This one is my favorite Universal Studios theme park so far: the incredibly friendly Japanese staff, the tremendously slaphappy Japanese visitors and the entire feel of this park, inaugurated in 2001, are terrific. Everything is a bit more meticulous and advanced than in the American Universal theme parks. You will find here:
• Jurassic Park - The Ride: a wild flume ride through Jurassic Park jungle packed with vegetarian dinosaurs (appearing first) and meat-eaters (surfacing later, of course). Same ride as in the US, but the Japanese riders' screaming is more fun!
• Back to the Future - The Ride: the last of its kind remaining in the world, replaced by 'The Simpsons Ride' in the American Universal parks. Doc Brown and his rival Biff Tannen chase each other through various times and dimensions in a pleasant flight simulator with a charming non-CGI dinosaur at the end.
• Jaws: a very well-themed boat ride through Amityville, home to Spielberg's unmerciful shark. Several encounters with the shark, from all sides and angles, make this ride a real shocker!
• E.T. Adventure: this classic, atmospheric flying-bicycle ride elevates you over redwood forests and American suburbs into E.T.'s home planet. High trees and alien sounds in huge dark rooms create a fascinating atmosphere in here.
• Terminator 3-D: this is the best 3-D movie Universal Studios has released up to now, directed by 'Titanic' legend James Cameron in 1996 with California's governor reprising his role, packed with great surprises and effects that go far beyond simple 3-D experiences. The live performance of the female 'Cyberdyne' employee during the queuing process beats that of her colleagues in Hollywood.
• Hollywood Dream - The Ride: a music-charged roller coaster unique to Universal Studios Japan; fast and thrilling, you’re strapped in only at belly height.
It’s definitely worth taking Japan's futuristic Shinkansen express train from Tokyo to Osaka in order to pay a visit to this theme park. Whizzing past extinct volcano Mount Fuiji is a ride in itself.
