Super Nintendo World 2023 Guide & Tips
Super Nintendo World is the world’s first Nintendo-themed land inside Universal Studios Japan in Osaka, Japan. Officially opened on March 18, 2021, this brand-new land is a Nintendo fan’s dream.
This area packs into a seemingly small space with two attractions: a restaurant, snack stand, character greetings, shops, and many interactive elements.
In our guide to Super Nintendo World, we’ll explain how to get into the land, what to expect for the rides, how the Power-Up Bands work, what food to eat, and practical tips to help you make the most out of your day. We share everything we learned during our hands-on experience.
Level up your travel plans to Universal Studios Japan with our 2023 guidebook! It’s available for preorder now and releases on March 1, 2023.
Table of Contents
How to get into Super Nintendo World
Super Nintendo World is immensely popular, and getting a free timed-entry ticket or paid Express Pass is necessary to enter the land. With an Express Pass, you’re guaranteed entry into the land and reduce your wait time at the attractions!
You’ll need a day ticket (or annual pass) to get into Universal Studios Japan and a timed-entry ticket for Super Nintendo World.
Timed-Entry Tickets into Super Nintendo World
You’ll need a free-timed entry ticket to enter Super Nintendo World without paying for an Express Pass. There are two types of tickets- Area Timed Entry and Standby Entry. Let’s take a quick look at them.
A signboard near Super Nintendo World’s entrance has up-to-date information on which tickets are available. Timed entry tickets sell out quickly, so plan on visiting the park as early as possible.
Area Timed Entry Ticket
There are two ways to get a ticket when you visit the park: on the Universal Studios Japan app or at a ticket machine located in Central Park (near the JAWS attraction).
When applying for the ticket, you must specify the desired entry time. Please note that you can only apply for an Area Timed Entry Ticket once daily.
When applying for the ticket for entry with a group, you must scan every member’s park ticket. If you win an Area Timed Entry Ticket, you can enter the Super Nintendo World within the specified time on the ticket. However, once you leave the area, you aren’t permitted re-entry.
Area Standby Entry Ticket
If you don’t win an Area Timed Entry ticket, or if the tickets are distributed, you can enter a separate lottery for an Area Standby Entry Ticket. If someone cancels their Area Timed Entry Ticket, you’ll have a chance to fill their spot with an Area Standby Entry Ticket.
You can apply for this ticket on the Universal Studios Japan app or at the ticket machines at Central Park (near the JAWS attraction). Similar to the Area Timed Entry Ticket, you’ll need to scan every group member’s park ticket and choose the desired entry time. You can only apply for this ticket once a day.
Lottery results are announced an hour before your desired entry time. Depending on the crowds, you may be able to enter the area without a timed ticket. That’ll depend on the day of your visit.
Read more about the Timed Entry Ticket on the official Universal Studios Japan website.
Super Nintendo World + Express Pass
The easiest way to get into Super Nintendo World is by purchasing one of ten Express Passes available for the land. With an Express Pass, you are guaranteed entry into Super Nintendo World on the day of your visit.
And depending on which Pass you get, you can significantly reduce the waiting time on Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge and Yoshi’s Adventure!
These are the starting prices of the different types of Express Passes (note these also include other attractions):
- Mario Kart or Yoshi’s Adventure: Express Pass 4 for ¥7,800 (about US$71)
- Both Mario Kart & Yoshi’s Adventure: Express Pass 7 for ¥10,800 (about US$99)
- All Attractions: Express Pass Premium for ¥18,700 (about US$171)
You can buy an Express Pass and a Timed Area Entry ticket if you want to go in earlier than your Express Pass time.
Read more about Express Pass at Universal Studios Japan.
Get into Super Nintendo World without a Timed Ticket or Express Pass
Universal Studios Japan usually opens the park before the official time. An example is if the park is supposed to open at 9:00 AM, the gates may open at 8 or 8:30. The time is different almost every day.
Why is this significant? If you enter the park before the official opening time, you can walk right into Super Nintendo World without a timed entry or using your Express Pass. Be mindful, though, once you leave, and timed entry is required, you’ll have to get one or use your Express Pass.
