Honestly, they may as well rename Super Nintendo World to Super Mario World, because he absolutely steals the show at USJ Osaka!
Truthfully, I’m not even a big fan of Mario, I could barely name all the characters! That being said, I could only imagine what was going through the minds of the real Mario fans here, because Super Nintendo World even blew my mind!
Iconic Castles
Seeing these incredibly detailed castles at Super Nintendo World instantly threw me back to the one or two times in my life that I actually played Super Mario games.
In particular, I could recall some of these stages from the Mario Kart game as you race against your friends in a wacky contest for 1st place!
The image on the left is the iconic Bowser Castle featuring a demonic head as the front entrance with spears that impale you if you mistime your entry (don’t worry, it’s only in the video game).
Yet another iconic castle from the Mario series is none other than that of Princess Peach, Mario’s dearly beloved and a fan favorite.
Given I visited in the winter months of December, the castle was specially framed with Christmas decorations to celebrate the holiday season.
It gets even better when you walk inside and see that the interior of Princess Peach’s Castle is an exact replica of its design in all your favorite Mario games!
Mario Motors
Honestly, just walking around Super Nintendo World is a worthwhile activity, even if you don’t wish to partake in any rides.
On that note, whether or not you plan to buy any souvenirs, I highly recommend checking out the famous Mario Motors shop!
This one is for all the Mario Kart lovers (so basically everyone), a store that offers all your favorite pit stop items from arguably Nintendo’s most popular game.
Upon entering, you’ll enter a cartoonish world built like a Formula 1 racing shop but with every corner of the room featuring cool visuals, iconic items, and fan-favorite characters from the Mario Kart games.
As a non-die-hard Mario fan, coming here truly opened my eyes to just how big of a deal Mario is to so many people all around the world.
You could spot just about every ethnicity, age, and gender in this store, and there’s no doubt the atmosphere was electrical and the vibe exciting!
Yoshi’s Adventure
Okay, it’s time to talk about the rides at Super Nintendo World, though I unfortunately only had time for one.
What better way to cap off the night with a round of Yoshi’s Adventure? Provided you’re ready to wait for an hour or more in line!
But don’t worry, the queue itself is an experience! With decor featuring visuals and monuments that honor the “Yoshi Universe,” there are even some interactive activities along the way!
While this is a family-friendly ride, it really does suit couples best, especially the romantic kind.
I watched as my sister and her husband cruised along in their Yoshi…carriage? And I couldn’t help but take photos of the lovely couple cruising along (the benefits of bringing a third wheel).
I had a Yoshi carriage all to myself, and for some reason riding through Super Nintendo World on a Yoshi at night caused me to fall into a deep contemplation about life and the universe in the most unusual of places.
Awesome Christmas Vibe!
All-in-all, Super Nintendo World is an amazing experience all year around, but during the Christmas season, it’s extra special! From full-length Christmas trees, shiny decorations, and gigantic present boxes (again, to honor the Mario game items), ’tis indeed the season to be jolly at Universal Studios Japan!
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