Theme parks in Japan

When people talk about theme parks in Japan, almost everyone thinks of the two giants: Tokyo Disney Resort (actually in Maihama, Chiba prefecture, next to Tokyo) and Universal Studios Japan, in Osaka. They are the two star visits, especially if you travel with children or are a fan of Disney, Nintendo or Harry Potter.

But the range is wider. Japan has made an art of the "ticketed space": the immersive digital art museums of teamLab in Tokyo, the Ghibli Park near Nagoya, the Hello Kitty park (Sanrio Puroland) or the extreme roller coaster one (Fuji-Q Highland) at the foot of Mount Fuji. There is something for every taste and age.

What almost all of them have in common is one thing: you buy a ticket and, very often, it is worth buying it before travelling. Some even sell out tickets for the day, and the fast-access systems (skipping queues) change frequently. If you are still deciding what to put in your route, in what to see in Japan you have the full overview of must-sees. Here we go park by park.

Where: Maihama, Chiba prefecture, about 15 minutes by train from Tokyo Station (JR Keiyo line).

Tokyo Disney Resort is not one park, but two, and this is the first thing to be clear about when planning. They share a location but are different experiences, and each one-day ticket gives access to just one (except for special tickets). If you have to choose one, this is the difference:

• Tokyo Disneyland: the "classic" Disney park, with its castle, parades and a very family-friendly atmosphere. If you have been to other Disneylands in the world, it will feel recognisable (with its own Japanese touch).
• Tokyo DisneySea: the number 1 reason for many travellers. It is unique in the world: there is no other DisneySea anywhere else. It is themed around the sea and imaginary ports, with a spectacular level of environmental detail and rides somewhat more oriented towards adults and teenagers.

The big recent addition is Fantasy Springs, a huge area opened at DisneySea on 6 June 2024 (the largest expansion in the resort's history) with areas dedicated to Frozen, Tangled (Rapunzel) and Peter Pan. When it opened, access was very restricted, but since 1 April 2025 any visitor can enter Fantasy Springs and queue normally for its rides without a special pass.

Indicative price: the one-day passport (single park) for adults goes, depending on the date, from about 7,900 to 10,900 ¥ (approx. 43-59 € at the current rate). It is dynamic pricing: weekdays are cheaper and weekends and holidays more expensive. As a general rule you will buy one ticket per park, since each one-day passport gives access to just one. In certain limited periods the resort sells a one-day "Park Hopper" passport (at a notably higher price) that does allow you to switch from Disneyland to DisneySea after a certain time; check the official site to see if it is available for your dates, because it is not always.

How to buy the ticket

Tokyo Disney tickets are date-assigned and are bought online in advance. On high-demand days (weekends, Japanese holidays, school holidays) they can sell out, so do not leave it to the last minute.

You can also buy them on the official Tokyo Disney Resort website.

To skip queues there is the Disney Premier Access, a pay-per-ride system reserved inside the park through the official Tokyo Disney Resort app: you choose a time for a specific ride. There is also a free system (Priority Pass) for other rides. Having the app installed and the account created before entering saves you time and stress.

Where: Osaka, in the bay area (Universal-City station, on the JR Yumesaki line).

Universal Studios Japan (USJ) is the big theme park event in western Japan, perfect to combine with a stay in Osaka. It has the zones you would expect from a Universal (Hollywood, Minions, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter) but its own hallmark in Japan is Super Nintendo World.

Super Nintendo World is a physical recreation of the world of Mario: pipes, coins, a wristband (Power-Up Band) that connects with the app to "play" around the zone, and the star ride of Mario Kart. The big addition is Donkey Kong Country, an expansion opened on 11 December 2024 that enlarged the zone by around 70% and added the family minecart roller coaster (Mine Cart Madness). It is the world's first Donkey Kong area.

How to buy the ticket (and why the order matters)

There are two things to buy here, and it is best not to confuse them:

• The park ticket: with a date. Buy it in advance, especially in high season.
• Access to Super Nintendo World: on busy days, the zone controls capacity. It may require an Area Timed Entry (a free timed-slot entry, managed via the park app or included in certain passes) or be covered by a paid Express Pass.

Indicative price: the one-day Studio Pass for adults starts at around 8,900 ¥ (approx. 48 € at the current rate) and rises in high season, also with dynamic pricing by date. The Express Pass (fast access) is paid separately and its price varies a lot depending on the day and the rides it covers. Since 2025 USJ tickets are only sold online (there is no ticket window at the gate).

The Universal Express Pass is the paid system to skip queues (it includes versions that already guarantee entry to Super Nintendo World and Donkey Kong Country). It is one of the products that sells out the most, so if your visit depends on riding Mario Kart without endless queues, consider booking it well ahead. As always, confirm on the official USJ website or on the sales platform exactly what each pass includes before buying, because it changes by season.

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Where: two venues in Tokyo (Azabudai Hills and Toyosu).

teamLab is not a theme park, but it is one of the most sought-after "ticketed experiences" in Tokyo and fits perfectly in this group: immersive digital art rooms where you walk among projections, lights and water. It is one of the most photographed things in the city. There are two different venues and it is best not to confuse them:

• teamLab Borderless (Azabudai Hills): it reopened in its new Azabudai Hills location, in central Tokyo, on 9 February 2024 (it was previously in Odaiba). It is a world of "borderless" works between rooms, in which you wander without a fixed route.
• teamLab Planets (Toyosu): the other venue, in Toyosu. Here you walk barefoot and through water in some rooms (wear comfortable clothing; there are areas where you get your legs wet).

How to buy the ticket

teamLab tickets are date and timed-slot and are bought online in advance: you practically have to book them before going, because the most popular slots sell out. If you want a specific time (for example, the first entry of the day), book well ahead. It is an ideal visit to combine with the rest of your plans in Tokyo.

Beyond the big ones, these are other ticketed parks and attractions that may fit depending on your interests and your route:

• Ghibli Park (Nagakute, Aichi, near Nagoya): the park dedicated to the Studio Ghibli universe. It is not a roller coaster park, but a walk through settings from its films inside a large park (the former Expo 2005 site). Its five areas were completed in March 2024 with the opening of the Valley of Witches. The tickets are date and timed-slot, and very limited: you have to book well in advance. Sales two months ahead open on the 10th of each month and foreign visitors can also buy them through the official international website or authorised platforms such as Lawson or Klook.
• Sanrio Puroland (Tama, Tokyo): the indoor park of Hello Kitty and the Sanrio characters, about 30-40 minutes from central Tokyo. Very popular with children and fans of the kawaii characters.
• Fuji-Q Highland (Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi): at the foot of Mount Fuji, famous for its extreme roller coasters (and for the views of Fuji from the top). For those seeking adrenaline more than theming.

If you travel as a family, these parks (along with Disney and Universal) are regular highlights of an itinerary with little ones; you have more ideas in the guide to Japan with kids.

Each big park asks, at a minimum, for a full day (sometimes more, if you want to see Disneyland and DisneySea, or take Universal at a relaxed pace). It is worth keeping in mind when distributing the nights of your trip:

• Tokyo Disney and teamLab fit into your Tokyo days (Disney is very well connected from Tokyo Station).
• Universal Studios Japan is an Osaka plan: if you are going to go, reserve a full day there.
• Ghibli Park is near Nagoya, halfway between Tokyo and Kyoto on the Shinkansen; it can be a stop if you have a spare day and book tickets in time.

If you travel with little ones, a theme park is usually the favourite day of the trip, so it is worth protecting it on the calendar and buying the tickets as soon as you have your dates settled.