So it seems I only ever come back with information about Universal Studios Japan. I don't mind it so much though since it gives me an idea of what I should check out when I visit, but I do feeling a bit bad for leaving the blogging platform behind.

But that is a conversation for another day.

As some of you may have noticed, USJ is seriously trying to step up it's entertainment offering-game. With Nintendo World and Sailor Moon on the horizon, guest numbers are sure to sky rocket in the future, but surely they won't forget us loyal pass-holders that have been lining their pockets for years, SURELY.

Today, we will just explore what USJ has to offer us for Halloween this year.

What is the Halloween Event in USJ?

Essentially, this event is divided into two sections: a family-friendly version that's heavier on the dress up and party element of Halloween by the entrance, then the zombie apocalypse turned slasher film version that resides towards the back of the park.

Attraction Map

Your regular Shrek and Back Draft attraction are transformed into new horror-themed attractions, with the scare level on displayed for the frightened masses (some of the attractions are still in the Summer Jump form, but this should be over by the first week of October), and the afternoon parade becomes Day of the Dead/Halloween Snoopy-themed. As with any other themed event, Express Passes are available for those who don't have to the time for a second or third trip to the park.

Parades

First we'll talk about the parade and street events that will take place throughout the park. For the most part, these events are kid friendly. For the street zombie area, children must be elementary school age or older and accompanied by their parents.

Festa de Parade

As I mentioned earlier, the newest event is the Festa de Parade, which Google tells me translates to Parade Party. It is, indeed, a parade featuring not only music and dancing, but also foam machines. You know, like those foam parties you've seen in Ibiza documentaries.

I do enjoy how Japanese theme parks pick and choose the parts of overseas culture they want to use for their own events.

The music gets to be grating (it's a original Universal tune), and seems to feature Spanish (perhaps to connect the Day of the Dead theme to everything else), but the crowd really gets into the dancing in the street bit. It's refreshing to see people almost cut loose in the streets, but I'm sure my written description does the event no justice。Just check out the YouTube video below.

Happy Trick or Treat

This next event appears to be a powered up version of an event from last year called 'Happy Trick or Treat'. The site describes it as 'being showered in a waterfall of candy'. Unfortunately, this event is geared towards elemetnary school children, so if you're an adult in costume, you might not be showered with a waterfall of candy.

There is a lot of Halloween food available throughout the park, however it seems adults in costume with season passes are privy to a happy hour at Finnegan's Bar and Grill (near Spider-Man). The outdoor Halloween market food can be found near the lake towards the center of the park.

And that is all of the family-friendly fun for Halloween at the park. Of course, Wonderland is still open, and some stores will have Halloween decorations, but in terms of events tailored towards young children, this is about it. Everything else is a bit scarier, but luckily, there are scare-meters with age recommendations for the remaining Halloween attractions.

Street Zombies

First ,there is the 'Street Zombies' event, which also includes the Zombie Mob, but I prefer to call them the 'Zombie Flash Mob' (yes, they dance). They only appear in the park after 6PM (usually sunset around this time of year) and remain in the park until it closes. And according to the site, there are oer 20 varieties of zombies this year.

As you have probably guessed, they dance to Thriller, but if it's the same version of Thriller as it was last year, it's a cover, and quite frankly, that's disappointing ONLY BECAUSE the real version of thriller is played throughout the park over the speakers. WAT.

The Horror Level for this event is 1, which means infants/small children aren't allowed, but elemtary school children accompanied by their parents can participate. According to the map above, the Street Zombies will appear in the pink, ywllow, green and orange areas of the map above. The Survival Points are fences in areas where you can be surrounded by zombies, while the MOB marker is where you can find the dancing zombies.

Please check out the website for examples of the types of zombies making appearances in the Street Zombies (you can also pay to get zombie makeup done).

Attractions

Deadman's Forest: Escape from the Forest of the Dead

Survive this journey through hell! Hungry zombies appear in this new area.

The next attraction is one I actually had a chance to visit on my most recent trip to USJ (commentary can be found in the video below). Deadman's Forest is attraction currently working out of the Back Draft attraction. You start off in the firehouse/garage, then you're lead to the makeshift "forest" behind the building. From there, you have to choose one of the many paths through the forest to get to the decontamination room at the end. once there, you have to use the passcode mentioned at the beginning of the attraction to escape.

Want to know if we made it out alive?? Watch the video!! :)

This event runs all day and has a Horror Level of 4. It's described as a outdoor horror maze and is recommended for ages 12 years old and older. You can use the express pass for this event, and child switching (taking turns to watch your kids I guess) is available. I recommend going at night.

Cult of Chucky: Chucky's Insane Assylum

Set in a hospital where pitiful souls must relive their cruel fate.

The next attraction features Chucky from the probably unintentionally hilarious horror film series of the same name. As you can see from the photo above, Chucky has gotten something of a makeover with a middle part and a bigger forehead; it almost feels as though they tried to make him cuter...

Anyway, this attraction is an indoor haunted house located in one of the empty studio buildings near the entrance. It's hospital themed, so if you're not much one for blood, gore (and feces), then I would recommend that you stay away from this one. It's not all that scary since you're walking through the attraction in groups of 6 or more, but the atmosphere is quite horrific.

Something you never knew you needed, Chucky Hello Kitty Version.

