Universal Studios Japan Guide

Travel guide for Universal Studios Japan in Osaka, and recommended strategies on how to get on the popular rides including Super Nintendo World and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

• Entrance
• Hollywood
• Amity Village
• Jurassic Park
• Water World
• Universal Wonderland
• Super Nintendo World
• The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
• Minion Park
• San Francisco
• New York

I did ALOT of research before visiting Universal Studios Japan. An overwhelming amount of research and most of the reviews we read online warned of really long wait times for rides. Universal Studios Japan is the busiest non Disney theme park in the world with over 16 million visitors in 2023. Strategy to avoid the ques, is express pass worth the exorbitant price? Read on to find out.

Universal Studios Japan Review

If you’ve been to the Universal Studios in Los Angeles, to set the expectation correctly, there is no studio tour at USJ. It’s just an amusement park. Compared to Disneyland, USJ targets a higher age crowd. Many of the most popular rides require the riders to be 4 feet (122 cm) tall and Hollywood Dream/The Flying Dinosaur requires a minimum height of 4’4” (132 cm). If you have younger children, many of the rides and attractions may not be suitable due to violent and graphic nature.

The Park is divided into these areas and I’ll talk about them briefly later on:

1. Hollywood
2. Amity Village
3. Jurassic Park
4. Water World
5. Universal Wonderland
6. Super Nintendo World
7. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
8. Minion Park
9. San Francisco
10. New York

On the day we visited, the weather was fine but there had been a heavy down pour the day before which resulted in the closure of Mine Kart Madness the Donkey Kong ride. We had express passes for this ride as part of our Express 7 pass and got refunded at the end of the day by guest services on the way out of the park. There was no line when the park opened. As we had purchased express tickets, we were not in a rush get in the line for the popular rides. During the time we visited, Jurassic Park the ride was down for maintenance (check maintenance schedule). Along with the height restriction with our children, we were out of luck with 4 of the most popular rides.

I’ll take you briefly through each of the areas and I apologize beforehand for not having great pictures. At times it was pouring rain like crazy and difficult to take good shots.

Hollywood Universal Studios Japan

Hollywood is the first area you’ll see when you enter through the main gates. The buildings are shaped similar to Rodeo Dr. in Beverly Hills, and there are 15 shops for souvenirs and gifts you can browse in. The main ride attractions in Hollywood are Hollywood Dream roller coaster and Space Fantasy. During our visit, there was a special event and Space Fantasy was changed to Kyary Pamyu Pamyu – a virtual reality roller coaster based on the Japanese fashion model and singer. The ride changes often and in the first part of 2019 Space Fantasy was changed to Lupin the Third: Car Chase XR Ride.

There is a 4D theater that rotates various movies in this area. However, the 4D movie showing wasn’t children friendly so we skipped.

Kyary Pamyu Pamyu XR ride was very interesting. We thought it was a kiddy ride and didn’t have high expectation. The ride is similar to a roller coaster ride, but throughout the entire ride, you wear a virtual reality goggle. With the goggles on, you can’t really tell at all what the track looks like in real life. The ride was a lot more fun than we expected as we glided and flew through a virtual world with dancing Kyary Pamyu Pamyu on digital roller coaster tracks.

Entrance

Hollywood

Space Fantasy The Ride

This was one of my favourite rides. It was a little more thrilling than I’d usually like but I went on it 3 times over the 2 days we were at USJ. We all loved it.

Popcorn is available throughout the park in cute little wagons.

Amity Village

Amity village has just one ride – Jaws!

You can get your photo taken with Jaws by the USJ photographer (it was 2000 yen to buy the print) and they will also take one for you on your mobile too. After the photographer packs up for the day you can take your own photos as you please too.

Jaws!

Jaws is a leisurely boat ride based on the 1975’s film of the same name, Jaws! This classic universal attraction is the last of it’s kind in the world and was a delight to everyone onboard. It’s suitable for visitors of all ages. Just be aware that Jaws will be making some appearances throughout so if you’re afraid of sharks, this may not be the ride for you.

The boat goes through the quiet town and is eventually attacked and chased by the shark before he meets his untimely demise. There was loud sounds, interesting smells & a few exciting scares but all in all it’s a pretty chill ride. We went on this 3 times over the 2 days at USJ.

Jurassic Park

In Jurassic Park, there are 2 major attractions, Jurassic Park: The Ride and The Flying Dinosaur.

The Flying Dinosaur

The highlight of the whole Universal trip for my husband was actually the Flying Dinosaur Roller coaster which is an incredibly long, state-of-the-art flying coaster with unimaginable ascents and drops. An out-of-control Pteranodon will seize you from behind and pull you high into the sky, with nothing but air space between you and the ground! You will be swung 360 degrees through the world of Jurassic Park. It looked like something I would never dare to ride in a million years but my thrill seeking husband said it was the best ride he’s ever been on. We did witness someone throw up on the ride so be aware when you’re walking underneath the roller coaster through the Jurassic Park entrance walkway.

