Universal Studios Japan reviews: Suggested Universal Studios Japan 1 day itinerary

In this article, we will review in detail a day of fun at Universal Studios Japan – from how to get there, buy tickets, which areas are worth visiting, which rides to play first, to “bloody” tips to avoid wasting time waiting in line. So, can you do universal studios japan in one day, is 1 day enough for universal studios japan? Let’s check out the Universal Studios Japan reviews: Suggested Universal Studios Japan 1 day itinerary in this post that compiled by Klook!

If you have ever dreamed of entering the world of Harry Potter, Mario or Minions – then Universal Studios Japan (USJ) in Osaka is the place to make all your cinematic dreams come true. On this trip, we spent a whole day exploring the most famous amusement park in Japan, and the result was… so much fun that we didn’t want to go home!

From the moment we lined up to enter the gate, the music, atmosphere and energy here made us “burn” ourselves for 12 hours. Not just a park, USJ is truly another world – where you can scream on the roller coaster, laugh out loud in the Minions game, and then stand in awe in front of Hogwarts castle in a fairy tale setting.

Universal Studios Japan Studio Pass

Book Universal Studios Japan tickets on Klook to enter the gate with a QR code – no need to queue, play all day without interruption!

Before You Go: A Few Things You Should Know About Universal Studios Japan

We arrived at Universal Studios Japan (USJ) on a sunny day in Osaka. From the city center, just take the JR train to Universal City station, about 20 minutes, and we immediately saw the giant welcome gate with the familiar rotating logo. The atmosphere here is very special – it was early in the morning but already crowded with people, everyone was excited, holding tickets, wearing Mario or Minion hats, smiling brightly.

If you plan to go, come early about 30-45 minutes before the gate opens, because Japanese people are extremely punctual and line up very quickly. Right from the entrance, Universal movie music was playing, making us feel like we were about to enter a real cinematic world.

Regarding the entrance ticket, we booked our tickets on Klook, just scan the QR code to go through the gate, no need to queue to exchange for paper tickets. Thanks to that, we saved at least half an hour – extremely valuable time if you only have one day here. In addition to the main ticket, USJ also has an Express Pass to skip the queue for popular games like Mario Kart, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey or Hollywood Dream. It’s really worth the money if you go on weekends or peak season.

Universal Studios Japan Studio Pass

Another small tip: download the official USJ app before going. The app will show the waiting time for each game, detailed map and parade schedule. Thanks to that, we were able to plan our travel schedule reasonably, without having to run around or miss any important games.

Suggested Universal Studios Japan 1 day itinerary – Have Fun and Forget the Way Home

The moment we stepped through the main gate, all fatigue almost disappeared. The space was filled with music, the smell of popcorn and an exciting atmosphere spread everywhere. Along Hollywood Boulevard, every building, shop, and even the cartoon characters passing by to greet customers made us take out our phones to take pictures.

The most impressive thing about Klook is how USJ “recreates the movie world” to every detail – not only the games, but also the sounds, lights, and even the scents are made to be realistic. Just a few minutes standing in the middle of the boulevard, you will find yourself falling into another world – both familiar and new, both real and dreamlike.

Morning at Super Nintendo World – The World of Mario Childhood “Comes to Life”

Right after passing through the gate, we went straight to Super Nintendo World – the hottest area of ​​USJ at the moment. This area has limited entry, so the first thing to do is to check the app to get the entry time. Thanks to arriving early, we were able to enter immediately without having to wait too long.

Stepping through the familiar green tube, everything around us suddenly turned into a childhood game world. The gold coins jingled, the red mushrooms and green mushrooms danced, and the music from Mario games echoed everywhere. It felt like we were “jumping into” the Nintendo screen.

Universal Studios Japan Studio Pass

The first game we tried was Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge – a virtual reality game, wearing a VR helmet and driving on the track with Bowser. The images, sounds, and even the wind blowing in our faces were so vivid that we laughed the whole time. If we had to choose only one game to play in Super Nintendo World, this would definitely be the choice we couldn’t miss.

