Living Life at Universal Studio Japan - Osaka

Theme park always awaken the child inside you. Be it Dunia Fantasi (Dufan) in Jakarta, Universal Studio Singapore, Hong Kong Disneyland, etc. The list can go on forever with newly added venues that invade Asia.

From Disneyland Anaheim- California, Disney World Orlando - Florida, Dream World and Warner Bros at Gold Coast Australia, Six Flags Great America at Illinois, to Hong Kong Disneyland and Universal Studio Singapore, the common language for the rides and shows are English.

Not the case of Universal Studio Japan (USJ). The main language is Japanese. And the subtitles are only available in Minion Mayheim rides. So understanding the storyline is a challenge.

But anyway, you can always enjoy the rides, right? Plus, they have Wizarding World of Harry Potter!!! And Butterbeer!!

But bringing kids to theme park could be a stressing job. There are rides that requires minimum height (for safety). there are possibilites that the child has to be attended all the time while parents whats to ride. There are these long queue that people are solemnly follow. There are these long walk outdoor that might cause the sweetest child cranky.

My review here is so that you can prepare yourself and your kid(s) for getting the most out of your (damn) expensive ticket (at least for average Indonesian).

But if you hate spoilers, STOP READING HERE, and you might leave this blog, or read my other notes.

So here we go...

1. Language:
As I mention previously, Japanese is it. And no subtitles. They should have at least put English subtitles, in my opinion. In one walkthrough, they have Japanese with Japanese subtitles, possible for the hearing impaired: in Backdraft, as far as I remember.

2. Food & Drinks:
There are plenty options with (of course) soaring high price. But as a gullible first day tourist in Japan, I pay whatever they want me to pay. 

Food from outside are not allowed, although I saw one Indian family that I queue together in Minion Mayheim are actually brings 20L cooler box in a small trolley.

So make sure you eat something before you enter. But not too full that it will cause you stomachache during the extreem rides.

3. Single rider:
While most Indonesian are afraid to be called jomblo, single is good in USJ. Singel rider means you can queue much shorter, and be ready to be paired with whomever, not that it matters for me.

So i got this gentleman with tidy shirt that looks like he's ready to go to work, I got a boy that seemingly like a school children running from classes, I got granny with her attendee.

4. Child switch:
Parents with children that has to ne attended can queue together and take turn one going on a ride and one waiting for the children without re-queueing. Ask the attendance (and hope they understand english)

5. Lockers:
Most of the rides are OK with you bringing  your whole closets (naaah.. I'm exaggerating)... Yet some rides requires you to be free of your carry-ons.

They have paid lockers at the entrance of USJ and some otherplaces. But the best way is to bring your stuffs until it is absolute necessary.

Hollywood the Rides, for example, provides box on the platform that you can put your belongings. And it is safe.

Flight of the Dinosaurs and Wizarding World of Harry Potter, on the other hand, provide lockers for free (¥100 deposit for Flight of the Dinosaurs - returnable).

They should have made a charge card that can just be tap like ICOCA card so that we can put everything in it while running for the rides. Ah.. i think too far.

6. Walking:
Well... i guess walking is way of life for most of your stay in Japan anyway. So walk.  You can get park map at the entrance or get some ideas here: https://www.usj.co.jp/e/common/studiomap.html

Plan ahead, if you are OCD type. Or don't plan if you're carefree type.

7. Express Pass:
It depends on how ambitious you are as a theme park guest. Typically you can have 5-6 rides without Express Pass, from morning to evening.

Some of the rides are really queueing like crazy. But some are rather light. Also morning to afternoon is the heaviest queue. Approaching closing time not many people left. But some attractions are closed already.

If you're the faint-hearted one, you can still enjoy street performances and performances inside the theatre. Or just come to Hogsmead for the Butterbeer.

Like me, because I went alone and I want to try everything, with Express Pass 7 and Single Riders, I can get to experience 12 attractions. Including 2 special rides from Universal Cool Japan: Evangelion XR and Godzilla 2D/3D.

These are reviews of 12 attractions that I went on Monday, 22 May 2017:

1. Minion Mayhem:
4D rides with lots of special effect (no rail)
Bags can be brought and left beside the pod
Crazy queues with lots of kids
Brand new attraction at USJ.

2. Backdraft:
Fire show
Almost no queue when I arrived
Walk through different chambers. Each with increased suspense.
Try to stay at the lowest row, because it is the front part and best viewed on latter chambers.
No translation at all

3. Jurassic Park - the Ride:
Long queue
Combination between indoor and outdoor ride.
Soaking wet prepare raincoat.
Similar to niagara-gara with unpredictable ending.
A friend said this Ride is even better than the one in California.

4. Terminator 2:
3D show + real performance
With 3D glasses
Interesting opening with a girl that acts very well.
The whole show without translation
Suitable for kids.

5. Holywood: The Ride / Backride
Long queue
Fun outdoor roller coaster
Try it backwards at backride
I think the Ride has more loop than backride

6. Harry Potter Forbidden Journey
Fun ride on pod of 4
Indoor roller coaster with open pod and 3D glasses
You can walk through the interior of Hogwarts School of Wizardry
They provide free locker inside.
Platform switch is a bit tricky as 1 platform moving and 1 stationer.
Dark

7. Flight of the hippogriff
Suitable for kids.
Easy roller coaster, outdoor.
No subtitle. In Japanese

8. The Jaws
Outdoor boat ride
No translation
Easy for kids
A bit wet
A bit fire show

9. Spiderman The Ride:
Basically we stay on the pod consist of 3 rows and 4 people each.
Indoor roller coaster, inside dark chamber and the rides includes spinning side to side with 3D glasses.
A little water splash, hot air.

10. Flying Dinosaurs:
Outdoor roller coaster rides
The most physically and mentally challenging. Similar to cylon but your back is hang on the top and your face is facing to the ground.
When the roller coaster drop basically your head is first.
They provide locker before the entrnace with 100¥ returnable deposit.
According to me, this is the best rides in USJ.

11. Universal cool Japan -  Evangelion XR Rides by Nerv
Interactive glasses with 360deg actual view (virtual reality goggles) that was connected to the pod.
Indoor mini roller coaster rides in pod of 2.

12. Universal Cool Japan - Godzilla 2-3D.
Movie 3D glasses
Interactive seats (wheelchair accessible)
Slight splashing
Suitable for kids.

May be one suggestions for Universal Studio Japan is to have English subtitles to all its rides. Hopefully.