It was a comfortable ride since there were only a few passengers, and we enjoyed taking in the sights and sounds of the city from a completely different vista. The Captain Line is a sea shuttle service linking tourist spots on the Osaka Port. It operates two main routes. One links Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan and Universal City Port in 10 minutes by the Captain Line: adult: ￥800 (one way)/￥1,500 (round trip); child: ￥400 (one way)/￥700 (round trip) (Price as of May 2021). Ferries leave every 15 minutes and take about 10 minutes to arrive. Shortly, we got off the boat and walked a few minutes to Osaka Universal Studios.

Universal Studios Japan has different areas so we just spent our afternoon walking and enjoying the sights. There's the Minion Park where you can smile and dance as the DJ Minion ignites the show. You can also enjoy the fascinating rides of Despicable Me, Minion Mayhem, and Freeze Ray Sliders. Minion shops, carts, and restaurants are also found here.

Out of all these attractions, we particularly liked the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. When you see the theme come to life, it's like you're feeling the whole thing. It feels so real! For a few minutes, I thought I was Hermione Granger with my magic wand. hahaha, The iconic Hogwarts Castle, Hogsmeade Village, and the black lake are worth seeing. The attention to detail is just spectacular. If you like rides, there's a "Flight of the Hippogriff" mini coaster. Our only regret was that the area was so crammed that our interaction was quite restrained. The park fills up instantly but we did manage to get on the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride. It was awesome! But bringing a camera or video are prohibited. It requires you to leave all your belongings in the assigned locker. On another note, Butterbeer drink is a must-try if you're in the Harry potter zone.

Some shows and rides are based on some of the film studio's most popular films, including Spiderman, Attack on Titan, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, Jurassic Park - The Ride, Terminator 2, Jaws, Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem, and Shrek's 4-D Adventure.  Super Nintendo World  is also now open this year 2021.

I'd like also to mention that on a different occasion (first visit) we happened to see the Universal Water Parade show which was great and tons of fun with popular park characters. Dancers with cool and cheerful costumes were splashing and spraying on guests in the wet zone area.

I was able to see the Hello Kitty's Ribbon Collection featuring kitty's latest fashion items at Hello Kitty Fashion Avenue situated in the Universal Wonderland. It's full of cuteness so cam-whoring is a must. I was so engrossed that I even forgot to take more photos for my blog. Luckily I have one. :D There's also a photo-op, meet and greet with Hello Kitty. 

We were able to watch the WaterWorld show. It's action-packed full of stunts with motorboats and jet skis gliding at full speed. But I wasn't excited anymore since we've seen this a few times already in Universal Studios Singapore and a similar show at Safari World in Minburi, Thailand. But if you're a first-timer, go and watch this!

Here's a clip you can watch below:

Universal Studios Japan is located in Sakurajima, Osaka, and can be accessed by a ferry boat just like what we did. But if you want to skip a long walk better hop on the train. The nearest station is JR Universal City. Park hours vary by season, visit here for more info. Admission tickets (one day pass) from (￥7,800 with tax)  per adult, and (￥5,400 with tax)  per child (ages 4-11) as of May 2021. Please take note all the shows are in Japanese.

Note: This was my experience before the pandemic. To prevent the spread of COVID-19, various facilities around Japan may change their operating days or hours. In addition, some events may be canceled or postponed. Please check official facilities or websites for the latest updates, information, and admission fees.

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