A Day at Universal Studios Japan
Morning: Heading to Universal Studios
Today was the day to visit Universal Studios Japan.
The thought of battling huge crowds made it hard to get out of bed, but we forced ourselves up to catch the train on time.
Knowing how expensive everything inside Universal would be, we grabbed a quick (but not very impressive) hotel breakfast before setting off. Thankfully, being near Osaka Station made transportation easy.
Arriving at Universal Studios
We arrived around 9:00 AM.
Even at the station, there was already a sea of people moving like ants toward the entrance gates.
Hearing the upbeat music playing from the station lifted my spirits and erased the fatigue from the day before.
Despite the crowd, the multiple entrance gates made admission faster than expected.
During bag checks, they kindly allowed baby snacks, showing great flexibility.
Since we didn’t plan to visit Nintendo World, we decided to wander and explore the park first.
Just follow the crowd!
Quick entry achieved!
Hollywood Wonderland & Show Time
At Hollywood Wonderland, we tried a few rides, but most had height restrictions that weren’t suitable for our toddler.
Instead, we decided to focus on shows and character experiences. Using the Universal Studios app, we checked the day’s showtimes:
- Universal Wonderland Feel the Rhythm: 9:50, 11:10
- Minions Greeting: Under the Hollywood canopy
- Jurassic Park Show: 9:30, 10:25, 11:20
- Universal Wonderland Moppy’s Dance: 10:00, 11:00
- Minions Fever Disco: 10:20 AM
- Hollywood Sing on Tour: 10:20 AM
Universal Studios Japan Official Website
We moved from show to show, taking pictures with characters that our baby loved — especially Elmo and Cookie Monster, who warmly interacted with her and made the day extra special.
❤️ Elmo, we love you!
Lunch & Snacks
We moved toward the Jurassic World parade but were caught off guard by sudden rain, leading to a show cancellation.
With time to spare, we decided to grab some snacks instead.
The restaurants inside Universal all had long wait times, so we opted for food stalls along the streets.
The pizza and tomato soup turned out to be surprisingly good and warmed us against the chilly rain, though the beer was a bit disappointing.
The food booths were unexpectedly satisfying!
After a while, the Jurassic Parade resumed, and we enjoyed it to the lively beats echoing through the park.
Exciting dinosaur parade!
Main Parade & Heading Home
We arrived 30 minutes early to secure a spot for the main parade — competition for good seats was fierce!
Though the parade seemed slightly scaled down due to the rain, the atmosphere remained electric.
Our little one and I danced together to the music, soaking in the happiness.
Could it get any more fun?
If our baby had been a little older, we could have spent all day riding attractions.
However, after the parade ended, we felt it was time to head back.
Unlike the direct train we took in the morning, returning required a transfer, and we even faced a nerve-wracking moment descending an escalator with the stroller when we couldn’t find an elevator at Osaka Station.
Dinner & Wrapping Up the Day
Back near Osaka Station, we found a casual restaurant and had a simple tonkatsu dinner.
Though I wanted to visit an izakaya for a late-night snack, fatigue overwhelmed us.
Instead, we picked up some treats from a convenience store and headed back to the hotel, ending the day with a hot shower and a refreshing beer.
Delicious tonkatsu!
New Year’s Eve Abroad
It was our first time spending New Year’s Eve abroad.
Although I had dreamed of counting down to the New Year in a lively street celebration, the three of us were so exhausted that we fell asleep early.
Welcoming the New Year in Osaka felt a little different but still special in its own way.
We had a quick breakfast at the hotel the next morning and rushed to the airport.
Finding the right JR line for the airport was confusing, but with a few exchanged glances among fellow Koreans also scrambling for the train, we somehow made it in time.
This spontaneous family trip to Osaka turned out to be both a challenge and a beautiful adventure.
Wishing everyone happiness and health in the coming year — Happy New Year!