On slower days, you won’t need a Timed Entry to get into the area. This isn’t known ahead of time so I wouldn’t rely on that.
Super Nintendo World Itinerary
Here’s a simplified version of our plan of attack for when you get into Super Nintendo World. There’s so much to do here that it may be tough to do in a single visit. This also assumes you aren’t doing the Express Pass for the attractions.
- Buy your Power-Up Bands and link to the Universal Studios Japan app
- Use the single rider line for Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge
- Grab a meal at Kinopio’s Cafe
- Meet Princess Peach, Mario & Luigi, and/or Toad
- Collect three keys from mini-games to do the Bowser Jr. Challenge
- Ride Yoshi’s Adventure
- Play with all the interactive coin blocks and mini-games throughout the area (blocks, music blocks, binoculars, etc.)
- Snack from Yoshi’s Snack Island or the Popcorn Stop
- Shop for merchandise
Once you’re inside the land, expect to spend at least 4-5 hours here (depending on crowds). I’d recommend at least two full days at Universal Studios Japan to experience the park to its fullest.
Super Nintendo World Rides
Without a doubt, you want to experience some rides while in Super Nintendo World. Here’s what you need to know and how to ride them! There are two rides to choose from: Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge and Yoshi’s Adventure.
Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge
The flagship attraction is Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge, which you’ll find in the back of Super Nintendo World inside Koopa’s Castle. Bowser is known as Koopa in Japan, hence the name.
The best way to describe Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge is an AR (augmented reality) dark-ride video game. This attraction mixes classic dark-ride elements (animatronics and moving along a track, to name a few things) with AR through goggles attached to a headset to superimpose characters and other video game elements within your view. Then with the added video gaming aspect of collecting coins, throwing shells at enemies, and trying to get the highest score.
Read our extensive review with tons more photos on Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge.
Mario Kart is a ride that’s suitable for families with children. While it’s not the ride that everyone was expecting (it doesn’t move as fast as you’d want it to), it still hits the essence of Mario Kart, and you’ll still leave with a smile on your face. At least, I did.
Pro tip: At the entrance to Mario Kart is a seat to ensure you can fit securely into the ride vehicle. If you’re concerned about height or body shape, try this before going into the long queue.
Yoshi’s Adventure
Yoshi’s Adventure is a family-friendly omnimover attraction where you hop on the back of a Yoshi and take a colourful tour of Super Nintendo World. You’ll meet familiar characters like Baby Peach, Mario, and Captain Toad!
While on Yoshi’s Adventure, it’s one of the best spots in the area to get high-up photos and videos. The queue itself is full of familiar music and aesthetics from the Yoshi games throughout the years. So it’s worth riding.
You’ll collect different stamps if your Power-Up Band is linked with your Universal Studios Japan app! With your Power-Up Band, hit the coloured eggs on your lap bar when they light up. These coloured eggs correspond with the same coloured eggs during your ride.
We collected all the stamps in one single ride-through, unlike Mario Kart, where you’ll need multiple ride-throughs.
Bowser Jr. Challenge
Bowser Jr. Challenge is an attraction that requires you to collect three different keys with your Power-Up Band by playing three of the five mini-games. While the games aren’t challenging, you queue for them, and those lines could get rather lengthy.
Once you collect three coins (they’re kept track of in the Universal Studios Japan app), you can go into the Bowser Jr. Challenge.
Character Greetings
Aside from the rides, one of my favourite things about Super Nintendo World is meeting characters from my childhood: Mario, Luigi, Toad, and Princess Peach. Yes, you can meet all of them and have your photo taken!
Ensure you have your Power-Up Band setup (see our guide below) before getting your photos. There are stamps to collect when you visit each of these characters! The team member scans your band, and you’ll collect the stamp in the Universal Studios Japan App.
Princess Peach
Once you’ve made your journey through the green pipe and the iconic Princess Peach Castle, you’ll see Princess Peach herself under a gazebo waiting for you.
