Universal Studios Japan App Tutorial! How to Use the USJ App to Obtain Timed Entry Tickets

Post date: 2025-05-23 | Categories: Japan Travel

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Super Nintendo World are the two most popular areas in Universal Studios Japan. To manage crowd levels, USJ has implemented entry restrictions for these areas, requiring visitors to have a USJ Timed Entry Ticket (Entry Confirmation Ticket) to enter. There are several ways to obtain these tickets, and the most convenient and free method is to use the Universal Studios Japan App to secure a Timed Entry Ticket. This article will introduce the various methods to obtain entry tickets for “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” and “Super Nintendo World,” as well as provide a detailed tutorial on how to use the USJ App to secure these tickets.

Since this article is quite lengthy, here’s a table of contents for easy navigation.

Table of Contents

What is a Universal Studios Japan Timed Entry Ticket?
Six Ways to Obtain USJ Timed Entry Tickets
- 1. Free Methods to Obtain Timed Entry Tickets for “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” and “Super Nintendo World”
  - 【Method 1】Use the Universal Studios Japan App to Secure Free Timed Entry Tickets
  - 【Method 2】Obtain Timed Entry Tickets at Designated Locations Inside the Park
  - 【More】Use the USJ App to Secure Free Ride Timed Entry Tickets
- 2. Purchase Products That Include Timed Entry Tickets for “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” and “Super Nintendo World”
“The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” and “Super Nintendo World”
- 1. “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter”
- 2. “Super Nintendo World”

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What is a Universal Studios Japan Timed Entry Ticket?

What is a Timed Entry Ticket? What is a Universal Studios Japan Timed Entry Ticket? What is a USJ Entry Ticket? Below, we’ll explain the concept of Timed Entry Tickets (Entry Confirmation Tickets) for “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” and “Super Nintendo World.”

The purpose of Entry Confirmation Tickets is to control the number of visitors entering “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” and “Super Nintendo World” at Universal Studios Japan, ensuring a comfortable experience for guests. (Note: Due to the limited size of these areas, even with entry restrictions, the parks can still feel crowded during peak seasons, and the experience may not be very comfortable.)

Entry Confirmation Tickets are referred to by various names. On the Universal Studios Japan official website, you may see terms like “Entry Guarantee Ticket,” “Timed Entry Ticket” (called “Area Timed Entry Ticket” in English), or “Standby Entry Ticket” (called “Lottery Ticket” in English). These different names reflect the various ways to obtain the tickets.

If the Entry Confirmation Ticket is obtained before visiting Universal Studios Japan—for example, by purchasing an Express Pass that includes the ticket or a travel package—it is called an “Entry Guarantee Ticket.” If the ticket is obtained for free after entering the park, it is called a “Timed Entry Ticket.” If it is obtained as a standby option, it is called a “Standby Entry Ticket.” Regardless of the name, they all serve the same purpose.

Six Ways to Obtain Universal Studios Japan Entry Confirmation Tickets

There are six methods to obtain Entry Confirmation Tickets (Timed Entry Tickets) for “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” or “Super Nintendo World” at Universal Studios Japan. Four of these methods involve purchasing travel products that include guaranteed entry, while the other two allow you to obtain the tickets for free through official channels after entering the park.

1. Free Methods to Obtain Timed Entry Tickets for “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” and “Super Nintendo World”

You don’t necessarily have to pay to secure Entry Confirmation Tickets for “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” and “Super Nintendo World.” Universal Studios Japan allocates a certain number of free Timed Entry Tickets for distribution daily.

For “Super Nintendo World,” Timed Entry Tickets are generally available if you arrive before noon, even during peak seasons. However, tickets for “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” are harder to obtain during peak times and may not be distributed at all. There are two free methods to obtain USJ Entry Tickets: using the official Universal Studios Japan mobile app (referred to as the “USJ App”) or visiting designated ticket distribution machines inside the park.

【Method 1】Use the USJ App to Secure Free Timed Entry Tickets

The easiest, simplest, and free way to obtain Timed Entry Tickets for “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” and “Super Nintendo World” is to use the Universal Studios Japan App. To use the USJ App for this purpose, you must be inside the Universal Studios Japan park (the app uses location services to verify your presence in the park, though the accuracy isn’t strict, so it may work near the park’s perimeter). Additionally, the Universal Studios Japan ticket used to obtain the Timed Entry Ticket must have already been scanned for entry (the system records this when you scan the ticket QR code at the gate). Therefore, you can only use the app to obtain tickets after entering the park, but you don’t need to visit a physical distribution point.

