Japan Prep Guide
Universal Studios Japan Express Pass 2026: Which One to Buy, and Is It Worth It?
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Our pick for one busy day
An Express Pass 4 with a Nintendo ride
- ¥14,800–¥26,800 per person on the November–December 2026 dates we checked
- Admission is extra: you also need a Studio Pass for the same date
- Two days? A 2-Day Studio Pass costs less than a 1-Day pass plus the cheapest Nintendo Express Pass
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The Universal Express Pass is USJ's paid line-skipping ticket, and it's what people mean when they search for a USJ "fast pass." On October 30, 2026, the official ticket store listed 28 versions, 18 of them called "Express Pass 4," each with its own ride list and a price that changes by date. Here's how to pick one, or decide you can do without.
Buy one if you only have a single day, it falls on a weekend, holiday or event date, and Super Nintendo World is a must.
- Which one: an Express Pass 4 that includes a Nintendo ride suits most people. The 7 is for groups who want all three Nintendo rides plus both Harry Potter rides.
- Price: for November–December 2026 dates, the Nintendo 4s we checked cost ¥14,800–¥26,800 and the 7 cost ¥23,800–¥31,800 per person. Kids pay the same.
- Admission is extra: you also need a Studio Pass for the same date.
- Two days? Skip it. On November–December dates, a 2-Day Studio Pass costs less than a 1-Day pass plus the cheapest Nintendo Express Pass.
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What the USJ Express Pass is (and why people call it a fast pass)
It's a dated add-on ticket that gets you into a shorter Express line at a fixed list of attractions, once each. Some rides come with a printed time slot. Miss it and USJ won't refund or move it. The rest can be used whenever they're running that day.
"Fast pass" isn't a USJ product name, and the Express Pass never replaces a Studio Pass. Everyone aged 4 and up needs one (only children 3 and under are exempt), prices are the same for every age, and passes can't be canceled once bought. Buy for your whole group in one order: USJ warns that separate orders can end up with different ride times.
Express Pass 4 vs 5 vs 7 vs 8: what each one includes (2026)
The number is how many attractions you get. The name after it tells you which ones, and that matters more. Here are the main versions on the official store on October 30, 2026, with their November–December price ranges. Forbidden Journey is the main Harry Potter ride.
| Pass | Rides (one each) | Nintendo area entry | Nov–Dec 2026 price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Express Pass 3: Classic & Show | JAWS; Forbidden Journey or Jurassic Park; Universal Monsters Live Rock and Roll Show | No | ¥9,000–¥14,100 (from Nov 29) |
| Express Pass 4: Race & JAWS | Mario Kart; Forbidden Journey; Minion Mayhem; JAWS or Jurassic Park | Yes | ¥14,800–¥24,800 |
| Express Pass 4: Mine Cart & JAWS | Mario Kart; Mine-Cart Madness; Forbidden Journey or The Flying Dinosaur; Jurassic Park or JAWS | Yes | ¥14,800–¥26,800 |
| Express Pass 4: Backdrop & The Flying Dinosaur | Forbidden Journey; Flight of the Hippogriff; Hollywood Dream Backdrop; The Flying Dinosaur | No | ¥11,800–¥19,800 (November only) |
| Express Pass 5: Race & Minion Special | Mario Kart; Forbidden Journey; Villain-Con Minion Blast; Minion Mayhem; JAWS or Jurassic Park | Yes | ¥18,900–¥28,900 |
| Express Pass 7: Minecart & Selection | Mario Kart; Yoshi's Adventure; Mine-Cart Madness; Forbidden Journey; Flight of the Hippogriff; The Flying Dinosaur or Minion Mayhem; JAWS or Jurassic Park | Yes | ¥23,800–¥31,800 |
| Express Pass 8: Minion & MineCart Special | The 7's rides plus Villain-Con Minion Blast | Yes | ¥23,900–¥33,900 |
| Premium and Premium Unlimited | Premium Unlimited: unlimited Express rides on 16 attractions | Yes | From ¥41,000; Unlimited from ¥99,000 |
What the table doesn't show:
- Nintendo coverage varies. The 7 and 8 cover all three Super Nintendo World rides. Among the 4s, only Mine Cart & JAWS had both Mario Kart and Mine-Cart Madness (the Donkey Kong ride).
- Height limits can waste slots. Forbidden Journey needs riders to be 122 cm tall, The Flying Dinosaur and Hollywood Dream 132 cm.
- Seasonal versions come and go. Six of the late-October versions were built around Halloween horror attractions closed to children 14 and under.
Super Nintendo World timed entry with and without an Express Pass
With one: every version that includes a Nintendo ride comes with what USJ calls guaranteed timed entry, with the time on your ticket. No app lottery.
