r/usj • u/3battleYoutube • 20d ago
USJ Silver Week
currently on the JET Programme in Japan (1st year of teaching English to Japanese high schooler) and the only big chunks of time off I have are Silver Week and Golden week. I was wondering if it’s still possible to go to only SNW ( I am really not a big theme park guy, more so a Nintendo fan) during silver week and without an express pass or if it’s a necessity. I don’t mind waking up super early or missing all the other rides, I just don’t want my first time going to USJ wasted, as SNW is the only thing I want to see. I will be going alone most likely
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u/Suspicious_Method_94 20d ago
As someone who used to only go during major holidays, yes, it is possible. Just follow the usual bits of advice of having to get there early.
USJ usually opens on time now. And I haven’t been going during opening time lately, but essentially be there as early as possible.
Earliest possible time would be around 7:00-7:15, but it can open at 8:00 AM.
So aim to be there before that security line opens and you can expect loads of other Japanese people will be there waiting.
Prepare your QR code ticket and once you’re in, follow the steady stream of people. You will take a right at the major intersection past the two main gift shops. Go past the Hollywood Dream Coaster.
And the dinner and the Beetlejuice theater turn right (there’s also a garden up ahead that can you can usually pass through, but I don’t think it’s open at that time). Go past the Snoopy area, forested Potter area and right in front of Jaws.
If they let you past Jaws, you should be good to enter SNW before it reaches capacity, as this is the point where they cut off the entrance.
Once you’re in, depending on the time you enter, there may already be a line for Donkey Kong snaking out. Just follow that.
But since you’re alone, I’d recommend going for the Single Rider. You don’t really miss much from doing so.
Enjoy!
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u/Resident_Hand_7264 20d ago
Your last line is incorrect.
You miss almost half of the stamps and activities for Donkey Kong by using the Single Rider line.
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u/Suspicious_Method_94 20d ago
Fair enough, but the DK queue isn’t as detailed as the Mario Kart one. So for me, stamps and that twinkling light effect isn’t that much.
But yeah, if those matter to OP, then they should do that standby then.
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u/Resident_Hand_7264 20d ago
If you're a completionist and have a band, you'll want to do that.
I have every single stamp except for the ones in the DK queue and a few of the seasonal ones... I've also had the band since it opened 5 years ago.
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u/Icy-Illustrator-1431 20d ago
Halloween is a blast.. if you can try to go then.. the horror attractions are really fun
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u/Beautiful-Loquat7321 20d ago edited 20d ago
JET alumni, Osaka resident, and Grand Royal pass holder - unless you're in a different region it might be more worth it to go on a random weekend. No matter what or when foreign tourists are always filling up the lines, and holidays like SW and GW are prime time for Japanese families to go and enjoy the park and Osaka itself during those long holidays. Standard pass holders have those dates blacked out but they still get a discount on standard tickets that they can purchase and go to the park with friends/loved ones when everyone is guaranteed the time off. Lately the regular rides haven't had long wait times (most under 50minutes, some even as low as 20 for the regular queue) however SNW has had wait times of 90 minutes or more consistently throughout the day. You'd have to arrive before the gates open and run on over the SNW if you can secure a ticket. I know it's still summer vacation but maybe because of the heat lately there haven't been as many people going, idk, I was shocked when my sister and I were able to ride JP the Ride twice in under 40 mins! Rainy days also have less people but if the weather is pretty bad they suspend the rides so that's also a risk.
ETA: I could easily see myself spending majority of the day just in SNW waiting and doing the challenges. I can't say if the express passes are worth it as a single rider but it would probably guarantee you ride everything before the sun goes down.
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u/Hashimotosannn 19d ago
I wouldn’t go at that time. We went on a weekday in May, not a holiday and SMW was packed. You need to get the timed entry pass and even then you will be lining up for Mario Kart for at least 90-175 minutes.
If you can afford the express pass, it’s better to pay for it imo. The only reason we didn’t is because my kid was slightly too short for most of the rides.
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u/puchipochi 20d ago
Do not go to USJ on holidays. You should get days off in 6 months, I recommend using them. If you absolutely can't/don"t want to, even a random weekend (do your research) might be better than 3連休, or any other holidays. Remember: If you have days off, so does everyone else in the country.
Also, you don't need several days. 2 days are more than enough to go to all attractions.