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Studio Pass vs Express Pass: What You Need
They are two separate tickets, not two options. An Express Pass will not get you through the gate — here is exactly how the pair works.
Check dates and availability ↗Studio Pass and Express Pass compared (observed 23 August 2026)
| Studio Pass | Universal Express Pass | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Park admission — the entry ticket | Add-on that shortens queues at named attractions |
| Gets you through the gate | Yes | No — admission is not included |
| Can be used on its own | Yes | No — must be paired with a Studio Pass |
| Adult price observed, 1 day | ¥8,400–¥9,400 | ¥10,800–¥99,000 by tier and date |
| Attractions covered | All attractions, standard queues | Only those printed on that specific pass |
| Tickets needed per person | One, ages 4 and over | One each — passes are not shared |
The mistake that ruins arrival day
The single most common error international visitors make is buying an Express Pass and assuming it is the ticket. It is not. Universal Studios Japan states it plainly on its own Express Pass page: separate theme park admission required. The official English ticket store repeats it — the Express Pass must be used together with a separate Studio Pass for admission. If you turn up holding only an Express Pass, you cannot enter the park at all. The two products are sold on separate tabs of the same store, priced separately, and there is no bundle that hides the distinction. Buy the Studio Pass first, confirm the date, then decide whether an Express Pass is worth adding.
What the Studio Pass actually covers
The Studio Pass is described officially as the Park Entry Ticket, and it includes park entry plus access to attractions, excluding some paid attractions. It is sold as 1-Day, 1.5-Day and 2-Day versions, and you must nominate your date of visit when you buy. Age bands matter: children are 4 to 11, adults 12 to 64, seniors 65 and over, and under-3s are free. A 12-year-old still in elementary school qualifies for the child price. Two rules catch people out — cancellations are not permitted after purchase, and a used ticket does not allow same-day re-entry once you leave the park.
What an Express Pass actually buys
An Express Pass buys you a shorter queue at a specific, pre-printed list of attractions, and nothing more. It does not cover the whole park, and it does not roll over. Each guest must carry their own pass, and the QR code must be presented as a full screen rather than a cropped image. Some attractions on a pass are time-designated, meaning you must arrive within the window printed on the ticket rather than whenever suits you. Others are open-ended and can be used any time during operating hours. Read which is which before you plan the day, because a time-designated slot will anchor everything around it.
Who genuinely needs one
Express Passes are not universally worth it. If you are visiting on a quiet weekday, are happy to use the free Single Rider queues, and don't have young children setting the pace, you can have a full day without one. They earn their price in three situations: a peak-season visit, a single-day visit where missing a headline ride would genuinely disappoint, or a group that cannot tolerate long standing waits. The other reason to buy one is entry to Super Nintendo World, which several passes include and which is otherwise dependent on same-day availability. That guarantee, rather than the queue-skipping, is often the real purchase.
Buying them in the right order
Decide the date first, because both products are priced by date and the Studio Pass locks your visit. Buy the Studio Pass, then check which Express Pass variants are actually available for that date — inventory is per-date and popular dates run out. Do not assume the headline from price applies to your day; it frequently does not. If you want Super Nintendo World entry guaranteed, confirm the specific variant carries it, because many do not. Finally, register your Studio Pass QR code in the official app before you travel, which saves time and is required before you can obtain any timed-entry ticket inside the park.