How to Plan a Family Trip to Universal Studios Japan

My family was part of a group of six families travelling together in Japan on a March Break trip. One of the stops we made was in Osaka, and we decided to check out Universal Studios Japan when we were in the area.

Having been to Universal Studios in the United States before, we had a pretty good idea of what to expect. However, there were many unique features to Universal Studios Japan that drew us in, and we wound up spending the better part of a day enjoying the theme park together.

Universal Studios Japan

Universal Studios Japan is located in Osaka. It is easily accessible by public transport via the JR Yumesaki Line and getting off at Universal City Station. From here, it’s just a short walk to the park entrance.

We found it to be quite easy to navigate our way to the theme park from the Hyatt Regency Osaka. Getting around Japan as a family is a breeze, and riding around on the metro is part of the fun, too.

Universal Studios Japan features many of the same attractions as the other Universal Studios theme parks, including rides based on popular movies and TV shows like Harry Potter, Jurassic Park, and Spider-Man. It also has its own unique attractions and experiences, like the Flying Dinosaur ride, and showcases anime and pop culture icons from Japan. 

Although park staff can communicate in English, most, if not all recordings on attractions are in Japanese only. Signage and various shows will offer a mix of Japanese and English, so you may want to use an app like Google Lens to help with navigation.

Buying Tickets for Universal Studios Japan

Studio Pass tickets, your basic ticket to enter the park, start from ¥8,600 ($86 CAD) per guest aged 12 and up, and from ¥5,600 ($56 CAD) per child aged 4–11. Tickets only become available for sale 60 days in advance.

Because of the influx of visitors to Japan, tickets do sell out, so I’d suggest getting tickets as early as possible. This is especially true during popular travel times, such as March Break or the summer holidays. 

Tickets can be bought directly from the Universal Studios Japan website or on Klook. I personally recommend buying it directly from Universal Studios Japan, as this option allows you to choose the ticket you want, including any Express Pass options, which aren’t available on Klook.

Some people have reported difficulty using certain credit cards on the Universal Studios Japan payment page. In…