What You’ll Learn in This Article
- When Mario timed-entry tickets run out in 2026 and current distribution trends
- How distribution times differ on weekdays, weekends, and busy days
- How to get a timed-entry ticket in the USJ app and key strategy tips
You need an Area Timed Entry Ticket to enter SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, including Super Mario Land and Donkey Kong Country.
You do not need a timed-entry ticket if you already have an eligible Express Pass or an Area Entry Guarantee Ticket.
Once timed-entry tickets run out, you can enter only if you win the lottery, so try to secure one before distribution ends.
Here is a summary of 2026 trends for when Mario timed-entry tickets, which often run out early, stop being distributed.
• You can get one only after entering USJ
• You select an entry time when the ticket is issued
• Once timed-entry tickets run out, lottery ticket distribution begins
• Entry times are shown as one-hour windows
Winning one out of seven lottery attempts would be considered a good result.
The odds vary somewhat by date and the size of your selected group.
Earn Rakuten Points when purchasing USJ tickets
USJ Mario: Free Entry Without a Timed-Entry Ticket
For a while after USJ opens, timed-entry tickets for SUPER NINTENDO WORLD are not distributed.
During that period, anyone can enter the area without a timed-entry ticket.
After Donkey Kong Country opened, the area became 1.7 times larger, extending the period when guests can enter freely without a timed-entry ticket.
In 2026, on quieter weekends, free entry is often available until around 9:15–9:30 a.m.
When timed-entry ticket distribution begins, the checkpoint barricade located slightly before JAWS closes and guests can no longer proceed.
Get your timed-entry ticket through the app.
The shortest route
Running is dangerous, and the route is long enough that you may run out of energy.
We sometimes—almost every time?—see people frantically calling because someone is lost or their family has become separated, so please do not run.
Limit yourself to walking briskly.
On busy days, USJ opens earlier than the official opening time listed on its website.
A baggage inspection area was also introduced in February 2025, and screening may take time.
See the following article for guidance on what time to arrive.
April 2026
On weekdays, timed-entry tickets were often not distributed at all, and free entry remained available throughout the day.
On Fridays, distribution began around 9:15 a.m.
On weekends, free entry was often available until about 9:15 a.m., with timed-entry ticket distribution beginning around 9:30 a.m.
On some days, lottery ticket distribution had begun shortly after 1:00 p.m.
During spring break, timed-entry ticket distribution began around 8:15 a.m.
Lottery ticket distribution had begun shortly after 3:00 p.m.
February 2026
Since January, there have continued to be days with no timed-entry ticket distribution and free entry available all day.
However, with the 25th anniversary event starting in March, timed-entry tickets are expected to run out earlier.
Use the distribution records below as a reference.
USJ Mario: When Do Timed-Entry Tickets Run Out on Weekdays?
You might expect timed-entry tickets not to run out on quieter weekdays, but they are still distributed on some weekdays.
Many international travelers visit on weekdays, and many arrive early in the morning.
If you arrive in the afternoon, only late-entry time slots may remain even when tickets are still available.
USJ Mario Timed-Entry Tickets: Quiet Weekdays
On quiet weekdays, the park often closes earlier, so timed-entry ticket distribution also ends earlier.
However, because attendance is low, free entry without a timed-entry ticket may become available at night.
In 2026, many quiet weekdays have had little risk of timed-entry ticket distribution ending.
Donkey Kong Country: Second day after opening
7:15 a.m. Early opening
7:55 a.m. Tickets for entry from 8:30 a.m.
8:30 a.m. Scheduled opening time
8:50 a.m. Tickets for entry from 3:30 p.m.
Shortly after 3:00 p.m. Distribution ended; lottery ticket distribution began
10:00 p.m. Park closed
7:30 a.m. Early opening
8:30 a.m. Scheduled opening time
Around 7:00 p.m. Free entry
9:30 p.m. Park closed
In July 2024, distribution often ended between 3:00 and 4:00 p.m.
However, by the 8:00 a.m. hour, available tickets were already for afternoon entry.
The parade runs from 2:00 to 2:40 p.m., so avoiding the parade means entering Nintendo World after 3:00 p.m.
Many guests have the same idea, so wait times for Mario Kart and Yoshi’s Adventure tend to increase between shortly after 3:00 and 4:00 p.m. We do not recommend visiting SUPER NINTENDO WORLD during the 3:00 p.m. hour.
This was just before summer vacation. Summer events had begun, but the park was still relatively quiet.
I had entered USJ shortly after 8:00 a.m., but it was a merchandise release day and I went shopping, forgot to get a timed-entry ticket, and ended up claiming one late.
7:45 a.m. Early opening
8:36 a.m. Tickets available for entry from 11:50 a.m.