Princess Peach even speaks in English! While it’s only set phrases, it’s still a surprise and puts a massive smile on your face.
Mario & Luigi
On the first floor, in the middle of Super Nintendo World at the two Mario Bros. Themselves: Mario & Luigi. You’ll meet these two icons each time, and just like Princess Peach, they speak in English too!
Don’t forget to hit the coin blocks; these blocks are part of stamps to collect, where you have to hit all the blocks in the land.
Toad
My favourite character, Toad, is on the first floor with Mario & Luigi. He moves around a bit, so keep an eye out for him. He’s so adorable that I want to take him home.
The photographers can take your photo with their professional cameras, and you can buy the photo afterward. It also comes with a digital download version, a photo and a video.
See more photos of all the character greetings!
Super Nintendo World Food
Super Nintendo World outdid themselves with the sheer amount of available food. From a whole restaurant to a snack stand to popcorn. There’s no shortage of food.
Kinopio’s Cafe
The main restaurant is Kinopio’s Cafe, inside the gigantic mushroom on the first floor. You can’t miss it. Toad is known as “Kinopio,” hence the restaurant’s name. You’ll instantly recognize the theming if you’ve played Super Mario World 3D.
You dine inside Toad’s House, which is straight out of the game, and even when you head inside, you’re given a virtual gift by tapping your Power-Up Band! Choose between small or large gifts to see what you get.
The menu inside Kinopio’s Cafe is massive for a single restaurant ranging from themed burgers, pasta, salads, pizza, and even Peach’s Cake.
While the prices are a bit on the steep side, the portions are pretty large, and you’d be able to share dishes if you don’t want to blow your budget.
Must-try Dishes at Kinopio’s Cafe
¥2,800
Not sure what to get? Here’s a quick list of what you should try:
- Mario’s Bacon Cheeseburger
- Yoshi’s Spinach Carbonara
- Fire Flower Spaghetti
- Pizza Bowl
- Piranha Plant Capreses
- Peach’s Cake
- Goal Pole Cake
- ? Block Tiramisu
We have a complete guide to all the food at Super Nintendo World with more photos. Also, watch our video above showcasing some delicious food you can try.
Yoshi’s Snack Island
Near the suspicious-looking Donkey Kong-Esque circular door in the back of Super Nintendo World is Yoshi’s Snack Island. Here, you can get a Green Shell Calzone filled with yakisoba noodles (fried noodles) with cheese or a small variety of drinks.
Popcorn Stand & Buckets
If you’re a bit hungry and want a quick snack, the popcorn stands in front of Mario Kart, where you can find two popcorn flavours and two Nintendo-themed popcorn buckets.
There are a lot of mushroom-flavoured food items here, aren’t there? My favourite is the Caramel Peach, which oddly works. The two popcorn flavours are Caramel Peach and Cream Mushroom.
Then there are the two popcorn buckets: Super Star and Mario Kart. You can’t go wrong with either of these; both popcorn buckets light up! My top choice is the Super Star bucket because it has two light-up modes and is much easier to carry!
Are there vegetarian or vegan options at Super Nintendo World?
There were no food items advertised as vegetarian inside Super Nintendo World. However, there were a few items that didn’t contain any meat. We cannot guarantee that these are 100% vegetarian, so please double-check during your visit.
- Piranha Plant Caprese
- Yoshi’s Favorite Fruit & Veggie Salad
- Mushroom Soup
We couldn’t find any items were vegan-friendly inside Super Nintendo World. If anyone knows, please let us know in the comments!
See our food guide for more on Super Nintendo World food.
Super Nintendo World Merchandise
A visit to a theme park isn’t complete without a vast selection of merchandise to max your credit card out on (don’t do that, but you get the point). Super Nintendo World merchandise is abundant, and you won’t have trouble finding something you’ll love.
1UP Factory
There’s so much merchandise. The 1UP Factory is the leading shop in Super Nintendo World. You’ll spend at least 30 to 45 minutes browsing. Everything is inside, from Super Nintendo World branded items to character accessories so you can dress like one of your favourite characters.
