During Halloween, Universal Studios Japan becomes almost unrecognizable with the spooky themes that can be seen at every corner!
From the dementor-infested Hogwarts Castle to the bloodied zombies roaming the streets, Universal Studios Japan has an all-new vibe during the Halloween season of October. Of course, you can still enjoy the usual USJ activities such as the Water World show, Harry Potter World, and Super Nintendo World (that’s a lot of worlds!), but there will be a significant amount of additional Halloween-themed shows and performances to enjoy too!
Spooky Street Performances!
Particularly when the evening arrives, the Halloween vibe of USJ starts to take full flight! From horror theatres to street performances, you may find yourself caught up in a fight between zombies and monsters. If you’re not screaming yourself, you’ll probably hear the frantic cries of faint-hearted audience members all throughout USJ at night!
Halloween x Pokémon!
The food options at Universal Studios Japan also take a bit of a turn during Halloween, offering collaborations such as the “Pokémon Unstoppable Halloween Party” campaign. Featuring meals that are both aesthetically and nutritionally pleasing, one must take a moment to appreciate the work of art before indulging.
At this particular restaurant, we were given the option between the chicken bagel sandwich and the black demi-glacé hamburger steak (an icon of Japanese cuisine). The latter in particular is perhaps the best representation of harmoniously blending all three elements into a meal – Pokémon, Halloween, and Japan!
Super Nintendo World as usual
While Super Nintendo World remained very much the same during the Halloween season, I couldn’t help but feel the spooky vibe still persisted.
Perhaps it’s the nature of the Mario world, particularly Bowser’s Castle, which is more like a dungeon of death than an actual castle in its design and aesthetic.
Regardless of the season, Super Nintendo World is always a must-visit, and I would even say, regardless of whether you’re a Mario fan altogether, because it’s the kind of fun that has a global appeal!
To learn more about life in Japan, check out my book: The Japanese Pursuit of Perfection. This book features my most profound observations of Japanese culture and society as a foreign resident. Available in e-book, paperback, and hardcover. Grab your copy today!