The Horror Level for this attraction is 5, which is half of the meters total value. While it is definitely more horrific than Deadman's Forest, it's nothing to seasoned veterens of the jump scare.Express Passes for this event are available for purchase.

A Nightmare on Elm Street: The Maze 3

Try to escape from the unpredictable murdering psychopath. I may have taken libeties with than translation...

Next up is another horror movie classic, Freddy Krueger from the franchise that gave me nightmares as a child, A Nightmare on Elm Street. Unfortunately, I was unable to visit this attraction (I believe the timed-entry tickets were all gone) during my visit, but I'm hoping to get the chance next time.

According to the website, it is an indoor horror maze, the opposite of our Deadman's Forest. You must enter a mansion and escape from the nightmare of a young girl trapped in a continuous sleep (?? I guess she can't wake up for some reason, not sure). It sounds like a escape room type of attraction, but perhaps without any puzzles and just a final passcode that you need to escape (much like Deadman's Forest).

The Horror Level for this attraction is also 5, the same level as the Chucky attraction, so it will probably be a collection of jump scares and grotesque visuals. A nice bit of fun for friends in costume, but I'm not sure if it's worth running into the park to grab a timed-entry ticket, which is the only way to join the event, and which likely means that most park-goers won't get to try this attraction out. Express Passes are available for purchase.

The Exorcist: Demon Exorcism House

Here we have another indoor horror maze, this time based off of the film The Exorcist (one of my favorite horror films). USJ describes the attraction as "a walk through the home of a young girl possessed by a demon where you watch a heroic Exocists as perform a ceremony. Complete your mission and save this girl from a demon."

The Horror Level, much like our other attractions, is 5. I think you can see the pattern they've deveolped for these Halloween attractions right? They're all a varient of the same maze/horror house concept, just based on different horror IPs. Sadly, the most interesting of the IPs, including this one, are the ones you need timed-entry tickets to see. Express Passes are available to those with the cash flow.

Trauma 3: Confinement Laboratory Hell

Endless despair Shriek in eternal horror; the ban has been lifted on this new maze sure to rip your very soul out.

The last attraction for the Hallowen Horror Night event is Trauma. As far as I know, this is not based off of a pre-existing, but it has come to take place of the Resident Evil attraction required the purchase of a separate ticket (yes, this attraction is sold separately from your park entry).

According to USJ. it is a journey through madness where you witness bizzare and horrific human experiments,and where you can be attacked anyway by a mysterious creature. The pictures for the attraction feature women strapped to chairs, which leaves me to believe that you may be strapped down to a chair at some point, but I'm not really sure. I also don't plan on spending the money to find out.

The is the only attraction in the park that has a Horror Level of 10, which is the mazimum. Since there are no other attractions rated at 6 or higher, I can't really gauge how much scarier it is, but you have to sign a wavier before you join, so I'm guessing it gets pretty intense. This attraction costs 2,900 yen including tax, and is separate from park entry. This ticket can also be purchased in the Horror Night Express Pass 5 ~Trauma Set~ booklet, available for 7,300 yen including tax.

Horror Theater

These attractions make use of the 4D and Terminator theaters in the park. Both of these attractions start from 6PM.

Sadako x Terminator 2:3-D

Try it, and you will be cursed...

So if you've ever visited a Universal Studios before, you're probably familiar with the Temrinator theater attraction. It's a 3D-glasses light show, a precursor to the MX4D (as it's known in Japan) theater with moving seats. Instead this time around, instead of facing the Skynet and Terminators, you'll face Sadako from the RING franchise. According to the website, her curse starts to infect the theater and create a lot of strange phenomena.

The Horror Level is 3, so I doubt it has much of the grotesque imagery used in the mazes, but even so, infants and small children are not permitted on these attractions. Express Passes are available but not needed to enjoy this attraction.

School Ghost Stories x Cinema 4-D Theater

The Sesame Street/Shrek theater has been turned into a presentation of a collection school ghost stories. I've not tried this attraction and have no idea what this colleciton of stories could be. Still, if you're interested in getting a bit more Japanese culture in your USJ experience, this would probably be a great attraction to check out, howeverm I doubt they will have English subtitles. Good luck!

The Horror Level for this attraction is 3, same as the Sadako attration. I doubt it will be worth the 40+ minute wait you'll probably have to endure. You'd probably have more fun walking around the park, getting photos of other park attendees in costume. Express Passes are available, but not needed to enjoy this attraction.

Express Pass Booklets

This a chart shows what attractions are listed under which passbooklet.

As these halloween events are limited run, the lines for them tend to get pretty long. To help counter-act these long waits, USJ has timed-entry passes, and while these passes are free of charge, they usually run out as soon as the park opens. So unless you plan on being there right when the park opens, you may have a hard time getting your hands on these tickets.

However, if you're certain that you really want  ride these attractions, there's always the Express Pass booklet option. These are purchased separately from park entry, and are not cheap, but will guarantee you a spot on all of the attractions listed under the pass. The booklets will be listed from most expensive to cheapest, and all of them are available for purchase on the website and in the park.

