Japan Trip Report - September-October 2025

[TBoy]

Just thought I would make a thread for my trip to Japan, all my park visits will be listed here.

Universal Studios Japan - September 26, 2025

We went here the day after we landed. We got up around 6am, leaving at 6:45 and getting there at 7:05. There were a bit of crowds on the train but many were already there once we got to security:

We eventually got to the gates at 7:30, in which the park opened at 8. There were a decent amount of crowds here and we were a good way back from the front.

Anyways, we got in soon after. My first stop was to turn right, in which rode:

Hollywood Dream

A B&M Hypercoaster (not really a hypercoaster as the height is less than 200ft) As this was my first stop, crowds weren’t too bad. I went in standby in which the queue was listed as 15 minutes: it took around that long for me to get on. 

My first ride was the “Backdrop” where the train is facing backwards. I loved it: thrilling but not too intense to start my day. 

Space Fantasy The Ride/SpyxFamily XR Ride

 

A Mack Indoor Spinning Coaster, the ride usually switches between Space Fantasy and an anime-themed overlay, right now it’s SpyxFamily but has been other animes like Demon Slayer and Doremon.

The rides listed wait time was 60 minutes , though I used single rider and the wait was only 20-25 including the short preshow.

You’re supposed to put on VR headsets on this ride, in which it displays an animation themed to SpyxFamily in accordance with the track: mine wasn’t working so I lifted it up, allowing me to see what the ride looked like without they overlay. All the lights were on as if the ride was running normally.

An alright ride but I wouldn’t wait an hour for it.

Snoopy’s Flying Ace Adventure

This is the park’s new coaster, a Vekoma Family Coaster similar to Road Runner but shorter. This replaced another Snoopy themes coaster built by Senyo, and is the parks newest coaster, only opening a few months prior to my visit.

It’s alright for a kids coaster. The theming is good for something that small, simple but it fits in with the area. The coaster was also pretty good for something with young children as it’s target audience. Only a 10 minute wait so might as well get the credit.

JAWS

Originally built with the park in 2001, this is the last remaining version in the world after it’s clones in Florida and Hollywood closed years prior.

Not very intense but the wait was only 5 minutes so we decided to hop on. 

It’s a fun ride: love the audience interaction and the animatronics. The only bad thing is with SNW and Harry Potter it kind of ruins the sight lines, it’s obvious it wasn’t built with them in mind. Still better having that than no SNW/Potter though. 

[TBoy]

Flying Dinosaur 

This coaster is the best coaster I’ve ridden, probably doesn’t mean much as this is my first international park.

It’s a B&M Flying Coaster built in 2016 and a great addition to the park. Queues were short as we had fast passes. Very intense especially the pretzel loop section but I loved it. Whips you around and is very fast.
Very efficient operations with four trains, same with Hollywood Dream.

Only bad part is it can be a bit jolty at times but it’s a small negative, I can see why as 9 years of constantly running faster than most coasters would put a bit of age on it.

The main problem is with the locker system: what happens is you get a slip with a QR code from the ride assistants to scan onto a locker: this opens a locker where you put your stuff in. You take the slip on the ride with you, but what if it falls out? Would just like better communication, otherwise the ride is amazing.

Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem

Since it was only 10:40 after doing those five and we had time to kill, we decided to do Minion Mayhem. It was listed as 40 minutes: it was a walk-on as we used single rider. This was the only ride in Minion Land we did: skipped Villain Con and Freeze Ray Sliders as the waits were too long.

Unlike the other clones of it around the world, this works more like BTTF/Simpsons, given it was converted from the former in 2017. You enter small pods of 8 rather than sitting in a room together, in which the pods are lifted up into one large room once the ride begins. 

It’s fine for what it is. Nothing too special but not the worst ride in the world. Audio was in Japanese but only the pre shows had English subtitles.

Jurassic World The Ride

 

After having a lunch break and a reride of Flying Dinosaur thanks to one of my family members who was too scared to go on (but had the pass with it), we decided to go on this.

Similar to Jurassic Park it’s animatronic heavy which I love. Theming is great and the drop/splashdown portion is the highlight of the ride. It gets you drenched: fountains burst alongside the splashdown.

Harry Potter

Nearly missed this as I went for a reride on Hollywood Dream (forwards this time) and my phone was missing. I found it luckily and off I went.

Theming is great throughout the land: no Hagrids and it’s a clone but it’s one of the most beautiful areas in the park.

Forbidden Journey

A simulator/dark ride hybrid, it’s wonderfully themed with large portions of attention and detail given. It’s very intense: more than I was expecting. Only 10-15 minutes wait due to our express passes.

