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As Harry Potter and theme park followers, we couldn’t miss Common Studios Japan on our go to to Osaka.
Whereas wandering by way of the magical Harry Potter World was the spotlight of our day, we additionally rode the scariest rollercoaster we’ve ever been on and found many extra enjoyable sights.
Common Studios Japan (USJ) is effectively value a day if you’re in Osaka. It’s simply accessible from town, and the massive park (a lot greater than Common Singapore) has lots to maintain you busy all day.
On this submit, I share the very best Common Studios Japan rides for adults and older children in addition to recommendations on avoiding queues, find out how to get there, the very best place to purchase tickets, and rather more to benefit from your day.
I’ve additionally added an replace with the brand new Tremendous Nintendo World after our second go to to USJ.
Contents
Time-Saving Common Japan Ideas
Common Studios Japan is without doubt one of the busiest theme parks on this planet with queues which might be typically 1-3 hours lengthy. It’s important to plan prematurely.
To maximise the variety of USJ rides you’ll be able to expertise in a day, listed here are our high ideas:
- Guide your tickets prematurely right here with official associate Klook. You possibly can then present the e-ticket in your telephone to get in. The park does repeatedly promote out.
- Pay additional for an Categorical Go to skip the strains (and e book this two months prematurely if attainable). See beneath for extra particulars on the varieties of passes. I’d not go to USJ with out one (we saved 9 hours of queueing with ours!).
- Go to on a weekday (and test it’s not a Japan nationwide vacation).
- Obtain the Common Studios Japan app to test wait instances on the day and get entry to the Space Timed Entry ticket wanted for Tremendous Nintendo World.
- Arrive no less than 60 minutes earlier than park opening (except you’ve got an Categorical Go 7). They typically open the gates as much as an hour earlier than official opening.
- Use the single-rider line if you happen to don’t have an Categorical Go. That is extra helpful for some rides than others (as mentioned beneath).
- Keep till park closing – The final hour is the quietest time to discover Harry Potter World. Word that reentry to the park will not be allowed.
High Common Studios Japan Rides and Points of interest
1) Exploring The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is my favorite space at Common Studios Japan.
To get there you stroll down an extended pathway lined with pine bushes (previous the automotive that Ron crashed!), so it feels separate from the remainder of the park, like you might be getting into one other world.
Even if you happen to don’t go on one of many two rides right here, it’s a pleasure to wander the snowy cobbled streets of a wonderfully recreated Hogsmeade village.
You possibly can store for wands at Ollivanders, jokes at Zonko’s and sweets at Honeydukes and have a pint of butterbeer within the Hog’s Head or Three Broomsticks. The nice and cozy butterbeer on a chilly day was scrumptious (if very candy).
You may also take a photograph subsequent to the Hogwarts Categorical, see owls ready to ship mail within the owlery, and ship letters with a Hogsmeade postmark in The Owl Submit.
Most spectacular of all is Hogwarts Fort perched on rocks overlooking the village.
Harry Potter World does get very busy, however you now not want a timed entry ticket, so chances are you’ll wish to go to a number of instances in the course of the day.
The world is especially pretty at sundown and after darkish.
2) Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
- Kind of Trip: Thrill Trip, 3D Movement Simulator
- Minimal Peak: 122cm (48 inches)
- Locker Required: Sure for luggage (free, accessible in queue)
- Single Rider Accessible: Sure
- Location: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is the primary attraction in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and top-of-the-line rides at Common Japan.
It takes place inside Hogwarts Fort, and I benefit from the stroll by way of the citadel seeing Dumbledore’s workplace, lecture rooms, and speaking work (in Japanese!) as a lot because the journey itself.
It’s a 3D journey however glasses aren’t wanted as you might be immersed on this planet of Hogwarts, participating in a Quidditch recreation, feeling the warmth of a dragon’s fireplace in your face, and even getting spit at by large spiders.
It’s an exhilarating expertise with implausible results. It did set off my movement illness, but it surely was well worth the nausea and I recovered shortly.
If this is a matter for you, think about taking movement illness remedy like dramamine, as I did lately at Common Studios Florida (which has most of the identical rides as USJ).