Check out our massive blog post with photos, or watch our 45-minute merchandise video above to see what’s available.
Mario Motors
Mario Motors is the gift shop attached to Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge. Naturally, you’ll exit through the gift shop. Here’s where all the exclusive Mario Kart merchandise is, and you won’t find these items anywhere else, so buy it while you can.
Outside Super Nintendo World
Never fear; if you didn’t get a timed entry into Super Nintendo World or forgot to buy something, there are a few other stores where you can find items!
Near the entrance to Universal Studios Japan are two stores: one Universal Studios Store and the other in California Confectionery. These stores offer a selection of items inside Super Nintendo World, but not all exclusive 8-Bit merchandise, only found inside Universal Studios Store. Are you confused yet? A store attached to the Mario Cafe with exclusive “Who’s Cap” merchandise.
See what items are available by checking out our blog post.
That’s not all for things to buy from Super Nintendo World! The one item that’s a must is the Power-Up Band, which we’ll dive into next.
Power-Up Bands
Power-Up Bands are slap-on bracelets that interact with various elements within Super Nintendo World. However, these aren’t free and come at the cost of ¥3,200 or US$30 each. While not everyone in your group needs to have one, if you want to make the most out of Super Nintendo World, then this is a must.
In my opinion, without a Power-Up Band, you’re only getting half the experience. Once you buy the Power-Up Band, you link it to your Universal Studios Japan app, and it’ll automatically begin tracking your progress within Super Nintendo World.
These Power-Up Bands add a real-life video game element to Super Nintendo World, which feeds into the kinetic energy you feel throughout the area. I love it so much.
Ok, enough gushing; here’s what the Power-Up Band tracks:
- Coins you collect from coins blocks and mini-games
- Stamps (aka achievements) from completing various tasks and events
- Your rankings on the online leaderboards for Mario Kart, Bowser Jr, Team Ranking, and Daily Rankings
Think of it as an accessory to a real-life video game! The Power-Up Bands do not hold any payment or ticket information.
Power-Up Band Tips
Here are a few practical tips for the Power-Up Bands:
- Punch the underside of the blocks with your fist and not your band (it’s soft, so you don’t hurt yourself, and it’s sanitized frequently with hand sanitizers nearby too).
- These double as Amiibo for various Nintendo Switch games like Mario Kart 8 and Super Mario 3D World.
- For other elements that aren’t blocks (like the “M” on walls), you tap your band to interact with it (don’t punch it cause it’s solid, and it’ll hurt, trust me, cause I’ve done this by mistake).
Super Nintendo World Tips
Here’s how to make the best of your time inside Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Japan!
- To guarantee you’ll experience Super Nintendo World, buy an ExpressPass with a timed entry.
- Use the Single Rider line for Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge.
- Download the Universal Studios Japan app ahead of time. This way, you’re not frantically downloading it when trying to do your Area Entry Ticket or set up your Power-Up Band.
- Buy your Power-Up Band along the walkway when walking into or inside the land (avoid the one by the pipe entrance).
- Set up your Power-Up Band before going in to start collecting coins immediately.
More on Super Nintendo World
There are tons more on Super Nintendo World in Universal Studios Japan. Here’s a list of all our other content to enjoy and plan your trip!
- Universal Studios Japan Information
- Universal Studios Japan Travel Guide
- Super Nintendo World Podcast Episode 1
- Super Nintendo World Podcast Episode 2
- 100+ Photos of Super Nintendo World
- Super Nintendo World Merchandise
- Super Nintendo World Food
- Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge
- Princess Peach, Mario & Luigi, and Toad Character Greetings
- Official Super Nintendo World Website
Do you have questions about Super Nintendo World?
There’s much to know about this area at Universal Studios Japan. If you have any questions, please leave them in the comments! We’ll update this guide with the best and most up-to-date information.
Guide created with the help of Explorer Parker.
