Universal Studios Japan Height Restrictions 2026: Rides for Kids

My kids are 97cm and 127cm tall, so

we checked which attractions they could actually ride,

one by one!

A Super Planner Mom's Guide to Preparing for an Osaka Trip

While preparing for our Osaka trip with the kids,

we absolutely had to include Universal Studios Japan in our itinerary.

From admission tickets to Express Passes,

there was so much to look into.

But with two young children in tow, the very first thing I had to figure out was...

“So, what can my kids actually ride?”

Especially when traveling with little ones,

their height is even more crucial than their age!

​

USJ has different height restrictions for each attraction,

so if you impulsively buy an expensive Express Pass,

you might end up with a situation where your child can't even ride!

That's why, based on the 2026 official USJ website,

I've organized the characteristics of popular attractions for kids,

along with their height restrictions when accompanied by an adult.

To start with the main point:

92cm → 102cm → 107cm → 122cm → 132cm

If you keep these five numbers in mind,

it will be much easier to choose rides your child can enjoy at USJ!

▶ [Check USJ Admission Ticket Prices & Availability for September]

▶ [Compare USJ Express Pass Types]​

​

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✔ USJ Height Restrictions: How Tall Do You Need to Be to Ride?

Child's Height	Main Attractions Available
Under 92cm	Jaws, Hello Kitty's Cupcake Dream, Villain-Con Minion Blast, etc.
92cm and Above	Yoshi's Adventure, The Flying Snoopy, Flight of the Hippogriff, Freeze Ray Slider, etc.
102cm and Above	Despicable Me Minion Mayhem, Space Fantasy – The Ride, etc.
107cm and Above	Mario Kart: Koopa's Challenge, Donkey Kong's Crazy Cart, Jurassic Park – The Ride, etc.
122cm and Above	Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, etc., and most family and thrill rides
132cm and Above	The Flying Dinosaur, Hollywood Dream – The Ride, etc., and other large roller coasters

※ The 92-107cm height requirements are mostly

the minimum height required for riding when accompanied by an adult.

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✔ Osaka Universal Attractions:

Height Restrictions at a Glance

Attraction	With Adult	Riding Alone	What kind of ride is it?
Yoshi's Adventure	92cm and Above	122cm and Above	A slow ride exploring the Mushroom Kingdom
Mario Kart: Koopa's Challenge	107cm and Above	122cm and Above	An AR ride experiencing the world of Mario Kart
Donkey Kong's Crazy Cart	107cm and Above	122cm and Above	A thrill ride with a minecart concept
Flight of the Hippogriff	92cm and Above	122cm and Above	A mini Harry Potter roller coaster
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey	122cm and Above	122cm and Above	An immersive ride flying through Hogwarts
Despicable Me Minion Mayhem	102cm and Above	122cm and Above	A ride where seats move in sync with the video
Freeze Ray Slider	92cm and Above	122cm and Above	A ride where the vehicle spins around
Villain-Con Minion Blast	No height restriction	122cm and Above	A Minion-themed shooting experience
Jurassic Park – The Ride	107cm and Above	122cm and Above	A flume ride with a final big drop
The Flying Dinosaur	132cm and Above	132cm and Above	A large roller coaster ridden in a prone position
Jaws	No height restriction	122cm and Above	An attraction where you encounter a shark on a boat
Space Fantasy – The Ride	102cm and Above	122cm and Above	An indoor coaster that spins as it speeds along
Hollywood Dream – The Ride	132cm and Above	132cm and Above	USJ's signature outdoor roller coaster
Hollywood Dream – The Ride ~Backdrop~	132cm and Above	132cm and Above	A backward-running roller coaster
The Flying Snoopy	92cm and Above	122cm and Above	A ride where you fly a Snoopy plane up and down
Snoopy Flying Ace Adventure	92cm and Above	122cm and Above	A Snoopy ride for children
Hello Kitty's Cupcake Dream	No height restriction	122cm and Above	A spinning cup ride

※ Even without a minimum height restriction, young children still need to be accompanied by an adult, and for some attractions, they must be able to sit alone and maintain a stable posture in their seat.

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✔ Super Nintendo World Height Restrictions

If you're visiting USJ with kids,

the most anticipated place is definitely Super Nintendo World!

I also thought that most young children could

ride most attractions in Super Nintendo World,

but the height restrictions turned out to be more varied than I expected.