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is a well-liked USJ journey, so it’s greatest ridden with an Categorical Go. We did this on our final go to and nonetheless bought to stroll by way of Hogwarts however with out the lengthy waits.
Alternatively, journey it very first thing (you probably have secured Timed Entry for Tremendous Nintendo World), or wait till the top of the day.
The opposite journey in Harry Potter World is Flight of the Hippogriff, a delicate out of doors rollercoaster for youths. Simon discovered it enjoyable however very quick and never well worth the common lengthy waits (it was included in our Categorical Go).
3) Wand Magic
The opposite factor we love doing in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is Wand Magic the place we solid our personal spells!
This won’t be for everybody as you first have to purchase a magical wand from one of many shops, however for giant Harry Potter followers, it’s value it, and you find yourself with a superbly created memento.
There are a number of factors across the village the place you’ll be able to carry out spells—you get a map along with your wand and may search for the bronze medallions on the ground that present the spell.
We used the Incendio spell to mild a chimney (after many failed makes an attempt!) and one other to make it snow down a again alley. It’s numerous enjoyable and actually added to the expertise.
After all, probably the most genuine place to buy your wand is Ollivanders, however there’s normally a ten–15 minute wait to get in.
You may also purchase the magic wands at different shops within the space. Or we had no wait from the wand cart on the primary avenue. Be sure to get the particular magic wand and never the common wands which you’ll’t use for spells.
An interactive wand value 5500 yen ($36) on our go to. To go the entire hog, you possibly can additionally purchase a Hogwarts robe for 16,000 yen ($104).
We purchased our robes from the Harry Potter Studio Tour in Tokyo, which gave us double the picture alternatives and was a bit cheaper at 13,000 yen.
There are sometimes lengthy strains to solid the spells, so I like to recommend returning to the realm within the final hour of park opening, when it’s a lot quieter.
4) The Flying Dinosaur
- Kind of Trip: Thrill Trip, Rollercoaster with Inversions
- Minimal Peak: 132cm (52 inches)
- Locker Required: Sure for luggage and telephones (free, accessible in queue)
- Single Rider Accessible: Sure (however doesn’t save a lot)
- Location: Jurassic Park
Oh my—The Flying Dinosaur is intense! It’s the scariest rollercoaster we’ve ever been on, and it’s good enjoyable!
It’s situated in Jurassic Park and the thought is that an out-of-control Pteranodon seizes you from behind and pulls you excessive into the sky.
Which means that when you’ve sat down, your seat is turned 90 levels in the direction of the ground so that you’re going through straight down. There may be nothing between your face and the bottom far beneath!
The journey is so quick and disorientating that I don’t bear in mind precisely what occurred, but it surely concerned a number of 360º inversions, many twists and turns, and an underground part.
This wild and distinctive coaster ought to to not be missed by thrill-seekers—it’s top-of-the-line Common Studios Japan sights.
As The Flying Dinosaur wasn’t included in our Categorical Go (embrace it if you happen to can), Simon rode this by himself on our newest go to. The one rider line right here doesn’t prevent a lot time, although. He ended up ready 60 minutes when the standby queue was 70 minutes.
Word which you can’t take any free gadgets on the journey, however you might be allowed to maintain your telephone till the final 20 minutes of the queue whenever you put all the things in lockers.
5) Play in Tremendous Nintendo World
Tremendous Nintendo World is a brand new themed land that opened at Common Studios Japan in March 2021. Accessed by way of a large warp pipe, you might be transported to a Tremendous Mario recreation.
It’s now the most well-liked space within the park and nearly at all times requires a timed entry ticket. You will get one without cost on the USJ app (arrive earlier than park opening and do that as quickly as you enter the gates—they run out quick).
Or for assured entry, I like to recommend you buy an Categorical Go, as we did (you’ll be given a time to enter the realm). It’s one of many high Japan sights, so don’t miss out!
Alongside Harry Potter World, that is the very best themed space in USJ. It’s such a enjoyable and vibrant world that impresses as quickly as you enter.
Our timed entry was an evening, which we had been initially disenchanted about (and we did miss out on consuming within the cafe), however the vibrant land seems to be implausible towards the black evening sky—you overlook you might be exterior.
