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Showing posts with label hotel near universal studios japan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hotel near universal studios japan. Show all posts
Thursday, December 29, 2016
10 TIPS and TRICKS WHEN VISITING UNIVERSAL STUDIOS JAPAN

 All smiles and definitely worth it. One of the most memorable events when visiting OSAKA would be having a whole day just for UNIVERSAL STUDIOS JAPAN. It may be a bit overwhelming for some but hopefully the tips and tricks here would be able to help you out. In case you don't know, OSAKA is home to UNIVERSAL STUDIOS that houses the WIZARDING WORLD OF HARRY POTTER. It is one of the main draws that attracts thousands of visitors per day.
TIP 1: PLAN AHEAD. READ AHEAD. There is a need for some type of research when it comes to fully taking advantage of a visit to UNIVERSAL STUDIOS JAPAN. It's not everyday that you could pass by the place. By being prepared, you get to maximize your experience and not miss a thing.
TIP 2: BUY TICKETS and EXPRESS PASS in ADVANCE. Tickets could be bought online or from your neighborhood travel agency. If you don't like lines and want to skip the long wait, it is important to get an EXPRESS PASS. It is important to remember that this is different from your ticket to access the park. You need to buy both. There are different types of express pass that range from 7, 4 or 3 rides. If you get the 7, you are given a time stamp that tells you when to enter the WIZARDING WORLD OF HARRY POTTER. Take note that getting in there is time sensitive. Meaning to say if it says 3pm, you can't enter before the time stated. If in case you don't have an express pass, you could get a ticket just outside the entrance to the Forbidden Forest. It would be best to buy tickets weeks or months in advance just to have your preferred date available.
TIP 3: KNOW HOW TO GET THERE.
If you picked a hotel or loft near the city center, you would need to ride a train just to get to UNIVERSAL CITY STATION. Alot 20-30 minute travel time since this is pretty much out of the way. If you are excited as some people I know, you might want to check out nearby hotels like HOTEL UNIVERSAL PORT. Here's my experience when I stayed there.
 TIP 4: EAT A HEARTY BREAKFAST.
Can't stress it enough, you will be doing a lot of walking and it would be a shame to not be up for the task. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day as it gives you the energy to go all out. Have your fill and be ready. TIP 5: BE THERE BEFORE THE PARK OPENS.
IF you plan to spend the entire day to make the most out of your visit, you need to go there before it opens. Be early. Most likely, there will be a long line at the entrance. Don't worry, everything would be orderly and people would line up. TIP 6: GO STRAIGHT TO THE WIZARDING WORLD OF HARRY POTTER.
This is the main attraction of the park. If you're a Potter Head, you should not miss this. Even if you're not, you would still have a good time here. Once you enter the park, go towards the right. Don't worry if you see the hoards of people running in that direction, just follow them. DO as the Romans would. By arriving early, you won't need any timed ticket to enter the area. If you get in the park later in the day, you would be be required to get a timed ticket just to enter. It gets packed easily as it is a crowd favorite. If you have an express pass, it would already come with a timed ticket. The good thing about arriving early even if you have an express pass would be that you could enter the area twice in the same day.
TIP 7: DON'T GET DISTRACTED.
Eye on the prize and go for the big rides. The good ones usually have 240 minute wait time. These are your priority. Once you see ARTHUR WEASLEY'S CAR, you are in the right path. Don't stop just yet. Follow it and you'll arrive in HOGSMEADE. The legendary town near HOGWARTS, HOGSMEADE isn't just hollow buildings. They are real stores that sell different WIZARD memorabilia.
When you see HOGWARTS CASTLE, you're in the right place. That's where the FORBIDDEN JOURNEY RIDE is located. Get there and line up fast. Waiting time could reach as high as 240 minutes or more just for this ride. If you plan it right and you have an express pass, you could ride this twice within the day and be able to visit and check out all the highlights of the park. It's a sort of 4DX with a ROLLER COASTER vibe. Be careful though if you're hefty or a bit on the plus size, you might have a hard time riding. They have trial seats for every ride just to make sure that you will fit. Since this is Japan, the seats are of Asian Sizes and are a bit small compared to US sizes.TIP 8: TAKE YOUR TIME INSIDE THE WIZARDING WORLD OF HARRY POTTER.
After checking out the main rides inside, you may want to go back to HOGSMEADE and go window shopping. Here you could also get your wizarding feels by buying souvenirs and even taking photos of the HOGWARTS EXPRESS TRAIN and THE MONSTER BOOK OF MONSTERS.
TIP 9: SOUVENIRS ARE PLACE SPECIFIC.
If you fancy something, it would be better to go for it. More often than not, you won't be able to see that particular item anywhere else in the park. In HOGSMEADE, they have all the goodies that you may want. If you see it in the film or read about it in the book, you would more or less have a chance to take it home with you.
TIP 10: MAKE MEMORIES and HAVE FUN. 
Ever wondered what butter beer tastes like? Or what would it feel to have the perfect wand choose you? Go and explore and have fun.
Don't forget to approach the different characters on the street. They are game when it comes to picture taking. Half a day is perfect for the WIZARDING WORLD OF HARRY POTTER. From there, you might want to go clockwise around the park. Usually, visitors tend to go counter clockwise because they start with Harry Potter. BONUS: THE FOOD IS PRICEY INSIDE THE PARK. As with any touristy place, the food is mediocre and a bit on the expensive part. Furthermore, there's not a lot of choices.
You might want to go back outside towards the strip of restaurants. Aptly named as UNIVERSAL CITY WALK, you get to have a lot of choices here. There's even a TAKOYAKI MUSEUM that you might want to check out.
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UNIVERSAL STUDIOS JAPAN is quite an experience. When visiting OSAKA, this place is a must visit. It gives you another chance at being a kid.


RELATED LINKS:


OSAKA:
HOTEL UNIVERSAL PORT in OSAKA, JAPAN
PORT DINING RICO RICO in HOTEL UNIVERSAL PORT
SHINKANSEN FROM TOKYO TO OSAKA

TOKYO:
5 THINGS To Do In TSUKIJI MARKET
TOKYO CITY TOUR
STAYING in TOKYO: RICHMOND HOTEL in SUIDOBASHI
IPPUDO EBISU
5 TIPS FOR VISITING TOKYO'S DISNEY SEA

UNIVERSAL STUDIOS JAPAN
2 Chome-1-33 Sakurajima,
Konohana Ward, Osaka,
Osaka Prefecture 554-0031, Japan
 Website of Universal Studios Japan



Studio Map of Universal Studios Japan




Disclaimer: wrote this based on my experience. The maps and brochures are from the website of USJ and may not be updated.
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Monday, November 2, 2015
HOTEL UNIVERSAL PORT in OSAKA, JAPAN: Just beside Universal Studios

Bear with me as I go through the motions and write about my trip to OSAKA. Yes, I haven't started on it. During my trip to Japan, I stayed for a few days in Tokyo and then travelled to OSAKA for a couple more. I was billeted at the HOTEL UNIVERSAL PORT. 

Located just a few hundred meters away from UNIVERSAL STUDIO JAPAN, this was the perfect place for families to stay at if they want to get first dibs and enter UNIVERSAL STUDIOS JAPAN in OSAKA pretty early.
After the SHINKANSEN or Bullet Train Ride from Tokyo, we were brought to the hotel.
Check in was a breeze as there were no lines. Although, we were a little early and we had to change rooms because the first one smelled of cigarette.
While waiting for our friends, I went around the place. Basically, it has 2 floors open to the public, while the rest are there to accommodate the rooms. 
Since it is a partner hotel of UNIVERSAL STUDIOS JAPAN, they have their very own ticket counter. Just in case you weren't able to buy those Express Passes or you feel one day isn't enough. Just a tip though: if you are planning to get those 7 rides, better to buy it online or before you leave the country. 
They also show the waiting time for the rides and if there are those that would be closed for the day.
They have a small dining outlet on the other side of the hotel called THE REX CAFE. 
Basically a place for you to have a snack. Didn't go for it because I had other plans. 
Right beside it is their UNIVERSAL STUDIOS STORE. 
As a partner hotel, they can sell licensed toys from USJ. Just in case you forgot to buy something. Aside from that, they also have things that you may need like anime toys, costumes, pen and even toiletries. 
Since the hotel is very child friendly, it has a smoking room for people that love to do just that. Away from the kids... These two, not included. Kidding. Hi guys!
The second floor housed the all day dining restaurant. RICO RICO. It serves buffet for breakfast, lunch and dinner all day long. I'll go over that on a different post.
On the other side, there is a salon and a laundry room. I like how Japanese Hotels have laundry rooms where you could do your own stuff. No need to pay for that expensive hotel laundry service.
Look at these two smile. Jerms of the Ransom Collective and Clarice of Admu's ASEC.

To give you a better guide. 
 HOTEL UNIVERSAL PORT also have an awesome place out back.
I think I now know why they are called that. It's because they are connected to a ferry port. It's a little boardwalk like place where you could just hang and enjoy the clean air. No stores here though. Just a place to relax and think things through.
at night, it looks deserted but picture perfect.
Amazing place to take a stroll with someone.
Moving on, we had a room that was pretty big compared to the ones we had in TOKYO. (Click here)
Since we we had to change rooms, they fixed it up and moved all our things.
It's either, you have a harbor view
 or the park view. See the castle on the middle right part? That's Hogwarts. I can't wait to write about UNIVERSAL STUDIOS JAPAN.
They didn't have a complete bar but had coffee and tea making facilities along with a mini fridge.
The toilet was separate from the shower and bath tub. I like it how they really think about the young ones and even had a step stool for them. 
With regards to the toilet, I believe the Japanese really knows how to make them. It automatically opens, heated seats and of course has its own electronic bidet. Very hygienic. 
and that's when I would call it a night. 


Definitely a place to stay at, HOTEL UNIVERSAL PORT in OSAKA offers relaxation and is the perfect place for a family to stay in. Although there aren't any pools, the fact that it is less than a 5 minute walk from UNIVERSAL STUDIOS JAPAN, makes it a definite must try. Restaurants and stores are also nearby so no worries there. The train station is also a 5 minute walk so everything is pretty much near.

My Hotel stay at UNIVERSAL PORT HOTEL
My Shinkansen Experience in Japan
Port Dining Rico Rico: Buffet Restaurant in Universal Port Hotel Osaka

HOTEL UNIVERSAL PORT
Near Universal Studios Japan.
Osaka, Japan
+81 6-6463-5000
http://www.hoteluniversalport.jp/en/



Disclaimer: Wrote this based on my experience. Paid for our stay.
How to access map could be found from their website.

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