Category: Japan

Hostel Of The Day: FUKUOKA HANA HOSTEL – Fukuoka’s In-Demand & Best Valued Tourist Accommodation

After spending 4 days & 3 nights around the Kansai Region (Kyoto, USJ & Nara), I had to fly to Fukuoka for an overnight stop before heading back to Manila. My sisters flew out of Kansai International Airport in Osaka on the same night I flew to Kyushu’s main city. I had to spend a night in Fukuoka & decided to book a stay in today’s Hostel Of The Day feature – Fukuoka Hana Hostel. It was the last of 4 hostels I’ve stayed with in this February 2019 Japan trip. The other 3 hostels I’ve stayed with are Khaosan World Asakusa Hostel & Ryokan, Dot Hostel Nagano & New World Inn Osaka.

I already stayed with Fukuoka Hana Hostel in 2016. In fact, I did a quick feature of the hostel in my Fukuoka 2016 blog post. I remember I mentioned in that post that I’ll stay in this hostel again if I go back to Fukuoka. I just did! I didn’t have the Hostel Of The Day section at that time. Now that I’ve started writing about the hostels I’ve been to, I think it’s the best time to share with you a thorough feature of Fukuoka Hana Hostel. This hostel is a member of the Hana Hostel & J-Hoppers Hostel Group.

Location & Access

Fukuoka Hana Hostel is located along the Nakasu Kawabata Shopping Arcade. It is the only hostel among the row of shops, cafes & restaurants in the arcade. The nearest subway station is Nakasu-Kawabata Station & is about 5 minutes by walk from the property. The famous Canal City Shopping Mall is about 2 to 3 minutes away by walk while the Tenjin area is 15 minutes away by foot. There is also a nearby 24-hour Don Quijote shop located 10 minutes away by foot.

Fukuoka’s main train station, Hakata Station, is a station away from the nearest subway station or around 15 minutes by foot. Fukuoka Airport is 4 stations away (10 minute ride) from Nakasu-Kawabata Station. My flight from Osaka arrived the airport at 9:15 in the evening. I got off the plane, picked up my baggage, walked to the airport station & arrived the hostel at 9:50 in the evening. It was that close! The nearest local supermarket & convenience store is a crossing away from the hostel.

Fukuoka Hana Hostel‘s location is very central & accessible. Everything a visitor or tourist needs can be found a few minutes by foot. The tourist spots can also be reached through the nearest subway station.

Room Types & Pricing

Fukuoka Hana Hostel is a medium-sized hostel that caters to both leisure & business travelers. The property has both dormitory & private rooms. The dormitory rooms (3-bed male, 6-bed female & 8-bed mixed) cost from ¥2,500 a night (seasonal). The rate includes free WiFi, a single bed with curtains, duvet & pillow, air conditioning & exhaust fans in a spacious room, a personal reading light & access to in-room or communal shower & toilet facilities. Towels are not included.

The private rooms (loft bed twin room, double tatami room & loft bed triple room) cost from ¥6,200 per night (seasonal) & has an in-room toilet & bath. Guests also have access to free WiFi & air conditioning just like the ones in the dormitory room.

Guest Perks & Amenities

If you’ve read my previous Japan-based hostel of the day features, you’ll know that these hostels provide a long list of perks & amenities to all of its guests. These hostels cost higher than the usual Asian hostel; it makes sense they give the guests more facilities to enjoy. Check out the following perks, facilities & amenities a Fukuoka Hana Hostel can enjoy.

Free WiFi

The hostel offers free WiFi to all its guests. The password can be obtained from the reception. The WiFi signal is available throughout the building.

Private/Common Toilets & Shower Facilities

The hostel has both private or communal toilet & shower facilities depending on the room configuration you avail. The 3-bed male dormitory room on the 2nd floor has its own toilet & shower area. Other dormitory rooms have access to common facilities in the hallway. These facilities include free shampoo & liquid soap.