Horror Night Express Pass5 ~Trauma Set~

Rides Included:
Trauma 3: Confinement Laboratory Hell
Deadman's Forest: Escape from the Forest of the Dead
Cult of Chucky: Chucky's Insane Assylum
The Exorcist: Demon Exorcism House
A Nightmare on Elm Street: The Maze 3

Price: 7,300 yen to 8,500 yen (varies by date)

Halloween Special Express Pass

Rides Included:

Deadman's Forest: Escape from the Forest of the Dead
Cult of Chucky: Chucky's Insane Assylum
Minion Mayhem
The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man: The Ride
JAWS

Price: 4,800 yen to 7,500 yen (varies by date)

Horror Night Express Pass 4

Rides Included:

Deadman's Forest: Escape from the Forest of the Dead
Cult of Chucky: Chucky's Insane Assylum
The Exorcist: Demon Exorcism House
A Nightmare on Elm Street: The Maze 3

Price: 4,500 yen to 5,700 yen (varies by date)

Horror Night Express Pass 3 ~Deadman Forest~

Rides Included:
Deadman's Forest: Escape from the Forest of the Dead
Cult of Chucky: Chucky's Insane Assylum
Sadako

Price: 3,600 yen to 4,500 yen (varies by date)

Horror Night Express Pass 3 ~School Ghost Stories~

Rides Included:
School Ghost Stories
Cult of Chucky: Chucky's Insane Assylum
Sadako

Price: 3,600 yen to 4,500 yen (varies by date)

Universal Studios Japan Horror Night Trip 1

So as I probably mentioned above, I've already had my first visit to the Horror Night event. It was on the last Saturday of September, so still a bit early for some attractions, but it was nice to see so many guests already in costume (there was also a few Jump Summer cosplayers left over).  I put together a short video of our thoughts and reactions to the end, plus I have footage of the entire Festa de Parade, so even if you can't visit in person, you can get a little USJ at home! Enjoy!

Useful Japanese Words

Here's a list of Japanese words and phrases that you might find useful during your visit to the Horror Night event.

Are you a zombie?
ゾンビーですか
(zombie desuka)

Is that real blood?
本物の血ですか
(honnmono no chi desuka)

Can I take your picture? (always ask before snapping photos)
写真撮っても大丈夫ですか・写真撮っていいですか
(shashin tottemo daijoubu desuka/shashin totte ii desuka)

Is this [ride/attraction] scary?
この乗り物怖いですか・これ怖いですか
(kono norimono kowai desuka/kore kowai desuka)

I was so scared! *kansai ver.
めっちゃ怖かった！
(meccha kowakatta)

Are there any tickets left?
整理券残っていますか・チケットまだありますか
(seiriken nokotteimasuka/chiketto mada arimasuka)

Is this [ride/attraction] closed?
アトラクションは休止していますか
(atorakushon wa kyuushishiteimasuka)

Links

You can check out the official website for the Halloween Horror Night event, but it is all in Japanese.

USJ Surprise Halloween / Halloween Horror Night
USJ Webstore for Express Passes

Thank you for reading if you made it this far! As always, questions, comments and concerns are welcome!

★Peaces★

Greetings all! So in the last few months/years, I've been stretching my travel legs, trying to see more of Japan and other countries in East Asia. But as anyone who's met me personally, I am a penny-pincher. I'm not terribly miserly, so to speak, as I have on occasion made it rain, but I can't resist saving a few yen whenever possible.
(If you want to skip to the links to travel websites, keep on scrolling!)

4 Travel During the Off-Season

Japan has a lot of national holidays. Like the second-highest number in the world. As such, it can be tempting to use these holidays to travel. But we aware that most salarymen and their families will also be traveling during these periods. So if you're fine with vacationing on a premium and being surrounded by the horde (children), then feel free to use national holidays to travel. But if you're not into crowds and definitely into saving money, then book your travel for dates that fall before or after national holidays.

When I vacationed with my family in the States, it never felt so crowded at the hotels or theme parks we visited, but the U.S. is also really big. So it's very easy to find a vacation spot that's quiet in secluded.


Japan does not work this way. During the vacation season, every conceivable location will be filled. The roads, the trains, the buses, the hotels, the beaches, they will all be crowded whether you're on the mainland or one of the more secluded islands. And not only are these locations crowded, they can be twice as expensive as their off-season prices. Do the math on that, but sounds like a rather drab vacation.

Additionally, if you're a theme park junkie, like me, you'll want to avoid weekends; theme parks are much more fun during weekdays and you'll have a better chance of riding all of the attractions.

3 Road Trip by Car

Lunch in Singapore

Japan is often associated with its convenient and extensive train system. It covers the entire main island, and the the JR pass, you can travel from one end of the country to the other for as little as 400 USD. However, this pass if only for persons with a temporary visitor visa in Japan. This means that persons with a Japanese address cannot purchase/use this pass.

Enter the rent-a-car. You can rent a car for a weekend (from Friday night until Sunday evening) for 13,000 yen (116 USD). This sounds expensive but consider the following.

From Osaka City to Nagoya on the shinkansen is 6,560 yen (59 USD), or 3,350 yen (30 USD) on the regular train for one person, one way. This price does not include hopping on and off the train between the two stations, which means you're kind of stuck from Osaka City until you get to Nagoya, and on the local line, that's close to 3 hours of train riding. And if you have to get back to Osaka, then you're up to 13,120 yen (118 USD) and that doesn't including riding the train around Nagoya for the weekend. And if you're traveling as a set (like Shota and I do), then everything is doubled now and just the train to Nagoya and back has you at 26,240 yen (236 USD).