Without one: register your Studio Pass in the official USJ app (you can do it before your visit). Once you've been scanned in at the gate, request a free Area Timed Entry Ticket. When those run out, the app switches to Standby Entry Tickets, a lottery you enter at least an hour before the entry time you want; they're issued until three hours before closing. Register your whole group to get the same slot. On quieter days the area sometimes needs no ticket at all, but you only find out on the day.
The app needs iOS 17 or Android 9 or later and a data connection; our data guide helps you size a plan. Some travel-agency packages also include advance area tickets.
How much is the USJ Express Pass? Prices by date
Each date has its own price, the same for every age. On the official store in late October 2026, the Race & JAWS 4 cost ¥14,800 on Tuesday, November 10, and ¥24,800 on Saturday, November 21 and on December 30. The 7 ran from ¥23,800 on several mid-December dates to ¥31,800 on many November dates and on December 28–29. The list page's "from" prices (¥10,800 for some 4s, ¥21,800 for the 7) didn't appear on any November or December date, and the store says prices can change without notice.
Families feel it. Two adults and two kids on a ¥14,800 day pay ¥59,200 for Express Passes alone. On Klook, prices show in your currency; on October 30 its Express Pass page started at about US$78 for a non-Nintendo 4, with the 7 from about US$158.
When does the USJ Express Pass sell out?
Each date has a limited number of passes, and in late October the bigger ones were going first. On October 30, 2026, the Express Pass 7 already showed as unavailable on seven November dates, including November 21 and 23–25 around the Labor Thanksgiving Day holiday, and on 14 December dates. The 8 had eight unavailable November dates. The Race & JAWS 4 could still be booked for every December date.
On the same day, the official store sold Studio Passes and Express Passes only up to December 31, 2026; January dates weren't on sale yet. Going in January or later? Check back, and book the day your date opens.
How to buy the USJ Express Pass: official store vs Klook
Official store: USJ's English site sends you to its Official Web Ticket Store (usjticketing.com), run by JTRWeb Ltd., an authorized USJ reseller. It had all 28 versions on October 30, priced in yen. Pick a pass and a date (unavailable dates are struck through), add a Studio Pass for the same day, and pay. At each ride, show the whole ticket screen, not just the QR code.
Klook: sells many of the same versions in your currency with an English checkout, and lets you choose time slots for timed rides. Express Pass bookings fail during its daily maintenance window (6:00–7:40 a.m. Japan time), and there are no cancellations.
Skip resale sites: USJ says resold tickets won't be accepted.
Check Express Pass dates on Klook (opens in a new tab)
Still need admission? Book the USJ Studio Pass on Klook (opens in a new tab) for the same date, or see our USJ tickets guide for prices and getting there.
Is the USJ Express Pass worth it?
| Your visit | What we'd do |
|---|---|
| One weekend, holiday or year-end day; Nintendo is a must | Buy at least a Nintendo Express Pass 4 |
| One quiet weekday | Optional. Buy a Nintendo 4 if you don't want to gamble on the app; otherwise arrive early |
| Two days | Skip it and get a 2-Day Studio Pass |
| Kids under 122 cm | A 4 whose rides they can all take (check each height limit); skip the 7 and 8 |
| You want every big ride in one day | The 7 or 8, booked the day your date opens |
The two-day math is simple. For November–December 2026 dates, an adult 2-Day Studio Pass cost ¥17,900–¥21,400, while a 1-Day pass (¥9,400 or more) plus the cheapest Nintendo 4 (¥14,800 or more) came to at least ¥24,200. Staying by the park makes an early start easy: compare hotels near USJ on Klook (opens in a new tab). Coming straight from the airport? See Kansai Airport to Osaka and Kyoto.
USJ Express Pass questions
Is there a fast pass at Universal Studios Japan?
Yes, in effect. It's called the Universal Express Pass, it's paid, and it doesn't include park entry. The free alternative for Super Nintendo World is the app's timed-entry ticket, which isn't guaranteed.
Can I ride the same attraction twice?
Not with a normal pass: each attraction is once. The exceptions are the 4+1, which includes Mario Kart twice, and Premium Unlimited.
Can I change the date?
Not on an Express Pass. USJ lets you change the date of a Studio Pass bought on its web store for free (you pay any price difference), but Express Passes and bundles aren't eligible, and they can't be canceled either.
Which Express Pass we'd buy
For one busy day, the cheapest Express Pass 4 that includes Mario Kart, booked as soon as your date goes on sale. If everyone is at least 122 cm tall and the budget allows, the 7 covers nearly every headline ride. With two days, put the money toward the second day instead.
Check Express Pass dates on Klook (opens in a new tab)
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