RANKING: 10 BEST ATTRACTIONS AT UNIVERSAL STUDIOS JAPAN
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As theme park connoisseurs, our best tip for enjoying a theme park is knowing which rides and attractions to prioritize. Case in point, during a recent trip to Universal Studios Japan, we tested out our list of 10 must-not-miss USJ attractions based on the many times we've visited. All we can say is that this list is a guaranteed good time. Check out our Top 10 favorite rides and attractions in Universal Studios Japan.
Also read: The SPOT.ph Guide to Universal Studios JapanUniversal Studio Japan's Donkey Kong-Themed Land Opens Soon
Here are our top 10 favorite attractions in Universal Studios Japan:
10. Ollivanders
Location: THE WIZARDING WORLD OF HARRY POTTER™
Is it included in the Express Pass? No.
Aside from getting sorted into your Hogwarts house, another key experience in the movie we'd love to have IRL is getting to choose our wand or, rather, being chosen by it. The Ollivanders attraction in Universal Studios Japan's Wizarding World of Harry Potter comes pretty close. Here, you'll reenact the moment Harry Potter gets his wand from the first movie. Keep your fingers crossed. You might just get chosen for a very important role in the attraction.
9. Jaws
Location: Amity Village
Is it included in the Express Pass? Yes.
As the name suggests, this ride is inspired by the 1975 American thriller. This boat ride sees passengers on board a routine tour of the waters in Amity Ville, nothing too thrilling—that is, until a gigantic man-eating shark appears.
Okay, we didn't give a spoiler warning about the whole man-eating shark bit because, let's face it, if you know about the movie Jaws, then you probably would've already expected the twist. But what we won't tell you is when it'll happen on the ride. TBH, that part's the only thrill you'll get here. You know it's going to happen, so you'll have to wait on the edge of your seats, anxious and hyperaware until it does.
8. Mario Kart: Koopa's Challenge™
Location: Super Nintendo World
Is it included in the Express Pass? Yes.
One of the newest rides in Universal Studios Japan is Mario Kart: Koopa's Challenge™. If you love playing its namesake video game, this is the ride for you. Don a special Mario cap and some AR glasses to immerse yourself in the world of Mario Kart. Don't worry; you won't really be riding a race kart. It's a ride on rails that blends beautifully crafted physical sets and augmented reality to bring the Mario Kart experience to life. Yes, you get to throw shells and sabotage other players, too.
Pro tip: if you've got a Power-Up Band this ride lets you collect coins with just a tap.
7. Flight of the Hippogriff
Location: THE WIZARDING WORLD OF HARRY POTTER™
Is it included in the Express Pass? Yes.
Flight of the Hippogriff is your junior outdoor roller coaster. It doesn't have all the big loops and extreme twists and turns, but it does bring in the speed and the adrenaline rush you need to have the courage to take on the bigger rides.
As the name suggests, Flight of the Hippogriff involves riders boarding a Hippogriff, a magical creature from Harry Potter, as it flies through the different landmarks of the Hogwarts grounds including, the Pumpkin Patch, parts of the Forbidden Forest, and most notably, Hagrid's Hut.
6. Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem
Location: Minion Park
Is it included in the Express Pass? Yes.
If you want a perfect example of how simulated roller coaster rides should be, then this is it. Despicable Me Minion Mayhem takes you through the process of becoming a minion yourself. You are tested in the Minion Grounds to see if you have "the strength, speed, and ability to not die." The tests see guests jostled, turned, and moved side to side on their vehicle, all fairly normal procedure; that is, until the minions get distracted by a banana.
What's great about this ride is the near-perfect synchronization of the vehicle's movements and the projections on the IMAX dome screens. TBH, if the lights didn't turn on and we didn't see that we were actually on a simulated roller coaster, we'd 100% believe we were really getting thrown around in a real-life Minion lab; the visuals were that good.
5. Jurassic Park the Ride (temporarily closed)
Location: Jurassic Park
Is it included in the Express Pass? N/A
Jurassic Park the Ride is one of the best wet and wild rides anywhere—that's a hill we're willing to die on. It's a thrilling mix of drops, turns, and splashes. This was one of the OG rides many people lined up for in USJ. This isn't a ride where you'll get wet with a few splashes here and there. No. When we say you'll get wet, we mean head-to-toe soaking.