Jurassic Park: The Ride

The Jurassic Park: The Ride opened in 2001 at the Osaka Universal Studios, it’s actually a mirrored version of the Jurassic Park River Adventure at Island of Adventure in Orlando but the ride in Japan has been modified from its American counterpart, with the boat hulls redesigned and the landing pond widened in order to reduce splashing, as Universal determined that Japanese visitors disliked getting wet.

Jurassic Park: The Ride is a takes you on a boat ride through a river surrounded by dinosaurs. The many animatronic dinosaurs are lifelike as they move and make noises. In the end, the boat enters the laboratory where a T-Rex is attacking, and to escape the boat has to plunge down a huge slide at the end. I would have braved the big drop of this ride to experience this ride outside of the youtube video but our kids didn’t want to ride it and I wasn’t keen enough to do a solo ride. My husband on the other hand rode it as a single rider with just about a 20 minute wait and he enjoyed it.

There are three themed restaurants in the Jurassic area – The Discovery Restaurant, Fossil Fuels and Lost World.

I ate at the Lost World as they had a plant based menu.

If you’re in need of a quick refreshment there’s vending machines throughout the park and I must say the drinks are very well priced in Japan, especially at the convenience stores but even in the theme parks. At USJ they were about 200 yen for a 600ml bottle of coke. For comparison we pay $3.80 in Australia from the supermarket and sometimes as much as $6 for a 380ml can of coke at restaurants so this was a nice surprise. With all the walking we purchased at least 2 or 3 drinks from the vending machine each day on top of meals which also came with drinks.

The T-Rex having a coke makes me laugh.

Inside the Discovery Centre is my favourite part of the Jurassic area, it’s an anamatronic Raptor that moves and possibly reacts to you. Very cool. Fortunately, he’s behind bars so we don’t need to keep an eye on him when we turn our backs.

Water World

We had timed a timed entry for Nintendo World but as we were heading towards it we saw the next showtime for Waterworld was starting soon and we decided to fit the Waterworld show in instead since it was right next door. We checked with one of the staff near the entrance to Nintendo World if we would be allowed to enter a bit after our allotted time and were told that was fine to do.

If you’ve seen the stage show in Los Angeles Universal Studios then this one is much the same except in Japanese of course. It is based on the action movie from 1995, Waterworld! The actors play out a fighting scene with jet skis, gunfight, and explosions which my 5 year old son found very exciting.

Universal Wonderland

Universal Wonderland is really just for little children and we didn’t visit it on our first day, but my 9 year old daughter and I checked it out on our second day at USJ. We rode the Hello Kitty Cupcakes which had just a 5 minute wait time but everything else in this area had a 30 minute wait time which seemed far too long for any of the rides in this area so we left pretty quickly. If we had younger children then it would make sense to spend more time here of course, but we’re past that stage now.

If you’re a Hello Kitty lover there are quite a few themed shops and food here for you to enjoy.

The cupcakes were the highlight in this area for us and only had a 5 minute wait time. Score!

There is an indoor play area here with the Elmo’s Bubble Bubble ride which would be good if it was a rainy day.

Super Nintendo World

The newest area at USJ is Super Nintendo World. It’s also currently the busiest area and you need to have a timed entry ticket to enter or an express pass which has a SNW ride.

At Super Nintendo World you get to immerse yourself in the world of Mario and friends.

There are two areas here.

Super Mario Land and Donkey Kong Country.

Super Mario Land has two main attractions – Mario Kart Koopa’s Challenge and Yoshi’s Adventure.

Donkey Kong Country has one attraction – Mine Cart Madness. Unfortunately on the day we attended there was heavy rain the day before and Mine Cart Madness had been taken offline for unplanned maintenance so we didn’t get to experience this ride. Since we had paid for the express pass for this ride I was able to get a refund for it by taking our tickets to the Guest Services at the end of the day before leaving the park.

Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge

Yoshi’s Adventure

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

The main event in my opinion is entering the magic world of Harry Potter!

The Harry Potter World isn’t overly large, but it is jam packed and the theming is just amazing. We got lost in here for half the day and returned on day two for another few rides and to take more photos. The main attractions here are Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride, Ollivanders’ Wand Shop, and Flight of the Hippogriff roller coaster.

Whether you’re a hardcore fan of Harry Potter or simply a casual admirer, this place is a must-visit.

The meticulous recreation of Hogsmeade Village and Hogwarts Castle at Universal Studios Japan offers an immersive experience that feels like stepping into the magical world of Harry Potter. The level of detail is astonishing, making it a standout reason to visit USJ, even if you’re not interested in any of the other attractions.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Universal Studios Japan is an immersive experience bringing the magic of J.K. Rowling’s series to life. In this article, we’ll share our personal experiences and insights, from the enchanting sights and sounds of Hogsmeade to the awe-inspiring grandeur of Hogwarts Castle.

