USJ (Universal Studios Japan) Crowd Forecast | Sep-Nov 2026 Summary

Using this calendar

Each day shows a Universal Studios Japan crowd forecast on a 1–7 scale (lower = quieter). Tap a date for Osaka-area weather, temperature and estimated ride waits. Past dates display actual recorded data.

Where the forecast comes from

We merge the official park calendar, historical crowd patterns, daily-recorded real wait times and weather data, and recalibrate every day. The accuracy score at the top of the calendar shows our real hit rate — misses included.

The crowd outlook on this page is our own forecast, not a guarantee of how busy a day will be. Opening hours, ticket prices, events, closures and annual-pass block-out days follow USJ’s official announcements.

FAQ

Q. How often is the data updated?
A. Real wait times are recorded automatically every day, and the full forecast is refreshed regularly. The written content on this page was checked against the official site on August 21, 2026.

Q. Can the forecast be wrong?
A. Yes — that is why we publish our accuracy score right on the calendar. Weather and special events can change crowds quickly, so treat it as a planning guide.

Q. When are the quietest days this fall?
A. On our forecast, weekdays centered on Tuesdays are the picks, especially those outside the official block-out days. September 19–28 is an official block-out stretch, so even weekdays run busy then.

Q. Do annual-pass block-out days always mean crowds?
A. Not always, but they are a useful signal for high-demand periods. Also check the crowd-calendar level, official events, ticket availability, and Universal Express Pass stock.

Q. When do the fall events run?
A. Officially, “Universal Extreme Autumn: Discover U!!!” runs Thursday, September 10 through Sunday, November 8, 2026, and “Halloween Horror Nights” runs Friday, September 11 through Sunday, November 8, 2026.

Q. Anything to watch out for with young children?
A. “Halloween Horror Nights” includes age-restricted content. The new attraction “Resident Evil Requiem: The Dive” is officially rated R-15, and “Street Zombies” runs from 6:00 PM to park close during the event period, so check the line-up before planning an evening.

Q. Has the 2026 Christmas event been announced?
A. Not as of August 21, 2026. The latest park announcement in USJ’s official news feed is the fall-event release dated July 9, 2026.

Q. How much is a ticket, and when should I buy?
A. Our calendar shows the per-day price for the 1-Day Studio Pass (adult) exactly as published by USJ’s official web ticket store. The official site lists adult tickets from ¥8,400 (approx. $56 USD), varying by entry date. USJ sells each entry date starting 62 days ahead, so dates beyond that window have no published price yet and the calendar points to the official site instead. From September 1, 2026 entry dates, USJ can revise per-day prices in line with demand even after tickets go on sale, and it recommends buying early. Block-out-day passes are half price for entry dates from September 12 to December 31, 2026.

SPONSORED | This page contains affiliate promotions.

USJ crowd forecast summary: September–November 2026

In autumn, USJ’s official annual-pass block-out days make the busy dates unusually easy to read. Check them alongside our calendar forecast.

September through November 2026 at USJ is the three-month stretch when the fall seasonal events run. Per USJ’s official announcement, the 25th-anniversary fall event “Universal Extreme Autumn: Discover U!!!” runs Thursday, September 10 through Sunday, November 8, 2026, and “Halloween Horror Nights” starts one day later, on Friday, September 11, and also ends Sunday, November 8. That leaves early September and mid-November onward as the quieter gaps on either side of the fall season.

The most practical tool across these three months is the block-out day list USJ publishes for the standard Universal Prime Annual Pass. Block-out days line up almost exactly with the dates USJ itself expects to be busy, so you can use them directly when picking your date. The officially listed block-out days are September 12–13 and September 19–28, and in October: 3–5, 10–12, 17–19, 23–26, and 30–31. November block-out days are listed as to be announced later on the official website.

USJ has also revised its block-out discount for the 25th anniversary: for entry dates from Saturday, September 12 through Thursday, December 31, 2026, the block-out-day 1-Day Studio Pass is half price. If you hold an annual pass, a block-out day can be a discounted entry day rather than a day you cannot go.

