Universal Studios Osaka Visit: How Super Nintendo World Feels on Its 5th Year
After spending two weeks in Japan, I finally made it to Universal Studios Osaka—and, just next door in spirit and in theme, to Super Nintendo World, which this year marks its fifth anniversary. The trip was timed for summer crowds and rainy-season odds: I visited in June, when Japan’s rainy season is in full swing, yet our vacation only saw heavy rain on a couple of days, with the Universal day being the one that actually mattered.
We began with Universal Studios Osaka in mind, and to keep the day flexible we planned for queues. Even though school was still in session in Japan (a factor that, in theory, should help keep wait times down), we still grabbed Express Passes, which were described as unusually cheap for someone coming from outside Japan. With timed entry slots for multiple areas of the park, we were able to walk straight into attractions at the right moments rather than burning the whole day stuck in lines.
Universal Studios Osaka closes earlier than some other regional parks—typically somewhere between 19:00 and 21:00—so arriving around lunchtime means you won’t have much time to linger after the main run. Still, on our rainy day, wait times stayed manageable enough that we could largely bypass the park’s enclosed queue systems, which are the kind that can turn a short wait into a long one when luck isn’t on your side.
Before heading into the themed sections, my partner bought a Nintendo rain poncho decorated with Nintendo motifs. The quality stood out as particularly high, with a more water-resistant feel than what you might expect elsewhere, and it doubled as a souvenir. We also each picked up a Nintendo tiara—mine featured the mushroom look, while hers was Yoshi-themed.
Inside Universal Studios Osaka, we hit both Harry Potter Land and Minion Land during the scheduled windows, then made our way toward the part that everyone associates with “Nintendo in the park”: Super Nintendo World. The route runs through a small, tree-lined street, and mid-way you can buy a coin-collecting device designed like a wrist gadget for the Nintendo world. It costs just under 5,000 yen, and while the value is debatable, the device also works like an Amiibo-style collectible, and it’s framed as a fun souvenir you can actually use on-site—so we both bought one.
Super Nintendo World’s entrance is styled with an enormous cake that fits the Mushroom Kingdom celebration theme, and the area leans into that “fifth anniversary” energy. The park also expanded last year by adding a Donkey Kong zone, including a roller coaster. Because this was my first visit, it felt like walking into a fully realized level set—especially once you pass through the signature green tube and the whole world opens up in front of you.
The area itself is surprisingly compact, but timed entry kept it from feeling overcrowded. Visually, the setup gave the distinct feeling of being inside a Mario universe from Super Mario 3D World, complete with lots of interactive touches. Throughout the land, there are mini-games that mimic what you see in the games, such as a Toad stand where you try to match symbols on a slot-machine-style setup. There are also question-mark blocks you can use with your wristband to collect coins, and—depending on the day’s goals—those coins help your chosen character complete challenges (I played as Luigi). Hidden corners also reward you with extra coins.
Even if you’ve already seen the park in videos, it’s the sense of everything moving and “living” that hits hardest in person: coins spinning, moving platforms, Goombas strutting around, and bounce-like shell effects across well-built environments. It’s the kind of detail that makes people stop mid-walk just to look.
The first attraction we tried was Mario Kart. It’s set inside Bowser’s lair, and the queue system leads you through themed hallways that constantly show off details as you move. The attraction itself has you run a predetermined circuit in four-seat karts while shooting at targets, using AR glasses. On the experience as a whole, the verdict was “fine,” with a score around six out of ten: the reviewer felt the shooting mechanics and AR glasses weren’t especially impressive, even though the overall Mario Kart flavor still comes through.
Next was Yoshi’s ride, which the reviewer described more like a slower tour than a true thrill attraction. The concept involves pressing buttons when you spot different-colored Yoshi eggs, but in practice it’s presented as not really requiring much—moving slowly enough that you can’t really get it wrong. It’s positioned as kid-friendly, though the reviewer still enjoyed it for the fan nods. The score landed closer to five out of ten.
