Universal Studios Japan – Rides by Height

If you’re traveling to USJ with children you might be wondering what rides they can go on. This list explains all of them – use it when planning your day or buying your Express Passes. Also, note there are a couple of rides at USJ that have a maximum height requirement – so, read on if you’re also traveling with someone rather tall.

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Rides With Infants

There are very few rides at USJ that you can take a baby on. It’s not really a great park for children under about 3, even with the Universal Wonderland area that aims at smaller kids.

The main exception is Big Bird’s Carousel Circus. This has seats for four, where you can sit with a baby or toddler.

If you’re adults going to USJ with a baby or another child too small to go on the ride, you can use Child Swap facilities to go on the rides with less queuing.

Rides with No Height Restrictions

These rides have no height restrictions, although, in a strange quirk, USJ does suggest some age limits for some of these rides.

Elmo’s Little Drive

Drive cute Elmo-shaped cars around a track. Aimed at children aged 3-5 and preschool 6-year-olds. No adults are allowed – the rules say children must be able to steer and accelerate themselves and understand not to bump into the other cars, but there are staff to help.

Big Bird’s Big Top Circus

This Carousel-type ride has various seat configurations, including ones where you can sit as a family, so you can pick the best one for your child’s age and height. To ride alone, your child must be 122 cm tall.

Hello Kitty’s Cupcake Dream

Whirl around in your pretty pink cupcake in this teacup-type ride. There is no height restriction, but children must be able to sit up unaided in their own seats. Children under 122 cm must ride with another guest.

JAWS

This sticks out like a sore thumb: above, we have cute Sesame Street characters and a cat with a bow; here, you have a giant Great White Shark attacking your boat! But, as technically, you can take any child on this who can sit up on their own, it fits in this section!

Whether it’s actually suitable for small kids depends on how brave they are. Children must sit on their own and the shark does jump out of the water, and there are some fire-related special effects and loud bangs. From memory, they do seat smaller children inside the rows, which would be further away from the noise, heat and teeth!

Children under 122cm can’t ride alone, so if you use the single-rider queue, bear that in mind.

This might make it look like there’s very little for smaller children to do in USJ, but there are also a lot of playground-type attractions in the Universal Wonderland area aimed at kids aged around 3-9 like Cookie Monster Slide or Grover’s Construction Company.

Rides for Those Over 92cm (3 Foot)

As children get taller, more rides open up. At 92cm, the rides range from cute little omni coasters like Yoshi’s Adventure that barely get over about 5 miles an hour to mini rollercoasters or flying rides. So, read the descriptions and take a look at the ride videos on YouTube if you’re not sure if a ride is right for your child.

Freeze Ray Sliders

This is a waltzer-type ride where cars slip around each other on the icy floor created by the Minions. Children between 92 cm and 122 cm can’t ride alone.

There are some fog effects, and water is splashed, in case anyone is sensitive to this.

Yoshi’s Adventure

Sit in your cute Yoshi car as you move around the track, finding hidden eggs and enjoying views over Super Nintendo World. While kids over 92 cm can ride, they can’t ride alone until they are over 122 cm.

This is one of the park rides where adults might get seat tested even if they’re only a bit more Pooh-sized than normal. I got size-checked on it (although I did pass), so just be aware of that. Ask to try the seat checker before queuing if you’re nervous.

Elmo’s Bubble Bubble

Float along a ‘stream’ on your car shaped like Elmo’s pet goldfish – this ‘log flume ‘- type ride has some very small drops.

Children under 122 cm can’t ride alone.

The Flying Snoopy

Sit in your Snoopy-shaped car and fly high in the sky – this is a Dumbo/Flying Carpets type ride.

Children under 122 cm can’t ride alone.

Elmo’s Go Go Skateboard

This is kind of like one of those flying ship rides that goes backwards and forwards, except you’re on a track – imagine a skateboard going up and down a ramp – it then starts swirling around a bit.

If anyone is a bit nervous, it will seem less high if you sit in the middle; only the seats in the first (and last) couple of rows go all the way to the top of the ramp.

Children under 122 cm can’t ride alone.

Moppy’s Balloon Trip

Sit in your balloon basket as you fly high in the sky. This is kind of like the Flying Snoopy in that you go up to a set height and then circle around.

Children under 122 cm can’t ride alone.

Flight of the Hippogriff

A family-friendly roller coaster sees you flying around Hagrid’s hut, riding his magical creature, the Hippogriff.

