Universal Studios Japan 2023 Halloween Event Guide

By Dejiki on July 21, 2023 in Halloween Horror Nights, Overviews and Guides, Universal Studios Japan

Enjoy daytime spooky fun and evening terrors at Universal Studios Japan‘s upcoming Halloween event. Find out all about Halloween Horror Nights Japan 2023 and HAHAHA! Halloween Party in this event guide!

Universal Studios Japan Halloween 2023 Line-up

Universal Studios Japan (USJ) will be holding its seasonal Halloween programme from 7 Sept to 5 Nov 2023. With a day ticket, guests can experience daytime Halloween experiences, Halloween Horror Nights, the park’s regular attractions, all without leaving the park.

Universal Studios Japan Halloween Horror Nights 2022 Scare Zone Street Zombies Circus Freaks area overview

Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Japan (2022)

Shortcuts
Halloween Horror Nights Japan 2023 | Family-Friendly Halloween (HAHAHA! Halloween Party)
Event, Ticketing and Express Pass Info | USJ Halloween Tips & Tricks

Universal Studios Japan’s Halloween event is unique in several ways:

Halloween Horror Nights is available at USJ daily from Friday, 8 Sept till Sunday, 5 Nov 2023.
HAHAHA! Halloween Party starts a day earlier, on 7 Sept.
Halloween-themed experiences are available throughout the day, with more horror-themed experiences opening progressively later.
The park doesn’t close and sweep guests out in the evening.
With the exception of special experiences that are separately charged, Halloween experiences are included with park admission.
Guests are allowed to dress up in costumes and wear masks, as long as they abide to the park’s rules.

Haunted house-style attractions in USJ are referred as horror mazes.

Halloween Horror Nights Japan 2023

USJ’s 2023 Halloween Horror Nights line-up offers 3 horror mazes, a horror-themed ride, and street experiences.

Chucky’s Carnival of Chaos

Horror Maze attraction

Chucky’s Carnival of Chaos ~ “Chucky’s Bloody Festival”

The park has finally created an all-new Chucky horror maze, with a grotesque circus theme and use of 3D glasses to create a chaotic and disorientating effect. Due to intense and graphic content, this attraction is restricted to guests ages 15 and above.

Biohazard: The EXTREME+

‘Survival’ Horror Maze attraction

Biohazard: The EXTREME+ (2022)

The highly immersive RESIDENT EVIL horror maze has returned again, offering heart-stopping, action-packed experience through Raccoon City and the iconic Police Station building. Biohazard: The EXTREME+ features two paths, where you trace the steps of either Leon Kennedy or Claire Redfield as you make your way through the police station. Read more about this Horror Maze in my 2022 review.

An entry ticket is required for this attraction, which will be distributed for free inside the park, or via the USJ smartphone app, until tickets run out. Thereafter, the only other way is to buy Express passes, which offers reduced wait time for one pre-selected route.

Universal Monsters: Legends of Fear

Horror Maze attraction

Universal Monsters: Legends of Fear (2022)

Enter a forbidden fortress and meet the legendary horror icons, from Dracula, Frankenstein’s Monster, Bride of Frankenstein, the Mummy, the Phantom of the Opera. Based on the highly-rated 2019 maze at Universal Studios Orlando’s HHN, Japan’s adaptation features smaller scenes that are still beautifully produced.

Sadako’s Curse

Horror roller coaster ride | Available from 24 Sept 2023 till 8 Jan 2024

Universal Studios Japan 2023 Halloween Horror Nights Event Guide Sadako Dark Ride

Escape from a haunted laboratory, where the only way out is through pitch darkness and the unknown. This is a themed overlay for Space Fantasy, the park’s unique indoor spinning roller coaster.

Street Zombies

Park-wide scare zones

Street Zombies will be roaming around USJ’s themed zones: Hollywood, New York, San Francisco, and Jurassic Park. Occasionally they will break out into Zombie de Dance.

Universal Studios Japan Halloween Horror Nights 2022 Scare Zone Street Zombies Tortured Test Subjects 4 stitched grab

This year, USJ promises that more zombies than ever before will roam the park, as they go all out – and up close – to make you scream.

