USJ Studio Pass or Express Pass: what do you need?
Checked against 9 official sources. 8 minute read.
What to know first
You need a park-admission ticket, such as a Studio Pass, to enter Universal Studios Japan; a 1 Day Studio Pass starts at ¥8,400 for adults and ¥5,500 for children, depending on the date. An Express Pass is an optional extra, listed from ¥10,800 per person (dates on sale from ¥11,800 when checked on 18 October 2026), and does not include admission. It only shortens waits at the attractions named on it, on its date and, for some rides, at the printed times; arriving late can mean losing that attraction. Timed entry to Super Nintendo World is a third question: some Express Passes include it, otherwise you use the official app on the day, and same-day entry can run out.
Conditions to check
- Height limits: Mario Kart: Koopa's Challenge 107 cm and over, Yoshi's Adventure 92 cm and over, The Flying Dinosaur 132–198 cm.
- If you're late for a printed time, there's no refund or change of time.
- 1 Day Studio Pass
- Adults from ¥8,400, children (4–11) from ¥5,500Tax included; the price varies by date
- Express Pass
- Listed from ¥10,800; dates on sale from ¥11,800 (18 October 2026)The same price for all ages; admission needs a separate Studio Pass
- Super Nintendo World
- Needs an Area Timed Entry TicketIn advance with selected Express Passes, or in the app after you enter
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On this page
First-time USJ visitors comparing general admission with optional express bundles.
Check the exact language support available
Language support
Check website languages, printed materials, audio guides, translation, tour commentary and staff language support separately.
Evidence scope: Only support modes explicitly confirmed by the current cited source set are shown as confirmed.
- Official page
- English
- Written guide
- Not confirmed in the current sources.
- Recorded audio
- Not confirmed in the current sources.
- Live interpretation
- Not confirmed in the current sources.
- Guided language
- Not confirmed in the current sources.
- Staff language
- Not confirmed in the current sources.
Not confirmed means our sources do not establish this support option. Ask the venue about the exact date and support you need.
Key facts, checked 18 October 2026
1 Day Studio Pass: adults (12 and over) from ¥8,400, children (4–11) from ¥5,500 and seniors (65 and over) from ¥7,600, tax included; the price varies by date. 12-year-olds still in elementary school pay the child price. These "from" prices are from USJ's Japanese ticket page and the store's list, which shows the adult price only. When the Official Web Ticket Store was checked on 18 October 2026, the lowest price for any date on sale (visit dates to 19 December 2026) was ¥9,400 for adults, ¥5,800 for children and ¥8,500 for seniors.
Other Studio Passes for adults: 1.5 Day from ¥13,600; 2 Day from ¥16,000.
Pricing change: for tickets sold from 1 July 2026 for visits from 1 September 2026, Studio Pass prices are set by demand for each day and “may increase”, so buy early. Tickets you've already bought aren't charged more (USJ notice of 30 June 2026).
Express Pass: the same price for all ages, varying by date. Listed prices in the Official Web Ticket Store on 18 October 2026: Express Pass 4: Backdrop & The Flying Dinosaur from ¥10,800 (no Super Nintendo World entry); Express Pass 4: Race & JAWS from ¥10,800 (with Super Nintendo World timed entry); Express Pass 5: Adventure Special from ¥12,200 (with timed entry); Express Pass 4: Theater & The Flying Dinosaur from ¥14,800 (with timed entry); Express Pass 7 from ¥21,800. Premium P29 was listed from ¥41,000 but had no dates on sale; Premium P30 was listed from ¥44,000, with dates on sale from ¥48,000. Across visit dates on sale, which extended up to 19 December 2026, Express Passes started at ¥11,800; Race & JAWS started at ¥14,800 and Adventure Special at ¥18,900.
Express Pass rules: no Express Pass includes admission, so you also need a Studio Pass. If you're late for a printed time, there's no refund or change of time. An Express Pass can't be cancelled once bought; Studio Pass dates can be changed under conditions. A Studio Pass doesn't allow re-entry.
Super Nintendo World entry needs an Area Timed Entry Ticket: either in advance with selected Express Passes, or on the day in the app after you enter. Same-day issue can end early.
Height limits: Mario Kart: Koopa's Challenge 107 cm and over (107–122 cm with a supervising guest); Yoshi's Adventure 92 cm and over; The Flying Dinosaur 132–198 cm.