Like Yoshi, Hippogriff can run small so, just be aware of that if you’re a bit more Pooh-sized. Children can only ride alone if they are over 122 cm.

Hippogriff also has a maximum height – you can’t ride it if you are over 195cm.

Rides for Those Over 102 cm (3ft 4)

A couple more rides open up once kids tip over the one-metre mark…

Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem

A fun 3D motion simulator ride where guests are “transformed” into Minions. This ride differs a little bit from the US version in that it uses a larger ride vehicle with eight people per car.

Children must be over 122 cm to ride alone.

Space Fantasy – The Ride

A spinning indoor coaster originally set in space, it sometimes features themed overlays based on popular Japanese anime franchises, so you might see it listed under another name. Those over 102cm but under 122cm can’t ride alone.

This is probably the most intense ride so far, as it goes fast, has some larger drops, and, the original format of the ride, is mostly in the dark. This will differ if you have the VR overlay.

Rides For Those Over 107 cm (3ft 6)

Things get a bit faster or drops fall from a bit higher.

Jurassic Park: The Ride

A boat ride through Jurassic Park with animatronic dinosaurs, ending in a thrilling 25-meter (85 ft) drop. Those over 107 cm but under 122 cm can’t ride alone.

Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge

Ride your own video game. A thrilling augmented reality ride where guests race through the Mario Kart universe, competing for victory against Bowser.

Those over 107 cm but under 122 cm can’t ride alone. This could be important as Mario Kart can have very long queues – the Single Rider queue can be shorter, but just make sure your children can ride alone before you join it.

Mine Cart Madness

This is the newest ride in the park and it opened after my last visit, so I haven’t ridden it yet – but it is a rollercoaster with a section where you ‘jump the tracks’.

It doesn’t look super high, but it does go fairly fast – think Big Thunder Mountain at the Disney Parks. Most of the videos cut off before the ‘track jumping’ so they don’t spoil the surprise.

Those under 107 but under 122 cm can’t ride alone. Again, bear this in mind if you’re trying to beat the queues with the single rider line.

Rides for Those Over 122 cm (4 Foot)

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey

This mixes action scenes on screens and a spinning orb-like seat to take you on an adventure through life at Hogwarts.

I had no idea what to expect, but it wasn’t what I got! I should have known when the restraint went over my shoulders that this wasn’t going to be a gentle ride through the castle, but the orb turned in a lot of different directions, and that, plus the screens, meant I was feeling rather queasy by the end.

There are many warnings about dark, strobe lights, and fog for this ride, but there is also a scene with a very large spider, which there are no warnings about, so just be aware of that if anyone has a phobia.

The Dementors also make an appearance if your children are scared of them.

Rides for Those Over 132cm (4ft 3)

This is where you get to the rides that are properly going to make you scream! Fast, high and super fun.

Hollywood Dream – The Ride

A smooth and exhilarating roller coaster with onboard music that guests can choose before the ride begins. I choose Shake it Off by Taylor Swift to calm me down as it was the first time I’d been on a roller coaster for a while – but I loved it.

Came off wanting to go again – sadly, the queue was too long.

This is another ride where you might have some issues if you’re a bit Pooh-sized, particularly if you carry your weight around your middle. I wasn’t size-checked, but I did have to breathe in a bit when the bar came down! Also, note that you have to remove all metal items, including belts.

Hollywood Dream – Backdrop

As above – but backwards! Watching videos of the two rides, people scream louder on Backdrop.

The Flying Dinosaur

This is referred to as my ‘nope ride’ – as it’s a flying coaster which means you are tilted face downwards toward the floor, and that’s where I draw the line at hurtling up and down things at speed.

Flying Dinosaur also has a maximum height restriction, you can’t ride it if over 198cm tall.

Oh and no, I haven’t forgotten to blur a face above – that’s my friend. I’m allowed to show her!

If you don’t go on the ride yourself but want a similar picture of your family hurtling through space, you’ll find this spot just before you get to the ride entry. On the USJ map, it’s kind of where the ride loops in a circle, and there’s a circular grey patch on the pavement (this makes sense when you’re looking at it!)

So, that’s the height requirements for all the current rides at USJ. There are also shows, parades, sideshow games. heaps of cute food to buy and character greetings to keep you occupied if you are travelling with those too small to go on all the rides. If you’re also visiting Disney on your trip, find out guide to the height requirements at Disneyland here (good news, there’s a lot for little kids) and then our guide to the height restrictions at DisneySea can be found here.

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