9:00 a.m. Scheduled opening time
Shortly after 3:00 p.m. Timed-entry ticket distribution ended
9:00 p.m. Park closed
With the major holiday period over and the park in a quieter season, I had a leisurely lunch before going and found that only evening tickets remained. There were few Japanese visitors but many international travelers.
8:20 a.m. Early opening
9:00 a.m. Scheduled opening time
1:31 p.m. Tickets available for entry from 5:10 p.m.
Shortly after 6:00 p.m. No ticket required; free entry
7:00 p.m. Park closed
USJ Mario Timed-Entry Tickets: Busy Weekdays
Timed-entry tickets run out earlier during spring break, summer vacation, and the Halloween Horror Nights season.
In August 2024, distribution ended as early as around 10:20 a.m. on some days and as late as around 12:40 p.m. on others.
October 24 of the previous year was so crowded that same-day admission tickets sold out.
7:15 a.m. Early opening
8:00 a.m. Scheduled opening time
10:12 a.m. Tickets available for entry from 7:00 p.m.
3:36 p.m. Only tickets for entry from 9:20 to 9:30 p.m. available
3:50 p.m. Timed-entry ticket distribution ended
10:00 p.m. Park closed
2024
Tuesday, March 5, 10:43 a.m. Tickets for entry from 5:10 p.m.
Friday, March 15, 9:10 a.m. Tickets for entry from 6:40 p.m.
Friday, March 15, 10:29 a.m. Tickets for entry from 8:20 p.m.
USJ Mario: When Do Timed-Entry Tickets Run Out on Weekends?
There are fewer international travelers on weekends, and the park often closes later than on weekdays, allowing more people to enter the area.
As a result, when comparing a busy weekday with a quiet weekend, tickets tend to remain available later on the quiet weekend.
USJ Mario Timed-Entry Tickets: Quiet Weekends
If you are traveling to USJ from far away for a two-day, one-night weekend trip, we recommend skipping SUPER NINTENDO WORLD on the first day and visiting on the second.
If you arrive around noon, you will likely be able to enter SUPER NINTENDO WORLD only late at night.
Annual Pass Blackout Date
7:15 a.m. Early opening
Around 7:38 a.m. Distribution began, with tickets for entry from 8:00 a.m.
Around 7:50 a.m. Entry from 8:30 a.m.
Around 8:00 a.m. Entry from 10:30 a.m.
9:00 a.m. Scheduled opening time
Around 10:45 a.m. Timed-entry ticket distribution ended; lottery tickets distributed
9:00 p.m. Park closed
7:15 a.m. Early opening
Around 7:40 a.m. Distribution began, with tickets for entry from 8:00 a.m.
Around 8:00 a.m. Entry from 9:10 a.m.
Around 8:15 a.m. Entry from 11:10 a.m.
Around 8:25 a.m. Entry from 11:40 a.m.
9:00 a.m. Scheduled opening time
Around 1:15 p.m. Timed-entry ticket distribution ended; lottery tickets distributed
9:00 p.m. Park closed
7:00 a.m. Early opening
Around 7:21 a.m. Distribution began, with tickets for entry from 7:40 a.m.
8:30 a.m. Scheduled opening time
9:17 a.m. Entry from 6:10 p.m.
1:45 p.m. Entry from 8:30 p.m.
4:45 p.m. Entry from 9:10 p.m.
5:15 p.m. Entry from 9:10 p.m.
Around 7:00 p.m. Timed-entry ticket distribution ended; no lottery tickets
10:00 p.m. Park closed
At 7:25 a.m., the regular queue was 180 minutes and the Single Rider wait was 30 minutes.
7:15 a.m. Early opening
8:30 a.m. Scheduled opening time
9:12 a.m. Entry from 4:50 p.m.
Early in the 10:00 a.m. hour Timed-entry ticket distribution ended; lottery tickets
7:00 p.m. Park closed for a private event
7:30 a.m. Early opening
8:30 a.m. Scheduled opening time
Around 7:30 p.m. No ticket required; free entry
9:30 p.m. Park closed
Example of a quiet public holiday on the final day of Golden Week
7:35 a.m. Early opening
8:00 a.m. Scheduled opening time
2:05 p.m. Tickets available for entry from 7:00 p.m.
Before 8:00 p.m. No ticket required; free entry
10:00 p.m. Park closed
USJ Mario Timed-Entry Tickets: Busy Weekends
On busy weekends and public holidays when the park closes at 10:00 p.m., distribution may end during the 11:00 a.m. hour.
If the park closes at 9:00 or 8:00 p.m., distribution may end during the 10:00 a.m. hour.
After 9:00 a.m., some days have only timed-entry tickets for late afternoon or later.
Families planning to leave around 5:00 p.m. may need to arrive before 8:00 a.m. just to make it in time.