But, if you're traveling with 2 or more in a rent-a-car to Nagoya, you have the freedom to make stops along the way, even if you include the cost of parking, your costs with still be lower than 20,000 yen (179 USD) and that can be split between two or more persons. If you're traveling with a group of 4, you travel costs can get as low as 5,125 yen (46 USD) including gas for the weekend.

So traveling by car not only saves you money, but includes a freedom that you're not granted when traveling by train.

2 Subscribe to an LCC newsletter

Look, I get it. No one wants their e-mail filled with junk mail that they never read. But if you're trying to travel on a budget, it's best that you make peace with these newsletters and just sign up. Information about travel sales are always sent through newsletters before they're available on the site. This will give you a leg up on the folks that only visit the website or use travel agencies, and will allow you to schedule and plan around these sale dates (sale tickets are usually only available for certain travel periods so be sure to read the fine print before searching and booking.

Now I have to admit that the deals aren't as good as they used to be. Peach used to have time sales a few times a season and had prices that were damn near unbelievable. Sadly, the fuel costs of air travel have only increased, so the golden years of LCC travel seem to really be a thing of the past. But traveling by LCC is still much cheaper than your ANA or JAL options.

Rakuten's travel newsletter also offers great travel packages. As you can see in the screenshot above, you can get a trip to Disneyland in Tokyo from Osaka, including hotel and travel, for 21,600 en (). These kind of package sales are usually only for a specific travel period and can sell out very quickly, so having an eye on these newsletters is a must.

1 Use Japanese Travel Websites

This tip is more for conversation or fluent speakers of Japanese, but in the age of rikaichan and the 2020 Olympics, any level of Japanese should work.

Japanese travel websites provide tickets and discounts for domestic and international travel from Japan. These package deals will often include, airfare, hotel, and activity fees if they're all-inclusive. This method is convenient for those not to concerned with which airline they'll ride or which hotel they stay at, as you often can't choose, though this is subject to change, depending on the site you use. And this is where your Japanese language skill comes in handy because Japanese fine print can really get you if you're not careful.


Another convenient point for Japanese travel websites is that they can offer themes for your travel. If you're unsure of what you want to see or where you want to go, you can search through their travel themes for inspiration. The most common ones across most sites are: Couple, hot sprints, travel solo, foodie, and outdoor activities.


And don't neglect your train websites either. Similar to the travel websites above, train companies also create seasonal themes around certain train routes, then offer discounts and coupons for people sightseeing in those areas. I've used Keihan's discounted tickets quite a few times and was able to save so much money.

For example, in the Uji-Fushimi 1-day plan, you get a ticket than covers your travel from Osaka to Uji and Fushimi-Inari, plus hopping on and off the train at designated stations within that route, all for 900 yen. On the JR line, a one-way trip to Uji Station only is 970 yen; on the Keihan line from Kyobashi Station (3 stops from Osaka Station on the loop line), it's only 400 yen one-way, but it'll cost you extra to get out to Fushimi-inari. With the 1-day ticket from Keihan, you can ride from Kyobashi to Uji, Fushimi-inari, and a few other places in between, all day for 900 yen. It's no JR pass, but it's still an awesome deal for all of us residents.

Keywords

Since I mentioned using Japanese travel websites, I thought it would be best to include a few keywords to look out for on these websites.

お得 - otoku - bargain, a deal
国内 - kokunai - deomestic
海外 - kaigai - international
観光 - kankou - sightseeing
○○付き - marumaru tsuki - includes (XYZ), usually used for all-inclusive plans
イチオシ - ichioshi - highly recommended
直前割引 - chokuzen waribiki - discounts right before a package sales out, used when only a few seats in a tour or package are left
キャンペーン - kyanpe-n - campaign, another way to say sale event
半額 - hangaku - half-price
行き先 - ikisaki - destination
Web掲載限定 - web-store only (can only be purchased/used through the website)
発売日当日限り - hatubaibi toujitu kagiri - only valid on the date of purchase (usually the case for train 1-day tickets)
乗り降り自由 - nori-ori jiyuu - to hop on and off (of a train) as much as you like

Japanese Travel Websites
These services connect you with a travel agency (if you go to the shops or call) that will help you coordinate your trip. Working with a travel agent will cost you more money, but they will make sure that you're well taken care of. They also offer a lot of web-only campaigns that do not include travel agent service (hence the cheaper price).

Hankyu Travel
https://www.hankyu-travel.com/
They have a mail magazine (newsletter), and while their trips aren't necessarily the cheapest, they do have a loy all-inclusive packages. Their services are only provided in Japanese.

JTB
http://www.jtb.co.jp/
A very well-known Japanese travel agency. I would say they're one of the more popular companies and they do offer some travel information in English, though this information is usually targeting visitors to Japan, not residents. You can check out the collection of visitor tours via this link: https://www.jtbcorp.jp/en/

IACE Travel
https://www.jtbcorp.jp/en/
This is a travel agency that seems to focus more on travel outside of Japan, but they do also offer travel packages within Japan. They also have a website in English though I cannot comment on their staff's English competency. You can check out their English site from here: http://www.iace.co.jp/en/

NIPPON TRAVEL AGENCY
http://www.nta.co.jp/
This is another big travel agency that can be found throughout Japan. I would say their emphasis is on domestic travel, but they also offer services for international travel. I've never tried this service when looking for a trip information as they just LOOK expensive.