The interesting part is that near the end of the ride it broke down in front of a screen. No evacuations: the ride restarted a few minutes later. We got to ride it again which we took advantage of. Not a good idea though: the other two I went with were sick.

Flight of the Hippogriff

A nice ride for the kiddies, it’s a clone of Road Runner at Movie World. Unlike that, the theming is a lot better, Hagrids Hut and other things located as scenery in the queue. Very nice theming for a kids coaster.

Super Nintendo World

It’s a miracle we even got here: a family member got sick from Forbidden Journey and we had to take care of them. They got better and off we went to SNW.

I loved the interactivity through the land, only got 1 of three keys as we had to go to our timed entries so couldn’t finish the Bowser Jr Minigams.

Koopa’s Challenge

The headline attraction of the park. Even with express tickets it was still a 30+ minute wait due to how popular it is. 

I loved it although I wished the glasses were bigger. It didn’t fill my vision and at times it would feel like some characters would just disappear or have only one half of their body visible.

Yoshi’s Adventure

A simple and slow yet fun ride which gives amazing views, especially as the sun sets. One of the things you was hit the eggs located on your vehicle the same time you saw it: I found all three yet no prize.

The wait was 65 minutes yet we only waited 15. Gives great views but best skipping if 65 is stated.

Mine Cart Madness

Added to the park last year, this is the newest addition to SNW along with the Donkey Kong Country mini area.

The wait was 120 minutes: although we only waited 15 with our express passes. It isn’t very long or fast but it’s a fun overall ride for what it’s worth.

 

We had dinner after this and I went on a night ride of Flying Dinosaur: took around 45 minutes although the queue seemed to be getting longer and longer as I waited.
 

Didn’t have time for the mazes: we left after I finished Flying Dinosaur although we did see some performers wondering around the park from around 7 onwards. Universal Wonderland and Minion Land weren’t “haunt zones”: you could spot the performers around the rest of the park, especially in the main circle around the lake.

Overall I had a great day. Good planning meant I got on everything I wanted with time for rerides. There are some flaws with the language difference between the workers (Japanese) and my group (English) but everything else was great. Very efficient operations as well (except for Space Fantasy which only had one half of the trains operating for some reason).

Edited Friday at 01:23 PM by TBoy

[Brad2912]

21 hours ago, TBoy said:

The main problem is with the locker system: what happens is you get a slip with a QR code from the ride assistants to scan onto a locker: this opens a locker where you put your stuff in. You take the slip on the ride with you, but what if it falls out?

I may be confusing it with another ride, but I’m sure when I was there in Dec 2023 you got a elasticised wristband with the locker key on it. Getting just a piece of paper to put in your pocket seems rather crazy before a ride that flips you around at speed 

[TBoy]

2 hours ago, Brad2912 said:

I may be confusing it with another ride, but I’m sure when I was there in Dec 2023 you got a elasticised wristband with the locker key on it. Getting just a piece of paper to put in your pocket seems rather crazy before a ride that flips you around at speed 

I did see a box full of green wristbands in the locker area, however we weren’t given them and were given the QR code papers instead.

That was the most confusing part of the day for me. Luckily none of the three rides it didn’t fall out (although on the last I felt something falling out, the only thing I had in my pockets was the QR code) but you end up spending the whole ride worrying if the paper slip fell out during the ride or not.

Not sure what happens to people without pockets although I didn’t see people get denied access because of it.

[themagician]

10 hours ago, Brad2912 said:

Getting just a piece of paper to put in your pocket seems rather crazy before a ride that flips you around at speed 

I thought the same thing when I went on it earlier this year. You definitely used to get a key on this ride, but at some point in reach years they’ve changed to basically a receipt (maybe post COVID).

[TV15]

12 hours ago, Brad2912 said:

I may be confusing it with another ride, but I’m sure when I was there in Dec 2023 you got a elasticised wristband with the locker key on it. Getting just a piece of paper to put in your pocket seems rather crazy before a ride that flips you around at speed 

It was like this in January 2025, it's a great system and works really well. It's the typical receipt paper material the size of a business card so stays in your pocket well, no point on the ride did I think I would lose it.

A gripe I have with this park is the horrific sightlines... and the operations of Hollywood Dream, they should seriously use some of the gargantuan queue space for the same process as Flying Dinosaur (qr locker, metal detector then up to the station) which would speed up dispatches dramatically it's on par with VRTP operations each side due to the need to wand all 36 riders. Nonetheless it's a cool gimmicky ride but it's butter smooth.

