Your Osaka trip won’t be complete without going to Universal Studios Japan. Prepare to spend a day or two here if you want to fully enjoy this experience. If you are traveling with a baby or very young kids, USJ is equipped with the necessary facilities and amenities to assure you of a fun-filled family holiday. Read our quick guide below.

Park Hours and Tickets

TIP: We recommend NOT visiting the park on weekends and school holidays as the waiting time for attractions will be longer and the restaurants could get really crowded.

Park operating hours change from time to time, so it’s best to check the schedule on the dates of your visit, here. There are days when it opens at 8:30, some days at 9:00 and on rare occasions such as on January 1, at 2:00. Closing time varies from 19:00 – 22:00. Check your schedule accordingly.

1Day Studio Pass / 2Day Studio Pass

The admission ticket includes park entrance and use of all attractions in the park.

Type	Adults[Aged 12 or over]	Children[Ages 4 to 11]	Seniors[Aged 65 or over]
1 DAY Studio Pass	from ￥7,091 (￥7,800 with tax) –	from ￥4,910 (￥5,400 with tax) –	from ￥6,455 (￥7,100 with tax) –
2 DAY Studio Pass	from ￥14,000 (￥15,400 with tax)	from ￥9,546 (￥10,500 with tax)

Prices differ depending on the date. Check with your travel agency or ticket provider for the updated list.

TIP: BUY YOUR TICKETS IN ADVANCE. We saved a lot of time and gained peace of mind by getting our tickets way ahead of our arrival. We secured our tickets from KLOOK, but you may also check out :

How to get there: The easiest way to get to Universal Studios Japan is by train. The park is just a five- minute walk from Universal City Station on the JR Sakurajima Line.

Upon getting off the train and before reaching the park gates, you will be welcomed by a wide-array of shops, restaurants and hotels. This is Universal Citywalk Osaka.

FAMILY – FRIENDLY FACILITIES

BABY FEEDING – Facilities for breastfeeding, baby feeding are available at the Family Services. It is also equipped with hot water dispensers and microwaves for preparing baby formula or baby food. Located next to Guest Services and inside Universal Wonderland.

DIAPER CHANGING TABLES – A total of 37 units are installed in the park. Disposable diapers can be disposed of here. (remember to bring your own diaper bags for disposal) One unit installed in each of the 16 men’s / ladies’ restrooms inside the park (except in the restaurant restrooms).

BABY FOOD – Food for babies 7 to 12 months old is available in Snoopy’s™ Backlot Café and Studio Stars Restaurant.

MISSING CHILDREN CENTER – Meeting point for lost children (under 12 years) and their parents or guardians. Located at the Guest Services counter.

STROLLER RENTAL – Rental strollers are for children up to three years old. Children above the age of 4 are not allowed to use the rental strollers. FEE: ¥1,100 each (single seater, tax included). You may rent one at the counter to the right of the entrance.

For guests using baby strollers or buggies: Identification tags are given out to allow baby strollers or buggies to be handled in the same way as wheelchairs are, at viewing areas for attractions and shows. Don’t forget to secure your tags!

CHILD SWITCH – The Child Switch system enables guests with children/companions who do not meet an attraction’s height or other requirements to take turns and enjoy the attraction without waiting in line again. For details, please ask a crew member at the attraction.

FIRST AID – A medical center is located on the right as you enter the park.

WIFI – The FREE wifi “USJ_Free_Wifi” is available under the canopy. 15 minutes per period of use, up to three periods of use per day.

COIN LOCKERS – Large and extra-large lockers are only available outside the park. You may store large items in these lockers before you enter the park.

* Some lockers may be unavailable. Please ask a nearby crew member for details.
Items stored after park hours will be removed and kept with park personnel.Removed items can be recovered at Guest Services the next day.(note that a fee is incurred for after-hours storage and lost keys. )

S: Small (width 357mm x depth 453mm x height 398mm) ¥400
M: Medium (width 357mm x depth 453mm x height 533mm) ¥600
L: Large (width 357mm x depth 453mm x height 802mm) ¥1,000
XL: Extra Large (width 536mm x depth 617mm x height 926mm） ¥1,500
Multiple Time Use (width 360mm x depth 425mm x height 300mm) ¥400

* Multiple Time Use lockers charge ¥500 but return ¥100 after use.

BABY – FRIENDLY ATTRACTIONS

UNIVERSAL WONDERLAND

The ultimate fun place for the whole family, UNIVERSAL WONDERLAND features attractions and rides , especially for kids under 10 years old. My baby really enjoyed meeting his favorite characters (he memorizes all Sesame Street muppets and he knows Snoopy!), riding the carousel and chasing the bubbles in the air. Here, you will enjoy Sesame Street Fun World, Snoopy Studios and Hello Kitty Fashion Avenue and more! Below are the list of rides available for very young kids. The ones in BOLD are good for babies and toddlers.

AREA	RIDE	TYPE	REQUIREMENTS
Sesame Street Fun World	Elmo’s Go-Go Skateboard	A ride that swings forward and back	Accompanied by a supervising companion: 92 cm or taller
Sesame Street Fun World	Moppy’s Balloon Trip	Merry-go-round in the sky	Accompanied by a supervising companion: 92 cm or taller
Sesame Street Fun World	Abby’s Magical Tree	Playground	Babies and toddlers must be accompanied by adults at all times.
Sesame Street Fun World	Abby’s Magical Party	Big stars and balls Playground	Babies and toddlers must be accompanied by adults at all times.
Sesame Street Fun World	Cookie Monster Slide	Playground	Babies and toddlers must be accompanied by adults at all times.
Sesame Street Fun World	Elmo’s Bubble Bubble	Boat Ride	Accompanied by a supervising companion: 92 cm or taller
Sesame Street Fun World	Moppy’s Lucky Dance Party	Show	Babies and toddlers must be accompanied by adults at all times.
Sesame Street Fun World	Sesame’s Big Drive	Car ride	Between 6 and 12 years old (no adults permitted) ; Capacity 1 per car ※You must be able to control the steering, acceleration, and braking by yourself. ※Follow traffic rules, such as stopping at stop signs and keeping to the right, and drive carefully so as not to bump into other cars or the curb.
Sesame Street Fun World	Elmo’s Little Drive	Car ride	Between 3 and 5 years old (including 6 years old pre-school child. No adults permitted) ; Capacity 1 per car ※You must be able to control the steering and acceleration by yourself. ※Drive carefully so as not to bump into other cars or the curb.
Sesame Street Fun World	Bert and Ernie’s Wonder-the sea	Ball pool	Babies and toddlers must be accompanied by adults at all times.
Sesame Street Fun World	Abby’s Magical Party	Show	Babies and toddlers must be accompanied by adults at all times.
Sesame Street Fun World	Big Bird’s Big Top Circus	Carousel	Accompanied by a supervising companion: no limitation
Sesame Street Fun World	Big Bird’s Nest	Jungle Gym	Babies and toddlers must be accompanied by adults at all times.
Sesame Street Fun World	Grover’s Construction Company	Big Blocks Playground	Babies and toddlers must be accompanied by adults at all times.
Hello Kitty Fashion Avenue	Hello Kitty’s Cupcake Dream	Rotating Cups	Accompanied by a supervising companion: any height, 5 per cup
Snoopy Studios	The Flying Snoopy	Merry-go-round in the sky	Accompanied by a supervising companion: 92 cm or taller
Snoopy’s Fun Adventure	Snoopy’s Great Race	Roller Coaster	Accompanied by a supervising companion: 92 cm or taller Unaccompanied: 122 cm or taller
Snoopy’s Fun Adventure	Snoopy Sound Stage Adventure	Indoor Playground	Babies and toddlers must be accompanied by adults at all times.

We had so much fun at the Snoopy Studios

For adults with babies, it is recommended to use the carousel seats instead of the animal rides.

The Sesame Street Christmas Presentation

Pretty mommies queuing up with their tots for the carousel ride

We also enjoyed JAWS, JURASSIC PARK AND THE WIZARDING WORLD OF HARRY POTTER with our 20-month old. But the BEST PART was the character meet and greet!

Our son loves dinosaurs so much! This was an ultimate treat for him!

OTHER TIPS

RESTAURANT PRIORITY SEATING SERVICE – Shorten your waiting time at these restaurants: PARK SIDE GRILLE, SAIDO and FINNEGAN’S BAR AND GRILLE by having your name listed in advance at the restaurant entrance. Do note that this is only a waiting list, not a reservation, so you would still have to wait long especially when the restaurants are super crowded.

SOUVENIR SHOPPING DELIVERY SERVICE: Love shopping but hate the thought of lugging your bags around? You can shop for souvenirs before leaving the park and have them sent to your home address in a pretty themed box! To avail of this service, go to Studio Gifts East (on the right before exiting the park). Items can be sent overseas via Express Mail Service. Eligible countries are: South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, China, Malaysia, Singapore and certain regions of the Philippines.

DO NOT BRING FOOD AND DRINKS INSIDE THE PARK. If you are spotted consuming items not from the park, you will be requested to move to the Picnic Area a.k.a, outside the park premises. Do bring your own water container and fill it up in the provided water stations inside.

HAVE EXTRA FUN! Win toys by playing games at the park; wear character head pieces and apparel; have your photos taken at special photo spots and get your printed photos for a fee.

After riding the JAWS boat with our baby, we had our photo taken at this photo spot. We waited for about 20 minutes for our turn and paid around JPY 1,500 for the print. Worth it!

STAY UNTIL NIGHT TIME. The park looks amazing at night with all the lights! Especially during Christmas time when the winter illumination show is on!

AND LAST BUT NOT THE LEAST, DON’T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF! 🙂 Traveling with a baby is never without a little mishap. So, plan ahead, organize your day, leave some room for stops and detours and enjoy making memories with your family!

Do you have other ideas for a fun day at the park with the little ones? Let us know in the comments below or we can chat on Instagram @wandermommyblog. Thank you!

Traveling to Hong Kong Disneyland with your tiny tot, soon? Check out our post on our son’s first birthday trip here.

>>>HOW TO ENJOY HONG KONG DISNEYLAND WITH A ONE YEAR OLD BABY

*For some reason, Thomas asks for milk everytime we are in a cold place, and walking. In this picture, we’re inside an MTR station in Hong Kong.*

Traveling with a baby can be so much fun, especially when inconveniences such as dirty surfaces, carrying around dirty diapers, washing dishes in hotel sinks, among others, are kept out of the way by genius products made for parents-on-the-go. Aside from the common essentials such as a complete diaper bag, blanket, and disposable milk bags, here is a list of things we find very useful and deem fit to be added to our usual travel checklist.

1. Non – Contact Thermometer that Can Measure Body, Room and Bottle Temperature

Image result for drkea thermometer mom reviews — *Perfect for active toddlers like Thomas*!

When traveling with a baby, especially an infant, it is very important to keep an eye on baby’s temperature regularly to ensure that he or she is comfortable and well. During the cold months, most especially, when baby has layers of clothes on, it is essential to check not just his or her body temperature, but the room temperature as well.

Parents nowadays are so fortunate because the best thermometers in the market at present have great features and are user-friendly. One of the highly recommended brands is Drkea +. Their Ear and Forehead Thermometer is voted number 1 by Parenting Pick and it received a high rating not only from Best Reviews Guide but from other mom blogs as well. Unlike other non-contact thermometers that will only keep beeping with fever indication, this one shows color indication for fever warning. Accurate, reliable and easy to use, this thermometer from DrKea+ can measure body, room and even baby bottle temperature! Worth it! SHOP HERE.

2. Compact, Lightweight, Folds Flat and One-hand Maneuver Pushchair with Rain Cover and Travel Bag

We love our Joie Baby Pact ! This pushchair is suitable from birth, with flat, reclining seat. We paired this with the Joie infant carrier to form a travel system . What we love about this is it is lightweight, very easy to fold (even with just one hand!) and it packs flat into a compact fold. It comes with a carry bag and rain cover which is perfect for travel! The shopping basket below the seat is surprisingly full-size – we can put the baby bag and our Ergo Baby carrier with ease! The best part is, it costs only around 250 USD!

3. Hip- Seat Carrier

Image result for ergo baby hip seat carrier

The baby carrier we used during our winter holiday when Thomas was still 8-months old, was the Ergo Baby Adapt Carrier. While we liked how easy and comfortable it is to use, we thought of switching to the one with a hip seat when Thomas turned 10 months. This was when he started to walk, grew taller, gained a lot of weight and loves to face front when being carried! This carrier made our travel to Disneyland so much easier as he did not have to turn his head to see the attractions. I found this also easier to use on the plane and when in the train. The hip seat is detachable – perfect for parents with toddlers who want to go up and down and up again! Best 200 USD purchase!

