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Japan Today
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Japan Today
Okinawa theme park opens with higher entry fees for overseas guests
Visitors to Junglia Okinawa enter the theme park on its opening day in Nakijin, Okinawa, on Friday. New theme park Junglia Okinawa opened Friday in southern Japan with the price of general admissions for visitors from overseas set some 27 percent higher than for residents of the country. The roughly 60-hectare park aims to bring more tourists to Okinawa main island's less-visited north. It has 22 attractions including a dinosaur-themed safari ride and views of nature from hot air balloons, its operator Japan Entertainment said. General admission tickets for those aged 12 and over are set at 6,930 yen ($47) for residents of Japan and 8,800 yen for visitors from overseas. For children aged 4 to 11, entry costs 4,950 for residents and 5,940 yen for those living outside the country. The park also features an open-air bath with separate fees, allowing visitors to enjoy scenic views of the southern island. A long line had formed before opening, with Tomohiko Yara, 50, first to arrive at around 3 a.m. "I hope it will stimulate Okinawa's economy for future generations," the local hotel worker said. Local economies hope the park will boost tourism in the island's northern region by stirring accommodation demand, with most tourists usually staying in central and southern parts including Naha. The project was planned by marketing firm Katana Inc. headed by CEO Tsuyoshi Morioka, who is known for his work to revitalize Universal Studios Japan in western Japan's Osaka Prefecture. © KYODO
The Mainichi
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Mainichi
Shoot to thrill with Minions at new Universal Studios Japan attraction
OSAKA -- Universal Studios Japan (USJ) here revealed a new Minions-themed attraction to the press on July 10. The ride "Illumination's Villain-Con Minion Blast" features characters from the animated movie series "Despicable Me" and "Minions." Ahead of its official opening on July 11, a special ceremony was held where movie characters made appearances and colorful confetti filled the air in a lively celebration. Minion Park, which was originally opened in 2017, has been expanded by 1.4 times its original size. The new attraction's story centers around guests trying to join the supervillain group "Vicious 6." Visitors ride a moving walkway while standing, and play an interactive shooting game using electric blasters. Players aim, shoot, destroy and steal virtual targets displayed on screens to rack up high scores. Young children can also enjoy the ride when accompanied by guardians and pretend to become villains themselves using the electric blasters. A USJ representative said, "Minion Park is a popular area for families. We want guests of all ages to experience the excitement of shooting and feel the thrill." (Japanese original by Ririko Maeda, Osaka Photo and Video Department)
Asahi Shimbun
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Asahi Shimbun
Theme park boom knows ‘no limit' amid surging demand
A preview event is held on July 10 for the expanded Minion Park at Universal Studios Japan in Osaka. (Sakiko Kondo) Japan's theme park industry is experiencing a wave of expansion and innovation, fueled by surging demand from domestic and international visitors. Leading the charge is Universal Studios Japan, which continues to upgrade its attractions under its 'No Limit!' branding campaign. USJ unveiled an expanded Minion Park on July 11, increasing its size by 1.4 times. The main attraction is a new shooting game, where guests ride a moving walkway and shoot at targets along the way. With no height restrictions, the ride aims to be accessible to a broad range of visitors. On July 18, USJ will also reopen its revamped Snoopy Studio. The upgraded area will include a new indoor roller coaster featuring Snoopy's iconic doghouse, designed for family-friendly thrills in time for Japan's busy summer travel season. USJ isn't the only theme park investing in major upgrades. Oriental Land Co. is pushing forward with large-scale redevelopment plans for Tokyo Disneyland's Tomorrowland. The company is making a significant investment in two major projects in the area: a new attraction set to open as early as fiscal 2026 at a cost of 29.5 billion yen ($200 million); and a complete redesign of Space Mountain and its surrounding area, scheduled for completion in 2027 at a cost of 70.5 billion yen. The expansion follows two consecutive years of record revenues for the company. The flurry of activity comes as Japan's theme park sector enjoys a strong rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the economy ministry, the industry generated 892.6 billion yen in sales in 2024—1.5 times higher than a decade ago. Attendance is also on the rise. USJ welcomed 16 million visitors in 2023, ranking it third globally among theme parks, according to a U.S.-based industry association. Meanwhile, new players are entering the market. Junglia Okinawa, a nature-themed park in northern Okinawa Prefecture, is set to open on July 25. The park is expected to tap into the growing number of tourists visiting Japan.
