What You’ll Learn in This Article
- An efficient recommended route for enjoying your first visit to USJ
- Tips for making the most of SUPER NINTENDO WORLD and timed-entry tickets
- A one-day sample itinerary covering the parade, Harry Potter, souvenirs, and more
Universal Studios Japan Trip Report
Today we’re heading to USJ, excited to visit SUPER NINTENDO WORLD.
We’ll be touring the park with a family of five from Aomori: two elementary school children and one middle school student, all visiting USJ for the first time.
They don’t know how many years it may be before they can come again.
I absolutely want them to enjoy every moment.
I’ve been to USJ hundreds of times and often visit as casually as taking a walk, but for the first time in a while, I was fully fired up.
I think this trip report will be useful for anyone planning their first visit to Universal Studios Japan.
Also check out Happiell Navi for a recommended schedule.
Getting to Universal Studios Japan
To reach Universal City Station, the nearest station to Universal Studios Japan, take an inner-loop Osaka Loop Line train from Platform 1 at JR Osaka Station.
You can board any train departing from Platform 1, but all trains are crowded in the morning, especially on weekdays.
From 7:18 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., a direct train for Sakurajima via Universal City departs JR Osaka Station about once every 15 minutes. You’re lucky if a direct train arrives.
It tends to be a little less crowded.
Even if there is no direct train, trains toward Universal City depart JR Nishikujo Station every 6 to 8 minutes.
So I usually board whichever train arrives at Platform 1 at Osaka Station and head to Nishikujo Station first.
Note: There are no direct trains in the early morning or around midday.
We transferred at Nishikujo Station to a train bound for Universal City.
If a Mario-themed train arrives, you’re lucky. Most of the time, a train in a different color will come.
We wanted to head to SUPER NINTENDO WORLD first thing that day, so we arrived in front of the USJ entrance gates at 6:30 a.m.
Even though it was summer vacation, we were able to wait close to the entrance gates.
After waiting about an hour, the park opened at 7:25 a.m. that day, although the scheduled opening time was 8:00 a.m.
After Entering Universal Studios Japan
Once inside, we headed straight to SUPER NINTENDO WORLD without stopping to look at anything.
Some people were running, making it look like a marathon…
The park may be admitting guests in small groups, so it was not dangerously packed. Still, SUPER NINTENDO WORLD is quite far away, and running the whole way is difficult and unsafe, so walk briskly instead.
In the morning, the walkway is blocked by barriers once timed-entry tickets become necessary.
If the route is blocked, a timed-entry ticket is required for SUPER NINTENDO WORLD before you can enter.
The earliest ticket you can usually get is for about 30 minutes later, which means a major loss of time.
We passed the defensive line, the barriers just before JAWS, immediately before timed-entry tickets became necessary. What a relief.
Enjoy Mario Kart and the Power-Up Band Key Challenges
The children smiled and exclaimed, “Wow, amazing!” as if they had stepped into a two-dimensional world.
The children had looked sleepy after waking up early, but their energy quickly returned.
After taking in the excitement of SUPER NINTENDO WORLD for only a moment, we headed to Bowser’s Castle.
Our goal was Mario Kart.
Note: These days, if you can enter at this time, it is better to head for Donkey Kong’s Mine-Cart Madness first.
Bowser’s Castle and Mario Kart
The posted wait was already 90 minutes, and a large crowd had reached Bowser’s Castle.
These days, the posted wait may be around 60 minutes if you head to Mario Kart at this time.
We entered the character-introduction area deep inside Bowser’s Castle.
To keep the children from getting bored in line, I asked whether they recognized the enemy characters and explained the details on the walls that depict Bowser’s world as we moved forward.
The Mario Kart broadcast van and equipment really raised the children’s excitement.
They were amazed to see a full-size vehicle right in front of them.
At last, we reached Bowser’s study.
We continued deeper inside while I explained the book titles.
After the preshow, I shared tips for getting a high score on Mario Kart.
Finally, it was time to board the kart.
Because it was their first time, the children were incredibly excited.
Hearing their delighted voices made me happy too.
After experiencing Mario Kart, we headed to Kinopio’s Cafe.
Power-Up Band Key Challenges
Wanting to make the most of the visit, the mother bought a Power-Up Band for each child.
