49 Tips for Your First Trip to Universal Studios Japan

Planning your first trip to Universal Studios Japan can be a bit confusing – so here’s all the advice and tips you need to make it go more smoothly in one handy blog post!

Article by Helen Foster. Disclosure: Some links in this post are affiliate links. See our Affiliate Disclosure.

When to Visit

The first thing that will make a difference to your day at USJ is when you visit, so, here’s what you need to know.

1. Avoid the Busy Times

There is a Crowd Calendar for USJ, but I don’t think it’s as accurate for the precise numbers as the Tokyo Disney one. However, this doesn’t mean you can’t get any clues as to when things might be busy.

Like Tokyo Disney, most of the guests at USJ are locals rather than international tourists, and so the busy days follow many of the same patterns as Disney. So, avoid main holidays like Golden Week and New Year, Spring Break, and Japanese school holidays. We have a full list of those here.

September/October can also be busier at USJ because they have their special Halloween Horror Nights events each evening. See more specific details about that here.

2. Then Pick the Quiet Days

Weekends are always busier than weekdays, so Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday are generally the quietest days of the week to visit USJ.

Buying Tickets

There a few different tickets and passes for USJ, so here’s the basics…

3. Everyone Has to Have a Studio Pass

This is the name for the basic entry ticket that gets you in through the gates. You can also buy Express Passes, which help you jump the queues. However, some people think that the Express Pass also includes entry—it doesn’t. You need both a Studio Pass and an Express Pass to get in.

Our longer guide to USJ ticket types provides more details about both and the meaning of things like A,B, and C-type tickets.

4. You Can Buy Multi-Day Passes

There are three types of Studio Pass: one-day tickets, 1.5-day passes, which let you in at 3 p.m. on the first day of your pass and all day on the second and two-day passes, which cover two full days.

5. You Can Buy on the Gate

Unlike Tokyo Disney Resort, where you have to buy your tickets in advance, you can buy USJ tickets at the gate. This allows you to pick days with better weather or plan your schedule around your energy levels.

However, there are a couple of reasons why this might not be the best plan—there are a few special tickets that you might be able to buy in advance that give you a head start on the crowds (more on those below), the park might sell out, and you have pretty much no chance of getting an Express Pass at the last minute. It also means queueing twice.

Even if you only choose to buy tickets a day or two before, I’d suggest buying them in advance.

6. Or Tickets Go on Sale Two Months Before

Both Studio Passes and Express Passes go on sale two months before the date you want to enter the park – so, for April 12th, for example, you’d buy them on February 12th.

Sometimes, Express Passes don’t stick to this schedule – this is usually when they adjust what the passes contain for some reason. For example, if they’ve added new ride overlays (more on that in the rides section) or a big ride is under maintenance for a long period.

7. The Time is a Mystery

One of the questions I’m asked most in my USJ planning Facebook Group is exactly when the USJ tickets go on sale. Usually, there isn’t an official fixed time – nor have I seen any consensus on one from various Japan groups or my experience checking on passes.

Recently, with the messed up Express Pass schedule, they have announced a time of sale – 12 pm (noon) Japanese time. That doesn’t always follow on a normal daily release, though – I’ve bought my tickets at 8am Japanese time before now.

Where to Buy Tickets

You can buy tickets directly from USJ on their webpage or app. They also have a list of official third-party suppliers, including Klook and KK Day. Here’s how to decide where to buy yours…

8. Klook Can Be Better For Studio Passes

This is different from what I would have told you 18 months ago – but there are three reasons why I say it now. The first is that Klook will always take your credit card, as like many Japanese websites, the USJ ticket store or app can have trouble with some foreign cards. But, more importantly, Klook sells two types of Studio Passes that can save you time – or money.

The first is called the Early Entry Pass, and, as the name suggests, it will get you into the park 15 minutes before the main queue. This can help you get to the park’s big rides first or increase your chances of getting a timed entry into Super Nintendo World. More of that in a minute.