The main attractions in The Wizarding World of Harry potter are the thrilling rides Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey and Flight of the Hippogriff but there are also many engaging and interactive activities and shows throughout the land. The wand selection in Ollivander’s Wand Shop and the Frog Choir are must-sees to ensure you make the most of your experience.

Additionally, the park offers unique dining experiences, including the famed Butterbeer, and a variety of Harry Potter-themed souvenirs for fans to take home. This magical destination promises an unforgettable experience for both Harry Potter enthusiasts and newcomers.

We subsequently visited Warner Bros. Studio: The Making of Harry Potter in Tokyo, and that experience was also truly amazing. If you are a big Harry Potter fan or even if you just love movies and seeing behind the scenes of film making, it’s well worth the visit.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Universal Studios Japan is an immersive experience bringing the magic of J.K. Rowling’s series to life. In this article, we’ll share our personal experiences and insights, from the enchanting sights and sounds of Hogsmeade to the awe-inspiring grandeur of Hogwarts Castle.

The Weasley’s Car

Have a photo in front of the Weasley’s car on the walk in to Hogsmeade. There’s often a bit of a que.

Hogsmeade

Walk through the entry arch to the meticulous recreation of Hogsmeade Village. The level of detail here is astonishing, making it reason enough to visit Universal Studios Japan even if nothing else interests you here.

Hogwarts Express

The first thing you’ll see once you enter Hogsmeade is the big red Hogwarts Express Train. The Hogwarts Express photo opportunity is currently closed but you can still snap your own photos in front of the train.

Zonko’s Joke Shop

If you

Honeyduke’s

What does butterbeer taste like? I had the plant based one and it was very sweet. Similar to cream soda with a thick foam on top. Didn’t love it, didn’t hate it.

Even the toilet block is an experience in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Moaning Myrtle was haunting the ladies block, not sure if she’s also in the mens! Maybe she goes between them?

Take a seat on the Hogwarts express

The window displays are mostly moving which is really cool.

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey

You take a nice scenic walk through Hogwarts Castle until you get to the actual ride. If you have an express pass for the ride you’ll skip going through much of the castle though. We used our express pass on day 1 and then rode multiple times on day 2 without passes when we saw the wait times were less than 30 minutes on the USJ app.

So what was the ride actually like? It’s impossible to describe unless you’ve ridden it yourself. The roller coaster seats are on a track but you sit in them while you’re facing sideways rather than the front like you do on a regular roller coaster. The ride takes you on a 4D experience that has you flying on a broomstick with Harry through various adventures. From Quidditch match to escaping dragons and creatures, the flight takes you up and down and you feel as though you are really flying. It was definitely my favourite ride in the park and although I’m scared of heights and don’t do normal roller coasters, this one was bareable. If you are prone to motion sickness, it might not be for you.

Harry Potter and The Forbidden Journey Ride

Before going on the Forbidden Journey, you need to store your bags and loose items in lockers. You are first given a white card at the locker entrance. Store your things in an unused locker (lockers with hanging wristbands), then lock the locker and pull the wristband out. You then hand the white card back to the attendant and rejoin the ride queue. After the ride has finished you can collect your things from the locker by going through Filch’s Emporium.

When you enter the loading area for the Forbidden Journey ride you will see the four-seater vehicles, or enchanted benches, on a constantly-moving track. The enchanted benches are also mounted sideways rather than a more normal forward-facing vehicle. It’s slightly disconcerting to board a vehicle on a slowly moving track. The benches are a really interesting piece of technology as each vehicle is mounted on a large robotic arm that can smoothly move the enchanted vehicle left, right, up and down. As we moved through the ride, the sensation of flight was amazing as we turned, swooped and soared across and through Hogwarts.

The ride started with Hermione sprinkling us with Floo powder and our enchanted benches lifted off the ground, so we were suddenly soaring through the corridors of Hogwarts. We then shot outside and were flying at the top of Hogwarts Castle along with Harry and Ron. My stomach lurched as we shot down towards the Black Lake. This was one of my favourite parts of the whole ride.

After dodging and weaving through the buildings of Hogwarts, we suddenly saw Hagrid holding up an extremely large chain that was once attached to a dragon. Shortly after this, we were ambushed by the once shackled dragon, a massively oversized and scarily real Hungarian Horntail. The chase was then on as we tried to outrun the dragon. At various points, the dragon breathed fire and got right up in our face which was confronting, to say the least. After evading the dragon, we were suddenly in the Forbidden Forest and in the middle of an up-close and personal encounter with Aragog and his children.

