Your guide to Universal Studios Japan (USJ): Itinerary and Tips

A trip to Japan isn’t complete without a visit to Universal Studios Japan (USJ), one of the world’s top theme parks. It’s actually the third most-visited amusement park in the world¹ and for good reason, as it has iconic themed sections like Super Nintendo World and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Whether it’s your first visit or your fifth, this USJ guide will help you maximise your time, decide which tickets are worth splurging for, and create a Universal Studio Japan plan.

We'll also introduce the Wise card, a handy travel companion to make seamless card payments when you're overseas.

Table of contents
What time does Universal Studios Japan (USJ) open? How to get to USJ from Osaka By train By bus By ferry Which USJ ticket should I get? Is the express pass worth it? Your 1-day Universal Studios Japan plan for 2025 Tips for a better USJ experience Pay for transport, food, and shopping with the Wise card to maximise your SGD to JPY conversions

What to know before you go: Planning essentials

What time does Universal Studios Japan (USJ) open?

What time does USJ open? That depends on the season and day of the week. Typically, the park opens between 8:00 am and 9:00 am and closes anywhere from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm.²

Exact opening and closing times are posted three months in advance on the official USJ website and app, so always double-check before your visit.

Choosing the right season is key to your whole trip, so it's worth checking out the overall best time to visit Japan when planning.

How to get to USJ from Osaka

Japan has a great public transport system, as well as tons of private options, so there are multiple ways to get to USJ, depending on where you’re staying in Osaka.

By train

The most popular route is getting on the Osaka Loop Line at Osaka Station. After 3 stops, you’ll transfer to the JR Yumesaki Line at Nishikujo Station. Just 2 more stops and you’ll arrive at Universal-City Station just outside the park. This route takes around 15 minutes and costs 200 JPY.³

By bus

If you want to go to USJ directly from the airport, you may want to consider a private bus company or transfer instead, such as:

• Kansai Airport Transportation: 50-70 minutes, 1800 JPY one-way or 3,300 JPY round-trip from Kansai International Airport⁴
• Hanshin Airport Limousine Bus: 50-70 minutes, 1800 JPY one-way or 3,300 JPY round-trip from Kansai International Airport⁵
• Hankyu Kanko Bus: 40-45 minutes, 1100 JPY one-way from Osaka Itami Airport⁶

By ferry

If you’re staying near Kaiyukan West Pier, you can ride the Captain Line ferry to Universal City Port. It takes 10 minutes and costs 900 JPY one-way or 1,700 JPY round-trip.⁷

Which USJ ticket should I get?

Universal Studios Japan offers several ticket options that all vary by date, season, and age.

Here’s an example of official ticket prices in JPY for October 2025 on a Wednesday vs. Saturday⁸:

Ticket type	1-Day Studio Pass	1.5-Day Studio Pass	2-Day Studio Pass
Adult (12+) on Wednesday	9,900	16,000	18,800
Child (4-11) on Wednesday	6,200	10,000	11,800
Adult (12+) on Saturday	11,900	18,200	21,400
Child (4-11) on Saturday	7,400	11,300	13,300

The best place to buy USJ tickets is directly from the app or website. However, authorised resellers like Klook and GetYourGuide may offer discounts or additional perks, like transportation, food or tickets to other attractions in Osaka.

Is the USJ Express Pass worth it?

If you want to skip long lines for top attractions, the USJ Express Pass is worth considering. It’s an add-on to your regular Studio Pass and allows you to bypass standard queues for certain rides.

You can choose from the Express 4, which covers the 4 listed rides, and the Express 7, which covers the 7 listed rides.

It’s expensive, typically between 10,800-25,800 JPY extra per person, but it can be a game-changer.⁹ Popular rides like Mine Cart Madness, Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge, and Hollywood Dream - The Ride often see wait times of over 90 minutes, so you might not be able to do all the rides you want without an Express Pass.

Express Passes sell out quickly, especially during weekends and holidays, so ensure you purchase one on the USJ app or website ahead of time.

Your 1-day Universal Studios Japan plan for 2025

Every good USJ guide should include a suggested itinerary to plan your day so here’s an example of a 1-day Universal Studios Japan plan that you can adjust based on your preferences.

Morning: Arrive early and head straight for Nintendo

USJ often opens earlier than the official opening time, so consider arriving at least 30-60 minutes beforehand. Even if the park doesn’t open earlier on the day you go, you can still get a good spot in the queue.