Only these areas are safe from zombies: A section of Hollywood zone (leading to the park exit), Minion Park, Universal Wonderland, Super Nintendo World, and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Zombie de Dance

Parkwide with Special Event Area at Gramercy Park (New York)

Hamikuma – the “ruler” of Japan’s Halloween Horror Nights that takes the form of an unhinged teddy bear, will return to host a zombie dance party at Gramercy Park.

This year marks the use of a new song by artist “Ado” – the same collaboration will extend to Hollywood Dream: The Ride and the Hollywood Dream: The Ride ~Backdrop~ attractions, with new on-ride music selection.

HAHAHA! Halloween Party (Fun for All)

Headlining this year’s line-up for USJ’s Daytime Halloween programme: Pokémon!

Pokémon Jumpin’ Halloween Party

Special Event Area at Gramercy Park (New York) | Available from 11 Sept to 5 Nov 2023

Universal Studios Japan 2023 Halloween Event Guide Daytime Hahaha Halloween Party Event Pokemon Jumpin Halloween Party DJ Pikachu Gengar

For the first time ever in Japan, Pokémon characters will be starring in a dance party experience at the New York zone’s Gramercy Park. Come show your best moves to DJ Pikachu, DJ Gengar, and ghost Pokémon Mimikyu, Banette, and Misdreavus!

Expand to read more about HAHAHA! Halloween Party

Pokémon Charge-Up! Halloween Greeting

Universal Studios Japan 2023 Halloween Event Guide Daytime Hahaha Halloween Party Event Pokemon Pikachu Charge Up Greeting Meet Greet

At this Meet & Greet, you can get up close with the Pokémon from the Jumpin’ Halloween Party!

My Melody & Kuromi, Minion Monsters Greetings

Universal Studios Japan 2022 Halloween Daytime Minion Monsters Greeting FrankenBOB and Bride Kevin

Around Hollywood streets, you can meet My Melody & Kuromi, as well as the Minion Monsters (Bride Kevin, FrankenBob, Mummy Stuart, and Dave’acula)

Universal Wonderland Feel the Rhythm ~Halloween version~

Universal Wonderland is USJ’s family-friendly zone where you can find Hello Kitty, Sesame Street and Snoopy characters. This area is safe from street zombies that roam the park at night, and has a direct path to the park entrance/ exit that bypasses Hollywood:

Universal Studios Japan 2023 Halloween event guide Zombie free Route from Hollywood to Universal Wonderland safe zone

Zombie-Safe Areas: From Universal Wonderland’s main entrance, it is possible to enter Super Nintendo World and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter without encountering zombies. Minion Park also does not have Street Zombies, however, there is no zombie-safe route to that area.

‘Trick or Treat!’ for free Candy around the park

You can say “Trick or Treat” to park crew wearing special bags to get free candy. Available parkwide except Super Nintendo World and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

USJ Halloween Event, Ticketing and Express Pass Info

For this section, the Japanese names of the various ticket types and bundles are included for your reference.

Event Dates

The Halloween programme at Universal Studios Japan start from early September and will be available every day.

Dates	Halloween Event
7 Sept – 5 Nov 2023	HAHAHA! Halloween Party
8 Sept – 5 Nov 2023	Halloween Horror Nights

Tickets

Park Admission

To experience Halloween programmes and attractions, you will need an admission ticket (Studio Pass) to enter Universal Studios Japan. A variety of 1-day, 1.5-day and 2-day passes are available, and you can buy them early via Klookas well.

Park Admission Ticket	Price
Universal Studios Japan 1-Day Studio Pass (via Klook)	from S$81.89
Universal Studios Japan 1.5-Day Studio Pass (via Klook)	from S$124.75
Universal Studios Japan 2-Day Studio Pass (via Klook)	from S$155.25

(Purchases made via Klook will help support Dejiki.com at no extra cost to you)

Halloween attractions requiring special tickets

Universal Studios Japan Halloween Horror Nights 2022 Resident Evil Biohazard The Extreme Plus haunted maze routes

Biohazard: The EXTREME+ will be held in the ‘Palace Theater’ building

While many of the park’s seasonal attractions are included in park admission and you can just join the line, the following attractions require an additional type of entry ticket.

Attraction	Ticket needed	How to get ticket
Biohazard: The EXTREME+ ~Claire Route~ ~Leon Route~	Numbered Entry Ticket 整理券	Official USJ App (when in park) or collect at Universal Studios Souvenir (at New York zone, beside the defunct Terminator 2:3-D building)
Biohazard: The EXTREME+ ~Claire Route~ ~Leon Route~	Halloween Horror Nights Express Pass ハロウィーン・ホラー・ナイト・エクスプレス・パス	Buy at the park entrance or online from USJ (Japanese only)

Numbered Entry Tickets
An entry ticket will be required for either experience at Biohazard: The EXTREME+ ~Claire Route~ and ~Leon Route~. Depending on park attendance, distribution of entry tickets may end early. For assistance on obtaining entry tickets with the Official USJ App or physical ticketing, please approach the park crew near the attraction entrance.

USJ Halloween Express Pass Info

USJ Halloween Express Passes shorten waiting time to participating attraction – one-time access to the participating attraction per pass. For horror mazes requiring special entry ticket, the Express Pass works as an entry ticket while cutting your wait time.

Note: Express Passes have designated timeslots for use at the attractions. Depending on where you buy them (e.g. at USJ’s official website), you may be able to choose the timeslots. When purchasing express passes for a group, you must buy them all together, otherwise the timings may not match up.

At this time, USJ Halloween Horror Nights Express Passes are available online from USJ (Japanese only). You can also get standard USJ Universal Express Passes from Klook directly.

USJ Express Pass	Price
USJ Express Pass 7 (via Klook)	Check Price»
USJ Express Pass 4 (via Klook)	Check Price»

USJ Halloween Tips and Tricks

Universal Studios Japan Halloween Horror Nights 2022 Resident Evil Biohazard The Extreme Plus haunted maze warnings

Get Horror Maze entry tickets using Official USJ app

For Biohazard: The EXTREME+, get to the park early and use the official USJ app to scan your group’s park tickets. Thereafter, wait for Entry tickets to be available, and make your reservations. Each guest may only hold an entry ticket to either Claire’s or Leon’s route at any time.

If you do not have access to the Official USJ smartphone app, please head to the distribution point at Universal Studios Souvenir (beside the defunct Terminator 2:3-D building) to receive physical numbered entry tickets, or the Biohazard: The EXTREME+ attraction for directions to the distribution point.

USJ Halloween attraction name translations & opening hours

Need help understanding park maps, announcements and Express Passes? Refer to the list below!

Also, Halloween attractions open progressively. Don’t be alarmed when you see that certain attractions have mysteriously opened.

Attraction	Opens from
Sadako’s Curse 貞子の呪い～ダーク・ホラー・ライド～	start of day
Chucky’s Carnival of Chaos チャッキーズ・カーニバル・オブ・カオス～チャッキーの血塗られた祭典～	10:00AM
Biohazard: The EXTREME+ バイオハザード™・ザ・エクストリーム+	10:00AM
Universal Monsters: Legends of Fear ユニバーサル・モンスターズ ～レジェンド・オブ・フィアー～	10:00AM
Street Zombies ストリート・ゾンビ	~6:00PM Check in the park

Dressing up for Halloween at USJ

Universal Studios Japan Halloween Horror Nights guests dressing up in costume at Jurassic Park

Guests are allowed to wear costumes and masks in the park, as long as they abide by the park’s rules on costumes (full guidelines here).

The park may request accessories and parts of outfits to be removed at any area of the park and its attractions for safety reasons. Scary costumes/masks are not allowed at Universal Wonderland, and Minion Park.

Tax Refund for Tourists

Universal Studios Japan offers tax-free shopping for tourists. For this service, you need to bring your passport, purchased items and all receipts to the Tax Refund Counter (located at Studio Gifts West, near the park entrance). You will get the refund in cash, regardless of payment method. If you don’t have all of the required items, then you cannot claim tax refund.

Tax refunds must be processed on the same date as purchase. You can only claim back 6.7% on qualifying items (and not the full 10% consumption tax), if you are eligible and the purchase total is at least JPY5,000. All items are considered consumables and will be sealed in clear bags, which you are not supposed to open until you have departed Japan. Food items that are meant to be consumed in the park (such as Popcorn Buckets) are excluded from tax refund. Only the souvenir boxed food items qualify.

USJ event visuals © Universal Studios.
This article is for general information purposes only and is correct at time of publication. Information is derived from Universal Studios Japan’s official website and independent research conducted by Dejiki.com