RAKUTEN Travel
http://travel.rakuten.co.jp/
This website is a subset of the Rakuten group (famous for their online shopping). I've used this service several times to reserve hotels and car rentals. They offer great hotel packages, though they're not always the cheapest. The prices listed on their English and Japanese websites are exactly the same, so you can search worry-free on their English website if you feel like your Japanese language skills might not be up to snuff. Check out their English website here: English RAKUTEN Travel

YAHOO Travel
https://travel.yahoo.co.jp/
Another seemingly dated yet efficient travel service in Japan is Yahoo Travel. Shota often uses this site to compare plane ticket and travel package prices. Occasionally, they have extremely reasonable packages, however, their prices often do not include additional fees like the surcharge or oil fee (this can change the price of a ticket by a few hundred USD). This service is only offered in Japanese.

English-language Services
These services are provided in English and specialize in tours in Japan as well as other parts of Asia.

GoVoyagin
https://www.govoyagin.com/
This travel website connects you with sightseeing destinations and locals throughout Asia. I've used their service in Japan and was pretty satisfied with the transaction and the activities they had offered. The website can be used in several languages as well, so you can (hopefully) comfortably search in your own native language.

★Peaces★

So this past month has been very quiet on the written blog front. And that is because I've been channeling all of my creative energy into VEDA, vlog every day (in) April. I really wanted to take better advantage of my new camera and the powerful software that Filmora has grown into, and this seemed like the perfect opportunity.



I kept the concept simple. Every video would revolve around a simple, Japanese word using only kanji, no hiragana or katakana. Then it would feature places or things that come to mind when I think of that word.

Words are pretty strange in that they can conjure up different mental images, depending on the person. I was hoping that the viewer, upon seeing the title, would conjure up their own image of the word, and while looking at the video, either validate that image or develop a newer one.

At least, that was the concept behind the series. How successful it was, only the gods and YouTube analytics know, but I really enjoyed this little project. I'll have the playlist embedded below, so if you an extra 30 minutes to spare, take a look and let me know what you think!



★Peaces★

Himeji has always been one of my favorite castles in Japan. It was the first one I visited on my first trip to Japan in 2002, and my first UNESCO World heritage Site. And with it being one of the largest, mostly in-tact castles in Japan, it leaves such a visual impression on one's memory that is hard to beat at more modernized castles (lookin' at you' Osaka Castle).


Built in the early 1300s, Himeji Castle is one of the best examples of traditional Japanese castle architecture. It's also been rebuilt several times, survived a city bombing during WWII, and survived the Great Hanshin Earthquake of 1995, so you can see why it's so revered in castle circles.

Access

68 Honmachi, Himeji-shi, Hyōgo-ken 670-0012
Official Website (ENG)
Hours of Operation: 
9:00 AM to 4:00 PM (5:00PM in Summer)
Entrance Fee
18 yrs and Up: 1,000 yen
Elem. to High School: 400 yen
Preschool and Younger: FREE


Himeji Castle is accessible by bus, train or car; a parking lot and bus stop are located right by the entrance of the castle complex. The JR/Sanyo Dentetsu stop for Himeji Castle is Himeji Station, but it will be a 15-minute walk from here. Board the bus if you want to save yourself some walking time.

The Castle

The park area surrounding Himeji castle is quite smaller than Osaka Castle as some of the moats have been filled in, but the paths leading up to the main keep often turn back on themselves, making it quite the task. The park is also filled with hundreds of cherry blossom trees, making is quite the tourist spot in Spring.


We didn't get to Himeji until late into the afternoon, so we skipped the tour of Nishi-no-maru (West Bailey), and headed straight to the main keep.

The number of visitors pouring into and out of the castle was quite impressive, especially for a castle pretty set apart from other popular Kansai sites and cities. I have to admit, though, that I longed for the relative privacy I felt while in the castle during our trip in 2002.

A scale model of the castle from the feudal era.

A few rooms near the staircase were kept in-tact to show their purpose while the castle was still in use, but most of the castle is empty. You do get great views of the city surrounding the castle.

The walk through the main keep is pretty quick, so I would go there first, then spend the rest of your time slowly wandering around the castle compound since that is where the best photo opportunities will probably be. Be sure to plan for the rest of your day in Himeji City as well. The castle is beautiful, but the visit won't take more than a couple hours to see everything. Himeji City's tourism website has some great suggestions on other things to do in the area.

Multi-lingual pamphlets are available near the entrance, and there's also an augmented reality app that you can download and use around the castle. And if you're interested in a mini-tour, please check out my YouTube channel for video of the castle and more!


As always, if you have any questions, comments or concerns, feel free to leave them below!

★Peaces★

For the discerning winter sports fanatic, Japan does not disappoint.

So a couple weekends back, some friends and I decided that snowboarding was a thing we definitely wanted to do this winter. Thankfully, our group senpai is a big snowboarder and was totally up to the idea of taking us newbies out to the mountains for a little trial and error.