No account registration is required to use the USJ App, but you must register your Universal Studios Japan ticket in the app before obtaining a Timed Entry Ticket. If you’re securing tickets for multiple people, you’ll need to register all their tickets. We recommend completing the ticket registration before entering the park so you can obtain the Timed Entry Tickets immediately after entry without wasting time on registration.

You can register your ticket after purchasing it, but due to processing delays in the system, the ticket data may not appear in the app until the next day. If you try to register too early, you may encounter an “invalid ticket” error. Therefore, we recommend waiting at least one day after purchasing your ticket before registering it.

Here’s how to use the USJ App to obtain Timed Entry Tickets for “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” and “Super Nintendo World”:

(1) Register Your Ticket

Open the USJ App and tap “Electronic Tickets” on the home screen, then tap “Register Park Passes.”

There are two ways to register your ticket: scanning the QR code directly from the ticket or uploading a photo of the ticket from your phone’s gallery. To scan the QR code, tap “Scan the QR Code on the Studio Pass…”. To upload a photo, tap “Upload a photo of your pass…”.

After scanning the QR code, you’ll need to assign a name to each ticket for easy identification when obtaining Timed Entry Tickets later. Once you’ve set the name, tap “Register” to complete the process. If you have multiple tickets, tap “SCAN ANOTHER PASS” and repeat the steps.

(2) Obtain Timed Entry Tickets for the Park Areas

After registering your ticket and entering Universal Studios Japan, you can start obtaining Timed Entry Tickets. Open the USJ App, tap “Area Timed Entry Ticket / Standby Entry Ticket” on the home screen, then tap “GET AN ETICKET,” and select the area you want to visit (“The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” or “Super Nintendo World”). (Note: If “No Timed Entry Tickets” is displayed, it means no more tickets are available for distribution.)

Select the ticket(s) you want to use to obtain the Timed Entry Ticket and tap “NEXT.” Then, choose your preferred entry time slot from the available options and tap “CONFIRM ETICKET RESERVATION” within 30 seconds. Once you’ve successfully secured the ticket, you can immediately tap “VIEW ACQUIRED TICKETS” to check your Timed Entry Ticket.

In addition to checking your Timed Entry Ticket immediately after securing it, you can also view it later in the app by going to “Electronic Tickets” > “Acquired Timed Entry Ticket / Standby Entry Ticket List.”

The Timed Entry Ticket allows you to enter the designated area during the specified time slot (within a 60-minute window). When entering the area, you’ll need to show the QR code on your ticket to staff for scanning.

Timed Entry Tickets are not released all at once. Instead, they are distributed in batches for different time slots. If you obtain a ticket shortly after the park opens at 8:00 AM, you’ll likely only have access to time slots before 11:00 AM. If you prefer a later time, you can wait and try again later.

The “NO LIMIT! Parade” at Universal Studios Japan is held only once daily at 11:00 AM. If you enter “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” or “Super Nintendo World” too early, you’ll miss the parade. If you want to watch the parade, plan to enter these areas after 11:30 AM. However, if you visit the popular “Kinopio’s Cafe” in “Super Nintendo World” after 11:00 AM, you may only be able to secure a dining time slot after 3:00 PM. So, you’ll need to choose between watching the parade or dining at the cafe.

If all Timed Entry Tickets for the day are distributed, the park may switch to distributing “Standby Entry Tickets.” In this case, the app will display “Standby Entry Ticket In Progress.” The process for obtaining a Standby Entry Ticket is similar to securing a Timed Entry Ticket: you’ll need to select the ticket(s) and choose an entry time slot.

The lottery results will be announced one hour before the entry time. After obtaining a Standby Entry Ticket, you can check the results on the park’s announcement boards, the official lottery results webpage, or directly in the USJ App.

Each ticket can only hold one Timed Entry Ticket for one area at a time. For example, if you’ve secured a ticket for “Super Nintendo World,” you cannot obtain another for “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” until you’ve used the first one (i.e., after entering “Super Nintendo World”).

Additionally, each ticket can only obtain one Timed Entry Ticket per area per day. So, if you’ve already secured a ticket for “Super Nintendo World,” you cannot obtain another one for the same area later, even if you register the ticket on a different device.

Finally, if you’re unable to secure a Timed Entry Ticket, don’t lose hope. On weekdays, the park may stop enforcing entry restrictions after 2:00 or 3:00 PM, allowing free entry into “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” and “Super Nintendo World” without a ticket. However, on weekends or Japanese public holidays, the parks may remain crowded all day, and you might not be able to enter these areas without a ticket.