You should buy a Tremendous Nintendo World wristband to entry varied mini video games within the space. Sync it with the USJ app to maintain observe of your rating.
Queues are pretty lengthy for these video games, so enable loads of time to expertise all of them (3-4 hours together with rides with Categorical Go). We skipped the wristbands however nonetheless took benefit of some picture ops.
The very best journey in Tremendous Nintendo World is Mario Kart (see beneath), but when queues are quick, or it’s included in your Categorical Go (because it was for us), you’ll additionally wish to journey Yoshi’s Journey.
This can be a light, family-friendly journey the place you go on a treasure hunt to gather mysterious eggs. It’s not terribly thrilling, however it’s cute, and the elevated partially exterior observe has view over the realm.
6) Mario Kart: Koopa’s Problem
- Kind of Trip: Augmented Actuality Darkish Trip
- Minimal Peak: 107cm (42 inches)
- Locker Required: No
- Single Rider Accessible: Sure
- Location: Tremendous Nintendo World
The signature journey in Tremendous Nintendo World is Mario Kart: Koopa’s Problem. (Bowser is named Koopa in Japan).
It’s a dream come true for Mario geeks like Simon as the long-lasting Mario Kart programs are dropped at life.
The interactive, augmented actuality journey is housed inside Bowser’s Fort and the queue by way of right here is a part of the enjoyable with a number of particulars to discover. This was our longest wait with an Categorical Go (25 minutes with a standby estimate of 80 minutes), however we didn’t thoughts.
Word that I’ve heard the one rider line misses the very best particulars, so perhaps maintain that for a repeat journey.
On the finish of the queue, you placed on a Mario visor, which plugs right into a particular lens whenever you get into your kart in an effort to see the AR imagery.
The journey entails dashing across the race tracks, throwing shells on the villains to earn cash. It’s fairly chaotic with a number of particulars to absorb, but it surely’s actually enjoyable and Mario followers will find it irresistible.
That is greatest ridden with an Categorical Go, which you’ll additionally probably have to enter the realm. In any other case, head right here very first thing.
7) Mine Cart Insanity (Coming Quickly)
Donkey Kong Nation is a brand new space as a result of open in 2024 inside Tremendous Nintendo World.
It can embrace USJ’s latest journey, Mine Cart Insanity, an unpredictable rollercoaster that launches from the Golden Temple, races by way of the jungle, and leaps throughout collapsed tracks.
I’ve included it on this Common Japan journey record as I do know will probably be some of the widespread rides as soon as it opens.
8) Hollywood Dream – The Trip
- Kind of Trip: Thrill Trip, Rollercoaster
- Minimal Peak: 132cm (52 inches)
- Locker Required: Baggage and free gadgets (together with telephones) aren’t allowed however everybody leaves them on the platform earlier than the journey.
- Single Rider Accessible: Sure (however doesn’t save a lot)
- Location: Hollywood
In the event you choose your rollercoasters barely much less terrifying than The Flying Dinosaur, then Hollywood Dream is for you.
This clean, non-inverting, high-speed coaster has some abdomen dropping ramps and vertical drops.
I like which you can select a tune as your private soundtrack. It’s a really enjoyable journey.
Hollywood Dream is without doubt one of the hottest rides at USJ with wait instances over two hours all through the day on our final go to. You undoubtedly need Categorical for this one—with our cross we waited Quarter-hour when the standby queue was 130 minutes.
9) Hollywood Dream – The Trip (Backdrop)
You may also journey the identical coaster backwards on Hollywood Dream – The Trip (Backdrop). It has the identical entrance and observe as Hollywood Dream, however you journey in numerous automobiles that go in reverse.
As one of many busiest USJ rides, it’s greatest ridden with an Categorical Go (ours included each coasters).
If you must select only one, I most popular the common model. I discovered going backwards a bit disorientating however much less scary than going through the entrance as you’ll be able to’t see what’s coming.
10) Despicable Me Minion Mayhem
- Kind of Trip: 3D Movement Simulator
- Minimal Peak: 102cm (40 inches)
- Locker Required: No
- Single Rider Accessible: Sure
- Location: Minion Park
Despicable Me Minion Mayhem is situated within the enjoyable, vibrant Minion Park and is an immersive 3D simulator journey with out glasses utilizing a large dome display screen.