Communal Kitchen With Free Coffee & Tea

Fukuoka Hana Hostel has a spacious kitchen area where guests can cook & prepare their meals – may it be breakfast, lunch or dinner. The property also has storage spaces & a refrigerator to store the guests’ food. Coffee & tea are offered for free at any time of the day or night.

Communal Living & Dining Area

The hostel has a spacious living & dining area where guests can mingle with the other guests or with the staff. There are a number of tables & chairs available for use. Guests can also use the desktop computers near the reception for booking flights, planning itineraries or for whatever use it can be. There is also a television in the living area which guests can use to watch news, series & shows.

Rooftop Terrace

The hostel also has a rooftop terrace where guests can relax while having a nice view of the river.

Washing & Drying Facilities

They also have washing machines & drying facilities on the rooftop terrace. Washing clothes cost ¥200 while drying costs ¥100. Check with the reception for the updated rates & times when the machines are available.

Free Luggage Storage

The property offers free luggage storage to all its guests. There is a dedicated luggage storage room right beside the reception area. Guests can leave their bags & luggage in that room on the days of check in & check out only.

Standard Reception Hours

Reception is open daily from 8:00 am up to 10:00 pm with about a 1-hour break from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm. Check in time starts at 3:00 pm until 10:00 pm while check out is until 11:00 am.

Helpful Staff

Fukuoka Hana Hostel’s people are nice & helpful. They speak good English & make sure that all guests have a good stay. They even give out recommendations on where to go & what to do while in Fukuoka. Ask for tips on where to eat the best Hakata Ramen – they know where to go.

Guest Events

The hostel hosts guest events (or parties as they call it) at least once a week. These events range from takoyaki making activities to meet-up nights. It’s the perfect time to meet people from all the world & enjoy exchanging stories with these people.

Free Use of Board Games & Books

There are shelves full of books & guides which guests can make use of. All guests can pick up a book/guide & read at any time during the stay. Guests can play using the board games stacked near the shelves.

Bicycle Rental

The hostel offers bicycle rental to guests who want to explore the city by bicycle. Feel free to check with reception how much is the rental rate.

Secured Door Entry & Facility

The hostel doors are open every time the reception is open. After 10:00 pm, the hostel door is locked & only guests can access it via a secure code found in the hostel keys. The hostel is also equipped with surveillance cameras.

My Experience

Allow me to share my thoughts on how my stay with Fukuoka Hana Hostel went. I booked a night stay in a 3-bed male dormitory room via Agoda for ¥2,600+. I believe the weekend rate at that time was at ¥2,800 but I got a discount from my BPI Credit Card. The room I booked in 2016 is the same room I got for this year’s trip. I requested to stay in the lower bunk bed upon booking. Voila, the hostel staff reserved the lower bunk bed for me – massive thanks!

I had a pleasant one night stay in Fukuoka Hana Hostel last February. The staff welcomed me with big smiles on their faces. The facilities were clean & well-maintained. Everything looked the same since my 2016 stay. The kitchen, dining & lounge areas were kept clean & tidy. Check in & check out were smooth. Everything fell into place again.

Bought food for dinner in the nearby supermarket & ate it in the communal lounge area. Yum! 🙂

In a growing popular city like Fukuoka where hostels or budget accommodations are limited, Fukuoka Hana Hostel stands out to be the best. The nightly rates, location, service & facilities make the hostel the best-valued property in the city. I will say this for the second time. I will definitely stay again in Fukuoka Hana Hostel if I plan to go back to Fukuoka in the coming months or years.

If you have questions or clarifications with the hostel, feel free to contact them on the details below. Make sure to book your stay as soon as possible – they’re always booked out!

