Ultimate Guide to Universal Studios Japan with Kids (Updated 2026)
Looking for a guide to Universal Studios Japan with kids? Then you’ve come to the right place because visiting USJ Osaka is the reason we discovered our enduring love for Japan. We love Universal Studios Japan, and we want to help other people discover this incredible park too.
Why did we visit Japan for the first time, I hear you asking (and if you didn’t ask, I’m going to tell you anyway!)
The answer is because during lockdown, the kids started watching videos of Universal Studios Japan on YouTube and completely fell in love with it. We promised that when lockdown was over we would take them to see it for themselves: and we did.
It was everything they imagined and more. Visiting Universal Studios Japan was their dream come true, and
Are you planning a trip to Universal Studios Japan? Wondering if Universal Studios Japan is a good place to visit with kids? Here is a comprehensive guide to everything you need to know about visiting Universal Studios Japan with kids!
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🎫 You can’t buy Universal Studios Japan tickets on the gate anymore, you have to buy these in advance. And certain dates sell out fast!
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🔗 For more ticket information read Universal Studios Japan Tickets Explained: Complete 2026 Guide
This post may contain affiliate links. These won’t cost you any extra to use, but will give me a couple of pennies when you use them to buy things you were going to buy anyway!
Getting To Universal Studios Japan
First things first, if you want to visit Universal Studios Japan then you need to get there! Universal Studios Japan (USJ) is in Osaka. You can either fly directly into Osaka or if you’re exploring the wider country then it’s more likely that you’ll fly into Tokyo.
From Tokyo we took the bullet train to Osaka. You can read more about our experience of using the bullet train (Shinkansen) in Japan, as well as whether it’s the right financial choice for you to buy a JR rail pass, in our post here.
Once you’re in Osaka, the full address for the theme park (which you can put into your Google maps) is 2-chōme-1-33 Sakurajima, Konohana Ward, Osaka, 554-0031, Japan.
I’ve written a full step-by-step guide to getting to Universal Studios Japan that you can read here.
We took the train to the theme park from our hotel, which is the most popular way of getting there. Universal has its own station (Universal City Station) and this is on the JR Yumesaki Line.
We were staying in Umeda (This is by far the most popular part of the city for international tourists to stay) and from Umeda/Osaka station we took the JR Osaka Loop Line to Nishikujo station then switched to the JR Yumesaki Line to Universal City Station. The whole journey only took around 20 minutes, and it was incredibly easy!
Just like in Orlando, Universal Studios Japan has its own CityWalk area that you’ll have to walk through to reach the park. This is packed full of restaurants, and is a great place to grab breakfast on your way into the park, or dinner on your way out!
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Getting Universal Studios Japan Tickets
The USJ Osaka ticket price is much lower than any other Universal Studios ticket prices in the world. The price for a Universal Studios Japan ticket is £49.95 per adult and £31.29 per child aged 4-11. Children over 11 need to get an adult ticket.
It’s important to note that you can no longer buy Universal Studios Japan tickets at the gate! The ticket offices at the front of the gates to USJ have now been permanently closed. The only way to access the Universal Studios Japan part is to buy your tickets before you arrive.
I would hate you to get all the way there and find your chosen date has sold out, so PLEASE buy your tickets before you get to Japan if you can.
The good news is that getting Universal Studios Japan tickets is incredibly easy. We got our tickets from Universal Studios Japan from Klook. We ended up visiting the park for 2 days, and we bought 2 different types of tickets (one for each day). Klook Universal Studios Japan tickets are delivered instantly and can be delivered straight to your phone.
👉Check availability and book your Universal Studios Japan tickets here.
💶 Use the code THATMUMTRAVEL5KLOOK to get an extra 5% off ticket prices
On our first day, we got Universal Studios Osaka tickets that gave us fast pass access to some of the rides. These were the Universal Studios Japan Express Pass, and they were a bit of a splurge, but we felt they were worth every penny. We got the Express Pass 7 which gave us access to Super Nintendo World and Harry Potter World as well as priority access to the 2 rides in each of the lands and 3 other rides (which we had free choice with). Prices vary depending on when you visit but start from £156 per adult.
You have to get a Universal Studios Japan ticket AND an Express Pass ticket to use these: you can’t just buy an express pass, you need a general park admission too.
On our second way we just had regular entry tickets to Universal Studios Japan. Prices for these start from £45.15 per adult. Kids prices are cheaper at £29.39 each, and these are for children aged between 3-11. Children over 11 will need an adults ticket. All prices outlined above include taxes and fees.
If you order your Universal Studios Japan tickets from Klook then use the code THATMUMTRAVEL5KLOOK to get an extra 5% off these prices. (COPY and SAVE this for later!)
Klook USJ tickets are easy to use, as unlike other websites, you won’t get a voucher you need to exchange. You can use the ticket they send you to enter the park directly.
The Universal Studios Osaka Express Pass that we had on our first day was a real godsend, as we visited during the busy month on April. We felt like celebrities sweeping to the front of the queues! But we had just as good a day on our second day without these – we just got on fewer rides. You can read about whether the USJ Express Pass is the right choice for you here.