The second is called Studio Pass + SNW. This can save you a lot of money if Super Nintendo World is your main reason for going to the park, as it gives you a guaranteed timed entry. Normally, you have to get an Express Pass to get this, which costs much more than this.

These tickets don’t appear daily, and they sell out quickly, so if you see them, snap them up. You can find them on the Klook Studio Pass page here.

9. Check This With Third Party Sellers

There have been rare instances where third-party sellers sell Express Passes but do not get enough from USJ to fulfil all the orders. This doesn’t happen often, and the last time it did, people buying directly from USJ also missed out, as there was a total system crash from everyone trying to buy at once.

Now, don’t panic. If you’ve bought your passes from Klook, for example, – so long as your order says confirmed, you have nothing to worry about. But if your order, of any kind from Klook (or any of the other third party sellers), says pending for more than about 12 hours, double check with them that nothing is awry.

Entering the Park

The big day has arrived – here’s what you need to know…

10. Official Times Mean Nothing!

The park might say it opens at 9:00 a.m., but it probably won’t. It can open any time up to an hour before this. If you want to beat the crowds, make sure you line up at least an hour early.

11. Early Entry Isn’t a USJ Hotel Perk

Well, not for everyone, anyway. Some packages with Japanese tour companies can include it, but generally, even if you’re staying at one of the official USJ hotels, you aren’t guaranteed early entry unless you specifically have it booked. That’s another reason why that Klook Early Entry Ticket is a bonus.

12. There’s No Readmission

Officially, USJ says you can’t go in and out of the park. Unofficially, I have had my hand stamped on less busy days, so they can sometimes allow it. But don’t assume it’s going to happen. Assume that once you’re in, you’re in. For these two reasons, I don’t think you need to stay at the USJ hotels unless you really want to.

Super Nintendo World

This is inside Universal Studios Japan and included in your Studio Pass entry ticket, but it requires an extra step to get inside. The last time I went, a very upset Spanish couple in the queue in front of me didn’t realise this until someone tried to check their ticket. So, the most important thing to know about Super Nintendo World is…

13. You Can’t Just Walk In

Because the area is relatively new and very popular, you have to have what’s known as a timed entry ticket to get in here. There are three ways to get one of these – getting into the park early and securing it via the app, buying the ticket I mentioned above that includes it, or, buying an Express Pass that includes it.

There is also a small window of opportunity to get into SNW before the timed entry system starts. To do this, you must be in the park soon after opening and go straight to the land.

To learn more about these methods, check out our longer guide to getting into Super Nintendo World.

14. US Power Bands Do Work

There are only two rides in Super Nintendo World, but there is a game you can play around the area using Power Bands. If you already have these from the US parks they will work. Or you can buy them in and around the Super Nintendo Area.

15. Tips For Mario Kart

Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge is an interactive game in which you try to score as many points as possible. There is an explanation in English when you get on the ride, but there’s too many things going on. If you’re a competitive type there is a handy video on the website that you might want to watch in advance.

Waiting Times and Reducing Queues

USJ is the busiest theme park in Japan. Even on quiet days, there are a lot of people in the park. Here’s what you should know…

16. Queues Can Be Long

I’m writing this before 10 a.m. Japanese time on a Friday in July (so a busy period), and the wait time on Yoshi’s Adventure (not the most exciting of rides) is already 90 minutes, Mario Kart is 2 hours and 15 minutes, and the new Demon Slayer overlay is 2 hours and 20 minutes.

Expect to spend some of your day queuing, but, there are some ways to make that experience faster.

17. The Rides with the Longest Queues Are

Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge, Yoshi’s Adventure, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, Flight of the Hippogriff, and the XR Ride with overlay.

The Flying Dinosaur, Minion Mayhem, Jurrasic Park, Hollywood Dream are the next busiest.

If you don’t have an Express Pass, head to one of these first.