Sources for this section: USJ Official Web Ticket Store: Studio Pass · USJ Official Web Ticket Store: Express Pass · USJ: tickets · USJ: Studio Pass pricing change announced 30 June 2026 · USJ: Universal Express Pass · USJ: Area Timed Entry ticket types · USJ: height restrictions · USJ: Japanese ticket line-up (admission prices)
Which tickets fit your visit?
First visit, and Super Nintendo World is the reason you're going: buy a Studio Pass plus an Express Pass marked “Includes guaranteed timed entry to Super Nintendo World”.
You want Super Nintendo World but can take a chance: buy a Studio Pass only, and get a same-day Area Timed Entry Ticket in the app as soon as you're inside.
You care about Harry Potter and the big coasters, not Super Nintendo World: buy a Studio Pass plus an Express Pass 4 without Super Nintendo World (listed from ¥10,800; dates on sale from ¥11,800 when checked on 18 October 2026).
A child under 107 cm: check the pass's rides against the height limits. Mario Kart needs 107 cm and The Flying Dinosaur 132 cm.
Visiting on a weekday outside school holidays. Our view: start with a Studio Pass only, arrive at opening and use the app; add an Express Pass only for a must-do ride.
Only a few hours: a 1.5 Day Studio Pass (from 15:00 on day one) if you have two days; otherwise a 1 Day Studio Pass.
Sources for this section: USJ Official Web Ticket Store: Express Pass · USJ: Area Timed Entry ticket types · USJ: height restrictions · USJ Official Web Ticket Store: Studio Pass
Worked example: Mario Kart is non-negotiable
The party: two adults and a 10-year-old who is 125 cm tall, visiting on a weekday in November 2026.
1. Admission: a 1 Day Studio Pass for each. On 18 October 2026 the lowest November weekday price on sale was ¥9,400 for each adult and ¥5,800 for the child (for example, Tuesday 10 November); the price for your date shows when you pick it. Buy early, because prices can rise.
2. Option A, app only: enter at opening, register all three tickets in the app and request a same-day Super Nintendo World Area Timed Entry Ticket at once. It costs nothing extra, but same-day tickets can run out, and the Standby Entry lottery closes three hours before the park closes.
3. Option B, with guaranteed timed entry: Express Pass 4: Race & JAWS includes Mario Kart, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem, and a choice of JAWS or Jurassic Park – The Ride, plus guaranteed timed entry to Super Nintendo World. On 18 October 2026 its lowest November price on sale was ¥14,800 per person (all ages), for example on Tuesday 10 November. For three people, that is ¥44,400 on top of admission.
4. Check heights: at 125 cm the child meets Mario Kart's 107 cm minimum and is above its under-122 cm supervising-guest threshold. They cannot ride The Flying Dinosaur (132–198 cm) or Hollywood Dream – The Ride (132 cm), both included in Express Pass 5: Adventure Special. The child meets the published height thresholds for Race & JAWS: Forbidden Journey 122 cm, Minion Mayhem 102 cm, and Jurassic Park – The Ride 107 cm; the latter two require a supervising guest below 122 cm. JAWS has no minimum height, but guests must sit upright unaided, and under-122 cm children need a supervising guest. Other attraction-use requirements still apply.
5. Total for Option B on Tuesday 10 November 2026, at the prices on sale on 18 October: ¥18,800 for the two adults' admission + ¥5,800 for the child + ¥44,400 for three Express Passes = ¥69,000. Both admission and Express Pass prices vary by date and can change after you check, so price your own date.
6. On the day, be at the Mario Kart entrance at the printed time; arriving late means no ride and no refund.
Sources for this section: USJ Official Web Ticket Store: Studio Pass · USJ Official Web Ticket Store: Express Pass · USJ: official-app timed-entry instructions · USJ: height restrictions · USJ: Universal Express Pass
Start with admission, then decide whether an extra product helps
A Studio Pass and a Universal Express Pass solve different problems. USJ states that park admission is required separately from an Express Pass. Begin with the admission product and date that cover your visit; then examine whether an additional pass includes attractions you genuinely want and can use. Do not buy an extra merely because its name sounds like the complete ticket.
This checklist covers what passes include, not live price comparisons or a mandate to buy an Express Pass. Make sure your base day plan works before paying to skip lines.
Sources for this section: USJ: Universal Express Pass
Match attractions and times, not just the number on the pass
USJ Express Passes are valid exclusively for designated attractions on a selected date, with specific entry windows assigned for certain rides. Park guidelines require presenting the complete mobile pass, not just a cropped QR code. Passes are non-transferable between guests, and standard attraction safety rules still apply.
