What You’ll Learn in This Article
- USJ attractions and shows you can enjoy even on a rainy day
- What to wear and bring, plus tips for staying comfortable in the rain
- Rainy-day-only experiences and tips for touring the park efficiently
■How Can You Enjoy USJ on a Rainy Day?
You’ve been looking forward to your trip to USJ, but the forecast calls for rain.
You may be reading this because you’re worried about whether you’ll still be able to have fun.
Some of you may even be reading this from inside USJ while it’s raining.
On rainy days, attraction wait times are often shorter, so make the most of your visit.
We’ll also share experiences you can enjoy only on rainy days, including an idea that was featured by USJ’s official channels.
■What Happens at USJ When It Rains?
Parades and outdoor shows are not held while it is raining.
If rain begins during a show, the performance may be stopped and the performers will leave the stage.
However, if the rain stops shortly before showtime and the weather improves, the show may still go ahead if team members can dry the stage, including wiping it down.
At stage shows in Gramercy Park, performances have sometimes been delayed beyond the announced start time so the stage could be prepared and the show presented.
Outdoor attractions may be temporarily suspended or closed for the entire day because of severe weather such as strong winds, heavy rain, or approaching thunderclouds. They usually operate normally in light rain.
Indoor attractions and indoor shows are not affected by the weather, so you can enjoy them as usual.
The NO LIMIT! Parade was originally canceled in rain, but a rainy-day version has since been presented. The characters appear in adorable rain gear.
However, there is no NO LIMIT! Party segment, when the floats stop and guests join in.
There is also no confetti. Dance movements are smaller for safety.
The parade is canceled in heavy rain.
It appears to be held on quieter days, but may not be presented on crowded days.
■Attractions You Can Ride on Rainy Days
- Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge
- Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
- XR Ride: Space Fantasy – The Ride
- Despicable Me Minion Mayhem
- Minion Mayhem Mission
- The Real 4-D: Sesame Street / Shrek 4-D
One outdoor ride that has a roof is:
・JAWS
You should be able to experience it as long as there is no torrential rain or nearby thunderstorm activity.
Even on sunny days, JAWS can get you fairly wet depending on your seat. In the rain, you may not know whether the water came from the ride or the weather, but either way, expect to get wet.
SUPER NINTENDO WORLD has three indoor Power-Up Band Key Challenges, so choosing those lets you play without getting wet.
See this article for details.
Snoopy’s area for children is indoors, so it is fun on both rainy and hot days.
Learn more in the following article.
Can You Ride Outdoor Attractions?
Many popular attractions are outdoors, including Hollywood Dream – The Ride, The Flying Dinosaur, Jurassic Park – The Ride, Yoshi’s Adventure, and many attractions in Universal Wonderland.
However, they often continue operating in light rain.
Check the operating status in the official USJ app before heading to an attraction to save time.
During hot seasons such as summer, another way to enjoy the park is to ride Hollywood Dream – The Ride or The Flying Dinosaur in the rain and cool off as though you were taking a shower.
■Shows You Can See on Rainy Days
- SING on Tour
- Universal Monsters Live Rock and Roll Show
- Detective Conan: The Escape
- Playing with Curious George
- Hello Kitty’s Ribbon Collection
WaterWorld is an outdoor show, but many seats are covered, so you can watch without getting wet when it is not windy.
The show may be canceled in severe weather.
The front rows are uncovered and can get wet, but those seats may also be drenched by the show’s effects. You may get more water from Deacon’s attacks and other effects than from the rain itself.
See the full list of attractions here.
2026 Latest USJ Attraction Guide: Rankings, Thrills, Wait Times, and Fear Levels
■Attractions That May Stop in the Rain
Flight of the Hippogriff, The Flying Dinosaur, and Hollywood Dream – The Ride run outdoors, so they may close during torrential rain or strong winds.
They are unlikely to operate when a typhoon is approaching.
Donkey Kong’s Mine-Cart Madness Is Especially Sensitive to Rain
Donkey Kong’s Mine-Cart Madness is the outdoor attraction at USJ most sensitive to rain.
It may stop even in a very slight drizzle that is barely noticeable.
Once suspended, test runs continue for about 20 minutes even after the rain stops. If light rain begins again during that time, the closure may be extended further.
You cannot enter the attraction’s queue while it is suspended.
After a long closure, Express Pass holders are given priority when operation resumes, so the standby queue may become extremely long.
In light rain, we recommend heading to Mario Kart instead.
■Enjoying the Restaurants
USJ has restaurants where you can relax in a calm atmosphere.
Why not take your time with your partner or friends, chat with team members, and enjoy their service?
・Park Side Grille
・Finnegan’s Bar & Grill
・SAIDO
■Rainy-Day-Only Greetings
When an outdoor show cannot be held because of rain, a system issue, or another reason, a special character greeting is often offered instead.
You may be able to take commemorative photos with characters and dancers who are not normally available for group photos.
If rain begins immediately before the scheduled start, the greeting may not be held, or it may begin slightly late and run for only a short time.
Canopy Arcade
The first covered arcade after you enter USJ hosts greetings associated with the following stages:
・Mel’s Stage: Power of Pop
・Sesame Street Stage: Fiesta Latina
In Front of the Former Terminator Entrance
None at present.
■What Should You Wear at USJ on a Rainy Day?
Temperatures are often lower on rainy days, and cold winds may blow, so warm clothing is recommended.
Socks and pants may get wet, so bring spare socks and a towel for drying wet clothing.
If you plan to wear a raincoat or poncho instead of carrying an umbrella, choose simple, easy-to-wear clothing underneath.
In winter, buy disposable hand warmers and bring them with you.
Drugstores and convenience stores at Universal CityWalk in front of USJ sell hand warmers, but the lines can be very long. It is best to buy them near home beforehand when possible.
