1. Ticket prices & Opening hours
Ticket prices for both parks don't differ much. If we're comparing a 1-day pass, USJ is slightly cheaper (about JPY400 cheaper) than Disney. But that said, in terms of flexibility, the Disney parks have more variety. There are 1-4 day passports and you can also choose to visit the park at night after 6PM or after 3PM. Not to mention that you can buy a general Disney park ticket and choose to use it for Tokyo Disneyland or DisneySea. With the multi-day passports, you can also visit both Disney parks on consecutive days! Here's a breakdown of prices: USJ- 1 DAY Studio Pass:
- Adults, 12 and over - JPY7800
- Child, 4-11 - JPY5400
- Seniors, 65 and over - JPY7100
- 2 DAY Studio Pass:
- Adults, 12 and over - JPY15400
- Child, 4-11 - JPY10500
- 1-Day Passport:
- Adult - JPY8200
- Junior - JPY6900
- Child - JPY4900
- Senior Passport (65 and over):
- JPY7600
- Starlight Passport (Entry from 3PM on weekends and holidays)
- Adult - JPY6000
- Junior - JPY5100
- Child - JPY3600
- After 6 Passport (Entry from 6PM on weekdays)
- Adult, Junior, Child - JPY4700
- 2-Day Passport
- Adult - JPY14800
- Junior - JPY12600
- Child - JPY8800
- 3-Day Magic Passport
- Adult - JPY19800
- Junior - JPY16800
- Child - JPY11800
- 4-Day Magic Passport
- Adult - JPY24800
- Junior - JPY21000
- Child - JPY14800
2. Best rides and attractions
USJ: The main highlight of USJ is none other than the Wizarding World of Harry Potter! Take a ride on Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey and follow Harry and friends on their magic adventures; there's even a Quidditch match during the ride! Drink some yummy Butterbeer while you're at it and cast spells with some Wand Magic. Besides that, USJ is also home to one of the world's best amusement park rides - The Amazing Adventures of Spiderman. You'll also be treated to unique roller coasters like The Flying Dinosaur where you'll sit face down and "fly" or the Hollywood Dream - The Ride - Backdrop where you'll experience an exhilarating ride on a backwards roller coaster ? Top rides in USJ:- The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
- Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
- Drinking Butterbeer
- Minion Park
- New York
- Jurassic Park
- Hollywood
- Disneyland
- DisneySea
3. Skip-the-line privileges
As both parks are really popular, they are both equally crowded. But luckily, both parks have skip-the-line privileges. Let's compare them both: Universal Express Pass at USJ:Pros:- Enter a separate queue to cut waiting times at popular rides
- Can be used for 4 or 7 rides, depending on which Express Pass you buy
- You can buy Express passes online in advance or at the park
- Use of Express passes are unlimited
- Express passes come at an additional cost (JPY7800-10800)
- Can be used at 8 attractions at Tokyo Disneyland and 9 attractions at Tokyo DisneySea
- FASTPASS does not come at an additional cost
- You can only get a FASTPASS from the ticket machines at each of the attractions
- You must follow a fixed timing that's stated on the FASTPASS
- You can only obtain a FASTPASS for the next ride after you're completed the one you currently have on hand
4. Availability of Muslim-friendly food and prayer spaces
- Muslim-friendly Menu at Red Lobster Universal City Walk
- Muslim-friendly Steak Dinner Set Menu at Top of Universal Restaurant, Hotel Keihan Universal Tower
- Prayers - Request to do your prayers at the Family Service Room
- Muslim-friendly Menu at Red Lobster, Ikspiari shopping mall
- Prayers - Request to do your prayers at the Main Street House
5. Shows and Parades
USJ: Besides the fantastic rides at USJ, the theatre shows, street shows, and parades are all a must-see! They are full of life and part of the USJ experience. Although the shows are in Japanese, it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to watch them in a foreign language! The Universal Spectacle Night Parade is a treat - witness the world's first transforming float from the Universe of Transformers, dance with minions and more ? Top shows at USJ:- WaterWorld (WaterWorld area, Theater Show)
- SING on Tour (Hollywood area, Theater Show)
- Universal Spectacle Night Parade - The Best of Hollywood (Hollywood area, Parade)
- Disneyland
- DisneySea
- Big Band Beat
- Seasonal shows at Mediterranean Harbor
Final Verdict: Tokyo Disney Parks!
And the winner is Tokyo Disney Parks! With not just 1 but 2 theme parks in one, it's hard not to love the Tokyo Disney Parks as they provide a wholesome experience for different types of travellers. That said, with amazing rides, attractions and shows at both USJ and Tokyo Disney parks, it's really a tough call. With the breath-taking Wizarding World of Harry Potter and award-winning rides, USJ is definitely a worthy contender ? Ultimately, we hope this comparison guide has given you a better idea of what you can expect at both parks, so you can keep them in mind for your future trips to Japan! P.S. Dreaming of your next Japan trip? Check out our 7D6N Muslim-friendly Tokyo-Kyoto-Osaka itinerary!Tags:japantokyo-disneylandtokyo-disneyseauniversal-studios-japan