Can You Visit Universal Studios Japan From Tokyo – in a Day?

Universal Studios Japan is one of the world’s most popular theme parks and, if it’s your first trip to Japan you might be wondering if you can get to Universal Studios Japan from Tokyo as a day trip. Theoretically, yes – but here’s what to consider before you decide to do it.

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

Where is Universal Studios Japan?

USJ is located in Osaka which is 247 miles (397 kilometres) west of Tokyo.

To get between Tokyo Station and Osaka’s Shin-Osaka station on the bullet train takes between two and a half and three hours (not including getting to and from each of those stations), and then it’s about an extra half an hour to the park after that – so, you might think that it’s totally doable to get up early, head to Universal Studios in the morning and, head home when the park closes later that night.

And yes, I agree it’s doable, and I’ll explain exactly how later on in the post – but whether it’s a good idea is another matter.

So here’s what you need to consider to help you decide if it’s a journey you should make..

How Much Are You Happy to Spend?

A day trip to Universal Studios from Tokyo is not going to be cheap.

Travel by bullet train in Japan is expensive. Very expensive.

The return journey between Tokyo Station and Shin Osaka on the fastest type of train, the Nozomi – which would be the one you’d want to use – costs 13,870 yen (at the day I write this that is US$106, $AU152 or £87).

And there’s no such thing as a cheap-day-return, so your return journey will cost twice that – so 27,740 yen – or over US$200, AU$300 or £170 – which is quite a lot considering you also need to buy your USJ entrance ticket (called a Studio Pass), and, potentially the add-on Express Pass if you’re going to use it to reduce your queuing time.

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If you’re not sure how Universal Studio Japan tickets work yet, have a look at our explainer guide to USJ tickets.

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What Time Do You Want to Arrive?

One of the common mistakes people make when thinking about doing Universal Studios as a day trip from Tokyo is assuming that when the park says it’s open from 9am or 10am, that’s the case – oh no, my friend. Or no.

While it’s never guaranteed, the normal experience is that Universal Studios opens about an hour earlier than the official opening time – and, if you think only a few people are going to turn up early just in case that happens, you have not met the crowds at a Japanese theme park!

So realistically, you need to be outside Universal Studios at 8am to get in there as the park opens – and…. you can’t do that from Tokyo.

The first bullet train out of Tokyo Station to Shin Osaka leaves at 6am and arrives in Osaka at 8.22am – you then have to get to the park which takes about 30 minutes. So, the earliest you’re going to arrive by train is 9am.

Again, that’s not the end of the world, you’ll only have potentially lost an hour but, it might cause problems if you’re going to USJ to visit Super Nintendo World™.

The Day Trip/Super Nintendo World™ Problem

Right now, entry to Super Nintendo World™ requires a timed entry slot.

This isn’t necessarily an issue when you’re at the park as the gates open and go straight to Super Nintendo World™ and get there before Timed Entry starts you’ll get in – but, that’s unlikely to happen if you arrive an hour late. And while you can book Timed Entry Slots on the app on the day of your visit, this is only possible once you’re through the gates and they go fast.

The moral of this story is, if you do want to do this as a day trip, and one of the big reasons for your visit is Super Nintendo World, then you should book an Express Pass that includes SNW entry for around lunchtime to ensure you don’t miss out.

If you’re a bit confused by all of the above, take a look at our longer guide to getting entry to Super Nintendo World which explains things further.

Are You Happy to Not See Everything?

Universal Studios Japan is the 5th busiest theme park in the world – and queues can be as long as 2-3 hours for the most popular rides.

Obviously, anyone only going to the park for the day faces the same issues but, as you might get there a bit later and have to leave a bit earlier you might have to cut out a couple more things than the average day tripper.

If you don’t want to miss out and you are going for the rides then you might want to get an Express Pass to cut down on queuing time, if you’re going to Super Nintendo World™ I’d suggest that right now when it’s very, very busy and has Timed Entry in place it’s essential to get a Pass.

If you’re just going to experience the park and are chilled about not doing all the rides or getting into SWN then you can just grab an entry ticket.

