Table of Contents

History
Lands and attractions
Hollywood
New York City
Minion Park
San Francisco
Jurassic Park
Amity Village
Universal Wonderland
WaterWorld
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Super Nintendo World
Seasonal overlays
Former attractions
Western
Land of Oz
Parades
Awards
Attendance
Official hotels
Incidents and accidents
See also
Notes
References
External links

Universal Studios Japan

NameUniversal Studios Japan
Logo
Image
CaptionUniversal Studios Japan entrance in 2006
LocationKonohana-ku, Osaka
Location2Japan
ThemeShow business and Universal entertainment
Homepagehttps://www.usj.co.jp/e/
OwnerUSJ LLC
(Universal Destinations & Experiences)
(wholly owned by NBCUniversal, a division of Comcast)
OperatorUSJ LLC
Universal Destinations & Experiences
Visitors16 million (2023)
Area54 ha (133 acres)
Coasters6
Water Rides2
Coordinates34°39′53″N, 135°25′59″E
StatusOperating

is a theme park located in Osaka, Japan. Opened on March 31, 2001, it is one of six Universal Studios theme parks worldwide and was the first to open outside the United States. The park is owned and operated by a wholly owned subsidiary of Comcast NBCUniversal. The park is similar in layout to Universal Studios Florida and contains selected attractions from both Universal Orlando and Universal Studios Hollywood, in addition to a small number of unique attractions.

Over 11 million guests visited the park in its opening year, making it the fastest theme park to reach the 10 million guest milestone at the time. In 2024, Universal Studios Japan hosted 16 million visitors, making it the third-most visited theme park in the world behind Magic Kingdom and Disneyland, and the most visited theme park in Asia.

History

In December 1992, Osaka Universal Planning Inc. was established in Minato-ku, Osaka to plan and research for the development and construction of a large-scale theme park in Japan. In February 1996, the master agreement regarding planning, construction and operation of the Universal Studios Japan theme park was concluded with American corporation MCA Inc. Osaka Universal Planning Inc. was also renamed USJ Co., Ltd. Licensing agreements regarding the planning, construction and operation of Universal Studios Japan was concluded with Universal in 1998 and later that year, construction of the theme park officially began.

In July 1999, Universal sealed a marketing deal with 11 major Japanese companies, including All Nippon Airways and Matsushita Electric, to sponsor the park's attractions.

On February 21, 2001, in preparation for the opening of Universal Studios Japan, All Nippon Airways unveiled the Woody Woodpecker-themed Woody Jet, using the Boeing 767-300, for its domestic flights. The next day, Universal Studios Japan held a pre-opening preview.

The park opened on March 31, 2001. It was Universal's third theme park and the first outside the United States. The park cost US$ 1.7 billion to build.

The opening of Universal Studios Japan gave a boost in the economy of the Kansai region and has added another 29,000 jobs in the region's construction and tourism-related industries.

Lands and attractions

The park covers 54ha.

The attractions are spread across ten different areas. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, opened on 15 July 2014 with its flagship attraction, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. The area and its attractions were modeled after its previous iterations at Universal Orlando and Universal Studios Hollywood. The tenth and newest area, Super Nintendo World, opened after several delays on 18 March 2021.

Hollywood

Based on the neighborhood of Hollywood, Los Angeles.

Cinema 4-D Theater

The former E.T. Adventure

Attractions

NameOpenedDescription
Cinema 4-D Theater2003A 4D theater attraction that currently shows Shrek's 4-D Adventure or Sesame Street 4-D Movie Magic.
Sing on Tour2019A musical theatre attraction based on Illumination's Sing film. The building's exterior is themed as the "Illumination Theater".
Universal Monsters Live Rock and Roll Show2001A live musical revue stage show based on the Universal Monsters.
Playing with Curious George2018A show attraction based on Curious George. The attraction uses Pepper's ghost projections and multi-sensory production technology and props.
Hollywood Dream – The Ride2007A steel roller coaster that features a sound system that allows the riders to choose what ride music they wish to listen to.
Space Fantasy – The Ride2010An indoor spinning roller coaster with a space theme, containing many special effects.

