Looking for your next holiday where adventure, thrill, and a little magic meet? Consider heading over to Universal Studios Japan where movie magic meets real life. Here are some tips and tricks to make the most out of your USJ experience!
The whole experience of going to theme parks can be so exciting. The journey starts even before you enter the park. With familiar tunes from popular shows playing in the background, you then step foot into a whole other world lined with beautifully designed sets and shops that make your childhood dreams come true… Until you find yourself stuck in the middle of a huge crowd or a long snaking queue that exceeds the “180 minutes” wait time.
I’m sure you’ve had a similar experience during your visit to any theme park, and while waiting in line with your friends may be kind of fun (emphasis on kind of), it’d be much better spent on the rides or exploring the rest of the park.
That’s why we have 10 tips for you to prepare for your next trip to Universal Studios Japan (USJ) so that you can make the most of your time there, and enjoy the full movie magic experience!
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The Ultimate Universal Studio Japan (USJ) Guide: 10 Tips & Tricks For The Best Experience
1. Choose your accommodations wisely
Depending on the amount of time you have at the park and the kind of experience you want to have, you should consider choosing your accommodations wisely. Otherwise, you might end up spending a good number of hours just trying to get to the park. Staying close by helps too since you should try to get there early to beat the crowd (but more on that later on).
❗ Pro-Tip: Book your accommodations on Booking.com with your YouTrip card to enjoy up to 15% cashback with YouTrip Perks
Here are three of the best accommodations we’ve found:
✅ Best Ratings: Liber Hotel
Image Credits: Osaka Info
Liber Hotel is a highly-rated hotel that’s within walking distance from USJ. Plus, it’s pretty reasonably priced compared to some of the hotels with similar standards in the vicinity. Most rooms are uniquely decorated with vibrant colours and posh furnishings that give the rooms a luxurious feel regardless of the type of room you choose.
📍 Address: 554-0031 Osaka Prefecture, Osaka, Konohana-ku Sakurajima 1-1-35, Japan
🌟 Rating: 9.1/10 (out of 4,859 reviews on Booking.com)
👣 Distance from USJ: 1.7km
💸 Price: Starts from S$182 per night
YouTrip’s Ultimate Universal Studios Japan (USJ) Guide 2023: Check out Liber Hotel rates here
✅ Closest Proximity: The Front Park Hotel at Universal Studios Japan
Image Credits: Hotels Combined
If proximity and convenience are what you’re after, then the Front Park Hotel would be the best option for you. Just a 2-minute walk away, it makes the day less stressful since you don’t have to worry about beating traffic and the congestion on public transport on the way there and back. Do note, however, that most general passes do not allow for re-entry into the park after you leave, so you might have to give that afternoon nap a miss.
📍 Address: 554-0024 Osaka Prefecture, Osaka, Konohana-ku Shimaya 6-2-52
🌟 Rating: 8.9/10 (out of 4,584 reviews on Booking.com)
👣 Distance from USJ: 400m, 2 minutes walk
💸 Price: Starts from S$217 per night
YouTrip’s Ultimate Universal Studios Japan (USJ) Guide 2023: Check out Front Park Hotel rates here
✅ Best Price: La’gent Hotel Osaka Bay
Image credits: Trip.com
For the hotel with the best price that’s still within walking distance from USJ, consider the La’gent Hotel Osaka Bay. Each room and floor has a quirky, unique theme of its own which would definitely be enjoyable for the little ones!
📍 Address: 1 Chome-1-57 Sakurajima, Konohana-ku, 554-0031 Osaka
🌟 Rating: 8.0/10 (out of 1,716 reviews on Booking.com)
👣Distance from USJ: 1km, 15 minutes walk
💸 Price: Starts from S$147 per night
YouTrip’s Ultimate Universal Studios Japan (USJ) Guide 2023: Check out Front Park Hotel rates here
2. Buy Tickets In Advance
Image credits: Unsplash
While tickets are available over the counter at USJ, it also increases the time it takes for you to enter the park. Spend less time queuing for your tickets by purchasing them online in advance. There isn’t a difference in price, but it does save you some time.