Do You Want to See the Park At Night?

You also just need to watch out when heading back to Tokyo – the last train back to Tokyo from Shin Osaka is just before 9.30pm – which, depending on park opening hours, might mean leaving a bit early.

This gets you back to Tokyo at 11.45pm – trains back to your hotel will stop shortly after midnight so don’t hang around at the station.

So, there are the things you might want to consider when thinking about visiting Universal Studios Osaka from Tokyo. If you’re still keen to do it though, then, here’s how to make it work.

How to Do Universal Studios Japan as a Day Trip?

If you do decide that the cost is worth it and you’re happy with the other compromises above then wooo hooo, you’re going to Universal Studios.

But to make sure things go smoothly on the day, here are the four steps I think you should take…

1. Buy Your Tickets in Advance

Universal Studios can sell out and it would be a disaster to get down there and not be able to get in!

Tickets go on sale two months in advance, Studio Passes can sell out in busy periods like Golden Week or Xmas, but, usually, you can get one pretty near to your entry day.

If you decide to buy an Express Pass, though, the closer to the date they go on sale you try to buy it, the better, as they do commonly sell out, and there’s only a limited number available per day.

2025 Update

I am updating this post in March 2025, and right now, the schedule for selling Studio Passes and Express Passes is a bit out of whack – Studio Passes went on sale a bit early this month, and Express Passes have been dropping in one go for the month around two months prior.

Nothing has been officially announced about this, but, in case it’s a permanent change, I’d start looking for your dates three months before just to be safe. Klook tends to have details on their USJ page of dates that things might be released – USJ just make you guess!

If you’re not sure what Express Passes include, have a look at our guide to Universal Studio Japan tickets which explains everything as simply as we can.

You can buy tickets on either the Universal Studios App or via Klook – both methods have pros and cons.

We’re adding Klook links below as it’s the easiest method to use with a foreign credit card – but you might want to read our guide to the pros and cons of each seller.

2. Check Your Train Timings

To check accurate train times on the day you travel use the Navitime App.

On the day I write this, though, it’s telling me that the first (Nozomi) bullet train out of Tokyo Station to Shin Osaka leaves at 6 am and arrives in Osaka at 8.22 am.

Then make your way on the JR Tokaido Sanyo Main Line Local to Osaka Station (4 minutes)

You then change to the JR Osaka Loop Line to Nishikujo (6 minutes).

And from here take the JR Sakurajima (Yumesaki) Line to Universal City (5 minutes)

You should arrive about 9 am.

To get home, reverse the journey, remembering that the last train back leaves before 9.30pm.

3. Download the Universal Studios App

This shows you maps of the park and gives you an idea of wait times for popular rides so you can plan your day in advance to make the most of it. After all, it’s a long way, you want to have the most fun you can.

Find a link to the app on this page from USJ.

4. Have Fun!

I’ll leave that bit up to you!

The Happy Compromise

If you really want to go to Universal Studios but only have a day, a happy compromise would be to travel down to Osaka in the late afternoon, spend the night there having a quick look around, and then head to the park for when it opens.

This gives you a chance to see the park, maximises your time there, and gives you a chance to see another fun part of Japan (see more about some of the cool things to check out in Osaka here)

Where to Stay in Osaka

This is what I did on my last trip, so I could get to the park early (although I was only coming from Kyoto) and to make it even more fun I stayed in one of the Henn na Robot Hotels in Osaka.

This is about a 30-minute journey to the park in the morning.

If you also want to be in central Osaka, then pretty much any hotel near Osaka station is a good bet, or stay in lively Namba or Shinsaibashi to see sights like the famous Osaka lights. Find some more suggestions in our guide on where to stay in Osaka.

Osaka is made for evening viewing, so it’s the perfect time to arrive.

Staying Near Universal

If you want to be closer to the park, there are at least six hotels within a short walk of the park gates and you can spend the evening in the Universal City Walk area to get you in the mood.

Have a look at the Universal Park Front – which is the absolute nearest.

