Main entrance at Universal Studios Japan
During my recent Japan trip, I went to Universal Studios Japan (USJ) in Osaka with my family. USJ is the 4th most visited theme park in the world. Even though we went on a weekday, the park was packed with families, local students as well as tourists. Luckily, I’d bought the Universal Express Pass 4 which gave us priority for 4 attractions. As I was traveling with my parents, I decided to get the standard pass which does not include any thrill rides.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Hogwarts Castle
 Hogsmeade |  Shops |  Hogwarts Express |
Although Universal Studios is famous for its high-speed roller-coasters and gravity-defying thrill rides, there’s still much more for the whole family to enjoy together. The main attraction in USJ has to be the themed area of “Harry Potter”. The themed area was made to look exactly like Hogwarts as seen in the films. Everything to the last detail was designed with care and attention. Despite not being a “Harry Potter” fan, I have to say I was pretty impressed. It was the most crowded area in the park (you can see glimpses of the crowd as I struggled to take some photos). People were posing for pictures, cosplaying as wizards, but almost everyone was queuing for the park’s most popular ride.
“Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey” is a motion-based dark ride which brings audiences through iconic scenes from the movies. The Japanese ride uses 4K3D technology which gives an even more immersive experience as compared to the Orlando’s version. This ride was awarded the best dark ride at the annual Golden Ticket Award for 5 consecutive years.
(Note: Your Express Pass has a specified time you can enter the area and ride on the attraction. Do remember to check it in advance. )
“Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey” is a motion-based dark ride which brings audiences through iconic scenes from the movies. The Japanese ride uses 4K3D technology which gives an even more immersive experience as compared to the Orlando’s version. This ride was awarded the best dark ride at the annual Golden Ticket Award for 5 consecutive years.
(Note: Your Express Pass has a specified time you can enter the area and ride on the attraction. Do remember to check it in advance. )
Other Attractions:
 Jaws  The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man |  Terminator 2: 3D |
Back to the Future: The Ride
After leaving “Harry Potter”, we went on several other attractions such as “Jaws”, “Terminator 2: 3D”, “The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man”, “Backdraft” and “Back to the Future”.
The “Spider-Man” ride is a motion-simulator ride similar to the “Transformers” ride in Singapore. It features 4K3D technology and is one of my favourite rides in the park. “Jaws” and “Terminator 2: 3D” are dated but still have their charms. “Backdraft” is a special effects show which features fire, water effects and pyrotechnics.
The most exciting part of my visit had to be going on the “Back to the Future” ride for one last time before it shut down permanently to make way for a new “Despicable Me” ride coming in 2017. I remembered how much I enjoyed myself when I first rode this attraction at “Universal Studios Hollywood” many years ago.
The “Spider-Man” ride is a motion-simulator ride similar to the “Transformers” ride in Singapore. It features 4K3D technology and is one of my favourite rides in the park. “Jaws” and “Terminator 2: 3D” are dated but still have their charms. “Backdraft” is a special effects show which features fire, water effects and pyrotechnics.
The most exciting part of my visit had to be going on the “Back to the Future” ride for one last time before it shut down permanently to make way for a new “Despicable Me” ride coming in 2017. I remembered how much I enjoyed myself when I first rode this attraction at “Universal Studios Hollywood” many years ago.
Live Entertainment:
 Alice in Wonderland |  Aladdin |  Cinderella |
There is also live entertainment in the park including street acts, stage shows and parades. I managed to watch the nighttime parade “Magical Starlight Parade”. Fairy tale characters from “Alice in Wonderland”, “Aladdin” and “Cinderella” on floats with twinkling lights filled the scene. I had high expectations from this show, however I was quite disappointed at how blatantly Universal Studios tried to copy the Disney counterparts. You can see my pictures below to understand my point. Although ultimately it was a decent show, it was no where near as good as the nighttime parades seen at the Disney parks (I will be talking about them in another post). I feel that USJ should rely on their own wealth of popular characters instead of using something that is obviously not their forte.
 The monkey was seen holding a jewel in a way similar to the ape statue in Disney's Aladdin |  Both Cinderellas have strikingly similar appearances |
All in all, if you aren't a fan of crazy thrill rides, or have better options to consider, USJ may not be the attraction for you. On the other hand, the enticing factor to consider is that USJ has many unique attractions that the Singapore park does not offer. If you are an adventure taker, be sure to give this park a visit on your next trip to Osaka.
The iconic globe at night
Additional Information*
Address: 2 Chome-1-33 Sakurajima, Konohana Ward, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture 554-0031, Japan
Telephone: +81 570-200-606
Website: https://www.usj.co.jp/e/
Address: 2 Chome-1-33 Sakurajima, Konohana Ward, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture 554-0031, Japan
Telephone: +81 570-200-606
Website: https://www.usj.co.jp/e/
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