📣 <USJ> Must Know Tips before visiting & Hotels
□ Which date to go?
Select a date when it’s less busy
・The ticket prices reflect how busy the park is expected to be. A is the least busy and E is the busiest. Check the price calendar below first!
⚠️ But USJ is still the 3rd most visited amusement park in the world, so even on less busy days, there will be more than enough people. Make sure to plan well 👍
□ When to book?
Reservations open 2 months before 🗓️
・The Day Pass is usually available until a few days before (but just to be safe better to book them at least 1-2 weeks before).
・The Express Pass (which allows you to skip the line) do sell out on certain days very quickly, so better to book these early (recommendation: 2 months before).
・USJ official Ticket website often has issues with foreign credit cards; so I would recommend the use of official travel agency Klook, which accepts foreign credit cards. The ticket prices on Klook are the same as the official website.
□ What time to arrive?
Get there 90 mins before!!
・Park usually opens about 45-60 mins before the announced opening time on the homepage, depending on how busy the day is expected to be. So get there about 90 mins before official opening time. Then you can get a head start.
□ How to get the Nintendo World Timed-Entry Tickets
・The Super Nintendo World is a themed area within Universal Studios Japan dedicated to Nintendo characters and games. Due to its popularity, visitors typically need a Timed-Entry Ticket to enter.
・Upon opening of the park, you can just walk-in and enter the Nintendo World without any additional tickets. But after an hour so, the area becomes restricted and you will need to get a Timed-Entry Ticket, which will indicate your entry time. Once these tickets are gone, there will be the Lottery Tickets, which tickets are chosen randomly. It is very seldom to win these Lottery Tickets.
・Here’s a useful blog post where you can check the current status of the Timed-Entry Ticket distribution (“Numbered Ticket”) to get an idea of what time Timed-Entry begin:
To ensure you can enter the Nintendo World, you could...
① Run to Nintendo World at opening of park!!
② Get Timed Entry Ticket (free) at the park
③ Buy the Nintendo World Timed-Entry Ticket bundled with Studio Day Pass (this can not be purchased from the official USJ website, but only from the official travel agency such as Klook) 🙋🏻♀️
④ Buy the Express Pass (make sure to select the one which includes Nintendo World Timed-Entry Ticket) 🙋🏻♀️
✨Tips for Method ① < Run to Nintendo World at opening of park!! >
□ Get there 90 mins before!!
・Then you can enter and go directly to Nintendo World without any concern about the Timed-Entry Tickets.
・If you have the “Early Entry Ticket”, which you could buy bundled with the Studio Day Pass 🙋🏻♀️, then you can enter another 15 mins earlier than the others.
・For the first hour or so, they will let everyone in the Nintendo World until the place fills up. After then, they start requiring the Timed-Entry Tickets. It takes about 7-10 minutes fast walk to get to Nintendo World from the entrance. If you manage to enter before the Timed-Entry begins, you could also get the Timed-Entry Tickets for later use, if you want. The rule is that you can only get 1 Timed-Entry Ticket per day.
✨Tips for Method ② < Get Timed-Entry Ticket (free) at the park >
□ Download the USJ App beforehand!
・The USJ App will show the attraction wait times in real-time. Also you can apply for the Timed-Entry Tickets for Nintendo World, once the area is restricted for entry. Make sure to register all the ticket QR codes of your group onto one phone, so that you can apply for the Timed-Entry Tickets for the same entry time. Better to register your tickets before coming to the park (Note: this App has horrible reviews, so read the reviews to know what to expect… also, I heard Android works better than iPhone with this App)
・Once you are inside the park, you can apply for the Timed-Entry Tickets on the USJ App or pickup the tickets at the machines, both free. This function will be available only after the timed entry begins.
✨Tips for Method ③ < Buy the Timed-Entry Ticket bundled with Studio Day Pass >
・If you want to be certain to get into Nintendo World, you can get the Studio Day Pass with Timed-Entry Ticket bundled. If you don’t know if you can get there 90 mins before opening or if you don’t want to hassle with USJ App installations or search for the ticket machine there, this is the easy solution. This bundled ticket is not available on the official USJ website, but only from the official travel agency. For additional $17, you can get this Timed-Entry Ticket - this might be worth it especially if you are visiting from abroad. 🙋🏻♀️
✨Tips for Method ④ < Buy the Express Pass >
・In addition to the bundled Timed-Entry Ticket, the Express Pass will allow you to skip the line and minimize the waiting time. Just make sure you purchase the Express Pass which includes the Timed-Entry Ticket.
・Here’s some data on how much waiting time was reduced by using the Express Pass.
< Mario Kart >
Expected Wait Time : 140 mins | Actual Wait Time : 17 mins
< Harry Potter >
Expected Wait Time : 120 mins | Actual Wait Time : 8 mins
< Backdrop >
Expected Wait Time : 100 mins | Actual Wait Time : 16 mins
< Hollywood Dream the Ride >
Expected Wait Time : 90 mins | Actual Wait Time : 6 mins
< Yoshi’s Adventure >
Expected Wait Time : 80 mins | Actual Wait Time : 9 mins
< Spider Man >
Expected Wait Time : 55 mins | Actual Wait Time : 4 mins
・It’s often the case, that the Expected Wait Time is over-estimated by about 20 mins or so. But even so, the Express Pass does reduce the waiting time tremendously. Personally, I’d like to have time to enjoy the parades and shop, in addition to going on all the exiting rides, so if I could afford it, I would go for it. 🙋🏻♀️
A few more tips…
□ Single Rider 🎢
If you are single or willing to ride separately, there is a line for single riders for selected rides, which is usually shorter; but on the other hand there’s some people who waited 290 mins even in this single rider line (which is probably the guiness record of waiting times), so this might be based on luck, but always good to know about it 😅
□ Power up band ⌚️
This is necessary for 5 attractions in Nintendo World to collect coins and points. If you want to get these, you can only get them inside the Nintendo World area. There are some carts selling these at the entrance, but usually there’s a long line. It’s better to go inside the Nintendo area, go through the tunnel, and there will be carts which sell them there also, hopefully with a shorter line.
□ Kinopi’s Cafe 🌳
(in Nintendo World)
This place is extremely popular, so usually after the first few hours, they start requiring Timed-Entry Tickets. So, once they start distributing these tickets, pick it up, so you can return to it after your rides. On busy days, these tickets are gone by early afternoon, and you may not be able to go in…😢
□ Harry Potter World 🧙♀️
The Harry Potter World hasn't required the Timed-Entry Tickets for quite a while (since 2021 June), so you'll most likely be able to enter without any additional tickets.
□ Where to Stay
・Official hotels
Happy Travels 🇯🇵
💕MiA
The home for unique & authentic travel