But others include the relaxing Singulari Hotel and SkySpa (see more about that here)

Or check out the slightly more budget (I use budget as a relative term) Hotel Keihan Universal Tower.

If you can’t decide whether to stay near the parks, have a look at our guide on whether it’s worth staying at USJ. My opinion is, it can be a good idea for families, but not necessarily for couples or solo traveler.s

Other Questions You Might Have

So now I’ve told you what you might want to consider, and how to do the trip if you decide to, here are some other questions that might come to mind…

Can You Do The Trip on the Japan Rail Pass?

The Japan Rail Pass is a pass that lets you travel on the bullet train in Japan for one fee. You can use it on this journey but, the price increased in price in October 2023 by a lot. This price increase means it’s no longer a cost-effective way to do this journey.

But even if you do have one you can’t get on the Nozomi train on the Japan Rail Pass – and the trains you can use are just a little bit slower.

The earliest you’ll get to USJ using the Japan Rail Pass is 10am. And you need to be on a train out of Osaka at 8.45pm and so you’d be better off buying single Shinkansen tickets.

If you’re not sure how to do that, we have a post on the train ticket options here.

Can You Fly to Universal Studios Japan for the Day?

Again, it’s doable.

To fly between Haneda Airport (the closest one to Tokyo) and Osaka Kansai (KIX) airport takes just 1 hour and 10 minutes, it then takes about an hour and 20 minutes to get to USJ from Kansai Airport.

So, in theory, if you left on an early flight – there are a few at 6.20am – you could get to Osaka by 7.30 and be at the park gates by 9 am.

Pricing is a little bit cheaper than the bullet train. I’m looking at an ANA flight leaving Haneda at 6.20am and then leaving Osaka at 8.20pm which costs AU$280 return – slightly less than the journey by train.

And, the earlier you book the more likely it is that you might get a good deal.

But, you do have to factor in potential flight delays and the fact that you tend to need to arrive earlier at airports than stations into your planes, which at that time of the morning is going to require a taxi, so, you might end up with less time in the parks, and the same expense as if you took the train.

I’ve Changed My Mind – What’s Nearer?

There are a few other theme parks, or amusement parks, in and around the Tokyo area, so, here are some other options…

Tokyo Disney Resort

Tokyo Disney Resort includes two parks, Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea. They take about 30-45 minutes to reach from Tokyo, depending upon where you’re staying.

Tokyo Disneyland is similar to the US parks but with a Japanese spin and some localized characters. Tokyo DisneySea is Mediterranean-themed and totally unique.

If you want to visit, right now the system is that you must buy entry tickets in advance for a specific date.

Or, if you want more information about how the Tokyo Disney ticketing system works – and the extras you might need to know about to have the best day, check out our guide explaining Tokyo Disney tickets and add ons.

Warner Brothers Studio Tour (Harry Potter)

If you were visiting Universal Studios for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, this could be a good alternative. This is the largest indoor Harry Potter attraction in the world and contains sets of Platform 9 3/4, Hogwarts, Diagon Alley, the Forbidden Forest, and more.

You’ll also find lots of props and attractions and interactive exhibits. It takes at least half a day to go around the Studio Tour. I went and loved it. And do not miss the adorable Hedwig cake.

Fuji Q Highland

If you were going to Universal Studios for the rollercoasters, then consider Fuji Q Highland.

This is about 2 hours away from Tokyo Station door-to-door and is the nearest big theme park to central Tokyo.

Tokyo Dome

If you want an ‘only in Japan’ ride experience get yourself into one of the karaoke cabins on the ferris wheel at Tokyo Dome’s small amusement park.

Thrillseekers will also want to try the Thunder Dolphin rollercoaster.

Entrance to the park is free you just pay for the rides you choose to use.

So there you have it – all the things you need to know about visiting Universal Studios on a day trip from Tokyo. So, what did you decide, or do you have any more questions? Let me know in the comments if you do or….

Have you joined our Japlanease Facebook Group yet? It’s the perfect place to ask questions and get answers from me, and other Japan fans and travelers. Join it here.

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