Once inside, head straight to Super Nintendo World, as it’s the most popular section of the park, so it gets busy quickly. If it’s really busy, you may need an Area Timed Entry Ticket to enter Super Nintendo World.

You can purchase one ahead of time on the Web Ticket Store or get one for free through the official app once you’re inside the park or from an on-site kiosk.¹⁰

Mid-day: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

By late morning or lunchtime, move on to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. You’ll be greeted by iconic locations you may recognise from the films, like Hogwarts, Hogsmeade Village, and Ollivanders wand shop.

There are only two rides:

• Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, which is a thrilling ride through the castle
• Flight of the Hippogriff, a family-friendly roller coaster

But, there are also interactive wand experiences, magical shows and themed dining to keep you busy.

Afternoon: Jurassic World and Minions

Spend the rest of the afternoon checking out other sections of the park, including:

• Jurassic World: Get a bird’s eye view of the park from The Flying Dinosaur roller coaster, or get ready to get wet on Jurassic Park - The Ride.
• Amity Village: Based on the classic film Jaws, this section offers the Jaws ride, a suspenseful boat adventure with a surprise guest.
• Hollywood: Feel like you’re walking through New York to get to attractions like Hollywood Dream - The Ride, the park’s biggest roller coaster.
• Universal Wonderland: This family-friendly area offers gentle rides and play areas for young children.
• Minion Park: Enjoy Minion-themed food, take photos with characters from the films, and go on rides like Despicable Me Minion Mayhem.

Evening: Parades and final rides

As evening falls, it’s your last chance to get on any rides you missed or watch any shows, like WaterWorld, a live-action stunt show based on the 1995 movie.

USJ also occasionally features parades, fireworks, and light shows, especially during seasonal events and special celebrations.

Make sure you check the schedule for the day you’re visiting on USJ’s website or app so you don’t miss anything.

Tips for a better USJ experience

This section of the USJ guide ensures you avoid rookie mistakes and make the most of your day.

Download the official app

The USJ app is a must-have tool for anyone visiting the park. It lets you check live wait times for rides so you can decide which attraction to visit next.

You can also access an interactive park map, which makes navigating the sprawling park much easier.

And, if you need timed entry for Super Nintendo World or other special attractions, you can use the app to get it.

Use single rider lines

If you’re travelling alone or don’t mind riding separately from your group, you can use the single rider line to save time. The line is designed to fill empty seats on rides more efficiently, so you’ll be seated next to strangers.

The good thing is that single rider lines are usually much shorter than regular queues. However, they’re not available on every ride, just popular ones like¹¹:

• Mine Cart Madness
• Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge
• Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
• Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem

Food, drinks, and souvenirs

Eating and drinking at USJ is part of the fun as the park offers plenty of themed treats in each section. Some must-try options include banana-flavoured Minion popcorn, Butterbeer in Hogwarts, and super mushroom pizza bowls.

You can mobile order food and drinks on the app to save time and avoid any more queues. But if you want to save money, bring a refillable bottle and take advantage of the many water fountains to stay hydrated.

To commemorate your trip, consider buying souvenirs like the Power-Up Band or a Harry Potter wand. You can use these items to unlock interactive experiences throughout the park, cast spells or collect points, so they’re both functional and collectable.

Pay for transport, food, and shopping with the Wise card to maximise your SGD to JPY conversions

The Wise card lets you spend in 40+ currencies at the mid-market rate including MYR, JPY, CNY, and USD so you know you'll be getting a great deal in over 150+ countries. Simply create a free Wise account, order a card and top-up SGD to get started.

Virtual cards are free and can be added to your Google or Apple Pay wallet, while a physical Wise card can be ordered for a low fee of 8.50 SGD. Having a physical Wise card allows you to make chip and pin payments, as well as 2 free ATM withdrawals to the value of 350 SGD each month, before low fees start.

While abroad, you can choose to spend with directly in SGD and let auto-conversion do the trick, or convert to your desired currency with your Wise account. Either way, you’ll get the exchange rate you see on Google, with low, transparent fees from 0.26%.

💳 Get your Wise card

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Sources used:

1. Bloo Loop: The 25 most visited theme parks across the world
2. USJ: Operation hours
3. Google Maps
4. Kansai Airport Transportation Enterprise Timetable/Fares
5. Hanshin Airport Limousine Bus
6. Hankyu Kanko Airport Limousine Bus
7. Captain Line ferry
8. Universal Studios Japan tickets
9. USJ Ticketing: Express Pass
10. USJ Timed Entry eTickets
11. USJ Single Rider