Cupid Valley Ski Resort

Access

Official Website (ENG)
Address: 4820 Yasuzukaku Sugawa, Jōetsu-shi, Niigata-ken 942-0534

This ski resort is accessible by car, but there is also a shuttle bus that runs between the ski resort and Mushigawa-Osugi Station. Mushigwa-Osugi Station is about 5.5hrs from Osaka Station, and this route makes use of the Shinkansen line. I'm sure travel by local/rapid lines is possible, but you'll probably need closer to 9 hours to get there. One route takes you to Niigata via Tokyo (this route is about 200USD), while the cheaper route (about 120 USD) along the Sea of Japan takes you through the new Kanazawa Shinkansen station.

The Ski Resort

The onsen building! It looks farther than it actually is.

This resort has everything you need for a weekend on the snow. Equipment, as well as snow wear, is available for rental at the main building. You can event switch from skis to a snowboard for free for the folks interested in trying both. You're also welcome to bring and use your own equipment.

Senpai showing us how to not fail at everything.

There are several courses available varying from beginner to advanced, all of which go all the way to the top of the mountain. Lift tickets must be purchased to ride to the top of the mountain, but if you stay at the hotel, you can get at least 1 set for your group at a discounted rate. For regulars, they also have season passes available. The basic daily rates for the lift are as follows:

• Adults: 4,300 yen
• Middle school and up: 3,500 yen
• Elementary school: 2,500 yen

Plans that include entry to the resort onsen are also available for purchase!


Night-time plans are also available but if you're a newbie, like us, I would not recommend this as the snow is much harder and not friendly to your limbs. A separate night-time lift ticket is also necessary and I believe this lift only takes you to the top of the promenade.

The Stay

The rooms are divided into log cabins supposedly imported from Canada (this is the kind of information they have written on the site, I couldn't make it up if I wanted to). One large cabin has 3 separate rooms, all with 3 floors, a toilet and bathtub, and each room can fit up to 7 people.


Our stay included dinner and breakfast, both of which were delicious. They served a combination of Western and Eastern food, so you could get sushi, lo mein and roast beef. This is great when you're traveling in a group with a variety of preferences (I wouldn't call the buffet vegetarian-friendly though).

Things to Note

• There are shuttle buses available to take you from the main lodge to the log cabins and onsen. You don't have to use the shuttle bus, the distance isn't that far, however the streets are narrow and can be a bit icy, so it would be safer to ride the shutter when possible.
• There is a drying space near the entrance of the log cabin rooms for all of your gear; they event have a drier for the snow boots.
• This resort is TATTOO FRIENDLY, so no worries here (and yes, there are still hotels that will not allow guests will tattoos, even small ones, into their pools/onsen).
• Hotel guests can purchase their lift tickets from the hotel desk (you don't have to wait in the lift ticket office line).
• The closest convenience store is 30 minutes down the mountain, so try to bring everything you need for your trip.
• The onsen closes early (around 9pm I believe), so watch the time if you're doing dinner and onsen.
• You can rent everything you need for snowboarding at the lodge

As always, questions, comments and concerns are welcome below! I also have a video available of our trip, if you're interested!

I can't believe this year is going on its third year?? And it's not really getting better, just bigger??? Well, with the recent announcements of expansion (in Okinawa and to the parking lot next door for Nintendo World), it's no surprise that USJ is trying to keep its name hot in these streets. And with the downer that is winter, they do have an advantage in getting us excited for something that isn't cold and wet.

Where?

So this year, Cool Japan will not only take place in Universal Studio Japan's park, but also at Osaka Castle Park (no, they're not close to one another). Osaka Castle Park is off of the subway line and JR loop line, but the area used for the Cool Japan event will be closer to the subway. More on that below. USJ is still on the Sakurajima JR Line, so please remember that you need to transfer at Nishikujo Station.

Osaka Castle Park

SENGOKU The Real at Osaka Castle

I liken this event to a live, musical re-enactment of the Sengoku era of Japan. According to what is written on the site, "with a theme based on the popular war tactician Yukimura Sanada, enjoy the intense and thrilling excitement of the Battle of Osaka".

This is the battle where Osaka fell and the Tokugawa Shogunate rose to power mind you, so there is no happy ending (spoiler alert). I'm always confused as to why Osaka likes talking about the battle that they lost to a  treacherous child murderer, but hey, not my history.

Map of event's location

Anyway, this event is not free, of course. It will cost you from 2,480 yen for adults, 1,480 for kids (and you know they have SS seats available, but that will cost you 3,480 yen). There are also sets that come with entry to USJ, starting from 9,480 yen. I'll be sure to add the pricing tables below. The closest train stations will be Tanimachi 4-chome on the Chuo Line,

Universal Studios Japan

"Everything is REAL"

Evangelion XR Ride

First up for Cool Japan 2017, we have the crowd favorite, Evangelion. Between this series and AoT, you can spend your entire day at the park, standing in lines (unless you're a rich fellow and can afford express passes).

Based on the description, it sounded like MX4D, with an IMAX-type screen, but actually, they've just taken the Space Fantasy indoor roller coaster and strapped VR goggles to your face. So like the Kyary ride from last year's Cool Japan, but less pink and frilly I suppose.