18. Express Passes Can Save Heaps of Time

They aren’t cheap, and you don’t necessarily need one if rides aren’t your thing, you have a multiday pass, are going at a quiet time, or, you don’t mind queuing and won’t think your day is ruined if you don’t ride everything.

But if you’re going to USJ for the rides, especially if you want to ride everything in one day, buying an Express Pass – even the slightly cheaper Express Pass 4 will save you time.

With my Express Pass, I don’t think I queued for more than 20 minutes for a ride – if I had, let’s say, the Express Pass 4 Variety – which includes Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge, Flight of the Hippogriff, Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem and Jaws, that’s about 1 hr 20 minutes of queuing.

Right now, those rides have queues of 355 minutes – that’s almost 7 hours – so, you’d free up more than 5 hours even with an Express Pass 4. Admittedly, it is a busy time so, this might not be as bad if you go say, second week in May, which is normally quiet.

19. Understanding Express Pass Time Slots

When you book your Express Pass, you can choose timeslots for your rides and to enter Super Nintendo World. These are set at either one-hour or 30-minute intervals (land entry is an hour, rides are 30 minutes). That’s the time you must enter the queue—not how long you have in total. I’ve seen people get confused with that.

Also, if your time is, say, 2.30-3.00, so long as you go through the queue entry and get your pass scanned by 2.59, you’re all good.

Once you are in Super Nintendo World, you can stay as long as you like, but you can’t return once you leave unless you have another timed entry pass.

20. Pick the Right Express Pass for You

The Express Passes can be confusing – there are eight different types. Here’s the quick version.

The Express Pass 7 covers seven of the most popular rides. If you are going to USJ for the rides, this is the one to buy. They also sell out the quickest so, be ready to buy them as soon as you can.

The Express Pass 4 covers four of the popular rides. There are seven different versions of this (with annoyingly similar names), each covering different rides. You must think about which rides you most want to do and find the one that suits you best. Here’s a simple table that shows what covers what.

I’ve had to condense some of the pass names to make them fit. If you’re confused they are Express Pass 7, Fun Variety, Variety and Fun, Backdrop, Adventure and Jaws, XR Ride and Selection, Fun and Thrills and Variety and Thrills. Told you the names were annoyingly similar!

Pass Type > Includes v	7	FunVar	V&Fun	Backdrop	Adv&Jaws	XR Ride	F&Thr	V&Thr
Flying Dinosaur	Yes			Yes		Option		Yes
Forbidden Journey	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes		Yes	Yes	Yes
Hippogriff	Yes			Yes	Yes
Hollywood Dream	Option					Option	Option	Yes
Backdrop				Yes
Mario Kart	Yes	Yes	Yes			Yes	Yes	Yes
Yoshi’s Adventure	Yes				Yes
Jaws	Option	Yes			Yes	Option	Option
Despicable Me	Yes	Yes	Yes
XR Ride						Yes
4D Show			Yes		Yes		Yes

If you still need a little extra help in choosing, you’ll find some suggestions for different types of park guest in this post on whether you need an Express Pass.

Remember, USJ does change up ride overlays, so some of the names for the XR or 4D rides might differ, depending on when I last updated things (I do try and keep them current, but there’s only one me!) but the principal as to which pass is best is the same.

20. Entering the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

When this first opened, it was also subject to a timed entry ticket system like Super Nintendo World, and if you buy an Express Pass, you’ll see that you still get given time to go into the land. Don’t worry about it. Harry Potter is now open all the time.

I think they keep the time on the passes in case they ever do have days where the park is very, very full, but, generally, you don’t need to stress about getting to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at a set time. Just make sure you’re there for your ride times.

21. Don’t Forget About Single Rider

The following rides at USJ have a single-rider queue.

Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem, Elmo’s GoGo Skateboard, Hollywood Dream, The Flying Dinosaur, Jurassic Park and Jaws.