The entire expertise is about 25 minutes as there’s an extended intro video (with English subtitles) that provides to the context.
The journey itself is narrative heavy, and though we couldn’t observe the Japanese, we bought the final concept, and it’s nonetheless a enjoyable expertise as you bounce round a large manufacturing unit in your approach to turning into a Minion.
Sadly, that is one other journey that’s not nice for these with movement illness (I selected to skip it on our second go to).
If it’s not included along with your Categorical Go (it’s not a precedence for us), wait till the top of the day when the queues drop off at this family-friendly attraction.
11) Jurassic Park – The Trip
Replace 2024: Jurassic Park is closed till 2025 for a serious refurbishment.
Jurassic Park is a largely light water journey by way of a park crammed with dinosaurs. There’s an enormous and enjoyable drop on the finish the place chances are you’ll get moist (particularly within the entrance row).
We purchased ponchos (400 yen) simply in case as we didn’t wish to danger getting moist on a chilly day. There are additionally lockers accessible (100 yen which will get returned to you).
In winter this was one of many best rides to get on, however I think about it’s busier in the summertime.
12) JAWS
- Kind of Trip: Boat Trip
- Minimal Peak: None when accompanied by an grownup.
- Locker Required: No
- Single Rider Accessible: Sure
- Location: Amity Village
JAWS is a basic Common attraction, and because the model at Common Studios Florida has closed, that is the one place on this planet to journey it now.
What begins as a leisurely boat tour (in Japanese) of Amity Harbour turns into extra thrilling when a huge man-eating shark seems. It’s a scary one!
JAWS is an effective attraction to make use of the one rider queue as Japanese households choose to journey this collectively. Simon solely waited two minutes when the standby queue was 40 minutes.
Wait instances additionally drop within the night, so this is without doubt one of the solely rides on this record the place an Categorical Go isn’t essential.
13) Waterworld Present
In case you have time in your itinerary, maybe within the afternoon when wait instances are longest, think about watching the Waterworld present. Examine the app for present instances and arrive no less than Quarter-hour early.
This dramatic, water-based stunt present takes place in an out of doors amphitheatre and options jet ski chases, explosions, fights, and spectacular jumps. In the event you sit within the entrance rows, count on to get very moist!
Whereas the present is in Japanese, you’ll be able to nonetheless benefit from the particular results.
I did discover the present (as with the entire park) very loud, so appreciated my AirPods.
14) House Fantasy (Seasonal Overlays)
House Fantasy is an indoor rollercoaster at midnight. It used to have an area theme however the authentic journey is closed indefinitely.
Now it solely opens with overlays for particular occasions comparable to with VR for Cool Japan and when it turns into Sadako’s Curse at Halloween.
These have combined critiques however are value trying out if wait instances are low.
Common Studios Osaka Tickets
Common Studios Japan is a really busy park all year long, so we extremely advocate reserving your tickets prematurely. They do promote out.
A in the future ticket prices from 8,600 yen ($56) with larger costs at peak instances. You might also wish to pay additional for an Categorical Go (see beneath).
Purchase Common Studios Japan tickets right here with Klook, an authorised associate of USJ and the best method for English audio system to purchase. Worldwide playing cards don’t work on the official USJ web site.
We used Klook for our tickets on our final journey and it was very easy. We obtained a PDF ticket with a QR code that we saved on our telephone and scanned on the ticket gates for entry. As soon as within the park, scan the ticket into the USJ app to have entry to timed entry requests.
Is a Common Studios Japan Categorical Go Value It?
Even once we visited in winter, Common Studios Japan was the busiest theme park we’ve visited (sure, even busier than Disney).
The park options many main sights that you just gained’t wish to miss, however all of them have very lengthy queue instances from as quickly because the park opens.
You can get on a number of rides shortly initially of the day if you happen to arrive early, however you gained’t be capable to do all the things with out waits of no less than an hour and normally for much longer.
The one approach to assure to get on all the things with out lengthy waits is shopping for an Categorical Go, which prices greater than the doorway ticket.
You’ll be assigned a selected time to journey every attraction and can solely have a minimal wait. We normally waited 5-Quarter-hour (the exception was Mario Kart at 25 minutes).
