We kicked off fall break with a family adventure to Osaka, heading straight to Universal Studios Japan (USJ). With the kids out of school and the weather finally cooling down, it was the perfect time to escape and make some memories. We piled into the car early Monday morning and made a beeline for the park!
Day 1: Wizards, Minions, and Zombie Thrills
Our first stop? The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. But first, a quick detour to Universal Wonderland for a spin on the teacups—always a crowd-pleaser.
Pro tip we learned the hard way: Skip the regular tickets and spring for the Express Pass. Wait times were brutal—up to 90 minutes for a single ride. Our first coaster as a family? Flight of the Hippogriff. Atlas (our little daredevil) rode with Adeline and me, but the speed was a bit much for younger kids. Not our favorite, but a milestone nonetheless.
Lunch at Three Broomsticks surprised us all. Theme park food? More like a feast! Fish and chips, shepherd’s pie, and butterbeer—we left stuffed and happy.
Then came the highlight for Atlas: a live Sing movie performance. Live action Johnny was hands down his favorite part of the show.
Next up: Minion Mayhem. Pure chaos, pure joy.
As the sun set, Halloween Horror Nights kicked off at 6 PM—and the zombies took over. This was hands-down everyone’s favorite part of the trip. The performers were incredible, the atmosphere electric, and surprisingly family-friendly. Even the little ones were obsessed.
Day 2: Mario Kart, Jaws, and More Zombies
We started bright and early in Super Nintendo World. Punching ? blocks, collecting coins, living the Mario dream—it’s as immersive as it gets. We only managed one ride due to the lines: Yoshi’s Adventure. Andi was too small, so Dominic and I took turns riding with the older three.
Fuel for the day? A refillable star popcorn bucket and a banana milkshake from Jungle Beat Shake. Worth every yen.
While the little ones napped in the stroller, the big kids and I snuck off to the Jaws ride—our unanimous favorite. Classic, thrilling, and perfectly nostalgic.
We also caught the 4D Despicable Me ride—despite being an AR ride it was surprisingly intense.
Night two meant more zombies. The girls waited in line for carnival games while Atlas and I soaked up every second of the undead parade. Not too scary, just the right amount of spooky fun. The best part? Zombies with actual chain saws stirring up the crowd!
Where We Stayed: The Art Hotel Osaka Bay
We booked a family-style room with six single beds lining the walls, a couch, and a TV in the center. Cozy? Yes. Chaos-proof? Not even close. Atlas was up at 5 AM, bouncing off the walls like a human pinball. But hey—memories, right?
Final Thoughts
Two days at USJ flew by in a whirlwind of rides, butterbeer, and zombie dances. The crowds were intense, the lines were long, but the magic? Unmatched. Next time: Express Passes, earlier starts, and maybe a zombie costume for Atlas.
Would we do it again? In a heartbeat.
Have you been to Universal Studios Japan? What’s your must-do ride or snack? Let me know in the comments!
Tokyo Family Wanderers 
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