While trying to escape from the clutches of Aragog and family, we ran straight into an animatronic Whomping Willow which slapped us straight into the middle of a Quidditch game. After seeing Slytherin score a goal against Gryffindor we were suddenly swarmed by dementors and chased down into the Chamber of Secrets where we got to see the skeleton of the Basilisk. We were then completely swamped by dozens of devilish dementors descending on us from every possible direction. After Harry chased off the dementors with a Patronus charm we emerged from the Chamber of Secrets and flew at speed over the Black Lake. As the ride entered its final stage, we re-entered Hogwarts Castle to the cheers of dozens of on-screen characters which to me was a slightly abrupt and lame ending to an otherwise spectacular experience.

The mixture of incredibly detailed sets, sophisticated animatronics, video projections and the fantastically smooth motion simulation technology used all blends seamlessly to create a fantastically immersive ride. The sound effects and 4D effects used throughout the ride further heightened the experience. The two standout 4D experiences for me were:

• The water spray, red lights and heat which really felt like we were being sprayed with fire from the dragon’s mouth; and
• The use of fog and cold air when being chased by the Dementors.

Between our two visits, the video imagery also received an upgrade. On our first visit, we were given 3D glasses. On our second visit, we no longer had to wear 3D glasses and the ride used 4K-HD film projecting at 120 frames per second, compared to the previous footage which was 60 frames per second. This made for much sharper and more realistic video imagery.

Regardless of whether you are a Harry Potter fan or not, you really cannot miss Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. While “The Flying Dinosaur” and “Hollywood – The Dream” were also standout rides for me at Universal Studios Japan, the Forbidden Journey was clearly the best all-round ride experience.

Harry Potter Gift Shop

After the ride experience, the exit door opens into the gift shop which has the book of Monsters which moves aroound. Its a mix of creepy and cute in my opinion.

The gift shop here also sells wands. There are 2 types of wand sold, one with a sensor and one without. The one with a sensor gives you magical powers in front of 6 store windows where you can make objects fly and move. The regular wand is just for decorative purpose.

We got our wands on the street outside the entrance to the Hogwarts Castle in a cute cart.

Flight of the Hippogriff

Flight of the Hippogriff is a pretty tame roller coaster and is suitable for younger children but since I’m not a fan of heights and my husband and son had such a good time on this one, my daughter and I gave our express passes to the boys for this one so they could ride it a second time.

Be aware that if you’re on the taller side like my husband (6ft2) you’ll need to ride at the very front of the coaster or you won’t fit. The staff will check your height if they’re concerned.

Height Rules: Guests must be 92–195 cm tall.
Children over 92 cm but under 122 cm tall must be accompanied by a supervising Guest.

The Three Broomsticks

We had lunch at the Three Broomsticks, mainly because it had plant based menu options for me.

I had the Vegetable Irish Stew which was 25 yen as well as the Plant Based Butterbeer which was 8 yen, and there’s the option to get a souvenier cup with it for an additional 6 yen.

The Butterbeer wasn’t really my thing but I’m glad I tried it.

My husband and son got the pork ribs which came with giant corn on the cob and my daughter got the fish and chips.

Meet the Hogsmeade Magical Creatures

We met this Baby Dragon at the Plaza next to Hogsmeade Station. The kids even got picked to have a photo with him which was cool.

You can meet a Pygmy Puff  in front of Zonko’s™ Joke Shop or between Honeydukes™ and Three Broomsticks at different time of day if you’re lucky or meet a Niffler in front of the Owl Post.

Flight of the Hippogriff

The second ride in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is the Flight of the Hippogriff is an altogether much tamer experience compared to the Forbidden Journey. It probably best fits into the category of a junior coaster which can provide family-friendly fun. It has a maximum height of 13 metres (about 43 feet) and hits a top speed of 46 km/hr (about 28 miles/hr).

I have now ridden this ride twice (the first time to test it out and the second because it was part of my Express Pass) but wouldn’t ride it again. It’s definitely a great introduction to rollercoasters for young children and would also be good fun if you prefer your rides mild rather than wild.

The ride provides a few nice dives, swoops and twists but the best part about the ride for me were the views over Hogwarts Castle and Hogsmeade Village. I also really enjoyed the photo-taking opportunities while waiting in the queue including Hagrid’s motorbike and sidecar as well as his hut and pumpkin patch.

Give Flight of the Hippogriff a go if it’s part of your Express Pass, the queues are 30 minutes or less or you have young kids. Otherwise, I would suggest giving this ride a miss so you can spend more time exploring the rest of what Harry Potter World has to offer.

Black Lake

One of the must-see attractions at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is the Black Lake (also known as the Great Lake). The lake was a major setting for the Triwizard Tournament in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, and home to Grindylows (aggressive little water demons), Selkies (Scottish merpeople), and a partially domesticated giant squid that doesn’t mind being tickled.

