Supriya Ghosh (Editor)

Universal Studios Japan

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
Operated by
  
USJ Co., Ltd.

Area
  
54 ha (108 acres)

Phone
  
+81 570-200-606

Visitors per annum
  
10,100,000 (2013)

Opened
  
31 March 2001

Roller coasters
  
5


Location
  
Konohana-ku, Osaka, Japan

Theme
  
Show business and Universal entertainment

Owner
  
USJ Co., Ltd. (wholly-owned by NBCUniversal, a division of Comcast)

Address
  
2 Chome-1-33 Sakurajima, Konohana Ward, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture 554-0031, Japan

Rides
  
Hollywood Dream – The Ride, Space Fantasy – The Ride, Jurassic Park: The Ride, ET Adventure

Similar
  
Tokyo Disneyland, Hollywood Dream – The Ride, Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan, Hirakata Park, Universal City Station

Profiles

Facebook
Twitter
YouTube

Let s explore universal studios japan 2015


Universal Studios Japan (ユニバーサル・スタジオ・ジャパン, Yunibāsaru Sutajio Japan), located in Osaka, is one of four Universal Studios theme parks, owned and operated by USJ Co., Ltd. which is wholly owned by NBCUniversal (as of 2017). The park is similar to the Universal Orlando Resort since it also contains selected attractions from Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood.

Contents

The park opened on March 31, 2001. Over 11 million guests visited the park in its opening year, making it the world's fastest amusement park to have achieved the 10 million milestone at the time. Since then, Universal Studios Japan has had approximately 8 million visitors every year. Most visitors are Japanese tourists and tourists from other Asian countries such as South Korea. It is also very popular among Western tourists and expatriates. In 2005, Goldman Sachs became the largest shareholder in Universal Studios Japan.

Various events were held in the year 2011 to celebrate the park's tenth anniversary, by which time a total of 88 million guests had cumulatively attended the park. There were 700,000 annual passport holders in June 2012, and in the 2012 fiscal year, 9.75 million guests visited the park. During the 2013 fiscal year, Universal Studios Japan received 10.5 million guests. Various factors contributed to this growth in 2013, including the opening of the backwards roller coaster "Hollywood Dream – The Ride: Backdrop" in March, and the "New Amazing Adventure of Spider-Man - The Ride 4K3D" in July, which installed new 4KHD technology, which proved to be popular among the younger generation. The family area "Universal Wonderland" which opened in March 2012 also attracted many families.

Recent installments include limited-time attractions such as "Biohazard - The Real" and "Monster Hunter - The Real", both based on popular video game franchises, and "One Piece Premier Show", which is based on the popular anime series, providing attractions based on entertainment worldwide. On July 15, 2014, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, a themed area based on the blockbuster Harry Potter film series, opened to the public. The popular ride The Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, located in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, was revamped to play in 3D only 10 months after its opening as the first ride of its kind in the world. With a total investment of 45 billion yen, the addition of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter to the park is projected to have an economic ripple effect of 5 trillion 60 million yen over the next 10 years in Japan, and anticipates many visitors from both Japan and overseas.

On Monday, October 29, 2012, Universal Studios Japan greeted its 100 millionth visitor since its opening in 2001. According to the 2014 Theme Index Global Attraction Attendance Report, Universal Studios Japan is ranked fifth among the top 25 amusement/theme parks worldwide, attracting 11.8 million visitors in 2014, 16.8% more than in the previous year.

Universal studios japan 2016 tour review including flying dinosaur


Licensed properties included at Universal Studios Japan

Like other Universal parks, Universal Studios Japan does not limit itself to attractions based Universal's owned-library, it licensed other franchises from the rivals as attractions. Some examples includes:

  • Spider-Man (Marvel Entertainment)
  • Peanuts (Peanuts Worldwide, LLC.)
  • Hello Kitty (Sanrio)
  • Sesame Street (Sesame Workshop)
  • Terminator (The Halcyon Company)
  • Nintendo properties
  • Harry Potter (Warner Bros.)
  • One Piece (Toei Animation)
  • Resident Evil and Monster Hunter (Capcom)

    • Lands and Attractions

    The attractions are arranged in nine areas of the park. A tenth area, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, opened on July 15, 2014 with its flagship attraction, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. The area was modeled on the areas of the same names at Universal Orlando and Universal Studios Hollywood. There are also attractions that are not in the U.S. and are unique to Universal Studios Japan, such as Black Lake and Hogwarts Express Photo Op.