Our 7-ride Categorical Go saved us an unimaginable 565 minutes (over 9 hours) of ready in strains!
Sure, it’s costly, however I completely suppose an Categorical Go is value it to keep away from frustration and make your park day extra gratifying.
One other main bonus of the Categorical Go is that the majority embrace assured timed entry to Tremendous Nintendo World.
Categorical Passes promote out much more shortly than tickets, so I counsel reserving two months prematurely for probably the most alternative and greatest journey instances.
We booked a month prematurely for our November go to and all of the 4-ride passes had been already bought out.
Once more, Klook is the best method to purchase passes, because the USJ website is in Japanese solely (I attempted utilizing Translate but it surely was too difficult a course of).
The draw back is that we couldn’t select the journey instances (though apparently you’ll be able to with the most recent Klook app). We ended up with journey instances starting from 2pm to 8pm.
Initially I used to be disenchanted to not have morning journey instances, but it surely ended up being a blessing as we might skip the rope drop rush, have a lie-in, and keep till 10pm park closing.
It’s quite complicated as there are a lot of totally different passes relying on which rides you need to use them on and costs fluctuate by date. They do change continuously.
USJ Categorical Go 7
Presently, the very best cross accessible is the Categorical Go 7- Selection.
It prices no less than 18,000 yen ($117) and consists of:
- Mario Kart: Koopa’s Problem
- Yoshi’s Journey
- Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
- Flight of the Hippogriff
- The Flying Dinosaur
- Despicable Me Minion Mayhem
- Hollywood Dream or JAWS ( I’d select Hollywood Dream)
The one main journey lacking is Hollywood Dream Backdrop, but it surely’s not an enormous deal to skip this if you’re driving Hollywood Dream. Trip JAWS single rider or on the finish of the day.
That is just like the cross we had that saved us over 9 hours of queuing!
Purchase the Categorical Go 7 right here.
USJ Categorical Go 4
A less expensive Categorical Go consists of simply 4 rides. Once more there are a number of choices and it’s more durable to decide on the very best one. It’s a must to resolve which rides are most vital to you.
I’d go for the Categorical Go 4 – Selection Trip because it consists of my three favorite rides. It prices from 15,000 yen ($97) and is legitimate on:
- Mario Kart: Koopa’s Problem
- Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
- The Flying Dinosaur OR Hollywood Dream OR JAWS (I’d select Flying Dinosaur)
- Demon Slayer XR (a brief overlay of House Fantasy)
In the event you like rollercoasters, I’d advocate upgrading to Categorical Go 7 so you’ll be able to journey each Flying Dinosaur and Hollywood Dream.
Purchase the Categorical Go 4 right here.
Common USJ Queue Occasions
In the event you’re undecided whether or not an Categorical Go is value it or not, listed here are the common queue instances at Common Japan all year long (count on larger in peak durations).
- Hollywood Dream Backdrop – 103 minutes
- Mario Kart – 96 minutes
- Hollywood Dream – 86 minutes
- Flight of the Hippogriff – 81 minutes
- Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey – 73 minutes
- The Flying Dinosaur – 71 minutes
- Despicable Me Minion Mayhem – 67 minutes
- Yoshi’s Journey – 63 minutes
- JAWS – 47 minutes
- Jurassic Park – 47 minutes
Common Studios Japan Opening Hours
Common Studios Osaka normally opens between 8am and 10am and closes between 7pm and 10pm.
See the USJ calendar to test the hours (and journey closures) for the date you might be visiting. Occasions are solely launched a number of months prematurely.
Until you’ve got Categorical Go 7, it’s best to arrive no less than an hour earlier than the official opening to get into the park as shortly as attainable. They typically open early.
Easy methods to Get to Common Studios Osaka
It’s simple to get to Common Studios Japan by prepare from central Osaka and shouldn’t take greater than half-hour. Common Metropolis Station is simply a 5-minute stroll from the park.
To get right here, you’ll probably want to alter at Nishikujo station and switch to the JR Yumesaki Line (also called JR Sakurajima Line).
For instance, from Namba Station take the Hanshin Namba Line to Nishikujo then change there for Common Metropolis Station.
