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Transportation Route to Universal City
| Action | Route | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Depart | Ikeda Station 「池田駅」 (HK49) | - |
| ⇣ | 🚋 Hankyu Takarazuka Line Express (bound for Umeda) | 20-mins |
| Transfer | Umeda (Hankyu) Station 「梅田駅」 (HK01) | - |
| ⇣ | 🚶Walk | 8-mins |
| Transfer | Ōsaka Station 「大阪駅」 (Departure Track No. 1) | - |
| ⇣ | 🚅 JR Kansai Airport Rapid Service (bound for Kansai Airport) | 4-mins |
| Transfer | Nishikujō Station 「西九条駅」 (JR-P14) | - |
| ⇣ | 🚃 JR Yumesaki Line (bound for Sakurajima) | 4-mins |
| Arrive | Universal City Station 「环球城駅」 (JR-P16) | - |
Universal Citywalk Osaka
The Universal Citywalk Osaka is an entertainment and shopping complex located just outside the Universal Studios Japan. It is filled with American chain restaurants and a few local Japanese dining options (left photo below). Like most Universal Studios, there is a Hard Rock Café located in this Citywalk (right photo below).
Pomme No Ki Omu-RiceDecided to have our lunch in this Pomme No Ki restaurant located in Universal Citywalk (left photo below). This restaurant specializes in omelette rice, or "omurice", which is a Japanese cuisine with western-influenced style. It consists of fried rice covered or wrapped with scrambled eggs that are thinly fried and then topped with ketchup or other sauces.
Ordered a small size "Beef burger with omurice" at JPY 1,285 (right photo below). Taste was good and the sauce went well with the fried rice.
After lunch we walked towards the main highlight of the day.Universal Studios Japan (日本環球影城)
The Universal Studios Japan is a theme park opened on 31 Mar 2001 and was the first to open outside the United States. This park is similar in layout to the Universal Studios Florida and contains selected attractions from both the Universal Orlando and Universal Studios Hollywood, in addition to a small number of unique attractions.
Park Entrance
- The iconic blue-colored "Universal Studios Rotating Globe" can be found at the park entrance (left photo below). Another icon in the park is the "Universal Studios Entrance Arch" which is another photo-spot for visitors. As the park was at its fifteenth year in operation, the entrance arch was decorated with colorful banners to mark the celebration (right photo below).
One familiar group of sculptures was the display of Sesame Street characters "Zoë", "Elmo" and "Moppy", at the entrance arch. I remembered clearly that I had taken some photos with them back in 2005 (photos below).
Park admission
 |
Bought the admission ticket (1-Day Pass) at SGD 95 per adult from JTB Travel branch located at Takashimaya in Singapore before this trip (left photo). It was really convenient because no queuing needed for ticket purchase and we just required to show the physical ticket at the park entrance. As I already had visited two of the Universal Studios, namely in Singapore and Hollywood, so some of the attractions in this park no longer attract me. Therefore we did not explore attractions or rides like "Spider-man", "Back to the Future", "Jaws", "Water World", "Terminator 2" and "Jurassic Park". |
- This section is based on the neighborhood of Hollywood in Los Angeles where there are shops and restaurants (photos below).
- This section contains three themed sub-zones that include the Snoopy Studios (left photo below), Sesame Street Fun Zone (right photo below) and Hello Kitty's Fashion Avenue. We only visited the Hello Kitty's Ribbon Collection in the Fashion Avenue where it is an indoor meet-and-greet with Hello Kitty.
- The park is consistently installing seasonal attractions and show overlays. During my visit, there was a themed displays on the popular Japanese Anime "Attack on Titan". In the studio, life-sized characters were ready for visitors to take photographs (photos below).
On the studio façade was the sculpture "Attack on Titan Wall" (left photo below) and on a separate area was the display of "Glavenus" from the video game "Monster Hunter Generations" (right photo below).
The RE-BooooooooRN Parade
- Year 2016 is the 15th anniversary of Universal Studios at Osaka. The park organized a spectacular and exciting parade that is themed "The RE-BooooooooRN Parade" (yes, with eight 'O's in the word) at 1430 hours once daily. This spirited street party consists of over 100 entertainers in technicolor get-ups, as well as favorite characters from Hello Kitty to Minions.
The parade started off with a float on the 15th anniversary theme (left photo below) and followed by another float with colorful birds and performers (right photo below).
"Peanuts" float was next in line (photos below).
Charlie Brown was seen dancing enthusiastically (photos below).
Similarly Snoopy was seen joying itself (photos below).
Floats with big bottles of champagne joined by characters from Sesame Streets (photos below).
Hello Kitty in Indian costume was the next highlight (photos below).
Minions spotted on a party truck with bright yellow balloons to depict the presence of other minions (photos below).