With this, you join a separate line for general admission and fill any spare seats on the ride. It can be a quicker way to get on some rides, especially on quieter days. On busy days, the single-rider queue for something like The Flying Dinosaur can still be over an hour long.

Also, remember that while you can queue with your group, they will separate you on the ride itself – make sure that if you’re queuing with children, there are no rules about them being accompanied by an adult on the ride, or they might not be allowed on solo.

Also, note that single-rider queues aren’t always available. It can be a good alternative to buying an Express Pass, especially if you are actually traveling solo, but it is a gamble for the two reasons above.

22. If You’re Traveling with Small Children

There are two time-saving measures you need to know about.

Child Swap

This lets one person ride the ride while the other waits with anyone too small to ride. You can then swap childcare, and the other adult can ride without having to queue again.

Rides with Child Swap include Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge, Yoshi’s Adventure, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, Yoshi’s Adventure, Harry Potter and The Forbidden Journey, Flight of the Hippogriff, Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem – and many more. Find a full list here.

To use it, tell the cast member at the ride entrance that you want to use Child Swap and they’ll take you the right area to wait.

Yoyakunori

In this, you can use special terminals outside certain rides in the children’s ride area Universal Wonderland to book a set time to return to the ride with a shorter queue. This is a free service. You can only get a second Yoyakunori pass once the time for your next one has started.

The rides included are The Flying Snoopy, Elmo’s GoGo Skateboard, Moppy’s Balloon Trip, and Elmo’s Bubble Bubble.

Things to Know About Rides

It’s a theme park after all, so, here’s what to know about the rides…

23. The Commentary is in Japanese.

It doesn’t spoil things on a lot of rides, but I feel you miss out a little bit on the overlay rides, especially if you don’t know the anime to start with. I actually find that not knowing who the characters are in the films is a bit more frustrating than not understanding the story.

24. There are Lots of Thrill Rides

For some people, that’s the whole point of going, but if you don’t like thrill rides, USJ might not be your happy place. The most thrilling rides are…

Hollywood Dream – a rollercoaster. Hollywood Dream – Backdrop, the same ride but backwards. There’s a lot more screaming this way! The Flying Dinosaur (also known as my nope ride), Jurassic Park, and the themed XR Ride which runs on the old Space Fantasy rollercoaster track.

25. What is an XR/Overlay Ride?

I keep mentioning these, so it’s time to explain them. Many of the rides at USJ use some kind of virtual reality effect as part of the ride, with you wearing a headset or glasses to immerse you in the game.

As well as making rollercoasters more intense, this also means that they can actually change up rides quite regularly by simply putting a new film overlay onto an existing ride.

When this happens, that ride is extremely popular, especially as the themes are often related to very popular anime or manga franchises – right now, it’s a Demon Slayer themed – which also ensures the ride is busy. The XR rides are normally the longest queue in the park, especially in the first few weeks.

26. Watch Out if You Get Motion Sickness

The other thing you need to know about VR rides is that they can mess a bit with your perception – more so than a simple rollercoaster. So, if you get severe motion sickness, you may want to be careful at USJ. If you get sick on Star Tours at Disney, you might feel a bit queasy here too.

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is said to be the worst for this, but watch out for Minion Mayhem, Mario Kart, the XR ride overlay, and whatever is on in the 4D cinema.

If you do find yourself getting queasy, the top tip is to close your eyes—that removes some of the sensory mismatches and can stop the symptoms.

27. Check The Closure Calendar

Sometimes, rides have to be closed for maintenance – and if you have something on your must-ride list, it’s good to make sure it’s open when you turn up – especially if it’s why you want to buy an Express Pass. While they will change these if a ride is down for a long time, like Jurassic Park, a ride might still be included if it’s just out for a week and they won’t offer a refund.

Here are the current closures listed for 2024 – but you can find the full list here in case anything changes.

