Universal Studios Japan is one of three Universal Studios theme parks, this one in Osaka, Japan. The park is similar to Universal Orlando Resort, containing many of the same rides. Most visitors are Japanese tourists or tourists from other Asian countries such as South Korea, China, and Taiwan. In 2005 Goldman Sachs became the largest shareholder in Universal Studios Japan. Universal still has a small minority stake in the park. The park opened on March 31, 2001.

Universal Studios Japan Attractions

The similarities between the parks are striking, with the same shark surging out of the water at Amity Pond, the same bicycle trip across the moon in the ET Adventure, the same Jurassic Park T-Rex chasing pathetic little rafts over a twenty-five foot waterfall, and of course, the same Amazing Adventures of Spiderman complete with a moving Statue of Liberty head.

The Water World stunt show is there to give visitors a taste of life on Earth post-global warming, and Shrek 4-D is there to let visitors enjoy having the sensation of Donkey expectorating in their faces and unseen creatures crawling all around them. Mist sprayers in the seats and moveable rubber tubing are the real culprits.

The theme park experience unique to Universal Studios Japan is its Snoopy Studio. The Japanese people are hooked on cute, and the Peanuts gang takes cute to the nth degree. Snoopy even has his own roller coaster adventure, "Snoopy's Great Race."

Visitors to Universal Studios Japan, especially during school vacations, are advised to arrive early and pay extra for an Express Pass Booklet, which will entitle them to go to the head of the line for either four or seven of the most popular rides or attractions--ET the Adventure; Terminator2 3-D; Jurassic Park the Ride; Hollywood Dream the Ride; Back to the Future the Ride; Jaws; and the Amazing Adventures of Spiderman. On peak days the waits for some of these rides can approach three hours, and the Express Passes sell out quickly.

The easiest way to get to Universal Studios Japan is via train. There is a branch line off the main JR Osaka Loop line and you stop at Universal City station then follow crowds (signs). The train trip will take less than 15 minutes depending on where in Osaka you are and then about a 10 minute walk from the station. The station is actually closer than most of the car parking places!