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
USJ to Open New Attraction Featuring Minions Fri.
News from Japan Economy Jul 10, 2025 20:50 (JST) Osaka, July 10 (Jiji Press)--Theme park Universal Studios Japan in the western city of Osaka will open a new Minion-themed attraction on Friday. It is the first attraction with a moving walkway at USJ. The shooting attraction, named Illumination's Villain-Con Minion Blast, was shown to the press on Thursday. Guests on the walkway can shoot targets, such as Minions displayed on screens, with an interactive blaster one after another. As the blaster is linked to the official USJ app, visitors can expand its functions through the app. [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.] Jiji Press
Straits Times
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Theme parks in Japan take measures to keep visitors cool amid intense heat
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Tokyo Disneyland, Universal Studios Japan and Yomiuriland have taken measures to help visitors feel cooler amid warm temperatures. With the arrival of July and the onset of intense heat, leisure facilities in Japan have begun holding events and implementing measures to help visitors feel cooler. Each facility's operators are racking their brains for ideas to counteract the severe heat that might keep guests away. More splash on Splash Mountain Starting in July 2025 , Tokyo Disneyland, in Urayasu, Chiba Prefecture, will increase the water flow on its popular 'Splash Mountain' ride, causing more spray than usual when the ride plunges into an area resembling the basin of a waterfall. This summer-only initiative reportedly features the 'largest flow volume ever', which will cause water to splash like a shower not only on passengers but also on spectators nearby. On July 1 , the park held a summer parade, with mist spraying in time to the music, and visitors cheered when water was sprayed toward them along the way. 'I got more water than I expected, and it cooled me down quite a bit,' said a 46-year-old part-time worker from Kobe who came with her family. Extended evening hours Universal Studios Japan (USJ), in Osaka, began giving away salt candy to visitors for the first time on July 1 . Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore No train service across entire Bukit Panjang LRT line due to power fault Singapore Pedestrian-only path rules to be enforced reasonably; focus on errant cyclists: Baey Yam Keng Singapore $500 in Child LifeSG Credits, Edusave, Post-Sec Education Account top-ups to be disbursed in July Singapore 17-year-old youth charged with trespassing on MRT tracks; to be remanded at IMH Business Microsoft cutting 9,000 jobs companywide in second major wave of layoffs this year Asia Malaysian nurses following the money abroad for more opportunities World Trump tax Bill stalled by Republican rebellion in Congress Opinion How Apple gave 'the gift of fire' to Chinese electronics firms The park has also extended its opening hours into the evening to encourage visitors to come after the heat has subsided. 'People have begun to avoid going out in summer. We need to take serious measures to prevent people from getting heatstroke,' a USJ spokesman said. At Yomiuriland, an amusement park on the border of Inagi, Tokyo, and Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, all 42 gondolas of the observation wheel 'Sky-Go-LAND,' which opened in October 2024 , are equipped with air conditioning, allowing visitors to enjoy the view comfortably even in summer. Its predecessor did not have air conditioning. All three free rest areas in the park have also been equipped with air conditioning. Impact of heatwave The number of visitors to Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea from April to September 2024 was 12.2 million, 300,000 fewer than the same period the previous year. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the average temperature in Tokyo from July to September 2024 was 28.1 deg C, 2.8 degrees higher than the average for that period. That heatwave is believed to have been one of the reasons for the decline in visitor numbers. According to the agency, this summer is also expected to be hotter than average nationwide. 'In recent years, extreme heat has had a negative impact on visitor numbers at many outdoor leisure facilities. 'How to keep visitors comfortable during the summer has become an important question for management,' said Mr Chiaki Kato of Mitsubishi UFJ Research and Consulting Co. THE JAPAN NEWS/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