Yoshi's Adventure｜92cm and Above

If accompanied by an adult, 92cm and above,

but to ride alone, they need to be 122cm and above.

Riding Yoshi at a leisurely pace,

it's a ride that lets you explore the Mushroom Kingdom,

making it perfect for younger children.

It's not a ride with fast drops

or intense movements,

but rather an attraction where the joy comes from admiring the scenery of Super Nintendo World!

If your 3-year-old is over 92cm tall,

this is a ride worth checking out first!

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Mario Kart: Koopa's Challenge | 107cm and up

Even if riding with a guardian, riders

must be 107cm or taller.

It's an attraction where you can shoot shells using AR,

and earn points, just like riding a real Mario Kart.

While it doesn't drop from high places like a roller coaster,

the combination of screen visuals and vehicle movement

makes it much more dynamic than Yoshi!

If you're under 107cm, you can't ride, even with a guardian!

This is also why you should check your child's height first

if you plan to visit Nintendo World and buy an Express Pass.

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Donkey Kong's Crazy Mine Cart | 107cm and up

With a guardian, 107cm or taller;

to ride alone, 122cm or taller.

It's a ride where you speed through the jungle on a mine cart,

but it's no simple kids' train.

With fast movements

and effects that make it feel like you're jumping off the rails,

it's one of the more thrilling rides in Nintendo World!

Just like Mario Kart,

107cm is an important height requirement here.

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✔ Harry Potter Ride Height Restrictions

Flight of the Hippogriff

92cm and up

This one was a bit surprising when I looked it up.

If riding with a guardian,

riders 92cm and up can get on.

However, don't think of it as a toddler ride like Yoshi

just because you can ride from 92cm.

It's actually a mini roller coaster that moves quickly along the track

and has drop sections, so

even if your child meets the height requirement,

if they're easily scared, it might be best to consider their temperament before deciding!

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Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey

122cm and up

Inside Hogwarts Castle,

this is the iconic Harry Potter attraction

that makes you feel like you're flying with Harry.

The seats move a lot,

and the video combined with real sets creates

a highly immersive and thrilling experience.

Here, even if a guardian rides along,

children under 122cm cannot ride.

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✔ Minion Park Height Restrictions

Minion Mayhem | 102cm and up

With a guardian, 102cm or taller;

to ride alone, 122cm or taller.

The concept is experiencing the process of becoming a Minion

in Gru's lab,

with seats that move in sync with the video.

I just saw the cute Minion characters

and thought it was purely for toddlers,

but it's actually an attraction with more movement than you'd expect!

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Freeze Ray Slider | 92cm and up

If riding with a guardian, 92cm and up is permitted.

You ride in a Minion vehicle,

spinning and moving around,

making it a great attraction to try with

young children over 92cm.

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Villain-Con Minion Blast

No Minimum Height Restriction

This is a Minion-themed shooting attraction

with no specific minimum height restriction.

Children under 122cm

must be accompanied by a guardian,

but if you're visiting USJ with a 3-year-old who isn't 92cm yet,

this is definitely one attraction to keep in mind!

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✔ Jurassic Park Height Restrictions

Jurassic Park The Ride | 107cm and up

With a guardian, 107cm or taller;

to ride alone, 122cm or taller.

Initially, you travel by boat, viewing dinosaurs,

but at the end, there's a thrilling 25.9m drop!

Just because your child loves dinosaurs,

don't assume it's a gentle dinosaur boat ride;

the final thrill is quite intense.

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The Flying Dinosaur | 132cm and up

This is one of USJ's most thrilling

and iconic roller coasters.

Instead of sitting like on a typical roller coaster,

you're suspended face-down,

moving and spinning rapidly.

Since you need to be 132cm or taller to ride,

if you're with young children, you'll likely skip this one.

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✔ Jaws:

A Kid-Friendly Attraction with No Height Restriction

If you're going with a 3-year-old,

Jaws is definitely one to keep an eye on!

There's no minimum height restriction,

so even young children can enjoy it with a guardian.

You travel by boat,

then a giant shark suddenly appears,

followed by special effects using fire and water.

While it's not a drop ride like a roller coaster,

the sudden appearance of the shark or

Since there are loud noises and pyrotechnics,

children who are easily startled might get a fright.

Also, just because there's no minimum height requirement

doesn't mean you can hold a baby on your lap.

Your child must sit in their own seat independently.

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✔ Universal Wonderland: Essential

for 3-Year-Olds

If you're heading to USJ with young children,

a place just as important as Nintendo World to check out is

Universal Wonderland.