Check off planned rides against the pass that covers them, and match designated time slots with your shows and dining bookings. A bigger bundle is not always better if the attractions do not suit your group or the schedule feels too rushed.
Sources for this section: USJ: Universal Express Pass
An area reservation is a third question
USJ distinguishes between guaranteed advance entry with select tickets and same-day timed or standby passes via the official app. Same-day passes may run out based on park capacity, and entry to an area does not guarantee access to every ride within it.
List three separate items in your itinerary: general park admission, timed area entry, and individual attraction privileges. This helps catch missing passes before purchase and prevents mistaking free same-day queue options for guaranteed advance bookings.
Sources for this section: USJ: Area Timed Entry ticket types
Register the party correctly before relying on the app
USJ’s app instructions explain how party members’ admission tickets can be registered together. Follow the current process for valid tickets on the relevant day rather than using a screenshot of another person’s ticket or an old app version.
Decide who will carry the usable admission information and how the party will stay together when required. Keep a practical contact plan if the phone fails. Do not put QR codes or ticket identifiers into a general public question or shared planning note.
Sources for this section: USJ: official-app timed-entry instructions
Compare the date-specific checkout total
USJ announced a Studio Pass pricing-system change for sales from 1 July 2026 covering admissions from 1 September 2026. The announcement is not a fixed quote for your future day. The price for your date shows when you pick it in the USJ ticket store.
Compare the same people and date, separating admission from extras. In a manual quote comparison, enter complete totals rather than comparing one seller’s per-person headline with another seller’s whole-party amount. An arithmetic difference does not by itself show that the benefits match.
Sources for this section: USJ: Studio Pass pricing change announced 30 June 2026
Keep an alternative day, not an unsupported guarantee
An Express Pass does not guarantee immediate access in every circumstance. USJ’s guidance also makes designated times important: arriving late can mean losing that attraction opportunity. Do not build the rest of the trip on an assumed fixed duration for every ride.
Keep genuinely optional activities that can be shortened without making the day unsuccessful. If an essential experience is unavailable or unsuitable, consider another date or a simpler visit. A resale offer, an appealing screenshot or an unverified bundle is not a confirmed alternative.
Sources for this section: USJ: Universal Express Pass
Save the unanswered purchase conditions
Before paying, match the pass name, date, included attractions and printed entry times to your plan. Keep your actual tickets and personal details secure within authorized channels.
This guide does not make reservations or confirm eligibility to enter USJ. Please recheck your plans if your dates or group size change. Checking off personal travel tasks records your own progress; it does not mean the operator has confirmed an updated booking.
Your next step
1. Measure your shortest child and cross out any rides on a pass that they can't use.
2. Decide with the chooser whether Super Nintendo World must be guaranteed.
3. Price your date on usjticketing.com (Studio Pass first, then Express Pass) and download the official USJ app before you travel.
Sources for this section: USJ Official Web Ticket Store: Studio Pass · USJ: official-app timed-entry instructions
Questions about this guide
Do I need a timed-entry ticket for Super Nintendo World at USJ?
Usually, yes. Entry needs an Area Timed Entry Ticket: either included in selected Express Passes, or free in the official app after you enter the park, while they last. If those run out, the app may offer a Standby Entry lottery, which closes three hours before the park closes.
What if the USJ Express Pass I want is sold out?
Your Studio Pass still gets you in. Check the official ticket store for another Express Pass that includes your must-do ride (the store lists some passes from ¥10,800, though dates on sale started at ¥11,800 when checked on 18 October 2026), or plan to queue normally and use the app's same-day Super Nintendo World entry.
Does a USJ Express Pass include park admission?
No. Every Express Pass needs a separate Studio Pass (or Annual Pass) for the same date. The Express Pass only cuts the queue at the rides printed on it.
What should families check before buying USJ tickets?
Height and age first: Mario Kart needs 107 cm, Yoshi's Adventure 92 cm and The Flying Dinosaur 132 cm, and Express Pass prices are the same for children and adults, so don't pay for rides your child can't take. Ages 4–11 use child admission tickets; 12 and over pay adult, except 12-year-olds still in elementary school.
Detailed problem guides
Official pages for this guide
The rules in this guide come from the official pages below. Japan, Booked. does not book or submit requests on your behalf.