Fukuoka Hana Hostel
Address: 4-213 Kamikawabata-cho, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Japan
Phone Number: +81 9 2282 5353
Email address: fukuoka@hanahostel.com
Website: www.fukuoka.hanahostel.com
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/FukuokaHanaHostel
Instagram: www.instagram.com/fukuoka_hana_hostel
Twitter: www.twitter.com/hakatahostel

Let’s have a last look at the clean communal lounge & dining spaces of Fukuoka Hana Hostel. 🙂

Have you ever stayed with Fukuoka Hana Hostel? How was your stay? Feel free to share some details of your experience in the comments section below. I am in constant search for hostels to stay with & feature in this site. Do you have a cool or hip hostel in mind or maybe a property you’ve stayed with in the past? Share your suggestions below! You can also send your suggestions via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com. Don’t forget to follow me & please please please also help me in promoting my social media channels – Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

Thank you for reading.. Until the next Hostel Of The Day feature! ✌️

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

Japan Highlights 2019: NARA – A Morning Visit To The Deer Park

After 36 hours in Tokyo, 48 hours in Nagano, a day being a kid at Universal Studios Japan & a lovely day around Kyoto, I accompanied my sisters to spend their last morning in Japan with the deer in Nara. This is the last city my sisters & I visited before they flew back to Manila the same evening. I’ve been to Nara in 2016 & I was delighted to go back & bring my sisters this time.

Our main reason for visiting Nara was to see & play with the deer. We really go there to explore everything Nara has to offer. I’ll probably put that as something to do in a future Nara trip. Let me share with you some details about this short but fun morning trip to Nara Deer Park.

Transportation & Access

As discussed in my previous Nara post, the city is accessible by trains from Osaka. The JR Yamatoji & Kintetsu Nara Lines connect the city to various points in Osaka. We took the JR Yamatoji line train from JR Shin Imamiya Station to Nara Station. I forgot how much the train fare costs because we used our IC cards in the trip. Journey takes about an hour per way.

We got off at JR Nara Station & walked towards Sanjo-Dori Street. This walking street full of souvenir shops, restaurants & cafes takes the visitors to the deer park. We dropped by a temple along this street before heading off to the park premises.

Applying for a Japan tourist visa soon? Let me help you. Check out these 4 easy steps on how to get your Japan tourist visa.

Kōfuku-ji

Kōfuku-ji is a Buddhist temple found along Sanjo-Dori Street & is one of the must-see places in the city. It is also one of Nara’s Seven Great Temples that played an important role in the history of the city, especially during the time of the Fujiwara clan. Make sure to check out the 5-storey pagoda within the temple grounds plus the various halls around it.

Tōdai-ji

Tōdai-ji is the most famous temple in the city. It is located just by the deer park & it houses the world’s largest bronze Buddha statue. This temple also has a large wooden gate at its entrance called Nandaimon Gate. Entrance to the main hall of this temple costs ¥600 per person. My sisters & I opted not to go inside the temple because of time constraints.

Nara Deer Park

Nara Deer Park is the place to see & play with the deer. These deer are considered sacred creatures in the Shinto Religion & are allowed to freely roam around the park. The deer do not bite or hurt the tourists but they tend to become really playful. The deer know how to ask for crackers from the visitors & know how to bow. They also know how to pose for selfies.

My sisters & I spent about an hour going around the park, feeding & playing with the deer. There were moments when we ran around the park because these deer don’t stop asking for food. Some of them, maybe those who are already full, just sit or lie down in one area & ignore all the people around.

Japanese Street Food

Right outside Tōdai-ji is a long row of stalls offering street food for reasonable prices. They have takoyaki (octopus balls), pork & beef sticks, yakisoba, ice cream sundae, chicken tenders, etc. My sisters & I dropped by for a snack. I got myself a pack of freshly-cooked takoyaki for ¥500.

This pretty much sums up our short but fun morning visit to the small city of Nara in Japan. It was a perfect morning side trip to see & play with the sacred deer. We rushed back to Osaka, had lunch in Ichiran, got our stuff from New World Inn Osaka & went straight to Kansai International Airport. My sisters flew back to Manila the same night while I flew to Fukuoka for an overnight stopover.

Have you been to Nara in the past? How was your visit? Did you enjoy feeding & playing with the deer? Are there other interesting places I should visit when I go back in the future? Let me know in the comments below & let’s engage in a discussion. If you want to be anonymous or if you have a question, you can also send me an email to contact@thewkndtravel.com. Don’t forget to follow me & please please please also help me in promoting my social media channels – Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.  Many thanks!

Watch out for my next post about the short stopovers in Matsumoto & Fukuoka I had for this trip plus the post about the last hostel I stayed with in this trip – Fukuoka Hana Hostel. Thank you for reading & see you next time!

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

Hostel Of The Day: NEW WORLD INN OSAKA – Simple, Affordable & Modern Property Near Tennoji

UPDATE: New World Inn Osaka has ceased operations. I am keeping this Hostel of the Day feature to give tribute to such excellent accommodation.

Hello & welcome to the newest Hostel Of The Day feature on this website. In my last Japan trip, all my accommodations were hostels. I already shared with you some information about Khaosan World Asakusa Ryokan & Hostel & Dot Hostel Nagano, my hostels in Tokyo & Nagano respectively. I mentioned in my recent Kyoto post that my sisters & I decided to base in Osaka.

We decided to stay in an inn or hostel for 4 days & 3 nights while we explored the Kansai Region – Osaka City (for them), Universal Studios Japan, Kyoto & Nara. This accommodation is called New World Inn Osaka. It is a relatively new property located in the area of Nishinari, near Tennoji. We booked less than 2 months before our stay, but we still found this great accommodation for an affordable price.

Allow me to share with you some details about the hostel plus how my 3-night stay went in this lovely property.

Location & Access

New World Inn is a 3-storey hostel located 1-5-6 Taishi in downtown Nishinari-ku in Osaka. It is located in a quiet neighborhood about 10 minutes away by foot from Tennoji, Osaka’s one of the busiest stations. Popular Osaka attractions such as Tsutenkaku Tower, Kuromon Market & Osaka Tennoji Zoo are near the property. There are nearby restaurants, cafes & bars a few meters away from the hostel. The nearest convenience store is about a minute walk from the hostel’s doorstep. Believe it or not, there is a Don Quijote near the hostel, about 7 minutes walk, just across the Shin-Imamiya Station.

The property is very accessible via subway & JR lines. The hostel is about 3 minutes walk from the east exit of JR Shin-Imamiya Station. It is about 3 minutes walk from exit 4 of the Doubutsuen-Mae Station of the Midosuji Subway Line & also a few minutes walk from exit 8 of the Sakaisuji Subway Line. Namba & Shinsaibashi area are about 4 minutes away by subway. The hostel may not be in the super center of Osaka, but it’s strategic location connects all the guests to pretty much everywhere in the city & even in Kansai Region – Nara, Kyoto & Kawaramachi.

Room Types

New World Inn caters mainly to budget & business travelers. They have both private & dormitory rooms in the property. First, the property has a number of single private rooms. These rooms come with a bed, mattress & pillow, air conditioning & heater, power plugs, a small desk with a chair, mirror & lamp. The 2nd room type the property offers is the twin room. This room has 2 single beds, same features as the single room, but with a bigger space. This room also has a private balcony. Toilets & shower facilities are shared & are available for use on every floor.

The dormitory rooms come in a 4 & 6-bed configuration, all equipped with wooden-framed bunk beds. Each bed features a mattress, pillow, duvet, a reading light & a power outlet. Guests also have access to lockers located in each room. Just like the private rooms, toilets & shower areas are shared unless specified. There is a 6-bed dormitory room that includes a restroom, shower area & a powder area.

I booked my stay in this property via Agoda & Booking.com using credit card & promotional codes. I may not have the fixed rate at this point but rest assured that the room & dormitory bed rates are affordable & competitive enough.

Guest Amenities & Perks

Staying in a Japanese hostel comes with a long list of amenities & perks guests can enjoy. Check out the following offered by New World Inn in Osaka.

Free Wi-Fi

Guests have access to a fast & free Wi-Fi connection. Username & password can be obtained from reception.

Ground Floor Cafe / Bar

There is a cafe / bar in the ground floor. The hostel has partnered with this commercial establishment to check out the place for offers (if there are any).

Communal Lounge & Dining Area

Guests have access to a small communal lounge & dining area in the 2nd floor, right in front of the reception. It is the place where guests can relax & eat after a long day of exploring.

Communal Kitchen With Free Coffee & Tea

The hostel comes with a small kitchen complete with cooking & heating facilities. It also has a refrigerator where you can store food & drinks. Just make sure to put a label on your items. Coffee & tea are free & available any time of the day.

Common Toilets & Shower Facilities

As mentioned earlier, guests have access to clean & well-maintained toilet & shower rooms. These facilities are located in each floor. They even have female-only shower toilets.

Rooftop Space

The property has a communal rooftop terrace where guests can sit, relax & mingle with other guests. The terrace is open daily from 8:00 to 22:00.

Luggage Storage

Luggage storage is free of charge to all arriving & departing guests. Bags can be stored from 10:00 to 22:00.

Reasonable Reception Hours

The hostel has reasonable reception hours. Reception opens at 11:00 & closes at 22:00. Check in time is from 15:00 to 22:00 while check out is up until 11:00 only.

Nice & Helpful Hostel Owner

The owner of the hostel lives in one of the rooms in the 2nd floor. He is a super nice & helpful man. He makes sure that guests have a nice stay in his property. He even gives us suggestions on where to go & what to do.

Coin Laundry

New World Inn has coin laundry facilities. Washing of clothes cost ¥200 while drying costs ¥400 & lasts for 40 minutes. The laundry facility is open from 8:00 to 22:00.

Secured Door Entry

The property has a secured entry area. Everyone needs to key in a entry code to get through the door. The way going up the rooms is well-lighted. The hostel has no curfew.

My Experience

Let me share with you some thoughts about my 3-night stay in New World Inn. I got myself a single private room for around ¥2,700 per night. That pretty much is an equivalent to a dormitory bed in other Japanese hostels. My sisters stayed in a twin room on the 4th floor. My room was located just in the 2nd floor, near the reception & the communal areas. The room was just right for a single person, not much space for big luggages & other stuff. The bed was comfortable. The only problem I had with the room is its location in the building. It is by the main road so guests can hear all the cars & people passing by at any time of the day or night.

The facilities & common areas are modern, clean & well-maintained. The property interiors are simple but very neat to look at. The owner was really nice. The only thing I think of as a challenge to some guests is the absence of lift to the property. The hostel reception is located in the 2nd floor & it is a few steps up. It may be hard to go up with your big luggage but the owner is very much willing to help in bringing your stuff up & down the property. The property’s location is a winner. It’s 10 out of 10 for me & I will definitely stay here again when I fly back to Osaka.

If you want to know more about the property or if you want to check the rooms available for your intended stay, feel free to contact them in the details below.

New World Inn Osaka
Address: 1 Chome-5-6 Taishi, Nishinari Ward, Osaka, 557-0002, Japan
Phone Number: +81 6 6537 9140
Email address: Contact form available via website or Facebook page
Website: www.newworld-inn.jp/en/
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/newworldinnjp

Have you stayed with New World Inn during your Osaka visit? How was your stay? Do you know other interesting or feature-worthy hostels in Osaka or anywhere in Japan? Feel free to share the names of these hostels in the comment section below. Who knows, I might consider that in my next trip to Japan. Do you have any questions about New World Inn or anything about Osaka? Feel free to send an email to contact@thewkndtravel.com. Don’t forget to follow me & please please please also help me in promoting my social media channels – Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.  Many thanks!

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

Japan Highlights 2019: KYOTO – Japan’s Ancient Capital In One Day

The whole 9-day Japan trip is starting to take its full shape. My first 36 hours was spent in Tokyo with my family. Then, I took the off-beaten path & spent 48 hours in the mountainous area of Nagano. After my stay in Nagano, I headed to Osaka to be reunited with my sisters for a few days. Our 1st day in Osaka together was spent being ‘kids’ again at Universal Studios Japan.

After spending a fun day in USJ, my sisters & I allotted one day to visit Japan’s ancient capital, Kyoto. It was their 1st time in the country so a visit to Kyoto (at least the highlights) was on our list. I already wrote a few articles about Kyoto in the past in this website. I’ve been to Kyoto in 2015 & 2016 so I was their tour guide for that day. We only had a day here so we only chose the major sights & carefully planned our route.

Kyoto Route

In my past visits, my friends & I decided to stay in Kyoto during our visit. This time, my sisters & I decided to base in Osaka. From our accommodation, we started our Kyoto journey by taking the train to Hankyu-Arashiyama Station. We walked around Arashiyama & then took the local railway from Randen Arashiyama Station to Kitano Hakubaicho Station. Then we walked for about 15 minutes to reach Kinkaku-ji or the Golden Pavilion. From there, we took the local bus to Kyoto Station for lunch.

After lunch, we went to the nearby Higashihonganji Temple. We walked back to Kyoto Station & took the local train to Fushimi Inari Taisha. After going up (or at least half of the mountain), we walked down to Fushimi-Inari Station of the Keihan Main Line & took the express train back to Osaka.

We planned our route well up to the point where we won’t go back & forth certain places. We started off in Arashiyama & finished our Kyoto visit in Inari area with a short stop in the center.

Let me share to you the specifics of each area we visited.

Applying for a Japan tourist visa soon? Let me help you. Check out these 4 easy steps on how to get your Japan tourist visa.

Arashiyama

  • Katsura River
  • Random street in Arashiyama

My recent Arashiyama visit was different from my previous trips. This trip started off in Hankyu-Arashiyama Station where we walked along Arashiyama Park, Togetsukyo Bridge & Katsura River. We then headed to Tenryu-ji, Arashiyama’st most important zen temple. The temple features a landscaped garden with a central pond surrounded by rocks & trees. An entrance fee of ¥600 is collected from each visitor. My sisters & I bailed out knowing there’s an entrance fee.

  • Arashiyama Bamboo Grove

We continued walking to Arashiyama’s main attraction, the Bamboo Forest / Grove. This must-see scenic place stretches through an easy uphill path. We went up to the very end of the way thinking there will be lesser people. Unfortunately, there were even more people in that part. Luckily, we found some spots where there were close to no people.

  • More of the Bamboo Grove
  • Local Randen Railway

Kinkaku-ji

After about 1.5 hours around Arashiyama, my sisters & I went to Kinkaku-ji via the local Randen railway & a few minutes walk. Kinkaku-ji, commonly known as the Golden Pavilion Temple, is Kyoto’s most beautiful & famous temple. This temple is the number 1 attraction in Kyoto & is flocked by millions of tourists every year. It has a pond in front & a garden at the rear. We were there during a cloudy day but we still saw a reflection of the temple in the pond. [Entrance fee: ¥400]

Kyoto Center

Right after a short visit in Kinkaku-ji, we took the local bus to Kyoto Station. We first had lunch at Sukiya, a local restaurant chain in Japan. I got my favorite gyudon dish topped with melting cheese. I ate it with their signature pickled radish & cold Japanese tea.

After lunch, we walked to the nearby Higashihonganji Temple. This temple served as the center of Buddhism in Kyoto. Admission to the temple is free. We leisurely walked back to Kyoto Station & went to our next destination.