    New York

    Themed after New York City.

  • The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man
  • T2 3-D: Battle Across Time

    • Hollywood

    Themed to Hollywood.

  • Shrek's 4-D Adventure
  • Sesame Street 4-D Movie Magic
  • Universal Monsters Live Rock and Roll Show
  • Animation Celebration
  • Hollywood Dream – The Ride
  • Motion Picture Magic - When the park first opened in 2001, the attraction 'Motion Picture Magic,' hosted by noted director, Steven Spielberg.
  • Stage 22: Hollywood Behind The Scenes
  • Mainichi Broadcasting System
  • Monster Make-Up
  • Universal Re-BOOOOOOOORN! (15th Anniversary parade)
  • Space Fantasy – The Ride
  • Fantastic World

    • San Francisco

    Based on the city of San Francisco.

  • Backdraft

    • Jurassic Park

    Inspired by Steven Spielberg's blockbuster film franchise of the same name.

  • Jurassic Park: The Ride
  • The Flying Dinosaur

    • Minion Park

    Inspired by Illumination's Despicable Me franchise.

  • Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem (opening April 21, 2017)

    • Universal Wonderland

    Universal Wonderland is a section aimed at children and families. Opened in March 2012, it contains three themed zones including Snoopy Studios, Hello Kitty's Fashion Avenue, and Sesame Street Fun Zone.

    Snoopy Studios

    Based on the Peanuts comic strip.

  • Snoopy's Great Race
  • The Flying Snoopy

    • Hello Kitty's Fashion Avenue

    Themed to Sanrio's Hello Kitty franchise.

  • Hello Kitty's Cupcake Dream
  • Hello Kitty's Ribbon Collection

    • Sesame Street Fun Zone

    Based on children's television series Sesame Street.

  • Elmo's Bubble Bubble
  • Abby's Magical Party
  • Moppy's Lucky Dance Party
  • Big Bird's Big Nest
  • Grover's Construction Company
  • Bert and Ernie's Wonder-The Sea
  • Sesame's Big Drive
  • Big Bird's Climbing Nest
  • Abby's Magical Tree
  • Abby's Magical Garden
  • Water Garden
  • Cookie Monster Slide
  • Ernie's Rubber Duckie Race
  • Elmo's Little Drive
  • Big Bird's Big Top Circus

    • Universal Studios Lagoon

    A lake that surrounds the park.

  • Hollywood Magic

    • The Magical Oceania

    A lake that surrounds the park.

  • Peter Pan's Neverland

    • Water World

    Based on Universal's 1995 film of the same name.

  • Waterworld: A Live Sea War Spectacular

    • Amity Village

    Inspired by the Jaws trilogy.

  • Jaws

    • The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

    Based on J.K. Rowling's original Harry Potter books and as well as Warner Bros.' hit film franchise.

  • Flight of the Hippogriff
  • Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
  • Ollivanders

    • Super Nintendo World

    Universal Parks & Resorts announced a partnership with Nintendo in May 2015 to build new Nintendo-themed attractions. In March 2016, Universal Studios Japan and Nintendo announced that a new Nintendo-themed area is coming to the park in 2020, in time for the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics. ¥40 billion is being invested for the project (funded by Universal), and the area will feature many attractions themed on Mario, as well as other Nintendo characters. An eastern area of the park currently used for events was confirmed as being the new development's location.