- USJ: Universal Express Pass
- USJ: Studio Pass pricing change announced 30 June 2026
- USJ: Area Timed Entry ticket types
- USJ: official-app timed-entry instructions
- USJ Official Web Ticket Store: Studio Pass
- USJ Official Web Ticket Store: Express Pass
- USJ: tickets
- USJ: height restrictions
- USJ: Japanese ticket line-up (admission prices)
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Sources and how this guide was checked
Published · Based on official sources · Advertisement: this page includes affiliate links. We may earn a commission on eligible bookings.
Official sources
These official sources explain the rules and conditions used in this guide. Live availability and your own booking, admission or service outcome still need to be confirmed for your trip.
- USJ: Universal Express Pass
What this confirms: USJ states that Express Pass requires separate park admission, covers its designated attractions/date and printed time, cannot be shared, and does not guarantee immediate access. Late arrival does not entitle a time change or refund.
Last checked - USJ: Studio Pass pricing change announced 30 June 2026
What this confirms: Under the 30 June 2026 policy update, revised admission rates apply to tickets on sale from 1 July for visits from 1 September 2026 onward; previously purchased tickets need no supplement. This notice does not reflect live ticket pricing for specific dates.
Last checked - USJ: Area Timed Entry ticket types
What this confirms: USJ distinguishes between advance timed area entry included with select passes and same-day app-issued entry once inside. Distribution may end when capacity is reached, and area entry does not guarantee access to every attraction within.
Last checked - USJ: official-app timed-entry instructions
What this confirms: Official app guidance details how to register party admission passes and request timed-entry area tickets once inside the park. Latest app release requirements, park capacity limits, and display rules apply; entry cannot be guaranteed.
Last checked - USJ Official Web Ticket Store: Studio Pass
What this confirms: On 18 October 2026 the store list showed the 1 Day Studio Pass adult price from ¥8,400, matching USJ's Japanese ticket page (adults from ¥8,400, children aged 4–11 from ¥5,500 and seniors aged 65 and over from ¥7,600). The store list showed the adult price only. Prices vary by admission date; 12-year-olds still in elementary school qualify for the child price. For visit dates on sale up to 19 December 2026, the lowest prices were ¥9,400 adults, ¥5,800 children and ¥8,500 seniors. The 1.5 Day Studio Pass was listed from ¥13,600 and the 2 Day from ¥16,000 for adults (lowest on sale: ¥15,200 and ¥17,900).
Last checked - USJ Official Web Ticket Store: Express Pass
What this confirms: Express Pass: the same price for all ages, varying by date. Listed prices in the Official Web Ticket Store on 18 October 2026: Express Pass 4: Backdrop & The Flying Dinosaur from ¥10,800 (no Super Nintendo World entry); Express Pass 4: Race & JAWS from ¥10,800 (with Super Nintendo World timed entry); Express Pass 5: Adventure Special from ¥12,200 (with timed entry); Express Pass 4: Theater & The Flying Dinosaur from ¥14,800 (with timed entry); Express Pass 7 from ¥21,800. Premium P29 was listed from ¥41,000 but had no dates on sale; Premium P30 was listed from ¥44,000, with dates on sale from ¥48,000. Across visit dates on sale, which extended up to 19 December 2026, Express Passes started at ¥11,800; Race & JAWS started at ¥14,800 and Adventure Special at ¥18,900.
Last checked - USJ: tickets
What this confirms: USJ's ticket page sets ages 4–11 as children and 12 and over as adults, and says a Studio Pass does not allow re-entry.
Last checked - USJ: height restrictions
What this confirms: Mario Kart requires at least 107 cm, Minion Mayhem 102 cm and Jurassic Park – The Ride 107 cm; each requires a supervising guest for children below 122 cm. Forbidden Journey requires 122 cm. The Flying Dinosaur requires 132–198 cm and Hollywood Dream – The Ride 132 cm. JAWS has no minimum height, but guests must sit upright unaided; children below 122 cm need a supervising guest. Other attraction-use requirements still apply.
Last checked - USJ: Japanese ticket line-up (admission prices)
What this confirms: The Japanese ticket page lists tax-inclusive admission prices from ¥8,400 for adults, ¥5,500 for children aged 4–11 and ¥7,600 for seniors aged 65 and over; the date affects the price. Its Japanese-store Express Pass prices are not used as evidence for English-store Express Pass prices.
Last checked
About this guide
Understand USJ admission, Express Pass benefits and area timed entry before buying. Compare the same date and party without confusing a paid extra with park admission.
Current prices, available time slots, attraction suitability, and wait times are not guaranteed. An area timed-entry ticket does not automatically cover admission to every attraction inside.