Here’s the breakdown of the prices:
🎟 Ticket Type | 💸 Prices |
1 Day Studio Pass | ¥8,600 (~S$78.10) per adult | ¥5,600 (~S$50.85) per child |
2 Days Studio Pass | ¥16,300 (~S$148.05) per adult | ¥10,600 (~S$96.30) per child |
1.5 Day Studio Pass | ¥13,100 (~S$119) per adult | ¥8,600 (~S$78.10) per child |
These tickets just allow you entry into the park, but express passes are also available for purchase if you don’t want to spend too much time in line. Check out Klook for great deals on different kinds of tickets, and get up to 5% cashback on YouTrip Perks if you check out using your YouTrip card.
YouTrip’s Ultimate Universal Studios Japan (USJ) Guide 2023: For more details on purchasing your tickets online, check out their official ticketing website here
3. Plan Your Route
Image credits: Universal Studios Japan
If you’ve got a limited time at the park, planning your route is key! Currently, USJ has 10 sections — Hollywood, New York, San Francisco, Jurassic Park, Waterworld, Amity Village, Universal Wonderland, Minion Park, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and the latest Super Nintendo World.
Start by deciding which shows you want to catch, which would determine where you need to be at what time.
A day and a half would give you just enough time to visit each section and spend enough time to check out the different rides. The 1.5-Day Studio Pass allows you to do that without having to pay for a full two days, allowing you entry at 3 PM the first day, and then for a full day the next. It’s a pretty good option if you want to maximise your time at USJ without breaking the bank.
YouTrip’s Ultimate Universal Studios Japan (USJ) Guide 2023: Check out USJ’s parade and show times here (subject to changes)
4. Choose Your Dates Well
Image credits: Timeout
USJ is a popular destination for both tourists and locals, so if you’re hoping to beat the crowd, planning is key. The best times to go would be in the middle of the week on Wednesdays or Thursdays. If you can, try to avoid Japanese public holidays and long weekends too so that you don’t have to compete with locals.
If you would rather play it safe, you could consider opting for a ticket with express passes (Express Pass 4 or Express Pass 7) which would give you guaranteed timed entry to Super Nintendo World and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter which, trust me, can get pretty crowded. It also allows you to skip the queue for four or seven rides and attractions, depending on the kind of pass you get.
The Super Nintendo World can get pretty crowded, and most days, you won’t be allowed entry except during your allocated entry time. So it’s either you go grab your ticket the moment you reach the park or get the express pass to skip that process.
There are limited express passes per day, so be sure to book them early!
YouTrip’s Ultimate Universal Studios Japan (USJ) Guide 2023: Check out USJ’s Express Passes on Klook here
5. Arrive Early On The Day
Image Credits: Travel Caffeine
If you’re really hoping to make the most of your trip to USJ and catch most of the rides, heading to the park early might allow you to do just that. While the park officially opens at 8 AM, it’s commonly known that USJ opens up almost an hour earlier than the official opening hours.
If your schedule allows and sleep can be given up, head to the park early and check off some of the more popular rides on your list so that you don’t have to squeeze in with the rest of the late risers later on.
YouTrip’s Ultimate Universal Studios Japan (USJ) Guide 2023: Find out more about USJ’s opening times and attraction schedules here
6. Download The USJ App
Image Credits: Go-Graph
Another way to get your hands on timed-entry tickets to different sections and attractions is by downloading the USJ App in advance. Besides booking your slots, you can also have all the information you need about the park at your fingertips. You can also check out the wait times for different attractions which makes it super convenient for you to decide which attractions to visit or skip!