After that, we continued into the newly added Donkey Kong zone. Along the way, the reviewer spotted Pikmin hidden around the area, including a nod connecting the presence of Pikmin here to how they appear in Super Mario Galaxy’s movie adaptation. In Donkey Kong’s section, the music loops constantly and the zone leans into classic Donkey Kong adventure vibes, including the level of detail the reviewer associated with rare-era DK style—again with Pikmin sightings.
Compared with the Mushroom Kingdom area, the Donkey Kong zone felt smaller. Beyond a highly enjoyable ice cream and a fun Donkey Kong shop purchase—described as DK-themed boxer shorts—there were also hidden coins for the wristband and a rhythm mini-game. If you play that rhythm challenge correctly, it triggers the appearance of Rambi the rhinoceros. But aside from those extras, the only major ride attraction in the zone is the roller coaster.
The coaster is Mine Cart Madness, known for a distinctive “jump” moment where the carts appear to hop over broken sections of track. The reviewer did not get to experience the ride, though, because heavier rain started around the time it was their turn, and the attraction closed for the rest of that afternoon. Based on what friends and YouTube videos showed, the reviewer expected it to be a well-designed family ride rather than something with extreme thrills, but without a personal run, no score was given.
By the time we’d been in the park for about two hours, the day shifted from rides to food and shopping. We ate in Harry Potter Land, where the reviewer called the theme-park food “ridiculously good” and compared it to what they’d found in Orlando. Then, as we walked back from the Donkey area toward the Mario side, the reviewer stopped at the Nintendo shop area for more purchases than planned—framing Japan as offering “ridiculously cheap” prices for Western visitors even in amusement settings.
That pricing translated into a long list of buys: multiple tins of Mario cookies, a transparent Mario umbrella themed with Super Mario Bros. level 2-2, several T-shirts, Animal Crossing items, pens, a hoodie, and more. The reviewer didn’t claim the haul was strictly necessary, but it was undeniably fun.
The day ended with dinner at the Toad restaurant. The reviewer noted that the restaurant can sometimes have terrible lines, but in our case we avoided them and entered quickly, ordering whatever we wanted without being stuck. Inside, the entire restaurant is themed to look like a living Mario world segment, with windows presented as screens showing Toad cooking and causing mischief. The dining room itself is described as elegant, turning the meal into part of the attraction.
For food, the reviewer’s partner ordered a Super Mario mushroom-shaped calzone, while the reviewer chose a mixed tray featuring items like lasagna and star-shaped bread, a Mario-inspired salad with plenty of fan references, and a cream dessert described as surprisingly Swedish in style. A staff member also showed a drink-related detail: colored tapioca pearls, and a gimmick where you place a clear cup over your phone’s lit flashlight while stirring, revealing Rainbow Road in the glass.
After dinner, we took one last walk around the park to say goodbye mentally. The reviewer said they’d return, partly to ride the Donkey Kong attraction, but also because the park struck them as genuinely beautiful to simply be in. They compared Universal and Nintendo’s approach to Disney’s family focus, arguing that Disney has better rides for older fans, and they suggested Super Nintendo World could benefit from a larger coaster and potentially an aquatic attraction—possibly involving Plessie.
In the end, the takeaway is clear: if your top priority is major thrill attractions, it’s hard to recommend Super Nintendo World without risking disappointment. But if you’re after a warm, authentic atmosphere; an overwhelming amount of care; creative and genuinely strong food; and Nintendo merchandise that feels both playful and comparatively affordable, the reviewer called it a must-visit.
They also added a final note about Universal Studios Osaka beyond Nintendo: the park has two roller coasters they describe as genuinely great, plus plenty of film-and-ride attractions where you travel along a track while watching a movie. Even though Osaka’s park is smaller than the Orlando location, there’s still enough to do for a full day—especially if you’re in Osaka and like video games.
