Unlimited Fun at Universal Studios Japan

It all started at 4 AM in the morning, when everything was set to go to Osaka. We started from dormitory at 4.30 AM on 4^th June, 2016. It was a beautiful day, and sun has just started rising. It is strange to see so much light at 4.30 AM , but this is why Japan is land of rising sun.

We reached Minami Kusatsu (nearest JR station from Ritsumeikan University) and took a train to Osaka. From there we have to take subway to City of fun, Universal City. We reached universal studios at 8 AM. We took a ticket worth 7,400 yen, and if you will take express pass , it would cost 5,500 yen more, but it will give faster access to all the rides, you don’t need to wait for hours and hours during rush for ride, if you have express pass. We chose to take just normal pass, and stand in a queue near entrance.

Gate of universal studios opened at 8.30 AM, and after entering gate we saw everybody was running. We were not able to get why everybody is running, but soon we got to know that people are running so that they don’t need to stand in long queues. We also opened a map of universal studios, which was given with the ticket, and started searching for the rides.

Universal Studios Map

Universal studios Japan is located in area of 108 acres in Osaka city of Japan. Universal studios is separated in various regions, themed on various on various places of world and movies. These regions are : New York, Hollywood, San Francisco, Jurrasic Park, Universal Wonderland, Snoopy studios, Amity village, Water world. Each of the region has rides, walk through, Theater show, stage show, street show, Parade and much more.

New york of USJ

As per our research earlier, Flying Dinosaur is the most popular and exciting ride. So we moved toward Jurassic park to take flying dinosaur ride. As soon as we reached there, we saw long queue, and it was around 90 minutes waiting. We also started our waiting in queue for our turn. The waiting area is so properly designed and managed, that you will keep on moving, so that you won’t get bore, and you will feel that you are going to arrive at your destination soon, But no, the waiting time is so correct you will never get a chance to reach before that waiting time. Finally we reached to the ride at around 10 AM. They make you sit on the seat, and fasten all the belts around you and then.. whoop 180 degree turn. Now your face is down and legs up, its at the height that you can see entire universal studios campus. Now the time has come to start the ride. Our heart beat started rising, even by looking at the path your head will start moving, but here we are about to take that ride. We all were so excited and we were able to hear excitement of others too. It started .. and then that 2 minutes, oh my god I still remember, with twist and turn, sudden ups and downs. Everyone was screaming.. some were remembering there parents.. some were remembering god. I don’t know what I was doing, Just remember that I closed my eyes 1 or 2 times.. Because it was looking so dangerous, and we were falling.. It seemed that it was a free fall.. all this excitement was for 2 minutes only. When the ride ended, I didn’t want to get down. I wanted to go again. But you can’t, as so many people waiting for the ride. This was the amazing experience of Flying dinosaur.

Flying Dinosaur Ride

After Flying dinosaur we went to Jurassic park ride. Which started with normal boat riding and sights of interior of Jurrasic park, where you can see so many dinosaurs and animals. It was looking like a kids ride, but then came a twist. The boat went up, up and up, and suddenly one dinosaur came, which just reach in front of our face, that we all get scared, and then whoooppppppppppp…. A fall .. a free fall.. we were all not expecting this, so my heart beat stopped for some seconds.. and we were all drenched in water. It was amazing experience, as in flying dinosaur we knew the paths, when it gonna fall, when it gonna rise, but here it was a surprise packet for us.

Jurassic Park - Ride

Dinosaur at Jurassic Park

Dinosaur moving in Jurassic park

After the amazing experience of Jurassic park we went towards Hollywood. Hollywood has 2 rides- Hollywood dream and Hollywood dream – Backdrop.. Path of both Hollywood dream and backdrop is same, only difference is, in one you have to be front facing while riding and in backdrop, you won’t be able to see whats happening and where you are heading, as it will be back facing. We chose backdrop and stand in the queue waiting for our turn. After around 45 minutes wait, our turn came and we sat in backdrop ride. It was also for around 2 minutes.. and in that 2 minutes we went through rounds, falls, ups and downs. There are speakers on the seat near your neck and in handle near your hand, there was options to choose songs. So that ride was full of screaming, songs, ups and down, which ended up giving us amazing experience.

