I like how this Universal Studios was different from the one in Singapore. It has different attractions than the ones I saw when I was there, so it was all fresh, at least for me.
So, continuing on my post on my jaunt in Universal Studios Japan. Read the first part here.
We passed by the entrance to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
And beside the entrance is the Amity Village area, where the JAWS ride was located.
There was also a crowd as we walked along the other end of Hollywood boulevard. The poster on the right made me wonder what the Ted attraction would be like.
We also passed by the Space Fantasy Ride. We didn’t go on it, though, because we had one target in mind. And we only had one ride left to take before our allotted time to enter The Wizarding World has arrived.
Leaving Hollywood behind, we arrived in New York area, and the Terminator 3-D ride is one of the two major attractions here.
We arrived at the other attraction – and the one we were aiming for – “The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man”.
And yes, there is a queue.
But we still lined up, because it looked like it was moving fast.
Inside, as the queue moves along, you’ll be moving along the halls and corridors of a simulation of The Daily Bugle. It was hard to take decent pictures, because I was too embarrassed to stop to take photos. It is, after all, going to hold up the line.
Unfortunately, from this point forward, cameras are not allowed. So what was the ride like? It was an exhilarating ride, with you joining Spiderman fight the Spidey-villains. Well, technically, you don’t join him in the fight; he saves you from them. Haha!
It was no wonder that this won a Best Dark Ride for 12 straight years!!! Read more about it here.
See this pic I stole from the exit. haha! I took the photo, then a staff told me taking photos is not allowed. We should buy the photos being sold instead. We passed. *sneaky*
A walk around show people simply relaxing and lazing around.
There were also fun booths where you could play for prizes.
Even when dusk has set in, the place was still very much alive.
We eventually left the park at 5.45pm. Yes, it was already dark.
By the way, right in front of the main gate of USJ is Hard Rock Cafe and the City Walk Osaka.
So, to wrap this post up, here are some tips I could give to anyone who wants to visit Universal Studios Japan.
* Go there early. If you can be there at the opening, that’s much better. We were unable to be there early, although we planned to, because of unmitigated circumstances. Still, we had fun, so that’s the important part.
* Avoid going on weekends, because that is bound to be when the crowd really descends on the place. That’s precisely the reason why we were adamant about going there on a Friday instead of moving it to the next day. We went on a weekday, and there was already a crowd, so you can just imagine just how many people would be there on a weekend. *shudder*
* It’s a tourist trap. Be careful. But, hey, if you are there to splurge, and you have deep pockets, GO FOR IT.
* Again, if you’re on a budget, you could skip on the Express Passes. I notice how they “bloat” the waiting times. Like, they say the queue would take 40 minutes, then it would actually be less than 30. If you’re patient, and you have a lot of time, no need to get the Express passes. And provided it’s a weekend, too. But if you are impatient, and you have money, and you want to ride EVERYTHING at the park, then, by all means, get the 3-, 5-, or 7-attraction Express Pass.
* Personally, I thought the layout of US-SG was much easier to navigate than USJ. But maybe that was just me.
* And, lastly, HAVE FUN! Like I did! XDD
Is there harry potter merchandise sold outside the area of USJ?
As far as I could remember, I haven’t seen any OFFICIAL HP merch sold outside USJ, not even in the Shinsaibashi area (but then I again, I haven’t entered all the shops). The goods I saw are even available in the Wizarding World area only, and not in the other stores within USJ.