Unfortunately, this ride has been closed indefinitely since late 2023. Based on board-ups around the area, it's currently being renovated and developed for a better ride experience. Fingers crossed, it keeps all the good parts about the OG and makes it 10x better.
4. Hollywood Dream: The Ride- Backdrop
Location: Hollywood
Is it included in the Express Pass? Yes.
If you're an adrenaline junkie, chances are your main criteria for choosing the best rides would most probably be the thrill, the screams, and the surprises, and Hollywood Dream: The Ride Backdrop fits that bill to the T.
Imagine flying through the park with speeds as high as 90 kilometers per hour, through a variety of inversions and drops as high as 44 meters, all while riding backward. Yup, you're not facing the same direction as the track. You won't know what's coming. But don't worry, you can drown out your screams and your anxiety about what's going to happen with pop songs like Seventeen's Very Nice, Pharell William's Happy, and other upbeat tracks that you can choose as your background music as you're flung all over the Hollywood Dream: The Ride-Backdrop.
3. The Flying Dinosaur
Location: Jurassic Park
Is it included in the Express Pass? Yes.
The Flying Dinosaur has got to be one of the scariest rides in the entire park. Here, you'll have to assume the pose of a flying dinosaur (read: you'll be dangling, facing the ground) as you fly through various inversions, loops, and twists with a maximum height of about 46 meters or roughly 12 to 15 stories high.
This ride is no joke and isn't for the faint of heart, but if you push through, trust us, you'll be talking about this for a while. Plus, you get extra bragging points for having conquered the world's second-longest flying roller coaster that reaches speeds of over 99 kilometers per hour.
2. Hollywood Dream: The Ride
Location: Hollywood
Is it included in the Express Pass? Yes.
Just like Hollywood Dream: The Ride-Backdrop, this ride sees you flying through the park aboard an outdoor roller coaster with your choice of music to pump you up. They pretty much have the same loops, twists, and turns, but the main difference is that you're facing the same way as the tracks this time.
Sure, the backdrop is way scarier and could possibly be more thrilling at times, but in our opinion, the scarier ride isn't always the better ride. For us, Hollywood Dream: The Ride is better because you get to enjoy all the thrills without being too scared to know what is going on. You get to bop to the music and live out that main character moment of having the wind blowing through your hair while feeling like you are having the time of your life.
1. Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
Location: THE WIZARDING WORLD OF HARRY POTTER™
Is it included in the Express Pass? Yes.
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey takes you through all the dangers and adventures Harry and his gang have faced in their years at Hogwarts. From dementors, giant spiders, and a thrilling game of Quidditch, this is as close as you'll get to living out your dream HP adventure.
The ride itself isn't as scary or thrilling as the outdoor roller coasters, but it does make up for it with all the effects and set design that really bring the Harry Potter magic to life.
This ride is not just your typical roller coaster with massive drops, twists, and loops; it's a cross between a physical roller coaster and an AR-simulated ride. Even if you aren't a fan of the Harry Potter series, you'll still enjoy this, as the actual ride is fun, exciting, and interesting, even if you have no idea what is happening. This is all thanks to the hyperrealistic CGI complemented by the beautifully crafted props and effects. And okay, maybe partly because your feet are actually dangling in mid-air while you're being tossed and twisted about.
Getting your tickets and passes to Universal Studios Japan:
You can buy tickets to Universal Studios Japan on their website or through third-party vendors like Klook.
Pro tip: we recommend getting Express Passes to shorten your waiting times on certain rides. Trust us, having an Express Pass will greatly affect your overall park experience.
If you are buying from Klook, there is a separate listing where you can purchase different Express Passes to USJ. Make sure to check which rides are included in the pass you are buying. Some rides are exclusive to certain pass types.
Buy tickets and Express Passes to Universal Studios Japan on Klook. For more information, visit Universal Studios Japan's website.
Links are updated regularly and as much as possible, but note that products can run out of stock, discounts can expire, and listed prices can change without prior notice.
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2024-08-02T08:00:51Z dg43tfdfdgfd