Jurassic Park – closed indefinitely

Freeze Ray Sliders – September 8, 2024 – September 14, 2024

Elmo’s Bubble Bubble – September 24, 2024 – September 28, 2024

When you go through the list, you’ll see a lot of other rides listed as closed. This can make it look like half the attractions are down. In fact, some of these are not so much closed as repurposed, so, for example, Space Fantasy’s track is now used for the XR ride.

28. Some Rides are the Same as the US Parks

The Jaws ride at USJ is the same as the old one in Florida (as far as I remember), but as this has been retired, you might still want to ride it for old-time’s sake.

Jurrasic Park was the same, but as I said above, it’s currently closed for a makeover, so we shall see how that turns out.

I haven’t been to the US parks for a while, so I asked in my Facebook group which other rides were the same. People said that the Minions ride is similar, although in a different ride vehicle. Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey and Flight of the Hippogriff are the same, and apparently, Mario Kart is the same as in Hollywood.

Accessibility

This section is a bit tricky to write conclusively as USJ doesn’t have official guidance on some of this for international guests, but I’ll do my best.

29. Get Your Paperwork Together

USJ does have a system where people who can’t wait in a long queue can get what’s known as a Guest Support Pass. These give you a set time to return to the ride, so you don’t have to stand for a long time in the queue. They state it is not a priority queue, and you can’t go on other rides while waiting.

However, the criteria for eligibility as a foreign guest is unclear. They state that you need a Disability Passbook, which is a thing in Japan but not in many other countries. This means there’s no official rule for using this service in USJ as an international guest.

Therefore, the best advice is to bring the most official documentation you can. Anything Government-issued is best, a doctor’s letter is a good idea, and I hope it works.

USJ also offers discounted tickets for those who use disabled access. But, because the rules are so vague, I don’t suggest buying these tickets unless you are certain you have appropriate paperwork. You might get turned away or have to buy a new ticket.

30. How to Apply for a Guest Support Pass

You can’t do this in advance; it’s done in the park on the day of your visit. They can be issued by crew members at attractions or via Guest Services, but I would suggest trying Guest Services (the one inside the park) in this instance as there’s more likely to be someone there who speaks good English in case you need to explain your documentation.

Up to five other people can accompany the person using the Guest Support Pass. All of them must be present when the pass is first issued.

31. Using the Guest Support Pass

The pass is effectively a little booklet – that’s it in the photo above. Once it’s been issued, you present it at the entrance of each ride on which you want to use it, and you’ll then be given a time to enter that ride. This will be written on the booklet. This will correspond to the current wait time at the attraction – so, if the queue is 90 minutes, you’ll be told to return in 90 minutes. All members of your party must be with you.

The pass states that you cannot go on other rides while waiting for your time on this one. You can go into shops, grab food, watch shows and parades, use Power Bands, or just sit and watch the world go by.

Don’t ask me why, but it cannot be used on attractions in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

You can also ask for a Guest Support sticker. This will alert staff that you might like some extra support during your day.

32. Wheelchair Accessible Rides

There are different rules for each ride with regards to wheelchair access.

It is possible to ride Jaws and Yoshi’s Adventure without getting out of your wheelchair, assuming it fits in the correct place in the ride vehicle.

For some other rides, including Harry Potter and The Forbidden Journey, Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem and Flight of the Hippogriff, you can transfer close to the ride in a wheelchair and transfer to the ride seat if that is possible for you.

Other rides, including Flying Dinosaur and some of the children’s rides, do not have close access and cannot be accessed in a wheelchair, so guests still must be able to walk unaided to the ride. Find requirements for individual rides here.

You’ll also find more advice for those using a wheelchair in the park in the Barrier Free Guide.

33. Slower Folks Watch Out on Harry Potter and The Forbidden Journey

I can handle queues, but I do have a small mobility issue that means my leg doesn’t work quite as quickly as I would like it to – and I could not get onto Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey when traveling solo.

You go from one moving walkway to another moving walkway, and then to a moving ride – and it was too many things for my brain and leg to catch up with in one go.

