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USJ is thrill ride heaven – if you want to be spun upside down, soaked with a wave of water after escaping sharks or dinosaurs and take part in your own live version of Mario Kart, you’ll be in heaven – but what if you’d rather leave the thrills to other folk? Is it still worth visiting?
Well, here are 13 things you can do in USJ without setting foot on a ride.
1. Embrace the Theming
It’s world-class and something you don’t really get time to do when running from ride to ride to beat the queues. There are so many small touches to look at.
I’m fond of the ATM in Minion World from the Bank of Evil, and how you can hear Moaning Myrtle talking in the toilet in Hogsmeade – in Japanese.
I also love that the roosting owls in Hogsmeade’s clock tower have ‘pooped’ as part of the decor – and by reading the timetable stuck on the wall, I discovered that the Hogwarts Express goes through Watford (home of the WB Studio Tour in the UK), which made me laugh.
The Backlot sets of the New York and Hollywood areas are fun for photos – and you can’t miss your chance for a photo with the giant shark at Amity Village!
Use the time to wander and see what other fun touches you can spot.
2. Eat Cute Food
The character-themed snacks and meals at USJ are really cute – and there’s a lot of them.
If you have the stomach and metabolism for it, you could easily spend most of the day munching your way around the park.
This is my list of the year-round cute foods and where to find them in USJ. Of these, the Minion Banana Ice Cream sandwich is probably my favourite snack, and the Minion burger is the cutest meal – but keep an eye out for any limited edition specials as well – especially if you like anime.
USJ is big on anime tie-ins on the rides, merch and snacks. Usually, the Lost World Restaurant in the Jurassic Park area is where you’ll find the latest edible anime collaborations.
Don’t Forget to Buy Your Studio Pass
Everyone who visits USJ needs to buy a Studio Pass. You can buy a simple one that lets you into the park, or, if you buy them early, you might find the Klook special that also includes Super Nintendo World. Tickets are now released two months before the date you want to enter the park, so, check if they’re available now for your dates.
3. Watch Waterworld
I first saw this at Universal Studios Orlando, what feels like 100 years ago, and it’s still going strong in Japan. The show is based on the Kevin Costner film, and mixes stunts, pyrotechnics and some splashing to entertain the kids!
It lasts around 20 minutes and is performed three times a day, usually in the afternoon.
Check the exact showtimes on the app for the day you are there.
4. Find The Most Fun Popcorn Bucket
Disney might make inspire devotion for their ornate popcorn buckets, but the ones at USJ aren’t too shabby.
You’ll find ones based around all the main land-franchises – Minions, Jurassic Park, Super Nintendo, but also some limited edition anime-themed ones. Keep your eye out if you’re a popcorn bucket fan.
Unlike Disney, the popcorn flavours aren’t so out there – you won’t find garlic butter or shrimp; well, not that I remember seeing anyway. The one by Universal Wonderland smells amazing, though. I don’t even like popcorn, and it was tempting me.
5. Enjoy a Live Performance
There are a few music-based shows and other street performances in the park, and you can easily head from one to the other and spend a few hours being entertained – right now you could enjoy…
SING on Tour: A 20-minute show at the theatre in the Hollywood area. Simply line up for this one as it’s run on a rotating schedule – or speedy entry is included in some Express Passes.
Frog Chorus: Enchanted amphibians sing along with the Hogwarts choir. Performances take place roughly every hour from 11 am to 4 pm – there is a longer break around lunchtime. Check the USJ app for exact timings.
Moppy’s Dance Party: One for smaller kids, dance along with a DJ and Moppy in Universal Wonderland. There are usually five performances a day.
Triward Spirit Rally: Watch the Hogwarts Students show off their magic skills at regular points around the day.
Universal Monsters Live: Beetlejuice and other ‘bad guys’ from the Universal universe entertain you in a rock concert six times a day. This is one of the few live attractions offering performances after about 4 pm so, you might want to leave this until later if you’re planning to spend all day in the park.
There are also other seasonal shows on the big stage in the New York area by popular characters like Pikachu or Kuromi. You’ll find details of these, and show times, in the USJ app.
6. Play Power Bands
These allow you to play games around the SNW area and collect points. You can buy them at the cart outside Super Nintendo World, or once inside the land. If you have US Powerbands, they also work.