The Black Lake cannot be found at any other Wizarding World of Harry Potter apart from Universal Studios Japan and is impressively atmospheric. It also provides a physical barrier that serves to set Hogwarts Castle apart from Hogsmeade Village and makes the castle look even more grand and impressive. We were very fortunate to have a clear blue sky and still water on our first visit to USJ so were able to get some fantastic photos of Hogwarts reflected in the Great Lake.

There are a number of places to get a good view of both the Black Lake and Hogwarts castle, some are more obvious than others. One great spot is to go out the back of Three Broomsticks for a great view while enjoying your meal on the lakeside patio.

The view of Hogwarts reflected off Black Lake is a sight to see.

Wizarding World of Harry Potter Food and Beverages

There are a limited number of choices for food and drinks at Harry Potter World Japan but they all help immerse you further in the world of Harry Potter. You can eat at Three Broomsticks (a traditional English tavern), drink at Hog’s Head pub, or down a Butterbeer from the two barrel-shaped butterbeer stands in Hogsmeade Village.

Butterbeer

Butterbeer is the most popular and iconic wizarding beverage. It’s so good that Michael Gambon (Dumbledore) in a special feature from Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince said that he would order eight pints of Butterbeer when he visited the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

At Harry Potter Osaka, butterbeer is a non-alcoholic drink. Butterbeer can be bought from Three Broomsticks, Hog’s Head or the two butterbeer carts and can be enjoyed in a number of different ways:

• Cold butterbeer is available all year round. It has a butterscotch flavour with a wonderfully smooth and creamy foam on top. First-time round, I couldn’t get enough butterbeer and it was one of the happiest memories from my first trip to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Nothing could wipe the smile off my face as I drank it. On my second trip to Harry Potter World I still very much enjoyed but found it very rich. You certainly see quite a lot of unfinished cups scattered around Hogsmeade so I would suggest sharing a mug if you are unsure whether you’ll like it.
• Frozen butterbeer is available when the weather is warm. The flavour is the same as regular butterbeer and the texture is quite smooth and much less icy than many slushies/frozen drinks. My son is a slushie connoisseur and found it to be a tasty and refreshing way to cool down.
• Warm butterbeer is available when the weather cools down. Our family hasn’t had a chance to taste warm butterbeer yet but it reportedly has a different taste to cold and frozen butterbeer. It has been described as thick and creamy, with a taste that is a mix of butterscotch and pumpkin cider and laced with cinnamon and ginger. It sounds like an interesting alternative to hot chocolate.

Butterbeer can be bought in either a disposable plastic cup or a souvenir plastic mug if you want to up the authenticity a little. Regular butterbeer costs 600 yen (US $5.50) in a disposable cup or 1 100 yen (US $10.20) in the souvenir mug. You can also buy butterbeer in an impressive premium stein which I was about to do until I noticed the price which was about 4 000 yen (or US $37).

If you are obsessed with butterbeer, there have been some recent additions to the range of butterbeer goodness. Butterbeer ice-cream is available from the butterbeer carts, and butterbeer potted cream which sounds fantastic can be found at Three Broomsticks.

If you are feeling hungry while getting your fix of all things Harry Potter, head over to Three Broomsticks. It is an English-styled tavern with predominantly English food choices. The food is hearty and definitely tasty by theme park standards. You can enjoy food such as shepherd’s pie, cornish pasties and fish and chips.

While you can eat indoors and the inside of the tavern is atmospheric, I would strongly suggest taking your food to the outside eating area to enjoy great views both in the day and on sunset.

Hog’s Head Pub

Hog’s Head offers a broad selection of drinks including Butterbeer and Pumpkin Juice. For something a little more adult you can also buy the specially brewed signature Hog’s Head draft beer.

Hogsmeade Village Shops

If you are a Harry Potter fan it’s almost impossible to leave the Wizarding World of Harry Potter without stocking up on some souvenirs. On our first visit, in particular, we ran a little amok and left with gowns, multiple wands, lollies and chocolates. On our second visit we were slightly more restrained but still spent too much.

There are plenty of places to buy your Universal Studios Japan Harry Potter Merchandise. Hogsmeade Village is jam-packed with shops that you will recognise from the world of Harry Potter including Ollivanders, Honeydukes, Zonko’s Joke Shop and Wiseacre’s Wizarding Equipment.

Ollivanders and Wiseacre’s Wizarding Equipment

After you’ve been on the rides, and refuelled if necessary, I suggest that the first shops you should visit are Ollivanders and Wiseacre’s Wizarding Equipment which are side-by-side.

In Ollivander’s, you can join in one of the wand selection ceremonies. The wait time for the show is listed which can be as low as a 10-minute wait. a The wizard who hosts the show uses a mix of English and Japanese. He selects someone from the audience and tries to choose the perfect wand for them. After a few mishaps along the way, eventually, the right wand is chosen.