This guide reads the last 12 months plus the next 12 months — 24 months of crowd-calendar data we compile ourselves — and summarizes the coming three months for families. Note that our crowd levels are forecasts, not guarantees of how busy a day will actually be. For USJ, the official block-out days and event start dates shape the crowds over these three months more than anything else. Instead of hunting for “which day ranks highest,” you’ll get better results by choosing dates from the official block-out days, the event start dates, and the position of Japanese holiday weekends. That’s the order we use below.

September 2026 crowd trend

September splits sharply into two halves. The first half (September 1–9) is a lull: Japanese summer break is over and the fall events haven’t started yet. The early-month weekdays and the days after the block-out window ends at the end of the month are the easier windows.

None of those five fall on official block-out days, which makes this the easiest window to move around in across the three months.

The second half flips into peak territory. The fall event “Universal Extreme Autumn: Discover U!!!” opens Thursday, September 10, and “Halloween Horror Nights” starts the next day, Friday, September 11. USJ’s block-out days land right after the opening, on Saturday, September 12 and Sunday, September 13, and then cover ten straight days from Saturday, September 19 through Monday, September 28. Those ten days swallow the whole of Silver Week — the five-day run from Saturday, September 19 to Wednesday, September 23 (Respect for the Aged Day on the 21st, a Citizens’ Holiday on the 22nd, and Autumnal Equinox Day on the 23rd) — plus the week that follows. If you want to skip the holiday crush, Tuesday, September 29, the day after the block-out window ends, is the realistic candidate.

Operating hours in September are mostly 9:00 AM–9:00 PM, with some days closing at 8:00 PM. Our calendar shows the per-day price for the 1-Day Studio Pass (adult) exactly as published by USJ’s official web ticket store. The official site lists adult tickets from ¥8,400 (approx. $56 USD), varying by entry date. USJ sells each entry date starting 62 days ahead, so dates beyond that window have no published price yet and the calendar points to the official site instead. One change matters here: per a USJ official notice dated June 30, 2026, tickets for visits from September 1, 2026 onward (on sale from July 1) can have their per-day price revised in line with demand even after they go on sale. USJ’s official Q&A notes that prices may be raised and recommends buying early, so if your dates are already fixed, booking sooner tends to work in your favor. Tickets already purchased do not require paying any difference.

October 2026 crowd trend

October runs the fall event and Halloween Horror Nights for the entire month. USJ’s official annual-pass block-out days cover nearly every weekend: October 3–5, 10–12, 17–19, 23–26, and 30–31. Saturday, October 10 through Monday, October 12 is a three-day weekend around Sports Day, and Saturday, October 31 is Halloween itself — flagging those two in advance makes day-of decisions much easier.

Our pick candidates center on weekdays, mostly Tuesdays. Note that Saturday, October 3 sits inside an official block-out window, as above, so expect it to be busier than it looks on the calendar.

In practice, the weekday Tuesdays outside the block-out days — the 6th, 13th, 20th, and 27th — are the safer picks. The days our forecast puts a step higher are the Mondays that attach to a weekend or the three-day holiday, plus the first Saturday of the month.

Operating hours are mostly 9:00 AM–9:00 PM, so if you’re here for the after-dark shows and lighting, an afternoon-start plan is easy to build this month.

Autumn brings more rainy days, but USJ has a lot of indoor attractions, so rain can actually work in your favor. Halloween Horror Nights also includes age-restricted content: this year’s new attraction, “Resident Evil Requiem: The Dive,” is officially rated R-15 (age 15 and up). If you’re visiting with young children, check which zones to steer clear of before you go.

November 2026 crowd trend

November is when the mood switches over as the fall events wrap. USJ has officially announced that both “Universal Extreme Autumn: Discover U!!!” and “Halloween Horror Nights” end on Sunday, November 8. The mood shifts once the fall events end on November 8. If you need a shortlist, weekday Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the easier picks.