Remember, you need a timed entry to get into SNW. If you’re not going on rides, you probably won’t be buying an Express Pass that includes this, so make sure you get to the park early to grab a timed entry or get in the area before they switch this on. Some studio passes via Klook also offer SNW entry for a smaller fee than an Express Pass.
Related Read: Our guide to getting into SNW explains all of this in more detail if it’s new to you.
7. Or Wave a Wand
In the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, panels on the wall will trigger magic effects if you wave an interactive wand at them. There are at least eight panels dotted around the land.
If you want to buy a wand, the best selection, and purchasing experience, is in Ollivanders. Make sure you buy the interactive wands, also labelled magical wands, as the tricks won’t work with the normal wands sold in the shop.
If it’s busy in there, though, so if you’re itching to get started, there is also a wand cart outside.
As with Power Bands, if you have wands from the US Parks, they should also work in USJ.
Top Tip. Try not to watch other people waving the wands while you’re in the queue, as it can spoil the surprise.
8. Send Something by Owl Post
If you send a letter from the Owlery in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, it will get to the recipient with a Hogsmeade postmark. They handily sell stationery supplies if you need to craft your missive.
9. Meet and Greets
You can meet characters like Mario and Luigi, Hello Kitty, Minions, dinosaurs and the fantastic beasts of Hogsmeade at different times throughout the day.
Find the show schedule on the app to get the times and locations for the day you are visiting – the exact timings for Mario and Luigi’s Meet Up don’t appear on this, but I’ve seen them both times I’ve been in SNW.
One thing I’ve noticed, though, while the Japanese tend to be very polite and orderly, this tends to go completely out of the window when presented by a giant animated character (at both USJ and Disney) – it’s every man for himself out there.
You might need to be politely assertive to ensure you get your turn – especially for kids.
10. Parades
USJ doesn’t always have a daily parade – they tend to be seasonal.
You will usually find the Summer Splash Parade in the hotter months as a way to keep everyone cool (make sure you’re not standing in a splash zone if you don’t want to get wet).
There is also a mini parade of very cute monsters around the time of Halloween Horror Nights.
As with everything USJ, the app will tell you if there’s a parade the day of your visit – and what time it’s running if there is.
Save Money with Klook & Japlanease
If you plan on buying tickets or tours from Klook for when you’re in Japan, you could save up to 10 per cent by using the code JAPLANEASEKLOOK at the checkout. Click here to see what’s on offer.
T&Cs apply. Some items, including Tokyo Disney and USJ tickets, are not available for discounts.
11. People Watch
I spent a happy half an hour waiting for my friend, who was riding The Flying Dinosaur, sitting under the ride watching the looks of terror on people’s faces as they realised what they’d let themselves in for!
Watching people get soaked on Jurassic Park is also kind of fun!
If you’re in the park around Halloween, you’ll also be able to spot lots of people in costumes wandering around (although they aren’t quite at the level of Halloween at Disney, where people’s attempts rival that of the actual characters).
Unlike the rest of Japan, there are actually lots of benches and other places to sit in USJ, so you can always find somewhere to relax and watch the world go by.
12. Shop Till You Drop
There are over 20 shops in USJ – selling everything from giant cuddly versions of your favourite characters to socks suitable for the house elf, and character-inspired ramen sets or magic Harry Potter-themed sweets.
Even if you’re not in the market to buy something, the theming in the shops is fun to look at – you might even run into a stray giant dinosaur around Jurassic Park and watch out for the Howler in the window of the Owlery, and the owls hooting the time in the shop!
13. Play Some Boardwalk Games
Hopefully, this will be Lucky Number 13, and you’ll come away with a prize like a giant fluffy shark you never knew you needed!
The games aren’t free, but you’ll find them in Amity Village, Minion Park and Universal Wonderland. They’re traditional carnival-style games where you can test your skill – or maybe luck – to win prizes.
And I think that’s it – but that’s more than enough to pass the time for a day, or just while others in your party line up for the rides.
If you’ve decided to visit USJ after reading this, don’t forget everyone needs a Studio Pass to get in – even if you’re not going on the rides. Have the best day!
Who Writes This Blog?
My name is Helen Foster, and I’m a journalist and author. My travel articles have appeared in publications including The Australian, Escape, RAC Horizons, Jetstar Magazine, Sainsbury’s Magazine, and more.
I’ve traveled to Japan eight times before – solo and with my partner and visited over 25 towns and cities. My last visit was November 2024 so, everything here is pretty up to date.