Is The Universal Studios Japan Ticket Price Worth It?
I’ve read so many people say that the Universal Studios Japan ticket price is too high and that the park isn’t worth the money. I can only share our opinion, but we thought it was worth every penny.
Even the Express 7 pass (which cost us the best part of £600 for our family of four) was worth it for us: Expensive, yes. Eyewateringly so! And we saved hard to be able to afford it. But the memories we made that day will last forever, and it’s something the boys still talk about all the time. We’re now dreaming of going back next year!
Is Universal Studios Japan Suitable For Kids Of All Ages?
On our trip to Universal Studios Japan the boys were just turned 7 and just turned 10. And there was very little that they couldn’t do. But we were very impressed with just how much there was to do for kids of all ages, and even if you’re visiting with toddlers, you’ll find that there’s rides and entertainment for everyone. Let me break it down:
Universal Wonderland
For the youngest kids you have Universal Wonderland. This is a colourful, vibrant area of the park packed full of playgrounds, Junior rides, things to see and touch. This is where you’ll find all of the characters most appealing to the youngest family members: Hello Kitty, Sesame Street, and Snoopy.
This area of the park covers over 30,000 square meters and 30 different attractions. There’s a Big Bird themed carousel, Elmo’s car ride, a Hello Kitty cupcake spinning ride, and so many more. But what really impressed us about this part of the park was the playgrounds. From super slides to ball ponds, there were a huge number of indoor and outdoor play areas here. You can find out more in my other Universal Studios guide here.
If you’ve got kids that don’t like to queue, or need to run off some energy, then this is the place to be!
Minion Park
Another area of the park that is a riot of colour (you’ll feel like you’re walking into a party) is the Minion Park. This is suitable for kids (and grown ups) of all ages. Younger kids can meet the Minions at the Minions Greeting spot here.
The two rides in this area are Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem, which is a 3D ride, and Freeze Ray Sliders, which is a spinning ride. Both of these are great rides for kids, provided they’re accompanied with adults. For the Minion Mayhem ride the height limit is 102 cm or taller when accompanied, and for the Freeze Ray Sliders ride the height limit is 92 cm or taller.
The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter
We visiting Universal Studios Japan with a newly 7 year old Harry Potter megafan. And we LOVED that part of the park. The theming, the imposing Hogwarts castle sitting on the hill. The beauty of Hogsmead village, and even the Hogwarts Express. It was so beautifully themed, and fully immersive too.
The only drawback of this section of the park was that aforementioned 7 year old wasn’t tall enough to ride the main ride here. Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is an AMAZING ride, but the minimum height requirement is 122 cm. We made use of the ride swap service so the other 3 of us could ride, but he was so disappointed.
The other ride in this part of the park is the Flight of the Hippogriff rollercoaster. We all went on this (with a 92cm height limit) but word of warning. If you’re tall don’t try to sit in the front! My 6ft husband was allocated the front seat, but couldn’t get his legs in and had to move back.
Super Nintendo World
Perhaps the most iconic area of USJ at the moment is Super Nintendo World. This is the first Super Nintendo World in the world, and it’s epic! There are 2 rides suitable for kids of all ages, and character meets here. But our favourite part of this park is the interactive experiences.
The rides in Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Japan are Mario Kart: Koopas Challenge (a VR Mario karts style ride that you’ll need to be 107cm to ride) and Yoshi’s Adventure (a slow ride where you ride on your own Yoshi). You’ll need to be 92cm tall to ride.
Buy a Super Nintendo World wristband (a power up band) and you can use this on all of the interactive games and experiences inside the park. We LOVED this so much that we visited to play all the games 2 days in a row. This area of the park is by far the busiest, but if you have any interest in Mario then it’s so worth it. And they’ve just opened a new Donkey Kong Kingdom part of the park too. We can’t wait to get back and try this area and it’s roller coaster ride: Donkey Kong Country: Mine Cart Madness. The height limit for this is 107cm (and if you’re under 122cm you’ll have to be accompanied by an adult).
You can read my full review of Super Nintendo World here.
👉Ready to visit Super Nintendo World? Check availability and book your Universal Studios Japan tickets here.
Eating In Universal Studios Japan
Nowadays my kids are pretty adventurous eaters. But on our first trip to Japan we were knee deep in the fussy eater stage, and I was pretty worried about what the kids were going to eat. I needn’t have worried!
There was so much familiar ‘Western-style’ food available for them in the Universal Studios Japan park.
And what they did REALLY well was themed food, with visually incredible dishes and snacks themed around characters and rides. If you eat with your eyes then these would leave you feeling starving!
The boys ate kids meals of shark nuggets, chips, and pancakes in the Amity Village restaurant next to the Jaws ride. These were followed by cream-covered Jaws-themed bubble teas.
In Harry Potter World the boys devoured enormous chocolate frogs.
We ate giants pizzas in the New York section of the park, and snacked on yellow Minions churros, ice creams, and sticky bao buns.