More on Universal Studios Japan
Universal Studios Japan Guidebook
Are you planning a trip to Universal Studios Japan? If so, you need our digital guidebook! Our guidebook is the most comprehensive resource available, covering everything you need to know about the park, including Super Nintendo World, Express Pass, hotels, restaurants, attractions, shows, seasonal events, and more! With our guidebook, you’ll be an expert on Universal Studios Japan before you even set foot in the park. You’ll know what to expect, where to go, and what to do. You’ll also be able to avoid the crowds and make the most of your time at the park.
Book Your Flight
I use Google Flights & Momodo to find affordable flights. Another great way is to sign up for Scott’s Cheap Flights to get notifications of cheap fares, which happens often in Japan. You’ll sometimes stumble on cheap flights to Kansai International Airport.
Buy Your Shinkansen Tickets (Bullet Train)
Getting around Japan by the world-renown bullet train, known as the Shinkansen, is incredibly fast, reliable, and affordable for visitors. You can travel from Tokyo to Osaka in just over 2 hours. Get the JR Rail Pass to save a ton of money on the bullet train for your trip.
Book Your Hotel
Universal Studios Japan has affordable accommodations that are steps away from the Park with easy access to Osaka. I recommend checking prices through Booking.com followed by the hotels directly. Sometimes you’re able to score some incredible deals. Here’s a short list of hotels at Universal Studios Japan I recommend.
- The Park Front Hotel at Universal Studios Japan – You’re directly in front of the Park gates and have instant access to Universal CityWalk Osaka. The rooms are gorgeous, with restaurants and even a Lawson (Japanese convenience store).
- The Singulari HOTEL & SKYSPA – Attached to the train station is a fantastic hotel for those who want a comfortable, clean, and stylish place to sleep. After a long day at Universal Studios Japan, the rooftop sento (public bath) is excellent for unwinding and relaxing.
- Hotel Universal Port – This is an excellent hotel for the Minion fan in your family, only a 5-minute walk from Universal Studios Japan. It also boasts the largest breakfast buffet in Japan, a must during your visit.
Buy Your Tickets & Express Pass
In advance, save time and stress by buying your tickets and Express Pass for Universal Studios Japan.
Stay Connected
Universal Studios Japan only offers free Wi-Fi at the entrance to the Park. That’s not enough to stay connected and share your day with everyone back home to give them FOMO on Instagram. Here’s how you can stay connected while travelling in Japan.
- Pocket Wi-Fi – If you’re travelling with a group or have multiple devices, this is your best and most affordable way to stay connected to the internet. Pick up and drop off at the airport. Easy.
- Japan SIM Card – If you have an unlocked phone and need a Japanese phone number, this is the best and easiest way.
Get Yourself Travel Insurance
While travelling aboard, having travel insurance protects you against injury, cancellations, illness, and other things you can never predict. Whenever I travel, I always budget for travel insurance to protect myself. I’ve used it, and I’m so glad I had it. My recommended companies are SafteyWing and World Nomads for travel insurance.
Learn More about Universal Studios Japan
Don’t forget to study our in-depth destination guide on Universal Studios Japan for more information on this beautiful park in Osaka.
Some links may be affiliate links to services I recommend. Buying services through these links at no extra cost to you help support TDR Explorer. Please read our full disclosure for more details.
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Thank you for this explanation? We have bought tickets for USJ next week, I’m sure it will be busy. Do I understand it correctly that even if you arrive at the park early, it might not be possible to visit Super Ninendo World, because it is based on a lottery?
That’s correct.
Thank you for this! I’ve never been to Universal. Do we need to purchase entry tickets to Universal as well? Or can you access Super Mario World without doing the rest of Universal?
Are there any lockers that you know of within the Nintendo area or would you need to exit the area to access lockers? I plan on buying quite a lot when I visit and having access to storage would be handy.
Does the express pass give you the option of re-entering after leaving or is it just a one and done kind of deal?
You need a day ticket for Universal Studios Japan as Super Nintendo World is part of the park.
