Universal Studios Japan Tickets – a guide to buying them online
USJ Express Tickets are in huge demand, and so quickly sell out well in advance. Follow my easy beginner’s guide to learn how to get the tickets you want in time for your trip!
Universal Studios Japan Online Express Pass
It may come as a shock to find out that when you attempt to buy the Universal Studios Japan Express Tickets you want for your vacation, they are already sold-out. It’s a firm fact that you really do need to plan in advance for the purchase of your USJ tickets – or you may miss out!
Join our USJ Facebook planning group
Universal Studios Japan Facebook Group
In my Universal Studios Japan Facebook Group planning posts and reminders are regularly published during the weeks leading up to each monthly ticket release date. This helps over 50,000 group members to prepare for their Japan trip – and learn how to successfully obtain their Universal Japan Express Tickets.
If you feel like you would benefit from our USJ group community, you can easily join our public Facebook group here.
When are Universal Studios Japan tickets released?
Universal Studios Japan release their theme park tickets in one-month blocks, two months prior to their theme park operation dates. The actual ticket release date for each month is usually announced a few weeks prior on Klook, here.
Whilst USJ Studio Passes are usually easy to obtain almost anytime, Universal Studios Japan Express Tickets are in very heavy demand, with 7 ride Express Passes selling out the fastest.
Universal Studios Japan
Get up to 10% off Japan attractions on Klook
Klook are official Universal Studios Japan ticket sellers. In addition to being able to purchase USJ Studio Passes and Express Passes online from Klook, you can also get up to 10% off many Japan attractions on Klook by using my exclusive discount code at checkout:
LETSGOMUMKLOOK
using my direct Klook link here.
Klook Partner. Klook conditions: $50 min spend, $50 max discount, 5 times use. New customers can get 10% off and existing customers get 3% off. Find the exclusions list here. This page may contain affiliate links. If you book a stay or an attraction through one of them, I will receive a commission (at no additional cost to you). Thank you for your support!
Super Mario World at Universal Studios Japan
When will June 2025 USJ tickets be released?
May Express Pass tickets will be released on:
April 1, 2025, at 12:00 PM (GMT+9)
according to the official announcement on Klook, here.
So what time is that in Australia?
Japan 12:00 PM (12:00) is:
Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT):
2:00 PM
Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST):
1:00PM
Harry Potter World at Universal Studios Japan
What tickets do I need to get into Universal Studios Japan?
At a minimum, in order to gain entry into Universal Studios Japan you must hold a Studio Pass. This gives you the right to enter USJ, and also to line up for rides. You will still need to purchase or arrange a timed entry to get in side Super Nintendo World to line up for rides there.
To get into USJ on your desired visit date you will need:
Essential: A Studio Pass entry ticket into USJ (easy to obtain later) – dont prioritise this.
Do I need Universal Studios Japan Express Passes?
To fit in more rides and use their time more effectively, most visiting tourists also purchase a Universal Studios Japan Express Pass, in addition to their Studio Pass.
Many people choose to also purchase:
Optional: An Express Pass (often sells out in minutes) – do prioritise this.
A USJ Express Pass allows you to skip the long ride queues
What is a Universal Studios Japan Express Pass?
Universal Studios Express Passes usually list 4 or 7 rides, and allow the holder to skip several popular USJ park ride queues (once each),
Alternatively, they may be combined in a package, or they may give the holder guaranteed entry into Super Nintendo World inside USJ. These SNW Express Passes may also list selected SNW rides to skip those ride queues inside.
How does the monthly ticket sales release date work?
USJ Express Tickets usually majority release on the announced date & time, with some Express packages being released hours or days – even weeks – later for the entire month of May. That said, it can be unpredictable.
For example, during the month of February 2025 for April 2025, some Super Nintendo World Express Passes released a couple of days after the official release date.
So, many Express Pass combinations are released immediately, or within the first week.
If you wait, you may miss out on your desired tickets.
If you don’t wait, you may miss out on your desired tickets.
If you see the exact Express Passes you want, it would be wise to purchase them at that time.
How do I get Universal Studios Japan VIP passes?
Some VIP passes may also be released on the official ticket release date, while selected other may become available in the weeks following.