Morning entry can take about 20 to 30 minutes, so even if you arrive at 8:00 a.m., you may not enter and obtain a ticket until around 8:30 a.m.
Previous day Timed-entry ticket distribution began for countdown event participants
2:00 a.m. Park opened, although SUPER NINTENDO WORLD was still closed
Around 2:50 a.m. Tickets for entry from the 11:00 a.m. hour
Around 6:00 a.m. Tickets for entry from 4:00 p.m.
6:30 a.m. SUPER NINTENDO WORLD opened
Around 7:30 a.m. Tickets for entry from 6:20 p.m.
Around 8:30 a.m. Timed-entry ticket distribution ended
Park closed at 10:00 p.m.
7:00 a.m. Early opening
Around 7:15 a.m. Distribution began, with tickets for entry from 7:40 a.m.
Around 7:30 a.m. Tickets available for entry from 7:50 a.m.
Around 7:45 a.m. Tickets available for entry from 10:50 a.m.
Around 7:50 a.m. Tickets available for entry from 12:30 p.m.
8:00 a.m. Scheduled opening time
Around 8:05 a.m. Tickets available for entry from 2:40 p.m.
Around 9:00 a.m. Tickets available for entry from 7:10 p.m.
Around 9:40 a.m. Tickets available for entry from 8:00 p.m.
9:30 p.m. Park closed
It was an extremely busy spring-break day. I arrived at USJ around 7:10 a.m., and there was already a very long line in front of the entrance gates.
It took about 25 minutes to enter.
7:20 a.m. Early opening
7:34 a.m. Tickets available for entry from 8:00 a.m.
8:00 a.m. Scheduled opening time
Before noon Timed-entry ticket distribution ended
10:00 p.m. Park closed
It was an extremely busy Halloween day, and entering the park also took time.
7:15 a.m. Early opening
8:00 a.m. Scheduled opening time
8:21 a.m. Tickets available for entry from 10:15 a.m.
Before 11:30 a.m. Timed-entry ticket distribution ended
10:00 p.m. Park closed
How to Get a USJ Mario Timed-Entry Ticket in the App
There are two ways to get a SUPER NINTENDO WORLD timed-entry ticket: through the app or as a paper ticket.
Getting a paper ticket takes about 10 to 15 minutes after entering USJ, and earlier SUPER NINTENDO WORLD time slots may disappear during that time.
We strongly recommend using the app.
The area timed-entry ticket available in the app is called an eTicket.
Register Your Admission Tickets in Advance
After installing the USJ app, register an admission ticket for each person.
For families, it is convenient to register everyone’s tickets on one person’s phone.
For groups of friends, you may register the tickets on each person’s phone or together on one phone.
1. Select “eTickets.”
2. Select “Register Admission Ticket.”
3. If the QR code is saved on your phone, select “Import from Library.”
4. Enter a name. Any name, such as a nickname, is fine. For groups of friends, use names that are easy to tell apart.
If you purchased a paper admission ticket, tap “Scan QR Code.”
Get a Timed-Entry Ticket After Entering USJ
1. Select “Area Timed Entry Ticket / Standby Entry Ticket.”
2. Select “Get an eTicket.”
3. Select “SUPER NINTENDO WORLD.”
4. Select the names of everyone who needs a timed-entry ticket.
Anyone who has not yet entered the park cannot be selected in step 4.
5. Select your preferred time.
6. Select “Get an eTicket.”
7. When the timed-entry ticket QR code appears, take a screenshot.
Official: USJ SUPER NINTENDO WORLD Area Timed Entry Ticket
USJ Mario: Get an Area Entry Guarantee Ticket with a JTB Hotel Booking
If you are staying at a hotel, booking through JTB lets you choose a plan that includes a SUPER NINTENDO WORLD Area Entry Guarantee Ticket.
The earliest selectable entry window is 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m., and the latest is 3:00–4:00 p.m.
This gives you flexibility to enjoy a leisurely hotel breakfast before going to USJ, or experience popular attractions first thing in the morning before heading to SUPER NINTENDO WORLD.
JTB: Trips to Universal Studios Japan
USJ Mario Timed-Entry Ticket Strategy
You plan to leave at 5:00 p.m., but only timed-entry tickets for 6:00 p.m. or later remain.
Here is a technique that may help in that situation.
When timed-entry ticket distribution ends, the system switches to lottery tickets.
Lottery tickets also have specified times, but the earliest available slot may be as soon as 1 hour and 40 minutes later.
If distribution ends around 11:00 a.m., for example, a lottery ticket for around 12:40 p.m. may become available.
The odds of winning are low, but it may still get you in, so it is worth trying.
How to Get a Paper Timed-Entry Ticket
USJ Touring Routes and Schedules
