Universal Studios Japan Tickets 2026: Nintendo World & Express Pass Guide

Universal Studios Japan, Osaka, Japan

A Complete Guide to Tickets and Express Passes

If you're planning your first visit to Universal Studios Japan in Osaka,

the sheer variety of ticket types can seem a bit overwhelming at first.

But trust me, once you've been there, it's much simpler than it looks!

Today, I'll dive deep into the different types of Universal Studios Japan admission tickets,

the concept of the Express Pass, and even my experience with an 'open run' strategy.

Let's explore it all in detail!

How to Enter Super Nintendo World

Before we dive into the different ticket types,

let's first cover how to get into Super Nintendo World.

Super Nintendo World is incredibly popular at USJ, so

if crowds start to build around 8:30 AM,

you'll need an additional ticket to enter the area, beyond your basic park admission.

These special tickets are divided into a 'Guaranteed Entry Ticket' and a 'Timed Entry Ticket'.

(Pro Tip: If you get there for an 'open run' around 6 AM, you can often enter without any extra tickets!)

The Guaranteed Entry Ticket is purchased, while the Timed Entry Ticket is free and distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.

I'll explain how to purchase these, and how to snag a free one,

in the sections below.

Ticket Types

📌Universal Studios Japan Ticket Types

1. Universal Studios Japan Studio Pass (Required)

: Your essential ticket for entering USJ.

2. Super Nintendo World Guaranteed Entry Ticket

: This is a paid ticket to guarantee entry into the Super Nintendo World area,

and you can purchase it in advance.

3. Super Nintendo World Timed Entry Ticket

: A free ticket to enter the Super Nintendo World area,

which cannot be reserved in advance. You must obtain it first-come, first-served after entering USJ,

which is why an 'open run' strategy can be quite beneficial!

4. Super Nintendo World Lottery Ticket

: If you missed out on the first-come, first-served Timed Entry Ticket,

this is a ticket you might get through a lottery system,

but as it's a draw, your chances of winning aren't very high.

5. Express Pass

: This isn't an admission ticket itself, but rather

a special pass to enjoy popular rides with minimal wait times.

And here's a bonus: most Express Passes also include a Super Nintendo World Guaranteed Entry Ticket!

Ticket Recommendations

So, you might be wondering which ticket option is best for you.

Based on my own 'open run' experience from early morning, I'll break it down!

✔️If you're planning an 'open run' around 6 AM:

→ A standard Studio Pass alone should be plenty.

✔️If you're skipping the 'open run' and going in the afternoon, but still want to visit Super Nintendo World:

→ Consider purchasing a Studio Pass + Super Nintendo World Guaranteed Entry Ticket.

✔️If you don't want to wait in long lines for rides, regardless of whether you do an 'open run' or not:

→ Go for a Studio Pass + Express Pass.

Even with an 'open run,' some incredibly popular rides

might still have wait times exceeding an hour.

I personally did an 'open run' at 6:30 AM,

and it happened to coincide with Japan's spring break season, so the crowds were absolutely massive!

I managed to do Donkey Kong in a speedy 30-40 minutes,

but Mario Kart had me waiting for over an hour.

Ticket Prices

The ticket prices can be quite high, so I personally opted for the 'open run' strategy!

I only bought the basic admission ticket!

I waited so long for Mario Kart that I regretted not buying the Express Pass, but honestly, it probably just meant I should've woken up a little earlier! 😭

(I'll explain the Express Pass in more detail below.)

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Express Pass

Even if you do an 'open run' (arrive before opening), popular rides like Donkey Kong and Mario Kart have long lines, which is why many people opt to buy an Express Pass.

When the Donkey Kong line I was in finally started to dwindle, I checked the app and saw the wait time was still 150 minutes! 😵‍💫

With an Express Pass, you can't pick and choose individual rides; you have to buy a predefined package.

Click on the product package information to see which rides are included.

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If it includes a Nintendo World Timed Entry Ticket, you can get on rides within 5-10 minutes.

However, you'll need to decide your ride times in advance, so I recommend purchasing it after you've finalized your USJ entry time.

My Open Run Experience

I visited during the busy Japanese spring break season in March, and even arriving at 6:30 AM, there were already tons of people.

Around 7:30 AM, we went through bag check and entered at 8:00 AM.

With an early morning 'open run,' you can enter Nintendo World without a Timed Entry Ticket or a Standby Pass.

Around 8:40 AM, Standby Passes started appearing, and from then on, entry was impossible without a Standby Pass or Timed Entry Ticket.

As soon as I entered USJ, I just kept running!

You don't even need to check where Nintendo World is; everyone just runs towards the Nintendo area, so you have to keep pace!

It's quite a distance, and many people gave up halfway, but somehow I managed to get on Donkey Kong within 30-40 minutes.

The Harry Potter area is less popular now, so you can enter without a Timed Entry Ticket.

Around 3 PM, the Forbidden Journey showed a 100-minute wait, but I used the single rider line and got on in just 20 minutes!

Besides that, I enjoyed everything else, including Mario Kart and the Waterworld show.

If you have any questions about 'open runs' or attractions, feel free to leave a comment!

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