You need to use your ICOCA or SUICA card which is the best approach to pay for transport in Osaka.
You need to use Google Maps or Navitime to seek out the route out of your nearest station.
Accommodations Close to Common Studios Japan
Common Studios Japan is definitely reachable from central Osaka, but when your journey is concentrated on the park it will be handy to remain in certainly one of these accommodations only a few minutes stroll away:
- The Park Entrance Resort at Common Studios Japan – The most recent official resort and the closest one to the park gates (proper in entrance!). It has massive rooms (uncommon for Japan) and plenty of facilities.
- Resort Common Port Vita – Vibrant rooms, solely a 5-minute stroll to the park, and enjoyable Minion decor within the foyer. We stayed right here and appreciated the situation.
- Resort Common Port – Snug rooms, some with park views, and an important location.
- La’gent Resort Osaka Bay – price range choice. Rooms are small however clear and it’s nonetheless walkable to the park (though additional than those above).
In the event you keep shut by, you would possibly think about shopping for a 1.5 day USJ ticket, which lets you enter the park from 3pm on the primary day and for a full day on the second.
Meals At Common Studios Japan
Bringing meals and drinks into the park is prohibited, but it surely’s unlikely they’ll test your bag and it is perhaps a good suggestion for vegetarians to carry a number of rice balls as meat-free choices are restricted.
Queues for meals may also be lengthy, so I like to recommend consuming earlier than you enter the park if attainable (there are many locations exterior the gate together with Starbucks). We waited 35 minutes for each Amity Ice Cream and dinner at Three Broomsticks.
We cherished these candy treats:
- Salted caramel banana popcorn from the POP-A-NANA stand in Minion Park. You possibly can even purchase a memento bucket.
- Cookie sandwiches from Despicable Me! The Cookie Kitchen. The chocolate orange one was particularly tasty.
- Chocolate desserts at Beverly Hills Boulangerie. There are tons to select from, however the chocolate fondant with a sizzling melting center was scrumptious.
- Butterbeer at Three Broomsticks. It’s bought to be accomplished! The chilly model is fizzier, however the heat one was higher on a cold day. You can in all probability share because it’s very candy. There are nice views of the citadel from the terrace out the again.
Savoury vegetarian choices in USJ are rather more restricted:
- Three Broomsticks – This informal restaurant has nice Harry Potter theming. The vegetable plate consists of salad, corn on the cob, potato wedges, and steamed greens. It’s plain however filling. It’s vegan if you happen to skip the butter. We additionally bought macaroni and cheese from the youngsters menu and shared each.
- Louis NY Pizza Parlour – This fast service restaurant has a Margherita pizza.
- Azzurra di Capri – A desk service restaurant with a vegetarian pizza. Go early to get a desk or e book prematurely.
- Kinopio’s Cafe – A well-liked informal restaurant in Tremendous Nintendo World (count on an extended queue). The one veggie choices are the Piranha Plan Caprese (tomato and mozzarella salad) and the Fruit & Veggie Salad.
See our vegetarian Osaka information for the very best meat-free meals within the metropolis as there are tons of choices exterior the park.
On our method again to Shinsaibashi we stopped for vegan ramen at Matsuri which is close to Noda station the place we would have liked to alter trains.
In the event you plan to do any purchasing, carry your passport as you’ll be able to then store tax-free if you happen to spend over 5000 yen.
There are numerous choices for souvenirs within the park. Our favourites had been in Harry Potter World and It’s So Fluffy which is filled with cute fluffy unicorns from Despicable Me.
Is Common Studios Japan Value it?
Common Studios Japan is crowded and costly (if you buy an Categorical Go), however we nonetheless suppose it’s effectively value visiting.
It’s a enjoyable day trip in Osaka with the magical Harry Potter World, immersive Tremendous Nintendo World, and a few critically thrilling rollercoasters and distinctive 3D simulators.
It’s a extremely popular park, so do be sure to keep away from peak instances, e book tickets prematurely, and both purchase an Categorical Go or put together to queue.
If you’re theme park nuts like us, you may additionally wish to learn our posts on our favorite Common Studios Singapore rides, Common Islands of Journey rides, and Tokyo DisneySea rides.
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