Notable Cafes and Stores

Mario Cafe & Store2020Originally themed as "Schwab's Pharmacy", the store offers themed food and an exclusive line of "Whose Cap?"-branded Mario merchandise.

New York City

Based on the city of New York City, New York.

NameOpenedDescription
Detective Conan 4-D Live Show ~Jewel Under The Starry Sky~2024A 3D/live-action show based on Case Closed.
Kuromi Live: Kuromify the World Tour "Crystal Clear"2025A live-action show based on Kuromi and My Melody.

Minion Park

An area inspired by Illumination's Despicable Me franchise. It opened in March 2017.

NameOpenedDescription
Despicable Me Minion Mayhem2017A computer-animated simulator ride featuring the characters from Despicable Me movie franchise.
Freeze Ray Sliders2018A flat ride featuring spinning cars, centering on the Minions cooling off the Minion Park Fountain with Gru's freeze ray.
Illumination's Villain-Con Minion Blast2025A moving walkway shooter attraction themed to the Minions film franchise.

San Francisco

Located between Minion Park and Jurassic Park, this area right off the lagoon is based on the city of San Francisco, California, and recreates neighborhoods like Fisherman’s Wharf and Chinatown. The area does not have any rides, but does have four restaurants: Happiness Cafe, Lombard's Landing, The Dragon's Pearl, and Wharf Cafe.

Jurassic Park

Inspired by Steven Spielberg's blockbuster film franchise of the same name.

NameOpenedDescription
Jurassic Park: The Ride2001A water-based amusement ride based on Steven Spielberg's 1993 film Jurassic Park and Michael Crichton's novel of the same name.
The Flying Dinosaur2016A flying roller coaster that holds the record for being the most expensive roller coaster ever manufactured by B&M.

Amity Village

Inspired by Steven Spielberg's Jaws film.

NameOpenedDescription
Jaws2001A scenic boat ride with special effects and animatronics of the titular shark.

Universal Wonderland

Universal Wonderland is a section aimed at children and families and home to well-known characters like Elmo, Snoopy, and Hello kitty. Opened in March 2012, it contains three themed sub-zones including Snoopy Studios, Hello Kitty's Fashion Avenue, and Sesame Street Fun Zone.

Snoopy Studios

Based on the Peanuts comic strip. Snoopy Studios was originally its own standalone area, opening with the park in April 2001 before becoming part of Universal Wonderland in 2012.

NameOpenedDescription
The Flying Snoopy2012An aerial carousel ride with Snoopy-themed cars.
Snoopy's Sound Stage Adventure2001An indoor playground attraction themed to a film set.
Snoopy's Flying Ace Adventure2025An indoor roller coaster based on the storyline of Snoopy sitting atop his dog house imagining himself as a World War I pilot, fighting the Red Baron. It replaced the former Snoopy's Great Race.

Hello Kitty's Fashion Avenue

Themed to Sanrio's Hello Kitty franchise.

NameOpenedDescription
Hello Kitty's Cupcake Dream2012A Teacups ride with cars themed to different cupcakes.
Hello Kitty's Ribbon Collection2012A themed indoor meet-and-greet with Hello Kitty.

Sesame Street Fun Zone

Based on the children's television series Sesame Street. It is split into three sub-areas - "Sesame Street Plaza", "Sesame Central Park" and "Elmo's Imagination Playland".

