Day 1:
Hey, it’s Wes and Chanda, and welcome to DinkLife! Today’s episode is all about our first day at Universal Studios Japan (USJ) as part of our Japan travel series. We did a lot of research before our trip, watching countless vlogs and gathering recommendations. One important tip we came across was to buy tickets ahead of time since the park could sell out. However, we discovered that the USJ website doesn’t accept American credit cards, so we couldn’t purchase tickets directly. Luckily, we found an independent website called Klook that worked perfectly for us.
We decided to get two-day passes, which cost around $110. Many sources suggested that one day would be enough to experience Universal Studios Japan, but we’re glad we bought two-day tickets. The park was incredibly crowded, especially in Nintendo World, which we’ll talk about more in our upcoming videos. The crowds were unlike anything we’ve seen before, even compared to Orlando’s theme parks.
Express passes are available for purchase on Klook as well, but they work differently in Japan. There are various combinations of rides and different pricing tiers. We couldn’t find any available for the day we visited, and unfortunately, they were completely sold out at the gate too. So, if you want Express passes, make sure to buy them as soon as you purchase your tickets.
We arrived at 8AM the park, as we had heard that the front gate opens 30 minutes to an hour before the official opening time. There were already hundreds of people lined up, with some even queuing up at 6 a.m. It turned out that being early didn’t offer many advantages at Universal Studios Japan, except for one ride.
As we explored the park, we discovered that the New York area was straight ahead, while the main area with Mel’s Diner, roller coasters, and Jaws was to the right. We decided to head straight and stumbled upon a popular VR ride that had a wait time of 220 minutes. Considering the long wait, we chose to explore the back lot and take some photos since there weren’t many people around.
One important tip for visiting Universal Studios Japan is to request a timed entry to Super Nintendo World. If you don’t have an Express pass, you must go to the center section near the Jaws ride and request a time slot. These time slots sell out quickly, so it’s best to do it as soon as you enter the park. You can also use the Universal app to queue up for Super Nintendo World, but you need to scan your ticket inside the park to access it.
Once inside Super Nintendo World, we highly recommend purchasing the wristbands. They cost around $30 each but are well worth it. The wristbands are essential for fully enjoying the interactive experiences in Nintendo World, especially if you’re a Nintendo fan. They allow you to play games within the Universal app and participate in multiplayer battles. We spent around four hours in Nintendo World and had a blast.
While Super Nintendo World is visually stunning, it’s important to note that there are only two rides available. The first one we experienced was the Mario Kart ride, which had a wait time of 50 minutes. The queue itself was impressive, but the ride didn’t fully live up to our expectations. It involved wearing a VR headset and using head movements to aim and shoot at targets. It felt more like a shooting gallery than a traditional Mario Kart experience.
After Mario Kart, we decided to ride Yoshi’s Adventure, which had a posted wait time of 45 minutes. The wait time was accurate, and the ride was enjoyable.
Day 2:
We’re continuing our Japan travel series and sharing our second day at Universal Studios. Our first priority was to secure a time to visit Super Nintendo World because, as we mentioned in our previous video, the merchandise there can be hard to find elsewhere in the park. Wes had his eyes set on a t-shirt, and we wanted to make sure we didn’t miss out. After getting our entry time, we decided to hop on the Hollywood Dream roller coaster while we waited. The line was around 60 minutes, but it moved quickly, and the coaster turned out to be a blast!
One thing to note about the Hollywood Dream coaster is that they have strict rules about what you can wear and carry. No earrings, necklaces, or rings allowed, and they even take your bags from you and store them in lockers. Chanda had to hide her jewelry in a zip pocket to comply with the rules.
Once we finished the roller coaster, it was time for a meal. We learned from the previous day’s experience and decided to eat early to avoid the long lines during lunchtime. We headed to Mills, a burger joint, and while the options were limited, the burgers and fries hit the spot. Just keep in mind that the portion sizes are on the smaller side, and drink refills aren’t available.
With our stomachs satisfied, we caught a show we hadn’t seen the day before, Water World. It’s a stunt show similar to the one in Hollywood, and while it was entirely in Japanese, we had seen it before and enjoyed the stunts and action. It’s recommended to arrive early to secure good seats, and we managed to find decent ones by being there about 45 minutes in advance.
After the show, we explored the Peanuts-themed area, which was adorable and well-themed for kids. We were initially just going to pass through quickly, but we ended up spending quite some time watching the kids drive around in little cars. It was too cute to resist!
Moving on, Wes decided to check out a 4D theater experience. It was based on an anime he hadn’t seen before, but the unique experience of a 4D theater in Japan intrigued him. Chanda opted to enjoy some popcorn while Wes experienced the show. The seats jiggled, poked, and moved, creating an immersive experience, even though everything was in Japanese.
While Chanda was enjoying her popcorn, she noticed a couple next to her had left their phone and wallet on the table. As an American, she couldn’t leave it unattended and ended up carrying it around until she found a cast member to turn it into the lost and found. It’s interesting to see the cultural differences in how people handle personal belongings.
Afterward, we indulged in a snack from a Jaws-themed restaurant—a blue raspberry and cream soda Swiss roll cake with a shark fin-shaped gummy on top. It tasted as good as it looked, and the cake had a unique flavor that we enjoyed.
Overall a great day!
DinkLife 