I’m going to try again next time when I have someone to hang onto as I think that would make the difference – but, when I had to leave the ride, they did tell me that there was a stationary queue I could join (but I was embarrassed and just wanted out of there). But, if you don’t move too fast, then maybe ask about this when you enter the ride so they can send you the right way.

I also found that USJ had fewer handles to pull yourself out of seats and things than Disney. Watching me get out of the Jurassic Park ride must have been hilarious. Again, if you’re traveling with a friend to give you a helping hand, this won’t be an issue, but solo travelers don’t wear a short dress or you might flash the whole queue!

34. Additional Meal Facilities

Some of the restaurants in USJ offer access to a microwave or preparation equipment like puree machines, for those with extra food preparation needs. A list of facilities is available here.

USJ and Plus Sized/Tall Folks

It’s normal for theme park rides to have height restrictions for smaller children, but, at USJ, where rides are built with the smaller Japanese physique in mind, adults might also have some issues on some rides.

35. If you’re Tall

There are two rides in USJ which have an upper height restriction. You must be under 195cm to ride Flight of the Hippogriff and under 198cm to ride The Flying Dinosaur.

On some of the other rides, taller folk might have to go in the front seats, which have a bit more leg room, in order for the safety bars to go down. The staff will move you if there’s an issue.

36. Plus-Sized Advice

Unfortunately, word in my Facebook group is that USJ is not as plus-sized friendly as Tokyo Disney Resort and more Pooh-sized people have found that they can’t ride some of the rides.

The main issue seems to be rides with safety bars that come down over the stomach area, as the height at which this must descend before it locks isn’t exactly generous. If you carry your weight around your middle or bottom, you might have more problems than someone who is bustier.

If you look at the ride details on the USJ website, you’ll see that some of them have a seat width check listed – these are the ones where there might be a concern. They include Mario Kart Koopa’s Challenge, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, Hollywood Dream, Backdrop and Yoshi’s Adventure.

Often, if the staff think you might have an issue, they will take you to a test seat away from the crowds, or you can ask to use the test seat. One time this doesn’t happen is at Flight of the Hippogriff, where there is no test seat, and they have to stop the ride to have you try a seat. If you’re a little more Pooh-sized and will get embarrassed or upset if you’re turned away in public, maybe steer clear of Hippogriff.

Eating and Drinking

This is one of the fun things about visiting USJ for me, here’s what you need to know…

37. USJ Does Cute Food Too

If you want to eat a burger shaped like a Minion or a Jaws-shaped cake, then USJ has your back. I’m going to do a bigger post on this when I get back from my next trip as I was solo last time and didn’t eat everything I wanted to, but this time I have a friend to help me eat my way through the park!

In the meantime, my ‘must eat’ list includes the shark-themed Swiss Roll in Amity Landing, Minion Ice Cream Sandwiches from Delicious Me and the Minion Burger Meal at Happiness Cafe, house-themed Churritos at the Neep Cart in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and the Teriyaki Chicken Superstar rice at Kinopio’s Cafe (although everything here is cute).

You’ll also find seasonal themed meals around the park – for example, until October 2024, you’ll be able to buy One Piece-themed dishes at Discovery Restaurant and Fossil Fuels (both near Jurassic Park). These seasonal foods normally reflect special events in the parks, so watch for them.

38. Some Restaurants Have Priority Booking

Most USJ restaurants are walk-in, but a small number allows you to request priority seating, reducing your wait when you arrive. These are Parkside Grill, Finnegans Bar and Grill, and Azzura di Capri.

Requests open one month before the date of your visit and can be made on the app or website.

The most popular restaurant in the park is Kinopio’s Cafe. This doesn’t take reservations. If you want to eat here, go here first when you get into Super Nintendo World and see if you can get a return time that fits your plans. Note – you cannot leave Super Nintendo World and come back to dine at Kinopio’s.