Your preferred size or type, such as adhesive or non-adhesive warmers, may be sold out.
■Shoes for Rainy Days
We recommend shoes with good traction.
SUPER NINTENDO WORLD and some attractions become especially slippery, so slick footwear can be dangerous.
Applying a waterproofing spray before your visit may help keep water from soaking in.
However, footwear that is difficult to walk in, such as tall rain boots, can be tiring when covering the large USJ park.
Loose shoes may also fall off during a ride. Please take care.
■Recommended Items to Bring on a Rainy Day
・Folding umbrella, if the rain may stop later
・Towel
・Spare socks
・Plastic bag for wet items
・Spare face mask
・Disposable hand warmers
Umbrellas, folding umbrellas, and raincoats are also available for purchase inside USJ.
Because character raincoats are something you may buy and wear only on a rainy day, wearing one can be part of the fun.
■Rainy-Day-Only Stickers
USJ once offered stickers available only on rainy days, but distribution had ended by around 2018.
■Experiences Unique to Rainy Days
When puddles form at USJ, the scenery is often reflected beautifully in the water.
USJ’s nighttime views are already lovely, but reflections on the wet ground can create atmospheric photos.
Unless the rain has stopped or is very light at night, ripples may disturb the reflection seen in the photo above. Even so, you can still take photos that look different from the usual view.
■How to Tour USJ on a Rainy Day
Here is a recommended way to make the most of attractions and shows while it is raining.
Attractions With Longer Waits on Rainy Days
Mario Kart is popular and unaffected by rain, so waits can exceed 100 minutes even on a quiet day with heavy rain.
Despicable Me Minion Mayhem also tends to have longer waits than on sunny days.
When waits are long, the queue may extend outdoors. If it rains in the morning and turns cloudy in the afternoon, Mario Kart may be best in the morning and Minion Mayhem in the afternoon.
During warm, humid periods with light rain, waits for Jurassic Park – The Ride may also increase.
Restaurants That Get Crowded on Rainy Days
On rainy days, casual restaurants where guests can rest at length, such as Mel’s Drive-In and Louie’s N.Y. Pizza Parlor, become crowded with people lingering after their meals.
Park Side Grille and Finnegan’s Bar & Grill sometimes offer a Virtual Queue Line service that calls you by phone when your turn arrives, so you do not need to remain at the restaurant.
Even when the service is not available, staff seat guests in order, so you do not have to search for an open table as you might at other restaurants.
Studio Stars Restaurant does not have a Virtual Queue Line, but team members also guide guests to seats there.
Kinopio’s Cafe is very crowded even on sunny days. Timed-entry tickets are often distributed in front of the restaurant, and you can enter at the assigned time.
The assigned time is often one to two hours later, so obtain your ticket before you get too hungry.
How to Tour the Park on a Rainy Day
There is no single perfect route.
Rain can fall in many different ways, and crowded locations also change depending on whether the temperature is hot or cold.
・Rain all day
・Rain in the morning, then sun in the afternoon
・Sun or clouds in the morning, then rain in the afternoon
・Intermittent rain
・A sudden downpour lasting one to two hours
When a sudden downpour arrives despite a sunny forecast, many guests rush into restaurants, souvenir shops, and show attractions.
Install Yahoo! Weather or the Weathernews app on your phone if possible, and enable notifications for rain around USJ.
If you can move quickly to a restaurant or show attraction before the rain begins, the shower may pass while you are eating or watching the show.
When rain is expected to stop in the evening, waits for outdoor attractions start rising as soon as the rain becomes lighter, and may already be long by the time it stops.
It may be efficient to start lining up after considering both when the rain will stop and the attraction’s current wait time.
On a day like this, consider visiting with someone who knows USJ extremely well if you want to ride many attractions.
For reference, I once rode 14 attractions with friends on a rainy day and still had time to relax and talk at a restaurant.
■Changing or Canceling Your Visit Date
Even after reading this article, you may still prefer to visit on a sunny day rather than in the rain.
In that case, we recommend changing the date on your ticket.
See this article for details.
■Sightseeing in Osaka on a Rainy Day
If you are visiting Osaka for a two-day, one-night trip, one option is to go to USJ on the sunny day and visit indoor attractions in central Osaka on the rainy day.
Unlike USJ, these spots may not fill an entire day individually, so the day may be a mix of sightseeing and shopping for a few hours at a time.
Rainy-Day Events and Places to Visit in Osaka
KAIYUKAN Aquarium
KAIYUKAN, one of the largest aquariums in the Kansai region, is across the water from USJ and is home to whale sharks.
Suggested visit time: about one to three hours.
LEGOLAND Discovery Center Osaka
LEGOLAND is a good choice for families with young children. It is only a few minutes’ walk from KAIYUKAN.
It is smaller than the Nagoya park, but kindergarteners and younger elementary school children can enjoy about half a day there.
Parents may also remember playing with LEGO as children and enjoy joining in.
Suggested visit time: about two to three hours.
Yoshimoto Shinkigeki at Namba Grand Kagetsu
Yoshimoto Shinkigeki lets you enjoy Osaka comedy live.
Same-day tickets may be available.
After laughing at the show, try Osaka specialties such as takoyaki or okonomiyaki.
Many performances appear to run for about two hours and ten minutes from opening to the end.
See recommended Osaka sightseeing spots here.
USJ 10-Day and Hourly Weather Forecasts
See the forecast for the area around USJ here.
If this site shows wind speeds of 10 meters per second or higher, attractions are more likely to close.
They may also close at lower wind speeds.
Some attraction anemometers are installed high above the ground, where winds can be stronger than at ground level.
Make the latest USJ and Kansai event updates
easier to find on Google.