    Former attractions

  • The Western Area, and with it The Wild Wild Wild West Stunt Show and the Animal Actors show, were revamped to become Land of Oz in 2006. This involved completely re-theming two live shows, one restaurant, and a number of retail facilities.
  • The Wild Wild Wild West Stunt Show was a live stunt show based upon a wide variety of Universal's Western films. Opening on 31 March 2001, in the Western Town section of the park, the show featured several cowboy-themed actors surviving death-defying stunts, shootings and explosions. The show closed in 2006 and has since been replaced by Wicked.
  • Motion Picture Magic - When the park first opened in 2001, the attraction 'Motion Picture Magic,' hosted by director Steven Spielberg, occupied the building that currently houses the attraction Sesame Street 4-D Movie Magic. The attraction, originally designed by experience designer Bob Rogers and the design team BRC Imagination Arts, provided a tribute to the Universal Studios brand of motion pictures. During the show, the theater transformed into a multi-screen presentation, and when the show ended, the main screen raised to present a real motion picture set in which the audience would cross through as they continued through the attraction show building.
  • E.T. Adventure has been replaced by Space Fantasy: The Ride.
  • Monster Make-Up has been closed.
  • Back to the Future - The Ride has been closed and will be replaced by Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem.

    • Land of Oz (closed in 2011)

    A former section at Universal Studios Japan, which was based on L. Frank Baum's Wizard of Oz book series. It was later replaced by Universal Wonderland section.

  • Wicked - This was an abbreviated one-act version of the musical, presented in Japanese.
  • Toto & Friends - This was an animal trick show, featuring dogs, birds and other trained animals.
  • Magical Oz-Go-Round

    • Characters

    Much like with the previous Universal parks, USJ has characters both from Universal and third party companies. USJ have the Japanese license to use the Sesame Street, Peanuts and Sanrio characters, alongside many others.

    Peanuts

  • Snoopy
  • Charlie Brown
  • Lucy Van Pelt

    • Sesame Street

  • Elmo
  • Zoe
  • Cookie Monster
  • Bert
  • Ernie
  • Grover
  • Big Bird
  • Count von Count
  • Abby Cadabby
  • Moppy (A Sesame Street character especially created for USJ)

    • Other

  • Woody Woodpecker and Winnie Woodpecker
  • Hello Kitty
  • The Pink Panther
  • Shrek and Princess Fiona
  • Minions

    • Awards

  • The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man - The Ride
  • 2001 Screamscape Ultimate No.1 Favorite Overall Non-Coaster Thrill Ride
  • 2002 Theme Park Insider World Best Theme Park Attraction
  • Animation Celebration
  • 2002 THEA Award (presented by TEA) WINNER in Attraction
  • Peter Pan's Neverland
  • 2007 THEA Award (presented by TEA) WINNER in Event Spectacular
  • The Gift of Angels
  • 2009 Big E Award, Best Overall Production, (presented by IIAPA) WINNER in the category "Best Overall Production, More Than $2 Million"
  • Magical Starlight Parade
  • 2009 Big E Award (presented by IIAPA): Honorable Mention in the category "Best Overall Production, More Than $2 Million"
  • Space Fantasy – The Ride
  • 2011 THEA Award (presented by TEA) winner in Outstanding Achievement

    • Official hotels

    There are five official hotels at or near the park:

  • Hotel Keihan Universal City
  • Hotel Kintetsu Universal City
  • Hotel Keihan Universal Tower
  • Hotel Universal Port
  • Park Front Hotel at Universal Studios Japan

    • Universal CityWalk Osaka

    Universal CityWalk Osaka links Universal City Station with the park entrance. It is a 3-floor shopping mall filled with numerous shops and restaurants and a 10-Screen Movie Theater Cinema Complex, including a takoyaki museum.

    Awards

    In 2011, USJ's Christmas tree was recognized by the Guinness World Records as the most illuminated Christmas tree in the world having 260,498 lights.

    Incidents

    In November 2004, a 35-year-old woman from Osaka Prefecture suffered nerve damage in her right wrist, affecting the use of two of her fingers. This occurred when her hand got stuck in a safety bar of the E.T. attraction as an employee pulled it down to secure it.

    References

    Universal Studios Japan Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA