Universal Studios Japan Ticket Prices 2026: Express Pass Guide

USJ

Universal Studios Japan

Tickets

The one place you absolutely can't miss on an Osaka trip: UNIVERSAL!

Even though Universal Studios Japan tickets can be quite pricey, its popularity just keeps soaring, showing no signs of slowing down. It seems to be worth every penny, and then some!

You often see reviews like, "It was expensive, but I want to go again!" which speaks volumes.

While this wasn't my first visit, it *was* my first time booking everything myself! So, I've put together all the tips and experiences I gathered during this trip.

Osaka Universal Studios Prices

First things first, you technically only need an admission ticket to get in.

You can ride the attractions if you're willing to wait, but since it's so incredibly popular, wait times can easily exceed two hours... so these days, most people opt to buy a Universal Studios Japan Express Pass 4 or 7 along with their admission.

That's because these passes let you skip the lines for rides and often include timed entry tickets for popular areas like Super Nintendo World and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

If you plan to go without an Express Pass, you'll either need to purchase a timed entry ticket separately or make an "open run" (arrive before opening) and immediately apply for an e-ticket via the app once inside.

Basically, you'd be starting your day with a lot of uncertainty. So, most people end up thinking, "Since I'm going anyway, let's just go all out and get the USJ Express Pass 4 (or 7)!"

The number in the pass name indicates how many attractions you can use it for.

That's the basic system! Now, let's dive into the specific prices and compare them across different platforms below.

Universal Studios Japan, Osaka

There's so much fun to be had and so many sights to see, but let's quickly check out a few of the most popular attractions:

First up is The Flying Dinosaur. There are Express Pass types that include this ride, but personally, I think it's better to save your pass for something else. You can usually get on this one fairly quickly by utilizing the single rider line!

It's a roller coaster where your feet dangle below you, so it was pretty terrifying the first time I rode it. This time around, though, I guess I'm used to it, because it wasn't as scary!

Photos aren't allowed inside this one, but it has a great concept and is a really fun ride. Of course, there's nothing wrong with using an Express Pass here if you want to, but I think it might be wise to save it for something else.

This is the Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba XR Ride, and if you want to ride this, it's definitely a good idea to use your Express Pass here!

That's because wait times can hit 140 minutes! Plus, the single rider line doesn't usually offer a significant time advantage for this particular ride (making it a prime candidate for your pass when single rider wait times aren't much shorter). So, go ahead and use that pass!

Of course, some Express Pass types have pre-determined attractions, so you can't always choose. In those cases, you don't really have a choice, so...

(If the line isn't too long for a pre-determined ride, it's a good tip to ride it once without the pass, save the pass, and then use it for a second ride later in the day!)

Universal Studios Japan Admission Ticket Prices

Even with just a basic USJ admission ticket, you can still enjoy areas like Minion Park and other attractions (if you're willing to wait, of course!).

However, the main things to keep in mind are that extremely long wait times can exhaust you before you've even fully enjoyed the park, and you'll need to figure out how to enter popular areas separately.

Ultimately, the best choice depends on your travel budget and itinerary!

Let's take a look at the Osaka Universal Studios admission ticket prices.

Prices vary by season, and I've compared them based on the cheapest available dates. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, it's best to click the links above and select your desired travel dates.

There's no difference in price between the platforms, so feel free to use whichever one you're most comfortable with!

Osaka Universal Studios Express Pass Prices

For the Express Pass, there's a bit of a difference depending on how you combine the attractions. So, it's vague to give a flat price. It's most accurate to check by deciding your itinerary, which rides you want to go on, and which areas you want to enter.

>> Osaka Universal Studios Express 4, 7

To enter the most popular Nintendo World, you need an Area Timed Entry Ticket... so it's good to choose a pass that includes it. I picked one that included both this area and Harry Potter.

We also went on Mario Kart: Koopa's Challenge. It was my first time, so I was a bit frantic, but it was more fun than I expected!

Exploring Hogwarts Castle and enjoying Butterbeer are also absolute musts.

I chose the Osaka Universal Studios Japan Express 4 with the options below.

Among these, I rode Jaws and The Flying Dinosaur as a single rider, and used my Express Pass for Hollywood Dream – The Ride. I had thought about just riding Hollywood Dream if there was no queue and then riding my favorite one again at the end, but the wait was too long, so I just used the pass right away.

We did an open run and played until it got dark. The Express Pass might be pricey, but I definitely didn't regret it. If I hadn't gotten it, I probably would've wished I had!

We started right at opening and moved around efficiently, so at first, we didn't wait long for rides. But after a little while... phew, I couldn't even brave the queues.

After riding all four Express Pass attractions, we waited for one more ride... 1.5 hours in line, and I was completely drained.

If I go again... I'd want to earn a lot of money and get the Express 7....? Or if I get the Express 4 again, I'd want to choose a different set of attractions than what I picked this time.