39. There are Vegetarian and Vegan Offerings

Plant-based options are becoming more common in the parks. Plant-based is defined as not containing meat, seafood, eggs, dairy or honey. They are marked on the menu with a green plant-based symbol.

Admittedly, you won’t be able to walk into a park restaurant and choose from an array of options, as each restaurant has just one or two individual plant-based options. Check here to find a full list of choices and where they are served.

VeganTDR on Instagram has also started adding USJ options to her grid and that’s a good place to check for any new options.

40. There’s Plenty for Picky Eaters

If you’re traveling with kids (or adults) who may not be too adventurous with their dining choices, the good news is that USJ offers a lot more familiar fast-food-style choices than Disney Parks.

Good restaurants to consider include Mel’s Diner, Happiness Cafe, and Amity Landing, which all serve familiar favorites like burgers, pizza, and chicken nuggets.

41. Eating With Allergies

Low-allergen meals are on offer in some restaurants including Kinopio’s Cafe in Super Nintendo World and The Three Broomsticks in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. These are free from the seven main major allergens in Japan –  eggs, milk, wheat, shrimp, crab, buckwheat and peanuts.

Find specific details on the meals and the full list of restaurants in which they are served here.

You can also search on that page for other dishes without specific allergens.

42. Staying Hydrated

There are water fountains around the park where you can fill up water bottles. The park rules state that you can bring your own fillable bottles into the park, but watch out. I have had people in my Facebook group say they couldn’t take theirs in.

This might have been down to its size or what it was made from, but they weren’t sure. Someone else in the group suggested just using a clear plastic bottle under 500ml on this day just in case.

43. There is Alcohol

This is not the case in all restaurants, but you can find boozy options in Finnegan’s Bar and Grille, the Hogs Head, and Parkside Grill.

Parades and Shows

USJ has a mix of regular parades and shows, as well as special events throughout the year. Here’s what you need to know…

44. There’s a Daily Parade

The No Limit Parade takes place in the afternoon – usually at 2pm. It features characters like Mario, Pikachu, Hello Kitty, Minions and more.

In summer, the parade adds a splash element with water pistols, hosepipes, and buckets of water—you will get wet, but chances are you’ll appreciate it in the heat.

Unlike at Disney, where you are asked to sit down for the parade, people stand to watch No Limit, and many will dance along with the performers.

45. Don’t Forget About the Waterworld Show

Even though the arena is huge, this is kind of tucked away off by Super Nintendo World and easy to forget about.

It happens three times a day and is a great place to rest if your feet are starting to complain!

46. There Isn’t a Night Parade or Fireworks

You’ll find evening performances in different lands, or you might find a parade/Dance Party with a special theme (like for Halloween), but on a day-to-day basis, there isn’t a big ticket closing event each night at USJ.

47. Halloween Horror Nights is Different

This is USJ’s annual spooky event, which runs from early September to early November. Unlike the US event, you don’t need a special ticket to attend; it’s included in your Studio Pass.

Head to our more detailed Halloween Horror Nights guide to learn more about this, including attractions, costume rules, Express Pass advice, and how to avoid it if you’re traveling with small children who might be scared.

What to Buy

There are shops all over USJ so, what can you bring home as souvenirs…

48. They Do Popcorn Buckets

You’ll find a selection of popcorn carts and themed popcorn buckets around the park. USJ also makes a number of cute themed drinking cups.

To find an up-to-date list of what’s available when you’re there, head to the on-the-go food section, which shows pictures of the latest range and where to buy them. I now desperately want a minions one.

49. Try a Headband

Universal Studios Japan doesn’t have mouse ears, but it does have character hats and headbands that you can wear to join in the fun – and you’ll see plenty of people in them. They also offer merchandise around the pop-up ride themes or temporary shows or attractions so keep an eye out for that.

And I think that’s it – the 49 tips you need to be fully prepared for your first trip to Universal Studios Japan. If I have forgotten anything, though, please head over to Facebook, where you’ll find the Disney and USJ group to help you out.

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