Fushimi Inari Taisha

From Kyoto Station, we took the JR Nara Line to Inari Station, then to Fushimi Inari Taisha, the temple famous for the thousands of orange torii gates. This shrine is dedicated to Inari, the Shinto god of rice. We went up to half of Mount Inari, to where there were more torii gates & less people & took photos of ourselves. Entry to the shrine & up Mount Inari is free of charge.

We then made our way back down & headed to Fushimi-Inari Station of the Keihan Main Line. We took the next express train back to Osaka, had dinner in Shinsaibashi & went back to our accommodation.

It was a day full of walking & sort-of hiking around Kyoto. We may not have been to as many places as we can but we surely covered the highlights of Japan’s ancient capital.

Have you been to Kyoto in the past? How did you find the city? Are there other places that I need to visit when I go back? I’ve been to this city 3 times & I feel like I still need to go back & to explore more. Don’t be shy & share your suggestions in the comment section below. You can also send those suggestions to contact@thewkndtravel.com. Don’t forget to follow me & please please please also help me in promoting my social media channels – Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.  Arigatou. ✌️

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

Japan Highlights 2019: UNIVERSAL STUDIOS JAPAN – A Theme Park That Brings You Back To Being A ‘Kid’ Just For A Day

After spending 48 hours in cold Nagano, I made my way to Osaka where I met my sisters. We spent a few days around Osaka & Universal Studios Japan was the 1st in our to-do list. I’ve been to Universal Studios Japan in 2015 but hey, nothing wrong in going back for the 2nd time.

Universal Studios Japan (USJ) is 1 of the 4 Universal theme parks in the world & the only one in East Asia. This theme park has different areas patterned to shows created by NBCUniversal. Two of the most famous ‘lands’ of Universal Studios Japan are Minion Park & The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. USJ has become a popular destination for Filipinos (& other nationalities) coming to Japan for holiday. This is the same reason why my sisters & I decided to visit this theme park during our Japan visit last February.

Access & Operating Hours

Universal Studios Japan is very accessible via public transportation. The nearest station to the theme park is Universal City Station on the Yumesaki Line. This train line can be accessed by changing in Nishikujo Station of the Osaka Loop & Hanshin-Namba Lines. If you are coming to Tokyo, there are express buses that go directly to the theme park. These buses run on a daily basis. The theme park is also connected by buses coming from Kansai & Itami Airports.

The theme park is open everyday from 9:00 in the morning to 8:00 or 9:00 in the evening. The closing times vary depending on season & weather. Feel free to check the Universal Studios Japan official website for the update operating hours on your preferred date.

Park Tickets

Tickets are required for every person to enter the theme park. As of April 2018, an adult day pass which includes access to all rides & attractions cost from ¥7,400 including tax. If you want to spend 2 days in the park, a 2-day adult day pass costs ¥14,700 including tax. Children aged 4 to 11 years old pay ¥5,100 including tax for a day pass & ¥10,000 for a 2-day pass. Senior citizens only pay ¥6,700 for a day pass. 2-day passes are not available for senior citizens. Kids below 4 years old can enter the park for free. These tickets can be purchased in the ticket booths outside the theme park. For the updated ticket prices, feel free to check the official theme park website.

Alternatively, tickets are available for advance purchase via authorized online platforms such as Klook, KKDay, TripAdvisor, Voyagin & Traveloka. These platforms sometimes offer entry tickets for a lower price. These online tickets need not to be exchanged into physical tickets. They offer direct entry to the theme park via a unique printed or digital QR code. We booked our tickets via Traveloka & even got a discount for our ticket.

Universal Express Pass

The Universal Express Pass is a special pass that allows one to skip the long queues & to have a shorter waiting time for selected attractions. This pass also guarantees the pass holder a viewing spot in the parade. The express pass cost varies on the number & selected attractions included in the pass. This pass can be purchased on the day of visit at the park or in selected online platforms. Daily express pass allocations are limited & easily get sold out. For more details & prices about the Universal Express Pass, feel free to check the official theme park website.