There's also a smartphone application that you can mess with while you're waiting in line. I'm sure this is to distract you from the several hour wait, which really wouldn't be so bad if it hadn't been below zero these past few days. I doubt anyone even wants to use their fingers for anything other than keeping their pockets company.

Tickets for this event will not be sold separate from the Express Pass booklet, but there are quite a few reasonable options available. A set with the Attack on Titan attraction OR Godzilla attraction (so a 2 attraction set) will only cost you 2,400 yen. It's also available in the Cool Japan Express Pass 5 and Express Pass 4 booklets for 6,900 yen and 4,400 yen respectively (there is also an Express Pass 7 booklet with HP land tickets for 6,900 yen).

There's your usual bevy of merchandise available, though I'm not quite sure what these are doing. I assume they're related to eating. But I think your money would be better spent on more simple items like pens and keychains.

Me versus Godzilla

Godzilla The Real 4-D

I don't know who this "me" character is, but unless he plans on transforming into Ultraman, I feel like this isn't much of a fight. That won't stop USJ from making an attraction from it, though!

According to the description, though, you're actually in some kind of aircraft, going after Godzilla (misleading much, photo?). You follow Godzilla via this aircraft over Yodogawa and through the fashionable buildings of Umeda. Unless you're familiar with the Osaka landscape, I doubt any of these areas mean anything to you. I would say that this is one of USJ's least foreigner-friendly, or even Japanese-person-outside-of-Kansai-friendly, attraction.

Not the most flattering Godzilla shot.

Not the most exciting attraction, but I think USJ is trying to strike a middle ground with something that can be enjoyed by the whole family. There's no particular age or height requirement, and it looks like it's being played in one of the 2 3-D theater (probably The Shrek/Sesame Street one), which might be a quiet indicator of its content. There is a warning about violent scenes, but I'm sure that doesn't differ much from your normal Godzilla viewing experience.


There will be goods and snacks available. The dinosaur/mutant dinosaur collectors will rejoice as the Godzilla toy (1) looks pretty awesome and even the souvenir snack box (2) is pretty cool.

Tickets are available through any of the Cool Japan Express Pass booklets. It doesn't look like you'll be able to try this attraction without one.

Attack on Titan THE REAL 4-D:2

The perennial Cool Japan attraction, Attack on Titan, has been here since the Cool Japan venture began and despite the movie bombing and the newest season being delayed for a year, I guess people still want to experience being eaten by a Titan.

This attraction takes place in the Terminator theater, so it'll operate like MX4D. That's not so fantastic, but the theater is quite large so that means more folks will get a chance to try to the AoT attraction than in previous years.

The story is a park original and features to Titans, one super Titan and an armored Titan, coming after you (guys). As far as I can tell, none of the characters from the series make an appearance (which is different from previous incarnations), though I assume soldiers will come to your rescue.

There will be a photo op with the armored Titan in the Cool Japan area near the entrance, with food and cosplay goods also for sale. Tickets for this event appear to only be available through Express Pass booklets.

Detective Conan THE ESCAPE

This attraction came as a real surprise to me and is a big sign that they're mostly focusing on the Japanese guests (despite Cool Japan being an initiative to spread Japanese pop culture around the world. guess they forgot that part). Detective Conan has been around for ages and is popular with Japanese fans of all ages. The films are aired on television regularly, with new ones coming out on a seemingly yearly basis. I've seen a couple movies and don't see the appeal, but hey, to each their own.

In this attraction, you work together with Conan to escape in 60 minutes (it is an escape game, so you need to speak/read Japanese to get the instructions). The story is original to the park and revolves around a series of murders that have taken place in Osaka Prefecture. Also, apparently you have a bomb attached to you?? So you have to work with Conan and the detective of the West (staff from USJ) so escape within the time limit.

This escape game is produced by SCRAP, a well-known escape game company that puts on events all across Japan. Also, since this attraction is not produced by USJ, it is considered a premium attraction and only accessible with the Escape game exclusive ticket or the Express Pass 5 booklet. Goods and snacks are also available for sale.

Monster Hunter THE REAL

Another mainstay of the Cool Japan event, Monster Hunter is the only attraction I've been to in the 3 years that this event has been held (that's not true, I did DBZ last year). It's less attraction and more of walk-through some game props, but I still think it's a must-see for fans of the series.

Downloadable content for players of the game will be available only for this attraction and there is also a time attack mode for players to win goodies like badges and stickers.

This attraction is in the Cool Japan Express Pass booklet, but when I went, a ticket was not needed for entry. I surely hope they're not charging people for a walkthrough of some figures...

Ticket Information

Tickets are available from USJ's web store for those with access to it, but you can also get tickets from travel companies like Voyagin, which offer booking information in English (the USJ web store is only in Japanese).

SENGOKU THE REAL at Osaka Castle

Valid December 16, 2016 until March 12, 2017
¥1,480 to ¥3,480 for Adults/Children/Senior Citizens
WITH USJ PASS: 
¥5,980 to ¥10,480 for Adults/Children/Senior Citizens
(Prices vary depending on the seat)

This attraction is the only one not listed on the USJ webstore. Instead, it must be purchased at the website shown above (link here: https://l-tike.com/st1/sengoku_webticket/sitetop). It looks shady, but this is the site you're taken to from USJ's web store. There doesn't appear to be an English site available, but tickets can also be purchased at Loppi terminals in the convenience store.