On 26/09/2025 at 10:41 PM, TBoy said:

An alright ride but I wouldn’t wait an hour for it.

I didn't get to ride this earlier this year, it was closed for maintenance, but I've heard great things about the ride. When all seats are being used, the ride has insane capacity 1920rph.. so the wait never really gets over 30 min. 

[themagician]

35 minutes ago, TV15 said:

so stays in your pocket well

But what if you don’t have a pocket? And for the sack of argument you’re either a single rider or no one in party has pockets either!

[Ashley Jeffery]

4 hours ago, themagician said:

But what if you don’t have a pocket? And for the sack of argument you’re either a single rider or no one in party has pockets either!

Bra or in your undies.

[DaptoFunlandGuy]

On 26/09/2025 at 10:41 PM, TBoy said:

after it’s clones in Florida and Hollywood closed years prior.

Hollywood never had a Jaws boat ride. Only the Amity Island set on the Studio Tour, which still exists.

 

On 26/09/2025 at 11:21 PM, TBoy said:

I can see why as 9 years of constantly running faster than most coasters would put a bit of age on it.

Around here we call that 'getting on in years'

 

On 26/09/2025 at 11:21 PM, TBoy said:

the other two I went with were sick.

One of our family has an inner ear condition that makes them violently sick if triggered. They've been on coasters across Asia and America (as well as Forbidden Journey in Hollywood) and never had an issue - but we did forbidden journey twice at USJ and they were hospitalised the next day with the worst attack they've ever had. Suffice to say we don't do Forbidden journey anymore.

On 26/09/2025 at 11:21 PM, TBoy said:

There are some flaws with the language difference between the workers (Japanese) and my group (English)

I think we're a little spoiled given many of our popular "big park" neighbour countries like Singapore and Hong Kong are all well versed in English for most service-based roles that Japan is quite jarring. While many younger people learn English in school, there are many people in service roles that don't speak English at all. I found many of those carried translator devices and google translate was very helpful - as long as you kept the phrase or question very simple. Too many words would result in an unintended meaning when translated.

Most places we went in Japan, the staff had laminated signs printed in English for the critical safety directions, but other than that we were on our own. It's quite the culture shock - but not being able to communicate with the cast is our problem, not theirs.

On 27/09/2025 at 9:08 PM, Brad2912 said:

I may be confusing it with another ride, but I’m sure when I was there in Dec 2023 you got a elasticised wristband with the locker key on it. Getting just a piece of paper to put in your pocket seems rather crazy before a ride that flips you around at speed 

Can confirm in June 2024 it was the paper slips. Folded inside a pants pocket, it simply cannot fall out once you are seated. 

 

20 hours ago, themagician said:

But what if you don’t have a pocket? And for the sack of argument you’re either a single rider or no one in party has pockets either!

Honestly, it's minimal issue to just hold the paper in your hand. Even if the operators had a problem with it, they can't see it.

 

 

 

Great TR @TBoy - look forward to hearing about the rest of your travels!

[TBoy]

On 28/9/2025 at 9:12 AM, TV15 said:

and the operations of Hollywood Dream, they should seriously use some of the gargantuan queue space for the same process as Flying Dinosaur (qr locker, metal detector then up to the station) which would speed up dispatches dramatically

I honestly prefer the Hollywood Dream locker system. It’s easier putting your stuff in the locker and out of it after. I rode single rider the second time (40 minutes) and most of it was in the indoor section, I would’ve hated not having my phone then. And it’s easier just grabbing your phone out and walking off rather than grabbing the QR code, opening up the locker then leaving.

On 28/9/2025 at 9:12 AM, TV15 said:

I didn't get to ride this earlier this year, it was closed for maintenance, but I've heard great things about the ride. When all seats are being used, the ride has insane capacity 1920rph.. so the wait never really gets over 30 min. 

For some reason only 2 seats out of 4 on each train were used. Possibly due to the VR, but it does slow things down a lot.

6 hours ago, DaptoFunlandGuy said:

One of our family has an inner ear condition that makes them violently sick if triggered. They've been on coasters across Asia and America (as well as Forbidden Journey in Hollywood) and never had an issue - but we did forbidden journey twice at USJ and they were hospitalised the next day with the worst attack they've ever had. Suffice to say we don't do Forbidden journey anymore.

One of the two recovered quickly after Forbidden Journey but the other we had to take care of for around an hour before SNW, we were sitting outside Snoopy Studios whilst everyone was walking past. I almost thought we would have to go home and miss SNW. Luckily they recovered and we didn’t have to go home or to the hospital, but we likely won’t be doing Forbidden Journey again either. They told me that they think they have an inner ear condition as well so it’s probably that.