Between the two shops, you will discover wands of all varieties including Ollivanders wands, replica Harry Potter character wands, collectable wand sets and much more. I would strongly recommend getting at least one of the more expensive interactive wands so you can cast spells around Hogsmeade Village. There is also a wide variety of wizarding equipment such as compasses, binoculars, magnifying glasses and compasses, robes and ties.

Wand Magic

If you bought an interactive wand from Ollivanders, make sure you test out your spell-casting skills at eight different magic stations around Hogsmeade. You will be given a map showing the Wand Magic locations in Hogsmeade. The stations are easily identified by both the bronze symbols located on the ground and the helpful staff ready to teach spells to willing wizards.

Armed with his new Sirius Black interactive wand, our youngest son managed to try out all eight spells. There was always someone friendly around to correct his spell-casting technique to ensure magic could happen. Our son magically levitated quaffle balls, unlocked gates, made a chimney flame, opened suitcases, summoned clouds, and made quidditch banners rustle.

Testing out his skills definitely added to the magic of our time spent in Hogsmeade Village.

Honeydukes

Make sure you don’t visit Honeydukes on an empty stomach as you will end up spending far too much money. The shop is filled with goodies from the Harry Potter books so it’s great fun just browsing the shop to discover all the sweet treats on offer.

We managed to walk out of the shop with just some Bertie Bott’s Every-Flavour Beans and a Chocolate Frog. However, this wasn’t any ordinary chocolate frog but the biggest chocolate frog you have ever seen. My son couldn’t wait to break into the Bertie Bott’s Beans in order to try out the candy equivalent of Russian Roulette. Be warned that you might end of with something delightful like blueberry or banana or something truly despicable such as vomit, ear wax or rotten egg.

Other Shops that will help meet all your wizarding needs

In addition to Ollivanders and Honeydukes, there are plenty of other shops that can help meet all your wizarding requirements.

Zonko’s Joke Shop

Zonkos overflows with novelty items and jokes. On our first visit, it had plenty of Halloween-themed items.

Filch’s Emporium of Confiscated Goods

At Filch’s Emporium, you’ll discover Hogwarts-themed clothing and stationery themed for each of the four houses. You exit into Filch’s Emporium from Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey.

Gladrags Wizard Wear

At Gladrag’s you’ll find fashion items and clothes, accessories and jewellery. From Gladrags, I couldn’t help but buy a Gryffindor robe.

Dervish and Banges

Head to Dervish and Banges for magical supplies and wizarding equipment like Spectrespecs, Quidditch equipment, and Hogwarts uniforms. I picked up an impressively realistic Marauder’s Map on my first visit to Harry Potter Japan.

Owl Post and Owlery

At the Owl Post and Owlery you can send letters with a Hogsmeade postmark. The shop also sells stationery and writing implements, stamps, and owl-related toys and gifts. On my first visit, I picked up a beautiful Hedwig plush puppet which has been much loved by many of my students.

There are also quite a lot of false storefronts which you can’t enter but which add to the atmosphere of Hogsmeade Village.

Street Entertainment

There are three street entertainment performances in Hogsmeade Village: Frog Choir, Wand Studies and Triwizard Spirit Rally. We have now seen the Frog Choir perform twice over our two visits but have managed to miss both Wand Studies and the Triwizard Spirit Rally on both occasions.

In the Wand Studies show, students from the four Hogwarts houses demonstrate their developing magical skills and invite brave wizards from the audience to help them.

We really enjoyed the Frog Choir on both occasions. In this performance, a choir of Hogwart’s students perform various songs accompanied by some very talented frogs.

The Triwizard Spirit Rally features students from Durmstrang, Beauxbaxtons and Hogwarts. A student from Hogwarts introduces the performance. The show then features dances from the students of Beauxbaxton, and acrobatics and simulated martial arts from the Durmstrang students.

Each of the performances occurs roughly every hour but make sure you check the show and attraction schedule for the day of your visit so, unlike us, you don’t accidentally miss out on performances.

Evening Light Show

From time to time an evening light show is held in Harry Potter World.  Ensure you check the show and attraction schedule to confirm whether a night show is being held when you plan to visit.

Top Photo Spots

• The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is filled with opportunities for fantastic photos but some of my favourites, in no particular order, are:
• Hogwarts Castle, particularly from across the Black Lake. The photos can be truly stunning when the sky is blue and the water is still.
• Hogwarts Express as it such an iconic image from the world of Harry Potter.
• Hogsmeade Archway as the archway and entrance sign are spectacular but they also frame the rest of Hogsmeade Village.
• Flying Ford Anglia to capture another classic image from Harry Potter.
• The interior of Honeydukes because it is full of light, colour and tasty treats.
• Sirius Black Poster which works great as a photo but even better as a GIF. Unfortunately, I haven’t managed to get a decent photo of the poster yet.