If you order the USJ park set, SENGOKU THE REAL tickets will be on a different day from USJ entry so that you don't have to worry about time.

Universal COOL JAPAN Express Pass Booklets

(from bottom to top)

COOL JAPAN Express Pass 2 ~Attack on Titan/Evangelion Set~
Valid January 13, 2017 until June 25, 2017
Web Store Link (JPN)
¥2,400 to ¥3,000 for Adults/Children/Senior Citizens
(Prices vary depending on the day)

Includes entry to the Evangelion and Attack on Titan attractions only.

COOL JAPAN Express Pass 2 ~Godzilla/Evangelion Set~

Valid January 13, 2017 until June 25, 2017
Web Store Link
¥2,400 to ¥3,000 for Adults/Children/Senior Citizens
(Prices vary depending on the day)

Includes entry to the Evangelion and Godzilla attractions only.
 
COOL JAPAN Express Pass 4
Valid January 13, 2017 until June 25, 2017
Web Store Link
¥4,400 to ¥5,600 for Adults/Children/Senior Citizens
(Prices vary depending on the day)

Includes entry to the following:
Evangelion XR Ride
Godzilla THE REAL 4-D
Attack on Titan THE READ 4-D:2
Monster Hunter THE REAL

COOL JAPAN Express Pass 4
Valid January 13, 2017 until June 25, 2017
Web Store Link
¥6,900 to ¥8,100 for Adults/Children/Senior Citizens
(Prices vary depending on the day)

Includes entry to the following:
Evangelion XR Ride
Godzilla THE REAL 4-D
Attack on Titan THE READ 4-D:2
Monster Hunter THE REAL
Detective Conan THE ESCAPE

NONE OF HE AFOREMENTIONED EXPRESS PASS BOOKLETS INCLUDE ENTRY TO WIZARDING WORLD OF HARRY POTTER. THIS ENTRY TICKET MUST BE ACQUIRED SEPARATELY.

Universal Express Pass 7

Universal Express Pass 7
Here's where things get a little more complicated. This pass booklet may only include ONE Cool Japan attraction, but includes entry to Harry Potter and short wait times for other USJ attractions (for a total of 7 attractions).
Web Store Link
¥6,900 to ¥13,200 for Adults/Children/Senior Citizens
(Prices vary depending on the day)

XR Ride Ver. includes (COOL JAPAN ver.):
Evangelion XR Ride
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
Flight of the Hippogriff
Amazing Adventure of SpiderMan THE RIDE 4K3D
Terminator 2:-D
Hollywood Dream The Ride OR Backdraft
Jurassic Park OR JAWS

The Flying Dinosaur Ver. includes:
The Flying Dinosaur
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
Flight of the Hippogriff
Amazing Adventure of SpiderMan THE RIDE 4K3D
Terminator 2:-D
Hollywood Dream The Ride OR Backdraft
Jurassic Park OR JAWS

Backdrop Ver. includes:
The Flying Dinosaur
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
Flight of the Hippogriff
Amazing Adventure of SpiderMan THE RIDE 4K3D
Terminator 2:-D
Hollywood Dream The Ride OR Backdraft
Jurassic Park OR JAWS

Voyagin

Voyagin is a travel agency that is now officially working with USJ to get you early access to rides and great deals. They'll help you get VIP tickets (allows early entry into the park, though the time varies depending on the day), and you may even win a free ticket to the HARUKAS Observatory in Osaka. I would definitely recommend this plan for warmer months when they have big events going on and the weather is nice all day.

Includes:

• Instant Confirmation: Book Now and receive your e-ticket in minutes
• 6 Month Ticket Validity - Book now and go anytime in the next 180 days
• SPECIAL OFFER: Every 10th booking wins free VIP wristbands for early access to USJ and admission to Osaka's Harukas 300 Observatory
• Experience world-class rides: escape T-Rex on a water adventure in Jurassic Park: The Ride® or see Hogwarts™ castle recreated on a grand scale in Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey™
• Fun for the entire family: treat the kids to Universal Wonderland, home of Sesame Street and Hello Kitty, or enjoy parades all-day long with special appearances from your favorite characters

Price
Starting at ¥4,750 for children, ¥7,400 for adults.

I wasn't able to find any options for the Express Pass booklets on the main page, but options are available after you press the booking button. They may have add-on options for the Express Pass booklets there. I would also recommend getting in touch with them directly if you're looking for specific tickets, but can't find them on their website.

THINGS TO NOTE

Here are things you should keep in mind when purchasing your Cool Japan tickets and booklets:

•     Tickets are only valid for the day designated on the tickets.
•     A park ticket must be purchased separately from the Express Pass tickets.
•     Express Pass prices vary depending on the day.
•     Express Passes can only be used by the ticket holder (you cannot ride together with your children on same ticket).
•     Attractions with designated boarding times will have the times written on the ticket.
•     If you miss your boarding time, there are no refunds and you cannot change your time.
•     If you buy a Twilight Pass (enter the park after 3PM), you may not be able to use this pass.

Previous Cool Japan Articles:
Universal Cool Japan 2016 The Information The Sequel
Universal Cool Japan The Information

As always, questions, comments, and concerns can be left in the comments below! I'll get back to you ASAP!

★Peaces★