[…] Super Nintendo World 2021 Guide & Tips […]
[…] Super Nintendo World officially opened on March 18, 2021, after delays due to the global pandemic. […]
This is a great blog! Nice work! We have timed entry into Super Nintendo World next week. But we realized it said entry at 16:10 after we purchased it. Does that mean we just spent a lot of money and only get 2hrs and 50mins inside SNW? “Timed Entry” means you enter at the specified time, but can loiter inside as long as you want after that? Or “Timed Entry” means if you enter at 11am you have to leave by a certain time like 2pm? I’m wondering, does everyone only get about 3 hours in SNW, or did I screw up big time by choosing 16:10 accidentally?
You’re gonna have a lot of fun! Once you’re inside at your time, you can stay as long as you like. So, you’ll be able to be in the area from 16:10 until closing which isn’t a lot of time.
[…] Super Nintendo World 2021 Guide & Tips […]
Thank you for this great Guide! We are visiting USJ again next June and it´s our first visit after SNW was built. I was wondering if the bands work for a day only or if we can use ours for both days on our visit. Thanks again!
Hi! Think of it as a video game accessory, you buy it once and get to use it each time you visit.
Hello,
This is a great guide thank you for creating it but I have a small doubt about this “Buy your Power-Up Band along the walkway when you’re walking into the land or inside the land itself (avoid the one by the pipe entrance).” Why is that?
is the one by the pipe entrance more expensive than the other locations?
It has the longest line cause everyone stops there.
Hallo! I am your subsciber on youtube and loyal viewer. Can we just play in SNW without power-up band? Is the box still blinking and make a sound when i punch without power-up band? I dont need the score to be recorded on my phone.
Hi! Thank you for watching our videos and reading our content! You need the Power-Up band for hitting the blocks or anything interactive in the area. It won’t do anything otherwise.
Hello Chris – Thank you so much for all of your insight and advice! My family had a wonderful day a Sanrio Puroland last Friday after watching your video. Also, after watching your Pokemon Cafe video we made a reservation and are headed there later this month. We’re hoping to go to USJ this Saturday and have also watched many of your Super Nintendo World videos – we love the food review one! Super Nintendo World is on our “must do” USJ list – if we don’t get the lottery for a free timed entry, can we then buy an express pass while we are in the park to make sure we get in? Or do we need to buy the express pass before arriving? Is getting a free timed entry easier with international travel still limited? Thank you so much!
You can get an Express Pass the day of your visit if there’s any left, but that’s not an approach I’d recommend. Usually, they’re sold out well beforehand. I’d check now and see if there’s any left. The other trick is to be in the Park before the official opening time because they almost always open the park 30-60 mins ahead of the scheduled time. This works because the timed entry isn’t turned on until the official opening time, so you can walk right into the land without a timed entry, express pass, etc. The only thing to be mindful of is that once you leave, you cannot get back into the land without an entry. But you can get a timed entry if there any left.
Have fun!
Hello! Just wanted to follow up on my earlier comment and say thank you for so much your advice. We went to USJ last Saturday 7/16 and got into the park 45 minutes before opening. We walked right into Super Nintendo World – no timed entry needed just as you said! It was such a fun, immersive experience – so we were so thankful for your guidance on how to get in without purchasing an Express Pass ahead of time. The only minor issue we had that might help others is that we tried to buy power up bands before entering the green tube, but the person helping us asked to see if we had a timed entry pass. Since we didn’t have a timed pass, we were unable to purchase a band outside the land. However if this happens to anyone – don’t worry – we were easily able to buy a power up band from a vendor once we were inside Super Nintendo World.
Hello,
I plan to get a 2-day pass after reading through both your Super Nintendo World and Universal Studios Japan guide. I intend to buy the Express Pass in order to guarantee access into Super Nintendo World, but none of the websites I checked so far explained if the Express Pass I buy is for the one day I picked, or if it spans over the two days I bought the base park ticket on. I would like to know so I can pick the appropriate date to enter Super Nintendo World should it be one day only.
ExpressPass is only for one day and it’s independent of your day ticket, so you’ll have to choose which day.
Im going to usj next week and just purchased express pass. But i got 5pm slot entry. Is it possible to come early to get free timed entry ticket to explore. Thren I come again at 5pm with my express pass to play mario?