New York themed float ended the parade with a finale (photos below).
We were entertained by this sensational, lively and spectacular music, stunts and drama.Food Souvenirs
- Cute cup noodles spotted with adorable designs from Snoopy, Elmo, Spider-Man to Minions (left to right photos below). Each pack of 4 cost between JPY 800 to 1,000.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
- Based on the "Harry Potter" series, this themed section was opened in Jul 2014. Ever since its opening, it has become the most popular section in the park and even a "Timed Entry" ticket is required to enter. We got to scan our entrance ticket at a "Wizarding World of Harry Potter numbered Ticket Booth" located in the Central Park within the San Francisco section of the park. After which a printed ticket would be generated (left photo below).
- Periodically the Hogsmeade Clock chimes and the owl will come out just like a cuckoo clock (left photo below).
- Buy a frozen butterbeer from the stand-alone cart located near the entrance archway (right photo below). It is a non-alcoholic drink.
- Look for "Search notice of Sirius Black" or hear the "Cries of Mandrake" at the Dogweed & Deathcap storefront window (video below).
The entrance to Harry Potter World section is specially designed to make visitors feel they are entering into a completely different place and to build up a level of anticipation where the mystical music of Hedwig's Theme wafting through the air. We first passed the Stone Circle and continued along the tree-lined path until we saw Ron's Flying Ford Anglia with flashing lights (right photo below).
Finally reached the entrance archway to the Hogsmeade Village (photos below).
Once entered through the archway, the Hogwart's Express train (left photo below) was on the right while the snow-covered Hogsmeade Village stands in front of us (right photo below).
There are several highlights and hidden gems in this Hogsmeade Village:
The street performance in the Hogsmeade Village was entertaining. We watched the "Wand Studies" show where students from the four Hogwarts Houses demonstrated their developing magical skills (left photo below) and invited brave wizards from the audience to help them (right photo below). The show was conducted in Japanese and English and the students flipped back and forth between the two languages which was somewhat interesting.
Hogwarts Castle is perhaps the most impressive building in the entire park (photos below).
The "Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey" ride is a five-time winner of the Golden Ticket Awards best dark ride and most popular ride in the park. This ride occurs within the Hogwarts Castle and visitors may get to queue 3 to 4 hours before given the ride. We followed the crowd to queue at the castle entrance (left photo below). During the wait, the Hogwarts Castle is even more impressive when viewed from the foot of the fortress (right photo below).
Finally, we reached the end of the queue after waiting for about 90-mins. The ride was fun with its 3D screen and robots where there were occasional water spray and use of fog and cold air. However it was in Japanese so I could only guess the story plot.There are several souvenir shops located in the Hogsmeade Village where a variety of items from gowns, sweets, mementoes to souvenirs (left photo below). Replica wands from the characters in Harry Potter can be found in the souvenir shops (right photo below). There is a difference between the "normal" and "interactive" wand with the price of JPY 400 more. These interactive wands can be used at eight different magic stations around Hogsmeade Village.
- Saw a "Snacks & Drinks" kiosk while waiting for the night parade (left photo below). Thus, thought of buying a roasted Turkey leg as dinner for JPY 850 (right photo below). The meat was rather tough and dry for me.
Magical Starlight Parade
- Magical Starlight Parade is a night time parade in Universal Studios Japan that showcases the magical fairy tales within bright lights since 2009. The parade commences at 2030 hours daily and lasted for about 20-minutes.
We waited patiently on the side of the street near to the Hollywood section for the parade to start (left photo below). It began with Elmo bearing the name of this parade (right photo below).
Universal Studios characters like Snoopy (left photo below) and Hello Kitty (right photo below) followed behind.
Old classics such as "Alice in Wonderland" were also featured in this parade (photos below).
"Aladdin" was next in line (photos below).
Characters from "Cinderella" marked the end of the parade (photos below).
Overall the parade was an amazing display of lights and music but the characters made me had this illusion that I was in Disneyland rather than in Universal Studios.
We left the park immediately after the parade to catch the train back to hotel.
Transportation Route to Namba
| Action | Route | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Depart | Universal City Station 「环球城駅」 (JR-P16) | - |
| ⇣ | 🚃 JR Yumesaki Line (bound for Kyobashi) | 6-mins |
| Transfer | Nishikujō Station 「西九条駅」 (JR-P14) | - |
| ⇣ | 🚋 Hanshin Namba Line (bound for Kintetsu Nara) | 8-mins |
| Transfer | Ōsaka Namba Station 「大阪難波駅」 (A01) | - |
| ⇣ | 🚋 Kintetsu Nara Line Local (bound for Kintetsu Nara) | 1-min |
| Arrive | Kintetsu-Nippombashi Station 「近鉄日本橋駅」 (A02) | - |
Reached the hotel at about 10 pm.