For official instructions on using the USJ App to obtain Timed Entry Tickets for “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” and “Super Nintendo World,” refer to this webpage.

【Method 2】Obtain USJ Timed Entry Tickets at Designated Locations Inside the Park

If you don’t have a smartphone or aren’t comfortable using the USJ App, you can still obtain Timed Entry Tickets for “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” and “Super Nintendo World” by visiting designated ticket distribution machines inside Universal Studios Japan after entering the park.

The distribution point for Timed Entry Tickets is located in the Central Park area of Universal Studios Japan.

When obtaining Timed Entry Tickets inside the park, not everyone in your group needs to queue. One person can collect tickets for the entire group, but you’ll need to bring all the Universal Studios Japan tickets. The process at the distribution machines is self-service and involves the following steps:

Scan the QR codes on all tickets;
Select the number of people;
Choose a time slot;
Print the Timed Entry Tickets.

If all Timed Entry Tickets for the day have been distributed, the park may switch to distributing “Standby Entry Tickets.” These are backup tickets allocated through a lottery system. If you’re selected, you’ll be notified one hour before the entry time. You can check the results on the park’s announcement boards or the official lottery results webpage.

For official instructions on obtaining Timed Entry Tickets inside Universal Studios Japan, refer to this webpage.

【More】Use the USJ App to Secure Free Ride Timed Entry Tickets

In addition to obtaining Timed Entry Tickets for park areas, you can also use the USJ App to secure free ride Timed Entry Tickets or reserve ride times for specific attractions.

The process for obtaining ride Timed Entry Tickets is similar to securing area entry tickets. Open the USJ App, tap “Electronic Tickets” on the home screen, then tap “Attraction Timed Entry Ticket / Standby Entry Ticket,” followed by “GET AN ETICKET.” Next, select the ride you want, choose the ticket(s), and pick a time slot. (Note: During peak seasons, ride Timed Entry Tickets may not be available.)

After securing a ride Timed Entry Ticket, it will appear under “Electronic Tickets” > “Acquired Timed Entry Ticket / Standby Entry Ticket List.” Alternatively, you can obtain ride tickets at self-service kiosks near the attractions. For official instructions on using the USJ App to secure ride Timed Entry Tickets, refer to this webpage.

In addition to the above, you can use the USJ App to reserve ride times for the following four child-friendly attractions:

Elmo’s Bubble Dream
Elmo’s Go-Go Skateboard
Moppy’s Balloon Trip
Flying Snoopy

The reservation process is similar to securing ride Timed Entry Tickets. Open the USJ App, tap “Electronic Tickets,” then tap “Yoyakunori (Reservation & Ride) Ticket,” followed by “GET AN ETICKET,” and select the ride you want. (Note: If “Out of Timed Entry Tickets” is displayed, reservations are no longer available. If “Available Only at Ticket Kiosk” appears, the app reservations are full, but you can still try the self-service kiosks near the attractions.)

Select the ticket(s) and enter the number of children under 3 years old (if applicable), then tap “NEXT.” Choose your preferred time slot and tap “CONFIRM ETICKET RESERVATION” within 30 seconds.

After successfully reserving a ride time, you can immediately tap “VIEW ACQUIRED TICKETS” to check your reservation or view it later under “Electronic Tickets” > “Acquired Timed Entry Ticket / Standby Entry Ticket List.”

With a ride reservation, you can enter the attraction during the designated time slot (within a 60-minute window) without waiting in line, similar to using an Express Pass. Present the reservation QR code to staff when entering.

Each ticket can only hold one ride reservation at a time. For example, if you’ve reserved a time for “Flying Snoopy,” you cannot reserve another ride until after you’ve used the first reservation. Additionally, each ticket can only reserve the same ride once per day.

Alternatively, you can make reservations at self-service kiosks near the attractions. For official instructions on using the USJ App to reserve ride times, refer to this webpage.

2. Purchase Products That Include Timed Entry Tickets for “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” and “Super Nintendo World”

Although Timed Entry Tickets for “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” and “Super Nintendo World” can be obtained for free after entering the park, there’s no guarantee of availability, especially during peak seasons when tickets for “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” may not be distributed at all. If you want to ensure entry, the safest option is to purchase products that include guaranteed Timed Entry Tickets, such as USJ Express Passes or VIP Tours.

