Universal Studios and Tokyo Disney Sea were always on our Japan itinerary because we enjoy theme parks.
Universal Studios Japan in Osaka is an unforgettable adventure filled with Harry Potter magic, Nintendo nostalgia, and plenty of thrills! We went on a Monday after the Japanese school holiday, so the park was practically empty. The lines stayed short all day; no wait was more than 40 minutes.
We arrived at the park an hour before it officially opened and were rewarded with the park opening early. We conquered the Flying Dinosaur roller coaster twice before a line formed.
The movie experiences and rides are in Japanese but are still fun to watch. We got the gist. None of us could understand the Minions so that part is the same as Universal in Florida.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is just as enchanting as the one in Florida. Henry enjoyed the butterbeer, and I found a vegan lunch at the Three Broomsticks.
Mario World is a trip. Walking through the warp pipe instantly transports you into a real-life Mushroom Kingdom. There are familiar characters everywhere you look, like Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Yoshi, and Toad. The attention to detail is incredible, from the interactive elements to the themed rides and attractions. Michael’s favorite ride was the Mario Kart ride, where you race against each other through a Mario Kart course. The immersive experience makes you feel like you are inside the game, dodging obstacles, collecting power-ups, and racing to the finish line. I enjoyed the Yoshi Ride because you can slow down and take in the scenery.
After exploring Mario World, we circled back to Hogsmeade before ending our day at Jurassic Park, where Lucas and Henry rode the Flying Dinosaur roller coaster two more times. The coaster is one of the longest and tallest in the world, with breathtaking views of the park and heart-pounding twists and turns. I rode it three times, but I could not handle riding it two more times like Lucas and Henry. By the end of their fifth ride, Lucas and Henry were practically flying and slightly dizzy. We headed back to our Airbnb, tired but happy. There is no rest for the weary because we left for Tokyo the next day.
Tokyo Disney is fun, but it was not as exciting for Lucas and Henry as Universal. The lines were manageable because we went on a weekday. We only waited more than 20 minutes for one ride- Soaring: Fantastic Flight ride (not worth the wait).
Our first stop was the Mysterious Island, home to the iconic volcano, Mount Prometheus. Inside the volcano, we experienced the Journey to the Center of the Earth ride, a mostly mild adventure deep in the heart of the Earth that has a zippy ending. We had no wait for the ride. Next, we went 20,000 leagues under the sea. Michael and I have nostalgia for the ride from our childhood.
We had a fast pass for Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Crystal Skull ride. Lucas and Henry liked getting bounced around on the ride. We rode it a few more times before the day ended. The Raging Spirits coaster was fun, but it didn’t compare to the Flying Dinosaur at Universal. Henry did not want to do the Tower of Terror, but he did, and he liked it. We did it four years ago at Disney in Orlando. The drops at Tokyo DisneySea do not seem as jarring as the ride in Florida.
It was too cold and windy to stick around for the fireworks. We were also exhausted from the pace of our travels, and our flight to Seoul was the next day. Tokyo DisneySea is fun and visually stunning, but we are a family that likes thrill rides, so we enjoyed Universal more.