Flying Snoopy | 92cm and Up

This ride is accessible for those 92cm and taller when accompanied by a guardian.

You get to spin around in a Snoopy airplane and even control your height up and down,

making it a fantastic choice for enjoying with little ones.

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Hello Kitty's Cupcake Dream

No Minimum Height Requirement

This is a spinning ride where you get to hop into cupcake-shaped vehicles.

Since there's no separate minimum height requirement,

it's a fantastic candidate for riding with a 3-year-old!

However, here too, your child must be able to sit in their own seat independently.

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Hello Kitty's Ribbon Collection | No Height Restriction

More than just a ride,

it's an interactive facility where you can explore Hello Kitty's world

and snap some fun photos.

The official recommended age is also 3-6 years old,

making it a wonderful spot to include if you're visiting with a 3-year-old.

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Snoopy Studio | No Height Restriction

This is an indoor play area where you can explore

the worlds of Snoopy and Charlie Brown.

It's a fantastic spot to tuck in for breaks for young children who might find it hard to continuously ride attractions,

and it also seems like a wonderful option for spending time indoors

when the weather is hot or rainy.

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✔ Visiting USJ in 2026?

Beware of Older Kid-Friendly Reviews!

If you're like me and have been searching for Universal Studios Japan with kids,

you might come across many older reviews

recommending Elmo and Sesame Street attractions!

However, Sesame Street Fun World

and its related attractions will close on May 10, 2026!

So, if you're visiting in 2026,

it's a good idea not to plan your ride list

based solely on kid-friendly reviews from a few years back!

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✔ USJ with a 3-Year-Old?

Measure Their Height First!

As I prepared for our Universal trip with the kids this time,

I realized that the first thing to check, even before tickets,

was my child's height.

Especially if your child is 3, that magical 92cm mark is your first gateway!

If they're over 92cm,

your options expand significantly, from Yoshi's Adventure to Flying Snoopy,

Freeze Ray Sliders, and even Flight of the Hippogriff.

Over 102cm opens up Minion Mayhem,

and over 107cm adds Mario Kart and Donkey Kong's Crazy Tropical Train to the possibilities.

So, if you're planning a USJ trip with kids,

here's the smart sequence to follow:

Check your child's height → Check available attractions →

Then choose your Express Pass.

You wouldn't want to buy an Express Pass first

only to find out your child can't ride because of their height — that's such a waste!

Since I'm also going with a 3-year-old and an 8-year-old,

I plan to first narrow down the attractions they can ride

and then choose the Express Pass that's perfect for our family.

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Here's a little golden tip from me:

I recommend creating a table in advance of all the attractions your child can ride based on their height,

and then planning your itinerary using that as a guide.

Attraction	97cm Child	127cm Child
Yoshi's Adventure	⭕ With Guardian	⭕ Can ride alone
Mario Kart: Koopa's Challenge	❌	⭕ Can ride alone
Donkey Kong's Crazy Tropical Train	❌	⭕ Can ride alone
Flight of the Hippogriff	⭕ With Guardian	⭕ Can ride alone
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey	❌	⭕
Minion Mayhem	❌	⭕ Can ride alone
Freeze Ray Sliders	⭕ With Guardian	⭕ Can ride alone
Villain-Con Minion Blast	⭕ With Guardian	⭕
Jurassic Park - The Ride	❌	⭕ Can ride alone
The Flying Dinosaur	❌	❌
Jaws	⭕ With Guardian	⭕
Space Fantasy The Ride	❌	⭕ Can ride alone
Hollywood Dream - The Ride	❌	❌
Hollywood Dream - The Ride ~Backdrop~	❌	❌
Flying Snoopy	⭕ With Guardian	⭕ Can ride alone
Snoopy's Flying Ace Adventure	⭕ With Guardian	⭕ Can ride alone
Hello Kitty's Cupcake Dream	⭕ With Guardian	⭕
Hello Kitty's Ribbon Collection	⭕	⭕
Snoopy Studio	⭕	⭕
Water Garden	⭕	⭕
Play with Curious George	⭕	⭕

My children are 97cm and 127cm,

so I organized the attractions each of them can ride separately.

It really helps avoid confusion on the spot

compared to checking each one individually!

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If you're also getting ready with

your admission tickets or Express Passes,

I've compiled more detailed information in the post below,

so feel free to check it out!

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