6 hours ago, DaptoFunlandGuy said:

Great TR @TBoy - look forward to hearing about the rest of your travels!

Thank you - we’ve left Osaka now after exploring the city and a day trip in Hiroshima yesterday - in Kyoto now. 

We’re visiting Ghibli Park on Thursday, Nagashima on Friday and Tokyo Disneyland on Sunday - only bad part is there might be a bit of rain at Nagashima. There was a bit of rain at Universal but Flying Dinosaur operated, Hollywood Dream was shut in the middle of the day possibly due to the rain but opened later.

Edited Monday at 04:44 AM by TBoy

[DaptoFunlandGuy]

2 minutes ago, TBoy said:

I honestly prefer the Hollywood Dream locker system. It’s easier putting your stuff in the locker and out of it after. I rode single rider the second time (40 minutes) and most of it was in the indoor section, I would’ve hated not having my phone then. And it’s easier just grabbing your phone out and walking off rather than grabbing the QR code, opening up the locker then leaving.

If they switched to a dinosaur style system, you'd wait outside, with your phone prior to the lockers and spend little time in the indoor section. Anything to speed up operations should be welcomed!

[TBoy]

7 minutes ago, DaptoFunlandGuy said:

If they switched to a dinosaur style system, you'd wait outside, with your phone prior to the lockers and spend little time in the indoor section. Anything to speed up operations should be welcomed!

I think it’s better for operations but worse for convenience, especially after the ride where you can’t just grab your items and go. I would also prefer queuing in the undercover area for the last part with fans blowing rather than queuing under the sun, although this can likely be fixed easily with shade tents.

I reckon it could work if it was like the old locker system with the wristbands rather than the QR receipt, it sounds a lot easier for guests than the latter, although it’s probably more convenient for the staff who only have to print off a QR code rather than clean the wristbands constantly. The QR codes are probably also a more cleaner option especially in a post-COVID world so I can see why they changed it.

Edited Monday at 04:43 AM by TBoy

[TV15]

Just now, DaptoFunlandGuy said:

If they switched to a dinosaur style system, you'd wait outside, with your phone prior to the lockers and spend little time in the indoor section. Anything to speed up operations should be welcomed!

Agreed, anyone that's spent time in that queue knows how awful it is.

4 minutes ago, TBoy said:

I honestly prefer the Hollywood Dream locker system. It’s easier putting your stuff in the locker and out of it after. I rode single rider the second time (40 minutes) and most of it was in the indoor section, I would’ve hated not having my phone then. And it’s easier just grabbing your phone out and walking off rather than grabbing the QR code, opening up the locker then leaving.

The exact same could be copied over to the ride, the station is exactly the same as Flying Dinosaur, stairs up in the middle of the platform and lockers located under the lift hill as you have to exit the ride that way. 

Flying Dinosaurs ability to have low waits and extremely impressive dispatches is due to no messing around with loose articles on the platform and that it can run 3 trains using all stations, whereas if HD is operating with three trains expect a long wait (it technically is)... Even briefly when Flying Dinosaur went down for 30 min ish, the ride was back up with one side of the station open still pumping out trains.

4 minutes ago, TBoy said:

I think it’s better for operations but worse for convenience, especially after the ride where you can’t just grab your items and go. I would also prefer queuing in the undercover area for the last part with fans blowing rather than queuing under the sun, although this can likely be fixed easily with shade tents.

I visited in Winter, most of the outdoor queue was shaded iirc.

[Baconjack]

On 27/9/2025 at 9:08 PM, Brad2912 said:

I may be confusing it with another ride, but I’m sure when I was there in Dec 2023 you got a elasticised wristband with the locker key on it. Getting just a piece of paper to put in your pocket seems rather crazy before a ride that flips you around at speed 

Must have changed it recently. I can remember the key when I first went on flying dinosaur 6 years ago.

They had the piece of paper when I went again December last year.

Keys better - no possibility for issues with the scanners not being able to scan your QR code when you come back. The piece of paper won’t fall out of your pocket when it’s being held in by the lap bar

On 26/9/2025 at 11:21 PM, TBoy said:

Only bad part is it can be a bit jolty at times but it’s a small negative, I can see why as 9 years of constantly running faster than most coasters would put a bit of age on it.

It does get very hot and humid over there in summer. Roller coasters tend to run quicker and rougher in the heat, rivals can get a rattle in summer too. Lots of rides in Asia (and here for that matter) have this problem unfortunately

 

Edited Monday at 08:45 AM by Baconjack