NameOpenedDescription
Abby's Magical Party2012An indoor play area filled with larges spheres and stars.
Abby's Magical Tree2012An indoor rope-climbing attraction themed to a tree.
Bert and Ernie's Wonder: The Sea2012An indoor ball pit themed to Bert and Ernie's bathroom.
Big Bird's Big Top Circus2012A carousel ride with Sesame Street themed animals and characters. Formerly the "Magical Oz Go-Round", it was the only attraction from the "Land of Oz" area to be repurposed for Universal Wonderland.
Big Bird's Big Nest2012A large climbing rope attraction.
Cookie Monster Slide2012A slide with Cookie Monster's tongue as the slide.
Elmo's Bubble Bubble2012A small log flume-like ride for children.
Elmo's Go Go Skateboard2015A Rockin' Tug ride that looks like Elmo's skateboard.
Elmo's Little Drive2012A driving school attraction with Elmo-themed cars, aimed for young children.
Ernie's Rubber Duckie Race2012Guests race rubber duckies down a small river of water. Originally known as "Central Park Duckie Race".
Grover's Construction Company2012An indoor play area themed to water pipes.
Moppy's Balloon Trip2015A high tower ride that affords a view of the area.
Moppy's Lucky Dance Party2012A live interactive show themed to Universal Studios Japan's exclusive "Moppy" Sesame Street character.
Sesame's Big Drive2012A driving school attraction with Sesame Street-themed cars.
Water Garden2012A water fountain play area. Originally known as "Central Park Springs".

WaterWorld

Based on Universal Pictures' 1995 film of the same name.

NameOpenedDescription
WaterWorld2001 (original version)
2018 (current version)
A live water stunt show showcasing many special effects.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter (Universal Studios Japan)
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter (ウィザーディング・ワールド・オブ・ハリー・ポッター, Wizādingu Wārudo obu Harī Pottā) is a themed area based on the Harry Potter series. It is a collaboration of Universal Destinations & Experiences and Warner Bros. Entertainment. It opened to the public on July 15, 2014.

It contains the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride and the Flight of the Hippogriff roller coaster. The village of Hogsmeade and Hogwarts’ Black Lake are also recreated. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter cost Universal Studios Japan ¥45 billion ($442.2 million) to construct.

NameOpenedDescription
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey2014A motion-based dark ride that takes guests through scenes inspired by the Harry Potter books and films.
Flight of the Hippogriff2014A junior roller coaster based on the creature featured in the books.

Super Nintendo World

Super Nintendo World
Super Nintendo World is wedged in at the northern end of the park, west of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and south of the Nintendo headquarters that are just outside of the property. Super Mario Land opened on March 18, 2021, and is focused on the Mario franchise and its Yoshi spin-off series. On December 11, 2024, an expansion themed to Donkey Kong Country opened.

Guests enter Super Nintendo World through a warp pipe from an entrance plaza. The pipe leads into Super Mario Land, and specifically Princess Peach's Castle. When guests exit the castle, they enter the courtyard on the second floor, immersed in the Mushroom Kingdom with Bowser's Castle across the area. From the back of the Super Mario Land, guests can walk into Donkey Kong Country.

Attractions

NameOpenedDescription
Mario Kart: Koopa's Challenge2021An augmented reality-type dark ride attraction based on the Mario Kart series.
Yoshi's Adventure2021An omnimover attraction where guests board a Yoshi and ride around Super Nintendo World.
Power-Up Band Key Challenges2021Several interactive mini-attractions where guests can interact with Mario enemies and Bowser Jr. These require separately sold Power-Up Bands.
Mine-Cart Madness2024A roller coaster themed to the Donkey Kong franchise.

Notable cafes and stores

NameOpenedDescription
Kinopio's Cafe2021A restaurant themed to the inside of a Toad House.
Yoshi's Snack Island2021A quick-service location that serves Yoshi-themed drinks and snacks.
Pit Stop Popcorn2021A quick-service location that serves flavored popcorn and themed popcorn containers.
1-Up Factory2021A merchandise store themed to the inside of a factory.
Jungle Beat Shakes2024A quick-service location that serves food themed to the Donkey Kong franchise.
Funky's Fly 'n' Buy2024A store selling Donkey Kong-themed merchandise.

Seasonal overlays

The park is consistently installing seasonal attraction and show overlays. Some include Halloween Horror Nights, Christmas, Easter, Summer, and Cool Japan. The park's "Cool Japan" seasonal attractions have been based on popular Japanese anime and video game franchises, including: Sailor Moon, Neon Genesis Evangelion, Shin Godzilla, Attack on Titan, One Piece, Detective Conan, Lupin III, Monster Hunter, and Final Fantasy.