Minion Park

Take a walk through New York or San Francisco, depending on which way you’re coming and you’ll make it to Minion Park.

Minion Park is a lively and colorful area dedicated to the mischievous little yellow characters. The park bursts with playful energy, from quirky buildings and funny decorations to music that makes the whole place a vibe.

You can get one of those adorable looking Minion cookie sandwiches over at Delicious Me. This was one of the things I wanted to do here but we didn’t end up having time as Minion Park was the last place we visited on our first day and we didn’t make it there on day two.

The main attraction in this are is Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem which opened in 2017, replacing the much loved Back to the Future ride *crying face* which was retired in 2016.

The Minion ride was just my kind of fun, thrill without the risk of actual danger. No heights, no possibility of falling to your death. Although your mind may need a little reminding of that occasionally.

You climb aboard a vehicle designed by Gru and enter his laboratory to begin the process of becoming an actual Minion! Under the supervision of Gru and his three daughters, you’ll dash through the air and back to earth, going upside down and round and round! Alot of fun. If you’re someone who gets motion sickness though I’d tread with a little caution. Perhaps try this ride before having a meal.

The only thing I didn’t love about this one was that we crashed into a number of minions on the ride and that just felt like unnecessary violence, especially for a ride aimed at little kids. Who wants to hurt those little cuties? Not me!

Since we visited in May 2025, a new ride has since been opened in Minion Park that replaced the Backdraft special effects show which closed in 2020. The new ride is Illumination’s Villain Con Minion Blast.

Compete in an interactive blaster game to become the newest member of the Vicious 6 by causing maximum destruction and collecting loot. Whoever scores the most points will be their newest member. Happy blasting and may the worst villain win!

You’re going to be provided with an interactive E-Liminator X blaster. As you stand on the moving walkway, you’re going to blast your way through 7 different scenes.

Along the way you’ll be able to switch between elemental blasts and more powerful launchers. Target power-ups to unlock new modes on your blaster so you can blast fire, electricity, and maybe even a few surprises! You can download the Villain-Con app to enjoy enhanced gameplay at Illumination’s Villain-Con Minion Blast attraction and throughout Minion Park so you can sync your mobile phone with your blaster and choose your own villain avatar, track your score, upgrade your blaster, and more. If you’re a millenial like me and you’re getting over all the unnecessary apps and tech, then this probably won’t excite you either. But if you like this kind of thing, then the option is there!

If you’ve got little kids with you or it’s a hot day then the Freeze Ray Sliders is another ride in Minion Park but we skipped this one as it didn’t appeal to us greatly.

Don’t miss their giant gumball machine and mega-sized candies at Sweet Surrender.

You can get a Minion donut over at Evil Eats or grab a burger. There are a number of merch shops with Minion specific goods here too. If you have a Minion obsessed little one, this place will be their heaven.

San Francisco

As you go clockwise around the park, the next area is San Francisco. I enjoyed the replica Fisherman’s Wharf and Ghirardelli Square, but there is only 1 attraction in this area. The Back to The Future ride has been retired so the only ride left is Backdraft. It is based on the classic firefighters’ movie, Backdraft.

New York Universal Studios Japan

The New York area, has some cool looking buildings and alot of places to eat, but is quite underwhelming in my opinion at the current time. The only ride in this area is the Conan 4D show which we skipped. Sadly the beloved Spiderman ride which used to be in this area closed in 2024 due to the contract for the Spiderman licensing expiring and nothing has been announced as yet on what might be replacing it. There have been rumours about a Pokemon attraction which would be really cool, but that’s purely speculation at this point in time.

Accomodation near USJ

During our visit to Osaka, we stayed at the Singulari Hotel & Sky Spa. This hotel is right next to the train station entrance and about a short walk to Universal City and a few minutes to Universal Studios. It has a convenience store right next door as well. It was a very convenient hotel for a Universal focused trip to Osaka. The beds were the most comfortable (softer) than the beds the rest of our trip which made up for the lack of space in the room once our suitcases were opened. It was a neat, quiet hotel with laundry facilities and a nice view of the Aji River, what more could you want?

We didn’t use the sky spa facilities as we have tattoos and couldn’t be bothered dealing with covering them up (and also, is this a naked situation?) I wouldn’t be comfortable with that! So there was no swimming/soaking for us in Japan. I did however, utilise the bathtub in every one of our hotel rooms every night. After long days of walking this was a necessity!

Dining at Universal City

Night one we had dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe which was quite overpriced and none of us really loved our meals. I’d give it a miss next time.

Night two we were in Dotonbori for dinner where I had Burger for dinner and the family had ramen.

Night three we I had pizza from while my husband and the kids had ramen at which they LOVED.

