is near the entrance!

USJ has two large souvenir shops near the park entrance.
They carry things you may want to buy right after entering, such as character headwear, headbands, and clothing, as well as easy-to-gift items such as snacks, food, and stationery.

Map No. 1: Many classic USJ items such as Mario, Donkey Kong, and Sesame Street merchandise, T-shirts, and collaboration goods
Map No. 2: Harry Potter, Minion, and Mario snacks/food, JAWS items, and collaboration goods
Map No. 3: Headbands and character headwear featuring standard characters

*Many elaborate fan-oriented items are not sold near the entrance.

Efficient ways to buy souvenirs

Some popular collaboration items sell out in the morning.
If you want one, buy it first after entering USJ.

For other merchandise, shopping by the evening helps you avoid crowds.
The best time to buy souvenirs is from around noon to 4:00 p.m., when shops are relatively quiet.

As closing time approaches, stores become crowded, products are harder to browse, and long lines form at registers.

If you buy merchandise early and put it in a coin locker or carry it with you, you can enjoy attractions with shorter waits before closing while other guests are shopping.

For the latest merchandise articles and recommendations, see this article

Make use of coin lockers!

Walking around the park with heavy luggage is tiring. Use coin lockers effectively.
Coin lockers are available near the entrance and in Universal Wonderland.

Carry only what you need and leave unnecessary items in a locker for a more comfortable day.

Except for the lockers in Wonderland, once you open a locker you need to pay again to use it again.

Universal CityWalk Osaka — USJ merchandise shops

Outside USJ is Universal CityWalk Osaka.
There are USJ merchandise shops there as well.

They mainly carry character headwear, shirts, clothing, and headbands.
If you are staying the night before or have an admission ticket valid from 3:00 p.m. onward (Twilight Pass or Night Pass), buying items before entering can be efficient.

USJ Strategy & Touring: Useful Knowledge

Here are some additional tips for enjoying USJ more comfortably.

①Use the mobile battery rental service

If your smartphone battery is running low in the park, use the mobile battery rental service.
Rental batteries are available near restrooms and the coin lockers by the entrance.

They come with charging cables and three types of connectors, which is reassuring.
Registration in a dedicated app is required. Because payment is by credit card, children cannot use the service on their own.

The fees are relatively high, so be careful with long rentals.

②Birthday guests can get a birthday sticker

USJ distributes birthday stickers to help celebrate birthdays.
Ask a crew member near the entrance, “Could I have a birthday sticker?”

If you wear the sticker, characters may celebrate with you and crew members may offer special birthday greetings.

③Driving to USJ? Check cheaper nearby parking!

If you are heading to USJ before opening, nearby parking lots are recommended instead of the official USJ parking lot.
The USJ parking lot opens 90 minutes before the scheduled park opening time.

But because USJ sometimes opens more than 90 minutes earlier than scheduled, the park may already be open by the time the official parking lot opens.

There are many nearby parking lots such as Times that allow 24-hour entry and exit, so consider using those.
Parking fees can also be cheaper than the official USJ lot.

See locations and prices here

Recommended items to bring and prohibited items

Here are recommended items to bring to USJ, along with items that are not allowed inside.

Recommended items to bring

・Comfortable walking shoes
(Sneakers or similar; you may walk more than 10,000 steps in a day.)
・Hat (to help prevent heatstroke or reduce cold exposure)
・One plastic bottle up to 500 ml (cans are not allowed), or a reusable water bottle (for heatstroke prevention)
・Phone charger / portable battery (for guests taking lots of photos) *Rental is also available

・Handheld fan (summer)
・Cooling towel (summer)
・Disposable hand warmer (winter)
・A thick picnic mat
(In summer, asphalt heat and in winter, cold from the ground can transfer to your body, so we recommend a well-insulated picnic mat or one seat cushion per person.)

If you are visiting with small children, the following article introduces “a planned route that helps kids enjoy the park comfortably” and “recommended items to bring with children.”

Items you cannot bring in

・Canned or bottled drinks
・Rice balls, convenience-store food, and other takeout food
・Selfie sticks
・Tripods

Guests sometimes bring these without realizing they are prohibited and then cannot enter after baggage inspection until they throw them away or store them in a coin locker.
After waiting a long time at security, being stopped for a prohibited item can be very disappointing, so please be careful.

・Carry cases (suitcases, trunks, and similar large bags) and carts designed to carry goods
・Food (including boxed meals)
*Baby food and snacks for small children are allowed

・Drinks (including bottled/canned beverages and alcohol)
*Reusable water bottles and one plastic bottle of up to 500 ml per person are allowed

・Camera monopods, tripods, and selfie sticks

Sometimes guests buy food at McDonald’s before entering and then find they cannot bring it in, or try to bring 1 L or 2 L bottles and are refused. Please be careful.

How to Get Around Universal Studios Japan — Summary

We hope you have an amazing day.

USJ touring app

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Free to use with no registration required.

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