These official ticket sellers often have an assortment of VIP tours available:
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at USJ
Where should I buy my online USJ Express Passes from?
You can choose to buy your online USJ tickets from the official USJ website or official seller websites such as Klook, Trip.com and KKDay.
What are some problems which can happen when purchasing USJ Express Passes?
The USJ official website can be highly problematic for overseas purchasers. It is notorious for rejecting international credit cards and will also frequently crash at ticket release time. If USJ crashes they may release tickets days later.
For many people, by the time they have tried to work out a credit card rejection resolution (which almost always fails due to the unrecognisable Japanese credit card 3D system) their desired tickets have sold out on Klook, or other third party ticket sellers.
What happens if my Universal Studios Japan ticket is cancelled?
Due to the massive demand on each release day, Universal Studios Japan Express Ticket cancellations can happen. Cancelations usually occur on or soon after ticket release day – when stock begins to run out and tickets are oversold.
For Klook cancelations – If you have received your confirmation email with voucher, your tickets are secure and shouldn’t be cancelled. If you haven’t received a confirmation email and voucher and Klook does send you a cancelation email, you usually receive your full refund quickly (despite a 2 week notification).
For KKday cancelations – Even if you have received your confirmation with voucher, KK Day may still cancel your tickets if they are oversold.
A waiting time ride notice board at USJ
Which website and/or strategies increase my chances of successfully getting my preferred USJ tickets?
The most important piece of advice I can give you, is that no matter how you intend to buy your USJ theme park tickets, be ready to purchase right at the officially announced release date and time – because your preferred tickets can sell out almost immediately! Take the day off work, stay up into the wee hours of the night – whatever it takes to be ready to buy those tickets!
I always recommend trying to buy your USJ tickets from Klook first.
I partner with Klook, KKDay and Trip. com who all accept international credit cards readily, however I recommend Klook as your best chance of successfully securing your desired USJ tickets on release day.
Unfortunately, I’ve frequently watched people lose their opportunity to get the tickets they want by thinking the USJ official website or others are the best way, and waste time trying them first whilst tickets sell out.
Be flexible with your dates
Many people find they may need to compromise and buy a different theme park attendance date, if their desired date has quickly sold out.
Consider using more than one device on ticket release day
Some people use multiple devices to log in to multiple official ticket sellers in an attempt to increase their ticket chances.
Here is a list of official Universal Studios online ticket third party sellers
Klook
Trip.com
KKDay
Where should I buy Universal Studios Japan tickets online?
Buying Universal Studios Japan park entrance tickets online for international visitors can be tricky. There are often problems using international credit cards if you attempt to buy them on the official USJ website.
The way around this for most Australians and other international tourists is by buying your tickets using our partner Klook who are official Universal Studios Japan ticket sellers.
Buy your Universal Studios Japan entrance tickets online at Klook here
Buy Express Tickets to Super Nintendo World on Klook here
You can also get up to 10% off many Japan attractions on Klook by using my exclusive discount code at checkout:
LETSGOMUMKLOOK
Klook conditions: $50 min spend, $50 max discount, 5 times use. New customers can get 10% off and existing customers get 3% off. Find the exclusions list here. This page may contain affiliate links. If you book a stay or an attraction through one of them, I will receive a commission (at no additional cost to you). Thank you for your support!
What’s the best way to get from Australia to Universal Studios Japan?
We partnered with Jetstar Australia to fly from Australia to Japan to visit Osaka where Universal Studios Japan is located. See Jetstar Australia’s cheap Japan flights here
Jetstar Australia offer cheap fares to Japan every day – check their website for their low Osaka fares and frequent sales.
Universal Studios Japan Facebook Group
Join our Tokyo Disney Facebook Group! Love all things Universal Studios Japan, or just have more questions? Join our huge Universal Studios Japan Facebook Group here!
You may also be interested in these other Japan theme park articles…
6 things at Tokyo Disneyland you won’t find at other Disney Parks!
See our pick of Tokyo Disneylands best rides here.
If you enjoyed reading this article, please consider sharing it – we’d also love to hear about your own USJ experiences in the comments below!
This page may contain affiliate links. If you book tickets, a stay or an attraction through one of them, I will receive a commission (at no additional cost to you). Thank you for your support!