My sisters & I didn’t avail the express pass during our visit. We only chose a handful of attractions to try that day.

Rides We Tried & Attractions We Visited

Universal Studios Japan is a very big theme park with different sections – Holywood, New York City, San Francisco, Jurassic Park, Minion Park, Universal Wonderland, WaterWorld, Amity Island, The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter & Super Nintendo World. Even with a Universal Express Pass, it is impossible for someone to try all rides or attractions in one day. My sisters & I went to every corner of the theme park but only tried few rides. Most of our time were spent lining up to these attractions.

Hollywood Dream

Hollywood Dream is a steel roller coaster that allows the riders to choose their own music from a pre-selected list. This open air roller coaster goes around the Hollywood section of the theme park.

The Flying Dinosaur

The Flying Dinosaur is another steel roller coaster but is located in Jurrasic Park. This ride puts the guests into a flying position & openly roams around the theme park. This ride is one that must not be missed when visiting Universal Studios Japan. Believe me, it’s worth the wait.

The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter

One unique section that can be found in Universal Studios Japan is The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter. This Harry Potter-themed section of the park has its own Hogsmeade, Hogwards Express & Hogwards Castle. This section also has attractions to try & shops to visit. The famous Butterbeer can only be purchased here.

Note that there are days when this section requires a timed-entry ticket. These timed-entry tickets can be redeemed somewhere near the Hollywood section. Make sure to check this as soon as you enter the theme park. We were there on a weekday & the park administration didn’t issue timed-entry tickets to the Harry Potter World.

Harry Potter & The Forbidden Journey

The Harry Potter & Forbidden Journey is Universal Studios Japan’s top attraction. This motion-based ride takes guests to some of the scenes from the movie & the book around Hogwarts Castle. You get to face the dementors & even join a Quidditch match in this attraction. This attraction has one of the longest queues in USJ but I tell you, it’s worth queuing up. Don’t ever miss this ride during your visit.

Minion Park

One of the relatively new sections of Universal Studios Japan is the Minion Park. It is an area dedicated to the Despicable Me movie series, particularly to the world-famous Minions. Everything in this park is so cute & delightful to see. Its main attraction is Minion Mayhem. Unfortunately, we ran out of time in this area. We chose the winter illuminations of the Harry Potter World over this ride.

Food & Souvenir Shops

There are a number of restaurants, canteens & food halls inside the theme park. In fact, every section has a food hall. Food may be a little more expensive than a usual Japanese meal but it’s just alright. There are also food carts located around the theme park for random nibbles & snacks. Don’t forget to try the famous turkey leg. Outside food is not allowed inside the park (at least as per the guidelines) but they really don’t check the guests’ bags.

Souvenir shops & stalls are scattered throughout the theme park. These shops sell anything you can think of that is related to characters under Universal. You can find Harry Potter wands, Minion goodies & candies, Spiderman items in these shops.

This basically made up our day in Universal Studios Japan. We were not able to try a lot of attractions but at least we’ve been to the major & exciting ones. My sister was able to try the Butterbeer for the first time! It was a perfect break from the usual sightseeing day; a perfect day to be like a ‘kid’ again just like the old times.

We left the theme park close to 8:00 in the evening (closing time that day) & dropped by the Gap Factory Outlet (I went shopping) before going to Ichiran Ramen in Tennoji for dinner. Nothing beats having the best ramen in the world after a long, tiring but fun day at Universal Studios Japan.

Have you been to Universal Studios Japan? Were you able to try the Minion Mayhem? Which was your favorite section or attraction? Feel free to share your thoughts & experiences in the comments section below. Do you have questions about the theme park? You can send those questions to contact@thewkndtravel.com. I’ll respond as soon as I can. Make sure to follow me & please also help me in promoting my social media channels – Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. 

Thanks for reading today’s post. Watch out for the article about our 1-day Kyoto adventure!

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.