After that, we walked around the area, tried touching the “?” blocks to collect coins, and took pictures with Mario, Luigi, and Princess Peach. There was also Kinopio’s Café, decorated with mushrooms and cakes so cute that everyone had to stop and take pictures. The food cost around 1,000-1,500 yen, enough for a late breakfast.

Around 11am, when the area started to get more crowded, we quickly left here to continue to the Harry Potter area before the crowds poured in. If you want to fully experience Super Nintendo World without the crowds, come here right after the gate opens – it’s quiet, easy to take pictures, and saves time waiting in line.

Afternoon at Harry Potter World – When Hogwarts Really Existed

Leaving the Mario area, we headed straight to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – an area that makes anyone who has read the books or watched the movies excited. Right from the entrance, the atmosphere was completely different: the forest was gloomy, the wind blew through the leaves, then the stone path leading straight to the towering Hogwarts castle in the distance. Even though we had seen the pictures hundreds of times, seeing it in person still made us exclaim “wow”.

Our first destination was Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey – a ride that simulates the feeling of flying with Harry around Hogwarts. We used the Express Pass, so we only waited about 15 minutes instead of almost an hour. This game was really impressive: the seats moved in the direction of flight, the screen curved around, the images were so vivid that at times we thought we were about to touch a real dragon.

After that, we stopped by Three Broomsticks for lunch. The space was classic wood, the hanging lights were sparkling, and the smell of butter beer spread everywhere. We ordered Fish & Chips, Shepherd’s Pie and of course, Butterbeer – a light sweet drink, creamy foam, cool and extremely addictive. Lunch was about 2,500 yen/person, quite good for a restaurant in the park.

Before leaving this area, we did not forget to stop by Ollivanders to watch the legendary wand selection. The person who was “chosen” a wand randomly from the group of guests, the whole audience cheered – extremely fun. Even if you don’t buy anything, you should still go in and watch, because this is part of the spirit of the wizarding world.

Universal Studios Japan Express Pass

The Harry Potter area is not too big, but every corner is very “lively”. We spent nearly two hours here, playing, taking pictures, and wandering through each small alley under the artificial snow. By the time we left, everyone felt like they had just lived in a real movie.

Afternoon at Minion Park – Non-Stop Fun

After lunch at Hogwarts, we returned to the central area to explore Minion Park – an area that is always filled with laughter. As soon as you enter, you will hear the vibrant background music and Minion “bananaaa~” sounds echoing everywhere. The atmosphere here is truly “unconditionally fun”: bright colors, dancing characters, everyone smiling and taking pictures continuously.

The Despicable Me Minion Mayhem game is the biggest highlight of this area. We had to wait about 40 minutes because of the large number of visitors, but it was really worth it. When the seats started to shake, the 3D images opened, the whole group “fell” into the super chaotic Minion world – both funny and dizzying but extremely memorable. Those who are prone to motion sickness may feel a little dizzy, but the images and sounds are very vivid.

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After the game, we walked around the souvenir shops. The Minion area has so many cute things: teddy bears, shirts, Minion snacks, even individually packaged banana cakes. Everyone “accidentally” bought at least a few. Next to it is an ice cream counter, juice, and drinks with bright yellow character images – just looking at them makes me happy.

Afternoon: A Little Adventure at Hollywood Dream

In the middle of the afternoon, we decided to try Hollywood Dream – The Ride, the tallest and most famous roller coaster in USJ. There are two versions: one running forward and one running backward. The whole team split into two groups to experience both.

The feeling when the train started to climb slowly to the top, the wind blew strongly, our hearts beat fast, then suddenly plunged down – the kind of screaming until our voices were hoarse. We were both scared and laughing, screaming and holding hands – the feeling of adrenaline rushing was hard to describe. If you are a fan of thrills, this is a must-try ride. When we got off the train, everyone had messy hair, red faces, but were extremely excited.