Also still thinking whether to get the powerband
That is possible, yes. If you want the most out of SNW, then get the powerup band.
Hi Chris! Thank you so much for all the effort and detail you put into everything you post here. I also enjoy all of your IG posts. I’m hoping you can help with 2 questions for a trip to USJ on a Sunday:
1. Do we miss a lot of the queue details if we ride the Super Nintendo World rides with a time designated express pass?
2. Do you think the wait is typically longer in a single rider line or in an express pass line? Specifically for Flying Dinosaur and Hollywood Dream Backdrop, but also for any other rides that allow for single riders?
Thank you!
1. That’s a good question. I’m not sure, as I’ve always done standby or single rider.
2. That’s hard to answer cause a single rider line can move slow sometimes but fast others. It depends on the day.
Hey and thank you so much for your valuable guides! Especially the YouTube videos, they are very popular in our household. 🙂 I have a question that USJ Customer Service couldn’t (or didn’t) answer when I sent them an e-mail, and thought maybe you know. I have a 4 year old child, and I know that I need to buy a Studio Entry Pass, BUT the Express Passes are all for rides he wouldn’t be able to ride (as he is below the height requirements). Do you know if the Area Themed Tickets even need to be bought for small children? USJ Website didn’t offer much insight, sadly. I would hate to spend an extra 7800 Yen just for him to be able to tag along with us…
Can you add more than one power up band per smartphone? Example: adult going with a child and both get power up bands. Can both go on the same app or is it one per app? Thank you!
Could anyone explain me where do you buy express pass in advanced?
I have friend that just got back from Osaka and visited USJ but was told that the Nintendo section not fully open. Is it true?
I’m not sure what they mean by not fully open. The area has been operating fully since 2021. There are some construction walls in one part (at the entrance that looks like they’re fixing something), and there’s an expansion opening in 2024.
It’s on the USJ website.
I believe so yes.
To my knowledge, if you have to buy a studio pass for them, they’ll need an express pass to get into the area with everyone else all at once. But I don’t know for sure, sorry I”m unable to give a definite answer.
Thank you anyway! Looking forward your new guide for 2023!
Thanks so much for your detailed tips and all of your YouTube videos! Now I’m a dummy and didn’t plan this early on when I bought my flights in October (and just now finding out about express passes for usj, which are all sold out 🙁 ). Based on your experience, how crowded does the park get on the Monday and Tuesday before Christmas? I’m a bit more hopeful of trying to get in early Tuesday (I bought a 1.5 day pass for 19 Dec), but I’ll have to make that an excuse to visit Japan again if it’s really difficult to get into SNW. My primary reason going to Japan was for sailor moon so I guess this would be a nice bonus if it works out. Thanks!
I was wondering if you knew why there wasn’t an option to buy express passes in February? Planning on going right at the beginning of the month but tickets only seem to be going up to 31/01/22 and I’ve been checking constantly so I know they definitely haven’t sold out! Also looked on travel agencies like klook too and nothing either. Any help is very appreciated!! 🙂
It’s going to be busy because of all the discounted tickets for locals. Get there at least 1.5 hours before the park open so you can get in once they open the gates early.
I don’t know, sorry. The best thing is to keep checking.
Hi there! Reading your guide on SNW and USJ in general has been a comfort since the express passes that me and my friends wanted sold out in Klook over the week although we’ll be going in January. By any chance would you know if it’s viable for a foreigner to purchase directly from the Japanese USJ ticketing site? When we checked, there were more options for the express passes and the ones we wanted were actually still available there.
It all depends if your credit card will work. You’ll have to go through the process and try.
I’m so excited for Super Nintendo World 2022! This guide is so helpful!
Hello, I saw your video on YouTube! My son is autistic and loves watching your videos. We’d love to visit Super Nintendo World in Japan – do you know if they have accommodations for children with additional needs?
Thank you for reading! In Japan, it’s referred to as “barrier-free,” which may be what you’re looking for. There’s English information on their website. https://www.usj.co.jp/web/en/us/service-guide/barrier-free
I’m so excited for Super Nintendo World! This guide is so helpful!