【Method 1】Purchase Express Passes That Include Timed Entry Tickets for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter or Super Nintendo World

If you’re concerned about not being able to obtain free Timed Entry Tickets due to high demand, the safest option is to purchase an Express Pass that includes guaranteed entry to “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” or “Super Nintendo World.” The Universal Express Pass (also known as the Universal Express Ticket or Fast Pass) not only includes Timed Entry Tickets but also allows priority access to popular rides and seasonal attractions. However, there are multiple versions of the Express Pass, and not all include Timed Entry Tickets for “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” or “Super Nintendo World.”

How to Purchase Universal Studios Japan Express Passes?

Express Passes can be purchased on the Universal Studios Japan official website, but the online ticketing system is only available in Japanese, which may be challenging for non-Japanese speakers. If you’re interested in purchasing tickets on the official website, refer to this article: Universal Studios Japan Tickets, Express Passes, and VIP Tours: Official Website Purchase Guide, specifically the sections on “Universal Express Pass” and “Universal Studios Japan Official Website Purchase Process.”

In addition to the official website, Express Passes can also be purchased through travel agencies or platforms like Klook and KKday. Currently, these platforms allow you to select specific entry times for “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” and “Super Nintendo World.”

Here are links to purchase Universal Studios Japan Express Passes on Klook, KKday and Trip.com:

[Klook] Universal Studios Japan Express Pass
[KKday] Universal Studios Japan Express Pass
[KKday] Ticket + Express Pass
[Trip.com] Ticket + Express Pass

【5% Discount for Universal Studios Japan Tickets】If you plan to purchase Universal Studios Japan tickets or Express Passes on Klook, you can download a 5% discount code from another article on this blog about Universal Studios Japan tickets.

Klook.com

【Method 2】Join a VIP Tour That Grants Access to Super Nintendo World

In addition to selling Universal Express Passes, Universal Studios Japan also offers some VIP guided experiences. Participating in these VIP tours allows priority entry to the “Super Nintendo World” area and skip-the-line access to popular attractions. Currently, the most popular VIP experience is the “Universal VIP Group Guided Experience ~ Super Nintendo World“. This VIP tour not only grants priority entry to “Super Nintendo World” but also provides skip-the-line access to popular rides like “Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge” and “Yoshi’s Adventure”. Additionally, you can choose two other popular attractions in USJ for skip-the-line access. If you select attractions in “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter”, you’ll also gain entry to that area, effectively allowing access to both themed lands.

For details about Universal VIP guided experiences and purchasing methods, refer to the “Universal Studios Japan Tickets, Express Pass, and VIP Tours: Official Website Purchase Guide” article, specifically the section on “Universal Studios Japan VIP Guided Experiences“.

【Method 3】Purchase package tickets with Super Nintendo World entry confirmation from travel platforms

On ticket platforms like Klook, KKday and Trip.com, there are package tickets that include both “Super Nintendo World” entry confirmation and Universal Studios Japan admission. If your main goal is to visit “Super Nintendo World”, these package tickets offer a simple and cost-effective option.

Below are links to purchase Universal Studios Japan tickets on Klook, KKday and Trip.com:

【Method 4】Purchase travel packages from designated Japanese travel agencies

Universal Studios Japan collaborates with select domestic travel agencies to offer packages that include either Universal Express Passes or entry confirmations for “Super Nintendo World” and “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter”. This option is suitable for residents in Japan but not for international visitors.

“The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” and “Super Nintendo World”

Since its opening in 2013, Universal Studios Japan’s The Wizarding World of Harry Potter has been a major draw, making me want to revisit the park. Finally, during a Christmas trip to Osaka in 2015, I got my chance, with the primary purpose being to visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Then in 2023, after the pandemic, my first stop in Japan was Universal Studios Japan’s Super Nintendo World.

1. “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter”

Entrance checkpoint to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Entry to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter requires a timed entry ticket. Staff may scan the QR code on your Express Pass during entry, though they might skip this step during peak times.

On the path from the checkpoint to the Wizarding World entrance, you’ll first encounter this “Flying Ford Anglia” car.

Entrance to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

The first thing you’ll see upon entering is this train bound for Hogwarts School.

Next comes Diagon Alley, which features souvenir shops, restaurants, and Ollivanders wand shop from the novels.

The centerpiece of The Wizarding World is undoubtedly “Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry” castle. Inside lies one of USJ’s most popular attractions – “Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey”. Even if you don’t ride, you can still explore the castle’s interior.

The other major attraction in The Wizarding World is “Flight of the Hippogriff”.

Wait times for “Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey” often exceed 2 hours. If you want to experience it without wasting time, purchasing an Express Pass is essential.

2. “Super Nintendo World”

Entrance to Super Nintendo World

Super Nintendo World area

Yoshi’s Adventure