At Opening, USJ Splits in Two: Nintendo World or the Empty Park

At opening, USJ splits cleanly in two. Almost everybody walks straight to Super Nintendo World, which leaves every other area briefly empty.

The order of the photos from that morning is the evidence.

Just after opening, the New York area is deserted

Brick facades, long shadows, and one person standing in the road. At this hour the street is simply empty.

The same morning, a crowd at the Nintendo gate

This was taken a little over ten minutes later. Everyone in down jackets, all facing the same way. The emptiness of the New York area is the direct result of these people being here.

So the choice is one you make before you go through the turnstile: go for the Nintendo area, or use the window while everyone else does. You cannot have both.

How to get into Super Nintendo World (as of 2026)

• Area entry ticket: issued through the official app on the day, giving you a one-hour window
• Lottery: once entry tickets run out, the system switches to a lottery, announced an hour before the slot
• Paid guarantee: Express Passes (¥6,800–17,800) and some premium tickets include guaranteed entry

One thing to know: the in-park ticket machines were discontinued in January 2026. The official app is now the only route, so installing it on the day already puts you behind.

The other: arriving before opening and going straight there gets you in during a window that needs no ticket at all. The crowd in the photo is exactly that window being used.

Inside the area

Inside: green hills, Piranha Plants, and the white gazebo by Peach’s Castle. On this day a line had formed for the Princess Peach greeting.

This is the entrance to Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge, with a Bowser statue nearly reaching the ceiling under purple light. As a photo spot it is the strongest thing in the area.

• Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge — minimum height 107 cm
• Yoshi’s Adventure — minimum height 86 cm; the one for smaller children
• Typical waits — 60–80 minutes for Mario Kart in the morning; 150–200 minutes on weekend afternoons

The Power-Up Band costs ¥4,900 (2026; check the official site for the current price). You do not need one to ride — you need one for the Key Challenges inside the area. One per child, so for a family it adds up quickly.

Winter makes the rest of the park comfortable

The hanging shark at Amity Village. It is the standard photo stop, and on this day the queue moved almost immediately.

Winter air is clear and the photographs come out better — the blue of the sky is deeper. The only hard part is the cold, and outdoor waits are shorter than in other seasons. Dress for it and winter is the better bet.

Summary

• At opening, everyone heads for Super Nintendo World and the rest of the park empties out
• Decide which you are taking before you enter. You cannot have both
• Entry to the Nintendo area is by app ticket, lottery, or paid guarantee. The in-park machines were removed in January 2026, so the app is mandatory
• Arrive before opening and go straight there, and there is a window that needs no ticket
• Mario Kart requires 107 cm; Yoshi’s Adventure 86 cm
• The Power-Up Band is not needed to ride — only for the Key Challenges (¥4,900 as of 2026)
• In winter the sky is clearer and the outdoor queues are shorter

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