USJ Evening – When the Lights Come On & Everything Becomes Sparkling

As the sun sets, Universal Studios Japan seems to be wearing a new coat. The Hollywood buildings light up, the background music changes, and people gradually gather along the avenue waiting for NO LIMIT! Parade.

We stood in the middle of Hollywood Boulevard – the location considered the “golden spot” to watch the parade. When the convoy appeared, the atmosphere exploded: lights, music, cartoon characters, dancers, all blending together into a real party. You don’t need to be a fan of Mario, Minion or Harry Potter, you will still find yourself laughing all the time because everything is so lively.

After the parade, we stopped by Mel’s Drive-In – a 60s American-style restaurant, to have a burger and fries before going out the gate. Sitting and looking through the glass window, the neon lights reflected on the foggy road, the bustling sounds of people outside – the feeling was both happy and melancholy, like being in the middle of a movie scene.

Before leaving, the team stopped at a few souvenir shops to buy some small things – Harry’s wand, a Minion hat, a Mario mushroom coffee cup. Everyone was carrying a big bag, exhausted but still radiant.

Out the gate, the clock showed almost 9 pm. Twelve hours at USJ passed so quickly that it was unbelievable. Looking back at the Universal sign rotating in the sky, we just smiled – the smile of people who had just had a truly happy day.

Tips for a Perfect Day at USJ

• Arrive early at 8am to enter Super Nintendo World before the crowds.
• Buy tickets & Express Pass on Klook to scan QR code at the gate, skip the queue.
• Follow a reasonable route: Mario → Harry Potter → Minion → Hollywood Dream.
• Use the USJ app to see real-time wait times and parade schedules.
• Wear comfortable shoes, rechargeable batteries & small water bottles – you will walk more than 15,000 steps/day.
• Eat early or later than 12pm to avoid crowds, try Three Broomsticks or Kinopio’s Café.
  Watch the evening parade and buy souvenirs near the gate, less crowded.
  Bring sunscreen & hat if you go in summer, Osaka’s sun is quite harsh.

Tip: The key to a perfect day at USJ is to arrive early, book tickets in advance and… keep the energy “to have fun” all day long!

A day at Universal Studios Japan passed faster than we thought. It all seemed like a complete movie about our childhood, except this time, we were the main characters. USJ is not just an amusement park, but a place where you are allowed to live young, laugh out loud, scream loudly, and temporarily forget all the deadlines out there.

Even though we have been to many places, we still have to admit: Universal Studios Japan has its own unique energy – both neat in Japanese style, brilliant like Hollywood, and cute like the characters we used to love.

If you are planning a trip to Osaka, spend at least one day at USJ. And remember, book tickets on Klook in advance to get in quickly, skip the lines, and easily choose the right Express Pass combo. Don’t forget!

Have you put Universal Studios Japan on your “wish-list” in Japan?Tips for a Perfect Day at USJ

Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in, to and from Osaka you can refer to

• OSAKA Unlimited Travel Pass (1 or 2 Days)
• Osaka Amazing Pass (HK/TW/ICN/Osaka Pick Up & MY Delivery)
• Kyoto-Osaka Sightseeing Pass (1 Day/2 Days, Kyoto Pick Up)
• JR West Kansai Pass (1, 2, 3 and 4 Day Rail Pass)
• Kyoto Temples & Shrines Day Tour from Osaka: Fushimi Inari-taisha, Arashiyama, Kiyomizu-dera & More
• Limousine Bus Transfers between Kansai International Airport (KIX) and Osaka or Kyoto
• 4G WiFi (Japan Pick Up) for Japan
• JR Pass for Whole Japan (7, 14, or 21 Days)
• teamLab Botanical Garden Osaka Ticket
• Kyoto and Nara Day Tour from Osaka/Kyoto
• Arashiyama & Nara Todai-ji Day Tour from Osaka
• Solaniwa Onsen Ticket in Osaka
• ICOCA IC Card

Are you looking for more Osaka travel guide and top things to do in Osaka: Tours, activities, attractions and other things? Read more: Osaka travel blog — The fullest Osaka city guide for a wonderful trip to Osaka for the first-timers.