Former attractions

NameOpenedClosedDescription
Abby's Magical Garden20122014Outdoor play area. It was removed to make way for Moppy's Balloon Trip.
The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man - The Ride20042024A 3D dark ride based on Marvel's Spider-Man. In May 2023, the park announced the attraction would be closing. The park ran a "Spider-Man The Ride - Final Campaign" from July 4, 2023, until the ride closed exactly twenty years after it first opened at the park on January 22, 2024.
Animal Actors Stage20012006A stage show featuring multiple animals performing stunts and tricks. It was rethemed to Toto & Friends in 2006.
Animation Celebration20012017A 29-minute interactive show attraction, featuring Woody Woodpecker. Manufactured by BRC Imagination Arts, the attraction used special effects and the company's Holavision technology to integrate a live actor with projected animation illusions on stage. The show begins in the pre-show area, where the guests visit a working animation studio. A host presents them a video, introducing scriptwriter Matsui (played by Rome Kanda), animator Kyoko, colorist Ayaka, and Gōtokuji (played by Shôji Maruoka), the studio's boss. Matsui explains the animation process used in the making of a Woody Woodpecker cartoon. Next, the guests enter the main theater, the Digital Studio, which seated 300 guests. Tetsuya "Yoshi" Yoshikawa (voiced by Toshihiko Seki), an apprentice animation director, is moments away from completing his first cartoon and demonstrating computer animation. Woody (voiced by Azusa Ichiba) somehow escapes from the animation computer, enters the room as a dimensional figure and gleefully wreaks havoc throughout the studio. After the show, guests were escorted into a room with interactive kiosks and large-scale games where they could make their own Woody Woodpecker cartoon. Before the show opened in Japan, a US test version was produced to prove the show's concept in 1997. In 2002, the attraction won the Outstanding Achievement Award in the "Attraction" category at the 9th Annual Thea Awards. On June 1, 2016, the attraction was put on an extended hiatus and temporarily replaced with Yo-Kai Watch: The Real from July 1, 2016 to January 8, 2018, with an announcement that it would reopen on April 1, 2018. However, on December 21, 2017, it was announced that the ride would be closed to make way for Playing with Curious George.
Backdraft20012020A special effects attraction based on the Universal film of the same name. Temporarily closed in September 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In May 2023 the park announced it had no intentions to reopen the attraction.
Back to the Future: The Ride20012016A simulator ride based on the franchise of the same name. It closed to make way for Despicable Me Minion Mayhem.
Big Bird's Climbing Nest20122014Outdoor jungle gym. It was removed to make way for Elmo's Go Go Skateboard.
E.T. Adventure20012009An indoor dark ride attraction based on E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. It closed to make way for Space Fantasy – The Ride.
Godzilla vs. Evangelion: The Real 4-D31 May 201925 August 2019An extreme-motion crossover ride between Godzilla and the characters from Neon Genesis Evangelion. It features a short 17-minute film directed by Kazuhiro Nakagawa where Godzilla from Shin Godzilla battles the Evangelion units. The ride also features a new incarnation of King Ghidorah based on Shin Godzilla's design.
Linus' Green Department20012001A maze attraction. Removed to expand Peppermint Patty's Stunt Slide.
Magical Starlight Parade20092016
Monster Make-Up20012003A live show attraction based on Universal Studios Florida's version of the show.
Motion Picture Magic20012002A live show attraction. It was hosted by director Steven Spielberg, and was originally designed by experience designer Bob Rogers and the design team BRC Imagination Arts, provided a tribute to the Universal Studios brand of motion pictures. During the show, the theater transformed into a multi-screen presentation and when the show ended, the main screen raised to present a real motion picture set in which the audience would cross through as they continued through the attraction show building. After closure, the building was turned into the 4D Theater, and plays Shrek 4-D and Sesame Street 4-D Movie Magic.
Peppermint Patty's Stunt Slide20012013A water slide complex located within the Snoopy Studios area. It originally was a two-slide complex before expanding to four slides in 2002. It was closed in 2013 and demolished to make way for attractions in "The Wizarding World of Harry Potter".
Pig-Pen's Prop Plaza20012011A sub-section of the Snoopy Playland area. Removed to make way for new attractions in the Universal Wonderland expansion.
Snoopy's Great Race20012020An indoor roller coaster. It did not reopen after the initial COVID-19 closure in February 2020, and was removed from the park's website in March 2021.
T2-3D: Battle Across Time20012020A 3D/live-action show based on Terminator 2: Judgment Day. Temporarily closed in September 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In May 2023 the park announced it had no intentions to reopen the attraction.