We didn’t need a full meal in the Kinnopio restaurant in Nintendo World, but we really wanted to see inside this fun themed restaurant, so we went in and ended up ordering ALL the desserts.
Of course if you wanted to eat more traditional Japanese dishes then there were plenty of these to be found in USJ Osaka too. But we were very grateful for the familiar dishes that made our boys feel so comfortable.
We were pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food in Universal Studios Japan and we didn’t eat a single thing that we didn’t like! The quality of the food was good, but it was the theming of the food that really amazed me.
Top Tips For First Time USJ Visitors
- First things first, arrive early! The park opens its doors as much as an hour before the listed opening time. Getting in early will give you a better chance to getting an entry slot to the Super Nintendo World section of the park, especially if you don’t want to pay extra for this.
- Download the USJ app. From a full park map to show and ride times, this is a treasure trove of useful information and using it will make your day in Universal Studios Osaka so much smoother.
- Use the single rider lines. The queues for these tend to be shorter, and if mum and dad want to ride some of the thrill rides, this will be the best way to do it.
- Make sure you watch the big parade! I know other bloggers say to miss the parades for the shorter ride times, but I think that would be a big mistake. The parades were amazing! We watched the ‘no limits’ parade, and loved being invited to dance and party with our favourite characters.
Would We Go Back To Universal Studios Japan Again?
We’ve decided against returning to USJ on our next trip to Japan in April, primarily because we are focusing on exploring every nook and cranny of Tokyo and aren’t taking the train up to Osaka. This was a financial decision too, with the price of the train journey between the 2 cities being higher than on our last trip.
But if we were going to be in Osaka? We would be back to Universal Studios Japan in a heartbeat! I would love to see the new Donkey Kong Country part of the Super Nintendo World and there is a Doraemon 4D Art Adventure ride taking place from Feb. 14 – Aug. 17, 2025 that I would love to experience (Big Doraemon fans in this house!) So my final verdict? Now is a great time to be in Universal Japan! We’re planning to be back again for summer 2026.
Universal Studios Osaka Hotel
Wondering where to stay when you visit Universal Studios Osaka? It’s actually very easy to stay in the centre of the city and travel out to USJ. We stayed at the Hotel Dans Le Couer and we enjoyed it: it was in the perfect location for exploring everything Osaka had to offer, and around 30 minutes away from Universal Studios Japan.
Want to be right in the heart of the action? There is a selection of official Universal Studios Japan hotels available to choose from. I can’t give my usual first-hand experience, because we haven’t stayed in any of these. But I’ve put a full list of official Universal Studios Osaka hotel partners below for you to check out:
- The Park Front Hotel at Universal Studios Japan
- Liber Hotel at Universal Studios Japan
- Hotel Universal Port
- Oriental Hotel Universal City
- Hotel Kintetsu Universal City
FAQs
Do I need to buy an Express Pass at Universal Studios Japan?
There’s absolutely no need to buy an Express Pass at Universal Studios Japan. They can be a huge financial commitment, and we had a great day in the park without them. But I will say that on the day we had the Express Passes, we got so much more done. If you only have one day in Japan and can afford it, they’re well worth buying. Express passes do sell out quickly, so if you want one of these then book as soon as possible.
👉Check availability and book your Universal Studios Japan Express Pass here.
Is it cheaper to buy USJ tickets online or at the gate?
I would strongly recommend buying your USJ tickets online and in advance. It used to be that tickets were more expensive on the gate (USJ offer an advance booking discount) but now you CAN’T BUY TICKETS ON THE GATE! The tickets office at the entance to the park are closed
👉 Don’t risk missing out. Buy your USJ tickets in advance from Klook here.
Is Universal Studios Japan suitable for toddlers and young children?
Universal Studios Japan has a huge area called Universal Wonderpark that’s perfect for both babies and toddlers. Elmo, Hello Kitty and Snoopy all call this part of the park home. There are also splash pads, toddler-friendly playgrounds (for letting off steam), and small rides that little kids will love here. I truly believe this is a theme park that has something for everyone.
Are lockers available at Universal Studios Japan?
Sure thing! You’ll find lockers located at the park entrance. These cost between 500-1,500 yen per day depending on the size you need. A small locker is 500 yen, large is 1,000 yen, and extra large, which would be big enough for a suitcase, is 1,500 yen.
Can you bring food into Universal Studios Japan?
The USJ website clearly states that food brought in from outside may not be consumed in the park. However, if you want to bring some bottled water or toddler/baby snacks then there may be some leeway here. We had a few small breakfast snacks in our backpack. It’s worth noting that your bag is likely to be checked at the park entrance, so leave those huge picnic baskets at home!
Can I bring my selfie stick into Universal Studios Japan?
Sadly not, extendable selfie sticks are banned. So are monopods and tripods. If you have a selfie stick that fits within the palm of your hand, can be used in one hand and don’t extend above your head then this should be permitted.
What do you think? Would you like to explore Universal Studios Japan? And if you’ve been to USJ, would you go back? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!
This post may contain affiliate links. These won’t cost you any extra to use, but will give me a couple of pennies when you use them to buy things you were going to buy anyway!
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