How we checked this
USJ Studio Pass vs Express Pass: what each ticket covers, verified details, and key limitations.
Each row shows one rule we checked and where it comes from.
If columns are cut off, scroll sideways. Keyboard: focus the table, then use Left/Right Arrow keys.
| Question | What we found | Where it comes from | What this means for your trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Is the Express Pass the whole admission ticket? | No. USJ requires a regular studio pass for park entry in addition to your Express Pass. | USJ: Universal Express Pass | Price the whole visit instead of mistaking an extra for admission. |
| Can passes be shared or used anytime? | USJ tickets and passes are strictly valid only for the named holder, selected date, designated attractions, and printed times. | USJ: Universal Express Pass | Check every intended experience and time before paying. |
| Does area entry guarantee every experience inside it? | No. Area-entry tickets and individual attraction access have distinct conditions and capacity limits. | USJ: Area Timed Entry ticket types; official-app timed-entry instructions | Keep the area and attraction lines separate in the plan. |
| Does published base pricing reflect what you'll actually pay right now? | No. The announcement outlines the ticket pricing tier and effective dates, not the final total for what is currently in your cart. | USJ news: Studio Pass pricing change (30 June 2026) | When comparing prices, make sure to use official quotes for the exact same party size, ticket type, and date. |
Based on official sources, linked below.
Guide updates Reviewed
When this guide was checked and what changed
- First published
- Last checked
- Check again by
- What we checked
- USJ's Official Web Ticket Store (Studio Pass and Express Pass, including its date price calendars), USJ's Express Pass, tickets, Japanese ticket line-up, height-restriction, Area Timed Entry and app pages, and its 30 June 2026 pricing notice were checked on 18 October 2026. Date prices in this guide are examples from the store's calendar on the day checked; prices for your own date and same-day entry availability are not checked.
- Latest update
- : Rechecked all nine sources. The 125 cm child's worked example now uses Express Pass 4: Race & JAWS instead of Adventure Special, which includes two rides requiring 132 cm. Its 10 November 2026 price example totals ¥69,000 at prices on sale on 18 October. Distinguished store-list prices from date prices and relabelled usjticketing.com as USJ's Official Web Ticket Store.
The date above reflects when these checks were last run. If an individual source was rechecked later, you’ll see that date next to it below. Other copy edits are listed in the update history.
Who edits this guide
One editor looks after this guide
Japan, Booked. is run and edited from Japan. The same editor checks the Japanese and English sources, writes the traveller-facing guidance and keeps the correction history up to date.
What changed
Update history
- Prices and worked example corrected
Rechecked all nine sources. The 125 cm child's worked example now uses Express Pass 4: Race & JAWS instead of Adventure Special, which includes two rides requiring 132 cm. Its 10 November 2026 price example totals ¥69,000 at prices on sale on 18 October. Distinguished store-list prices from date prices and relabelled usjticketing.com as USJ's Official Web Ticket Store.
- Scheduled recheck
Rechecked on 11 October 2026: the dated facts in this guide were compared with their primary sources. Nothing had changed.
- Added store prices, height limits, a chooser and a worked example
Added a key-facts box with Studio Pass and Express Pass prices from the official store, pricing-change and cancellation rules, Super Nintendo World entry and height limits, a ticket chooser, a priced Mario Kart example for a family of three, a next-step list and direct answers to the traveller questions, and replaced placeholder text in the evidence table. The store, Express Pass, ticket, pricing-notice and height pages were checked on 8 October 2026; the area-entry pages keep their 22 September check and are due again on 23 October 2026.
- Clear Options for Visit-Day Ticket Outcomes
Clarified that availability for Studio Passes, Express Passes, and timed-entry tickets must be checked separately for each specific product on your visit date.
- Official sources rechecked
Checked against the full guide and all four official sources, confirming separate park admission requirements, Express Pass benefits, timed-entry area rules and the dates when pricing updates take effect.
- Official sources rechecked
Cross-checked across all four official ticketing and app sources. Studio Pass entry, Express Pass, and timed-entry area access remain separate requirements, with availability subject to capacity.
- Published a dedicated step-by-step operator guide
We published a fact-checked USJ Studio Pass vs. Express Pass guide detailing exact official park policies, clarifying unconfirmed booking details, and linking to step-by-step next planning resources.
If an operator, organiser or product changes in a way that affects the guide, we check it again sooner. Reader reports help us spot what to investigate, and we verify them against current official information before publishing. Read our update and corrections policy. See every guide's review schedule. Suggest an improvement to this guide.