Night four we had dinner at USJ at the pizzaria and I wouldn’t recommend it.

Final Verdict on USJ

Our family had a lot of fun in the park, we were able to enjoy ourselves equally on day 2 without express passes but also the park may have been less busy than other times of year. We were able to finish all the rides we wanted on both days before 6 pm and left the park exhausted but happy. Here are our recommendations on how to get the most out of the park.

1. Go wait in line before the park opens, the park usually opens earlier than the advertised time.
2. Run to the Harry Potter area and enjoy the Forbidden Journey ride asap.
3. Wait in line for Ollivanders and experience the magical power of the wand.
4. Move on to Hollywood Dreams Roller Coaster
5. Ride the VR – Space Fantasy
6. Fight crime with Spiderman.
7. Soar with The Flying Dinosaur
8. Get wet with Jurassic Park
9. You can then slowly enjoy Backdraft, Waterworld and Jaws. Those rides are more dated and capable of handling large crowds.

Additional Universal Studios Japan Ticketing Options

1. Get online tickets as the website is in English and easy to navigate, plus you don’t have to print out anything, just show your mobile QR Code at the entrance.
2. Half of what express pass costs, the VIP Wristband grants you a grace period of 10-15mins to head into the park before its official opening hours to enjoy some of the popular rides minus the queue! or be the first one in the Harry Potter Area minus the crowd!

Buy a USJ Studio Pass and Express Passes

Don’t forget to order your Universal Studios Entry Pass, and skip the queue Express Passes through Klook in advance.  Express Passes regularly sell out so ensure you book early to have the best chance of success.

How to Get to Universal Studios Japan in Osaka

Universal Studios Japan is located on the outskirts of Osaka. This section explains how to get to USJ from Tokyo, Kyoto, Kansai Airport, and various Osaka train stations.

How to get to Universal Studios Japan from Tokyo

Universal Studios Japan is about 500 km (315 miles) west of Tokyo and it takes 3 to 3:30 hours to get from Tokyo Station to Universal Station. You can catch a bullet train from Tokyo Station to either Shin-Osaka Station or Osaka Station, and then change to local trains to get to Universal City Station.

Typical trip price from Tokyo to Universal City Station is about 14,500 to 15,500 yen, which includes a reserved seat on the bullet train.  If you have a Suica card or ICOCA card, you can use these for local Osaka travel and local Tokyo travel. This means you would only need to purchase the bullet train ticket. If you have a Japan Rail pass you may be able to use your JR Pass for all parts of the trip.  Not all shinkansen are covered by the JR pass so ensure you check before booking.

How to get from Kyoto to Universal Studios Japan

When we visited USJ we did it as a day trip from Kyoto.  It was a very long day with an early start, but it meant we didn’t have to move to another hotel.  Travel time from Kyoto Station to Universal City station is about 45-55 minutes and you have to use 3 or 4 trains to get there. If you have a Japan Rail Pass you may be able to use your JR Pass for all parts of the trip.

How to get from Kansai International Airport to Universal Studios Japan

There are three main ways to get from Kansai Airport to Universal Studios Japan. The main transfer options are as follows:

• Catch the train from Kansai International Airport Station to Universal City station. The trip will take about 60 minutes and you will have to catch three different trains. From our experience, this can be challenging if you are tired and have your luggage with you, particularly if you haven’t visited Japan before.  You can pre-purchase your train ticket from Kansai Airport-Namba. It would also be a good idea to pre-purchase your Suica card or ICOCA card so you can catch intracity trains and buses around Japan.  Your ICOCA card will let you use public transport in Osaka, Kyoto, Tokyo and many other locations.
• Use the Airport Limousine Bus Transfer service from Kansai Airport.
• Pre-book a private airport transfer from Kansai Osaka Airport to your hotel.

If you are arriving at Kansai International Airport, I recommend that you pre-order a Wifi Router and a mobile phone or cell phone sim card that can be picked up at the terminal after you arrive.

If you are going directly to USJ from Kansai Airport, large-sized lockers are only available outside the park for storage of your luggage.

Studios Japan USJ Train Station

People typically arrive into Osaka at either Shin-Osaka Station, Osaka Station, Namba Station, Nishikujo Station, Nipponbashi Station or Shinsaibashi Station. You can use the Hyperdia website or Google Maps to work out train schedule and route options from each of these stations.  You should expect to change trains 2-3 times before getting to Universal City Station.  You can use an ICOCA card to tap on and off each train.

USJ has a good graphic which shows the specific trains and travelling time required to get from the Osaka / Kyoto region to Universal City Station. All the train stations have clear signage and are easy to navigate with the help of online tools like Google Maps.

Hope you enjoyed reading our review. Have you been to Universal Studios Japan? Which one was your favorite ride? Let me know in the comment below. This post was an update of the original one we shared in 2016.