I’m thinking about travelling to Japan and this is definitely on my list however I’m a single mum and will have an almost 7 year old and a 2 year old. Would it be worth it? Would there be things we could all see?
Thank you.
I recommend watching the videos embedded here and on our YouTube channel. That’ll help give you an idea! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63UtzXfN15s&list=PLYiTKnRG1VUcmMQZalDjDsyp9skiJv8NX
Just bought my tickets on Klook since I couldn’t go through the USJ website. The downfall of klook is not picking the time entry times. I got 16:50 to enter Super Nintendo World but the park closes at 7. So I get 2 hours on both days to experience this place is kind of disappointing for the amount of money I’m paying.
Hi! Thank you for taking questions here! Wondering if the characters Mario, Luigi, Toad and Princess Peach make appearances often, and if there are any set timings I can look up? My 4year old son really wants to get his photo with them but I’m scared that they don’t appear when we are there and we end up waiting in vain. 🙁
Thanks for the detailed explanation Sensei! It really helped to clear up many questions that I have on USJ and SNW.. One question, do you know if the express passes allows me to re-enter the super nintendo world? Meaning, can I get in to the SNW in the morning, play the SNW rides, head out to USJ to utilise the main USJ rides and finally reenter SNW in the evening?
thank you!
Hi Chris! Do we need reservations to get into toad cafe? Or is this something we can just stand in line and wait our turn to order?
[…] of these pictures (Except for the first one) is from TDR Explorer, a travel guide maker for different parks near Japan, Hong Kong, and […]
Hi Chris – Thanks so much for your useful, fun, and family friendly content on Japan and amusement parks. I was hooked after your video on HK Disney a few years ago when you bought all those Duffy / Cookie / Gelatoni merch. =)
We are also expats living in Asia and are finally traveling to Japan again. We plan on visiting USJ in June. We were thinking of spending 2.5 days there, because we may need that much time with our 7 year old…. I noticed that the standard annual pass is 20000Yen. Would you suggest buying that instead of 2.5 day passes? Are annual passes available to foreigners to buy and is it only available in Japanese on the USJ website? Would I need a printout of the annual pass, if I want to add on Express Passes for our upcoming trip? Thank you sooo much.
I was wondering, do you have to learn Japanese to access most of the stuff at
Super Nintendo World?
Hi Chris, I wanted to know if you aren’t able to finish all the food you order at kinopio’s cafe are you able to take home the rest of the food?
Taking food out of the restaurant isn’t common in Japan so they won’t have any take-away containers for you.
Everything is mostly self-explanatory, since they use a lot of sounds from the games. The app is also in English, and explains a lot of what you will find in the area.
Everything is self-explanatory. There are a lot of sounds. And the app is en English, so it will explain everything.
https://tdrexplorer.com/universal-studios-japan-tickets/#h-universal-studios-japan-annual-pass
It will depend on how busy the area is. On busy times, you might need to get a return-time ticket. It can change daily, so we recommend you approach a cast member for more info.
Hello, thanks for your great article! We will visit USJ next Oct, and I have two questions I hope you can help me to answer me.
(1) Klook has a ticket option of early entry + 1-day pass, which I cannot find on the official USJ ticket website. What’s the difference?
(2) My friends who have been to USJ offered to lend us their power-up band, but we are unsure if it can be used for another person/account?
Thank you very much!!
hi, thank you for all the info you have been sharing. May i ask ,
1.) if i buy a universal studios park ticket and express pass (which includes super mario) , does it mean i am automatically included in the list of people who can get in?
2.) if i have an express pass, can i go in and out of super mario world?
thank you very much.
Thank you for this great guide. We had to purchase our Express Passes through Klook, which randomly allocates your timed entry. Disappointingly we’ve been given times which only allow for 1 hour in Super Nintendo World, before we have to move on to Harry Potter World. If we get to the park early enough, is it possible to apply for an Area Timed Entry Ticket, and just ignore the time that’s been designated to us as part of our Express Pass? I’m unsure if the system would stop us from double-dipping like this.