4. Disposable Diaper Sacks

One of our dear friends gave us a bag of diaper sacks during the baby shower, and we could never be more grateful! This product is a life-saver for new moms like me. When Thomas was born, we lived in a condo, which means, we had to take the elevator to dispose of our trash everyday. The powdery scent of the bag controls the odor, so, we are spared of embarrassment every single time. This is also very handy during our travels especially when we had to change diapers and there is no trash can nearby. It seals tightly and neatly so you would not have to worry about spills. This is totally a must-have at home and on-the-go!

5. Disposable Stick-on Placemats

Image result for sesame street table topper disposable stick-on placemats

I think this is necessary when eating out during travels because this provides a sanitary eating surface especially for babies or toddlers who spread food around the table and love to touch the surface. But even when yours is the behaved type, this product would give you peace of mind, knowing that your baby is protected from the myriad of germs present in public spaces and restaurants! It is disposable so no need to wash or wipe after meals. Choose a mat that has a colorful design to keep baby entertained!

6. Baby Snacks

Thank God for healthy baby snacks! These are your life-savers during long lines, heavy traffic, delayed flights and places with no baby-friendly food options. We prefer Happy Baby Puffs, Sproutz and Gerber Organic.

7. No Vacuum Needed Space Saver Bags

Image result for acrodo space saver travel bags for clothes

Increase storage space by 300% and make space for other important things in your luggage ! We use Acrodo Space Saver Bags because aside from space, it saves us time as we don’t have to use a pump anymore to compress the clothes. This is really helpful because Thomas and I share one luggage every time we travel.

8. First aid and medicine kit for baby

In my post about our winter holiday in Japan, I included this in my checklist. This is very important and must be thoroughly prepared with your pediatrician’s guidance.

Two weeks before our winter trip, we visited our pediatrician to ask for prescription medicines in case of emergency. It is best to see your doctor to ensure the correct dosage. Below is the list of medicines our doctor recommended we bring.

Antihistamine
Antibiotics (Suspension)
Paracetamol Drops
Nasal Decongestant Drops( for colds)
Cough Medicine

and here are the things I included in our first -aid kit:

Non-contact thermometer – this was in my pocket the whole time! I used this to check his temperature ( must not go below 36.5 C or above 37 C) and the room temperature ( between 68 and 72 degrees F is a good range in winter). When the room is too hot, research has shown that it can increase your baby’s risk of SIDS; when it’s too cold, baby can easily become uncomfortably chilly and wake up unnecessarily. Again, it is best to discuss this with your doctor to be guided accordingly.
Saline solution – baby’s nose could get clogged due to the cold weather so this is quite handy.
Chest rub – I brought Mustela Soothing Chest Rub for his chest and Vicks Baby Rub for his feet
Aveeno Eczema Lotion – for his atopic skin
Mustela Cleansing Water – very handy during nappy changes in public spaces.
Mustela Cold Cream Stick – to keep his cheeks and lips moisturized.
Scissors
Band aid strips

9. Portable Collapsible Basin

This is very useful. Before I discovered this, I used to wash my baby’s bottles and cutlery in hotel sinks which I find really stressful. This portable and collapsible basin gives me the peace of mind I need when traveling with my toddler and it also saves space in my luggage.

10. Portable Bottle brush and Drying Rack

Image result for boon trip travel drying rack

This portable drying rack and brush set is amazing. During travel, it stresses me out to have to just put Thomas’s bottles and cutlery on a paper towel to dry. I feel that it is still not clean even after sterilizing each item. Also, even after leaving them to dry overnight, the bottles would still have moisture the next day. I am so happy I discovered this product. The way this is designed allows the air to flow through and dry the items effectively. I love that it includes a large and smaller bottle brush. Definitely useful for moms who have to wash and dry breast pump parts. SHOP HERE.

That’s it for this post. If you have other items that you think should be in the list, let me know in the comments section below.

Happy trip!

Edit: Most of the things listed here may be purchased here. Shop now! (for Philippine residents only)

Category Archives: traveling toddler

A Quick Guide to Universal Studios Japan with a Baby