YouTrip’s Ultimate Universal Studios Japan (USJ) Guide 2023: Find out more about the USJ App here
7. Opt For Single-Rider Lanes
Image credits: Unsplash
For the adventurous ones that aren’t too particular about who you’re seated next to on rides, some attractions allow for single-rider options that often would allow you to shorten wait times significantly. Some of the attractions with single-rider options include:
- Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge
- Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
- Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem
- Elmo’s Go-Go Skateboard
- Hollywood Dream – The Ride
- Space Fantasy – The Ride
- The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man
- The Flying Dinosaur
- Jurassic Park – The Ride
- JAWS
YouTrip’s Ultimate Universal Studios Japan (USJ) Guide 2023: Check out single-rider attractions here
8. Stay For Nighttime Entertainment
Image credits: Bharat Agritech
Especially if it’s your first time visiting USJ, you should stay through the day to check out the Universal Spectacle Night Parade: Best of Hollywood. With the cutting-edge technology, beautifully decorated floats and impressive performances, it’s totally worth the wait. It also brings a different vibe to the whole park, making it more magical than it already is. Staying for the evening parade also allows you to catch the time when some visitors leave to avoid the peak-hour traffic just before the rides close, which means extremely short wait times for many attractions that are otherwise really crowded.
YouTrip’s Ultimate Universal Studios Japan (USJ) Guide 2023: Check out our 14-day Japan itinerary — Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka!
9. Dress Comfortably For The Weather
Image Credits: Kyodo News
Comfort is key in making your trip to USJ more enjoyable. Having the right fit can make a world of a difference, especially during the winter months since you’ll be spending most of your time outdoors. While looking cute for the photo-ops is great, you also want to make sure that you’re dressed warmly and with the right shoes so that you can last almost the whole day on your feet.
YouTrip’s Ultimate Universal Studios Japan (USJ) Guide 2023: Get 4% cashback at Uniqlo with YouTrip Perks!
10. Stay Hydrated And Take Breaks
Image Credits: The Park Prodigy
Going from one attraction to the next can get pretty tiring, so it’s important to schedule short breaks too so that you can have fun the whole day. While food items can get pretty pricey, some of them are worth checking out!
Some must-try items include the Butterbear at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter (don’t worry, it’s not actually beer), Fluffy Churritos at Delicious Me!, Turkey Leg-Flavoured Popcord at Jurassic Park and the Princess Peach’s Cake at Kinopio’s Cafe. There are also different seasonal dishes, like Christmas-themed menus that are totally Insta-worthy and delicious too.
Besides the snacks and sweet treats, there are staples like Minion Japanese Curry Omurice, fried chicken sandwiches, hot dogs, and other theme-park usuals littered around, so be prepared to spend a little more if you intend to have your meals in the park.
If you can, try to grab a bite slightly before or after main meal times to beat the crowd. That way, the chances of getting a nice seat to enjoy your meal would be higher too.
YouTrip’s Ultimate Universal Studios Japan (USJ) Guide 2023: Check out restaurants and food options in USJ here
Where Movie Magic Meets Real Life!
There’s so much to see and do at Universal Studios Japan, it’s totally worth checking out especially if you’re looking for more thrilling adventures different from the whimsical Disney vibe. While you’re at it, remember to use your YouTrip card to make your purchases. From accommodations to getting tickets, and your spending within the park, your YouTrip card will score you the best exchange rates all day without those pesky bank fees getting in the way.
As Singapore’s favourite multi-currency wallet, we aim to get those pesky fees out of the way and help you save on your travels. With the best foreign exchange rates, no longer will you have to deal with those long queues at money changers! So if you’re looking for a go-to travel card, sign up for your complimentary YouTrip card today with <YTBLOG5> and get FREE S$5 in your account! Then, head over to our YouTrip Perks page for exclusive offers and promotions — we promise you won’t regret it. For more great tips and articles like this, join our Telegram (@YouTripSG) and subscribe to our free weekly newsletter here or down below.
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Happy travels!
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