Universal Studios Japan Advice
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Forums › Other › Destination advice › Universal Studios Japan Advice
Hi, as part of our Japan trip (with wife and two teenage daughters), we are spending 1 day at Universal Studios. I am very confused by all the different ticket options regarding fast passes and Super Nintendo World and not sure what to go for. We are not particularly Nintendo fans but will want to include the Harry Potter attractions as one daughter is a big fan.
The necessity/choice of express, early-entry, and timed-entry passes will really depend on what you want to see and how busy the park will be. There isn’t really a simple answer to this, in my view. For instance, we have bought different ticket types each time we’ve gone.
I will say though, for us, the park is often just too busy not to have an express pass of some kind, especially if you are only visiting for one day. The express passes usually come with timed entry to relevant areas (e.g., if your express pass includes Mario Kart, you’ll also get an entry time to enter Super Nintendo World).
If you like roller coasters, the best are the Flying Dinosaur and Hollywood Dream, in my opinion. Both are part of some express pass bundles with Nintendo and Harry Potter rides.
If you don’t want to spend the extra on express passes, but want to ride most rides, I’d consider the 1.5 day pass, as lines can get long, but do let up at night in our experience (especially at Harry Potter area).
I’d buy your tickets through Klook as the official site often doesn’t work for foreign cards (although I have used the official site on occasion using Amex via Apple Pay). Be mindful if buying express passes though that it lets you select your timings and does not auto-select them for you.
Thanks RK228, that’s really helpful. I have just been looking at the “Universal Express Pass 7 Variety Theatre” and “Universal Express Pass 7 MInecart & Selection” options. On Klook they’re pricing at £180 and £183 respectively for our date (4th August) but on the official site they’re both 17800 JPY (£89). The admission tickets are the same price.
So unless I’m looking at the wrong thing, the express passes are MUCH cheaper on the official site.
Thanks RK228, that’s really helpful. I have just been looking at the “Universal Express Pass 7 Variety Theatre” and “Universal Express Pass 7 MInecart & Selection” options. On Klook they’re pricing at £180 and £183 respectively for our date (4th August) but on the official site they’re both 17800 JPY (£89). The admission tickets are the same price.
So unless I’m looking at the wrong thing, the express passes are MUCH cheaper on the official site.
Are you sure the passes are actually ¥17800 and not priced from ¥17800? I think once you go to the next screen and select your date, the price will likely match up with Klook (e.g., about ¥35800/£180).
If I were going on 4th August, I’d definitely buy express passes as it will be seriously crowded and stupidly hot (so might get you through and out of there faster). It’ll be a tough day, so consider whether you really want to go.
You’re quite correct, these are “from” prices and when you click through they’re either way more expensive (about double) or unavailable. Currently trawling through all the options to see which ones are available.
Flip me; just priced up the entry plus a 4-ride express pass for the four of us and it comes to £736!! Not sure we can justify this; might take a look at the 1.5 day pass and pinch some time from elsewhere on our itinerary.
With a date of 4th August, there are a few things to keep in mind.
First, as this is a popular park and tickets have already been on sale for some time, either the best/most pass options will be sold out or the remaining passes will have less desirable timings. That said, look across the official site, Klook, and KKDay to see what is around, as they will have different availability.
Second, as you can see by the prices, you are going at the busiest time (pricing is based on expected demand/attendance). Queues will likely be outrageously long (and I don’t know how much they’ll thin out in the evenings in absolute peak season). If you don’t get an express pass, consider buying early-entry passes, if even still available, and heading straight for your top ride(s) at park opening (this would require a very early start though between entry queues and early park start time).
Third, it’s going to be not only so busy, but so hot. If you go for a whole day, it’s going to be intense. There isn’t much shade and only a few opportunities to cool down (e.g., some cooling/misting areas), so prepare appropriately (e.g., sunscreen, umbrellas for shade, neck fans, cooling wraps or frozen neck rings, etc.).
You’ve probably already heard this, but if not, be aware that other parts of Japan will be much more comfortable at that time of year for tourism (e.g., Hokkaido, which is lovely) than USJ and the Osaka/Kyoto area. Good luck whatever you decide.
You’ve probably already heard this, but if not, be aware that other parts of Japan will be much more comfortable at that time of year for tourism (e.g., Hokkaido, which is lovely) than USJ and the Osaka/Kyoto area. Good luck whatever you decide.
I think Hokkaido is also suffering right now. Highs above 30C in Sapporo for the next 10 days – which is about 5C higher than seasonal average I believe – and humidity higher than Osaka, too.
Just to come back to this on the climate point as am in Japan right now. We were in Florida doing the theme parks last August and had no problems but this is something different. Admittedly we have had wall-to-wall sunshine from Saturday until this morning so the direct heat has been relentless. The humidity is a slight problem, but it’s that direct heat which takes the air temp right up.
We have ended up trying to work around the heat, especially from 2pm-4pm which seems to be the worst time by making sure we were indoors lots, getting a bit higher up or being right by the coast. To stand in a queue for an hour for a 90 second ride in this weather really will drain you.
Have a great time but don’t underestimate how brutal this is. We have now left Osaka and are just below Mount Fuji where the cloud makes it look more like Cumbria but the respite from the heat is welcome!
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