Hollywood Dreams

After Hollywood, we went to Amity village for Jaws ride, which was a normal ride where you have to sit in boat, and a boat driver(lady) acts and take you to see sights of amity village, where you can see some sharks, fire, waterfalls. But all you have to see from far, nothing big as such. We chose this ride for some relaxation, as wanted break after 3 amazing rides.

After regaining strength from jaws, we started towards New York for the ‘Amazing adventure of Spider man- 4K3D ride’. After wait of around 40-45 minutes.  We get a chance to sit in that ride. We were given 3D glasses. It started and then we were in different world, where we were watching different monster, spider mans, buildings, and many more. Every now and then I was extending my hands to touch these, and wohhh.. it was all illusion. It includes riding up and down to see monster fighting, to follow spider man passing from one building to other. It was a great 3D experience.

Amazing adventure of Spider man- 4K3D ride

 San Francisco

We took 1 hour lunch break after Spider man, to recollect all our energy, as we had lot much to see now, and we were going to Harry potter world after lunch. As soon as we reached Harry potter world, it seemed that we have actually came in Hogwarts. At the entrance there was a car in which Harry has come to Hogwarts and then Hogwarts express. Entire street has been given look of Harry potter world, with the home roofs cover with snow. It looks so amazing, I can’t even describe in words.

Hogwarts Express

Hogwarts Streets

 We started with a small ride named ‘Flight of the hypogriff’. We waited for around 20-25 minutes to take that ride. It was a good ride for 1 minute, but you one can’t compare this ride with Flying dinosaur and Hollywood dream. In comparison to those rides, it was children’s play.

Ride- Flight of the Hypogriff

Next we started our way to Hogwarts castle, which is exactly similar to Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry of Harry Potter movie. I was in dream. It looks exactly similar to that of harry potter movie. I can relate to what I was seeing there and what is there in the movie. There was pictures talking to each other, sorting hat, wizards, Dumbledore study, and many more. We ended our castle walk with a 4K3d ride ‘Harry potter and the Forbidden Journey’ . It seemed same as spider man 3D ride earlier. But it was far too different. In that ride, we were guided by Harry potter on broom stick, and he was playing quidditch . We crossed mountains, rivers,we saw monsters, different creature. While following harry I found so many times trying to touch items and touch harry, but evrytime I missed. It was such a wonderful experience, that I literally hugged my friend and was very very happy. After this amazing ride, we went for Harry potter world’s walk. We saw many stores with similar stuff as harry potter movie. We took photos with magic wand, Dumble dore hat, owl, broomsticks and many more items. We also tried Butter beer which was famous in Harry potter world. It comes with 2 variants – alcoholic and non alcoholic, and also 2 sizes, bigger mug cost 1100 and smaller cost 600. I took smaller mug of non alcoholic beer.It was sweet and similar to some of the mocktail we usually drink.

Butter Beer

Hogwarts Castle

After the harry potter world, we decided to go to Hollywood , and take Hollywood dream ride. About 1 hour waiting and then the riddddeeee.. Woohhhhh.. It was fabulous..

I wanted to take flying dinosaur again so we moved towards Jurassic park after Hollywood dream. We reached around 7 PM there, but our bad luck, it got closed. In universal studios, they organize special events starting at 8 PM and you can enter if you have pass for that. We was not having it, so we had to come disappointed.

Night view of USJ

Night view of Wonderland at USJ

We roamed in the streets of Universal studios, watched a 4D movie, did shopping, had snacks. I didn’t want the day to end, but it was not in anyone’s control. And as the day was ending, was feeling bad, that I will not get such a wonderful experience again. But yes, Will never forget that day again, and will hope to visit places like this again in my life.