Western

The Western Area, and with it, The Wild Wild Wild West Stunt Show and the Animal Actors Stage show, were revamped to become Land of Oz in 2006. This involved completely re-theming two live shows, one restaurant and a number of retail facilities.

NameOpenedClosedDescription
The Wild Wild Wild West Stunt Show20012006A stunt show based upon a wide variety of Universal's Western films. Located in the Western Town section of the park, the show featured several cowboy-themed actors surviving death-defying stunts, shootings and explosions. The show closed in 2006 and has since been replaced by Wicked.

Land of Oz

The Western Area was replaced for 2006 with an area based on L. Frank Baum's Wizard of Oz book series.

The land closed in February 2011 to make way for Universal Wonderland.

NameOpenedClosedDescription
Wicked20062011An abbreviated one-act version of the musical, presented in Japanese. It closed in January 2011, a month prior to the land's closure.
Toto & Friends20062011An animal trick show, featuring dogs, birds and other trained animals.
Magical Oz-Go-Round20072011An Oz-themed carousel. This ride was retained during the Universal Wonderland transformation and was rethemed as Big Bird's Big Top Circus.

Parades

Universal's "Festa de Parade" 2018 Halloween parade

The park has held a variety of seasonal parades throughout the past two decades, including Festa de Parade, Universal Summer Parade – We Are One, and Minion Hacha-Mecha Christmas Party Parade.

Universal Studios Japan currently offers the nighttime Universal Spectacle Night Parade. This parade premiered on 17 May 2018, and features floats, performers, and characters based on the Wizarding World, Transformers, Jurassic Park and Despicable Me franchises.

The park also offers a daily daytime parade, titled No limit! Parade. The parade held its first preview performance on 27 February 2023, and officially premiered on 1 March 2023. It features floats, characters, and performers based on Hello Kitty, Peanuts, Despicable Me, Sesame Street, Sing, Mario Kart and Pokémon. While Mario and Pikachu appeared on Universal's No Limit!-marketing float at the Midosuji Autumn Party in November 2022, the No limit! Parade is the first time these franchises have appeared within a Universal Studios parade.

Awards

In 2011, USJ's Christmas tree was recognized by the Guinness World Records as the most illuminated Christmas tree in the world having 260,498 lights.


Attendance

2009201020112012201320142015201620172018
8,000,0008,160,0008,500,0009,700,00010,100,00011,800,00013,900,00014,500,00014,935,00014,300,000
201920202021202220232024Worldwide rank (2024)
14,500,0004,901,0005,500,00012,350,00016,000,00016,000,0003

Official hotels

Hotel Kintetsu Universal City (left) and Hotel Keihan Universal Tower (right)

There are five official hotels at or near the park:

Incidents and accidents

In November 2004, a 35-year-old woman from Osaka Prefecture suffered nerve damage in her right wrist, affecting the use of two of her fingers. This occurred when her hand got stuck in a safety bar of the E.T. Adventure attraction as an employee pulled it down to secure it.

The Yoshi's Adventure attraction suffered two accidents in late 2021, with a Goomba stack animatronic falling onto the ride during operation on August 12, 2021, and a fire starting in one of the ride's indoor areas on November 23, 2021. This caused everyone to evacuate from the ride and the rest of the park. Neither accidents led to any park guest injuries.

In October 2022, an employee at the amusement park found human bones in shrubbery along a road west of the premises.

See also


Notes

References


External links



Category:Amusement parks in Japan
Category:Amusement parks in Osaka
Category:2001 establishments in Japan
Category:Entertainment companies established in 2001
Category:Amusement parks opened in 2001
Category:Konohana-ku, Osaka
Category:Universal Destinations & Experiences attractions by name