I lent the parents the bands I had with me.
We all took on the Key Challenges together.
As we played, parade time approached, so we temporarily left SUPER NINTENDO WORLD.
Parade times differ during the summer event period. It started at 11:00 a.m. on this visit, but in 2026 it is held in the evening.
Actually, while we were waiting inside Bowser’s Castle, I had obtained a SUPER NINTENDO WORLD timed-entry ticket through the app.
I was able to get one for shortly after the parade ended, so we could leave the area once and then enter again.
To enter twice this way, your first entry must be before timed-entry ticket distribution begins.
Alternatively, you need to purchase an Express Pass and also obtain a timed-entry ticket.
NO LIMIT! Parade
Because we planned to return to SUPER NINTENDO WORLD after the parade, we watched in front of Mel’s Drive-In to minimize walking.
If you pass through the rose garden, it is relatively easy to secure a spot even 30 minutes before the parade starts.
On extremely crowded days, arriving a little earlier is recommended.
Shortly before the parade procession arrives, you can also catch a glimpse of a float in the distance.
That lets you wait for the parade to begin with growing excitement and anticipation.
The children called out during the parade, shouting, “Minions!” and “Mario!”
They looked absolutely thrilled.
The floats stop twice during the parade, allowing guests to dance with the characters and performers.
I recommend checking the following article to see where each character’s float stops.
Lunch at Kinopio’s Cafe
We used our timed-entry ticket to return to SUPER NINTENDO WORLD.
After standing throughout the parade, we were starting to feel a little tired.
It was after noon, so we were hungry too.
Except first thing in the morning, Kinopio’s Cafe requires a restaurant entry ticket.
We had some time between entering the area and our scheduled admission to Kinopio’s Cafe, so we completed the remaining Key Challenges and collected coins.
After successfully collecting three keys, we faced Bowser Jr. in the boss battle.
We threw fireballs to defeat Bowser Jr.
After enjoying the battle to the fullest, we headed to Kinopio’s Cafe.
We enjoyed a delicious meal.
I ordered the Luigi Burger, so I gave the Luigi-hat food pick to one of the children.
Yoshi’s Adventure
After lunch, we headed to Yoshi’s Adventure, located immediately outside the Kinopio’s Cafe exit.
However, the wait was about 75 minutes…
I would not normally line up with a wait this long, but today we did it for the children visiting from Aomori.
Together with the middle school student, I finally set off on an adventure to find the golden egg.
We enjoyed searching for the eggs while I explained various details and chatted along the way.
Enjoying the Harry Potter Area
Next, we headed to the Harry Potter area, which had been requested as one of the must-visit places.
Unfortunately, both Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey and Flight of the Hippogriff had 90-minute waits.
It was already almost 3:00 p.m.
The family had to leave USJ shortly after 4:00 p.m. because they were returning to Aomori that day.
Since they also wanted to buy souvenirs before leaving, there was not enough time for an attraction, so we decided to enjoy the interactive spell-casting experience called Wand Magic.
We had two magic wands, so we split into pairs and lined up at the spell locations we wanted to try.
Heading to the Souvenir Shops
We enjoyed the spell-casting experience until the last possible moment, took a commemorative photo in front of Hogwarts Castle, and then hurried toward the entrance.
We headed to the souvenir shops near the park entrance.
Everyone bought souvenirs for friends and schoolteachers as well.
They purchased a variety of gifts, including snacks and stationery.
Then it was 4:00 p.m.
We said goodbye at the park entrance.
We had spent about 10 hours together since 6:30 a.m. I was glad they had enjoyed the day so much.
• 2 ride attractions
• 5 Key Challenges
• 1 Bowser Jr. boss battle
• Wand Magic at 2 locations
• Daytime parade
It was a day focused almost entirely on Mario.
Heading to the Summer Shows
During the 2026 summer event, a nighttime summer festival runs from 6:30 p.m. until park closing.
There are plenty of stage shows and street shows.
Food-stall-style shops also open, so you can enjoy the event during the cooler part of the day.
USJ Summer Event 2026 Guide: How to Enjoy Universal Summer Matsuri Night
Make the latest USJ and Kansai event updates
easier to find on Google.