Tuesday, November 3 also ranks high on the calendar, but it is Culture Day. The national holidays are Tuesday, November 3 (Culture Day) and Monday, November 23 (Labor Thanksgiving Day), making Saturday, November 21 through Monday, November 23 a three-day weekend — so skip those if you are aiming for a weekday.

For the 2026–2027 Christmas season, we have not been able to confirm any official USJ announcement as of August 21, 2026 — the latest park announcement in USJ’s official news feed is still the fall-event release dated July 9, 2026. In some past years it was announced around September, but we won’t state dates we can’t verify — we’ll update this page as soon as the official announcement lands. If your trip falls in mid-November or later, check the official news alongside this page.

Several programs are officially scheduled to continue after the fall season ends. “Jaws: Red Alert” runs through Sunday, January 31, 2027; “Resident Evil Requiem: The Dive” through Sunday, December 27, 2026; “Hogwarts™ Castle Walk” through Sunday, January 17, 2027; and the Yoshi greeting through Monday, January 11, 2027. Annual-pass block-out days from November 9 onward are still unannounced at this point, and we’d expect crowds to settle then — but that’s our read, not an official statement. Operating hours in November are mostly 9:00 AM–9:00 PM, with a few days closing at 8:00 PM.

Week-by-week crowd forecast for September 2026

Tuesday, September 1 – Sunday, September 6

A lull: Japanese summer break is over and the fall events haven’t started. The weekdays this week sit near the top of our pick list for the month, and none of them is an official block-out day. This is one of the easier weeks in the three-month window. Keep in mind that the ticket pricing system changed for visits from September 1 onward, so buying early is the safer move.

Monday, September 7 – Sunday, September 13

The mood changes in the back half of the week. The fall event opens Thursday, September 10, and “Halloween Horror Nights” starts Friday, September 11. The early-week weekdays before the opening are calm on our forecast. Saturday, September 12 and Sunday, September 13, though, are official annual-pass block-out days. That’s the first weekend after the opening, so if you’re avoiding crowds, skip those two.

Monday, September 14 – Friday, September 18

The weekdays right before Silver Week. The weekdays here are pick candidates on our calendar and aren’t block-out days. It’s the last weekday stretch before the five-day run starting Saturday, September 19, which makes it a strong option if you want to go ahead of the holidays. Do note that Friday, September 18 — the day before the long weekend — may see more visitors arriving early to get a head start.

Saturday, September 19 – Wednesday, September 23

Silver Week — five consecutive days off. Monday, September 21 is Respect for the Aged Day, Tuesday, September 22 is a Citizens’ Holiday (a bridge day between two holidays), and Wednesday, September 23 is Autumnal Equinox Day, per Japan’s Cabinet Office holiday list. All five days sit inside the official annual-pass block-out window and overlap the Halloween Horror Nights run, so it’s safest to treat this as the busiest stretch of the three months. Sort out hotels and Universal Express Pass early.

Thursday, September 24 – Wednesday, September 30

The week after the holidays, but the official block-out days continue through Monday, September 28. Tuesday, September 29 — one of our pick candidates — is the day right after that window ends. If you want the last week of September without the holiday crowds, Tuesday the 29th and Wednesday the 30th are the realistic choices.

Events & closures as of September 2026

USJ’s 25th-anniversary programming continues, and the fall seasonal event “Universal Extreme Autumn: Discover U!!!” is officially announced for Thursday, September 10 through Sunday, November 8, 2026. Within it, “Halloween Horror Nights” marks its 15th anniversary and runs Friday, September 11 through Sunday, November 8. “Street Zombies” is listed as running from 6:00 PM to park close during the period.

Individual programs end on different dates. Per official announcements, “Resident Evil Requiem: The Dive” runs Friday, September 11 through Sunday, December 27, 2026 (rated R-15, age 15 and up); “Jurassic Park: The Ride – In the Dark” runs September 11 through November 8; “Jaws: Red Alert” runs September 11 through Sunday, January 31, 2027; and “Hogwarts™ Castle Walk” runs Tuesday, September 1 through Sunday, January 17, 2027. Some of this content is age-restricted, so if you’re visiting with young children, check what’s included before you go.

For the Christmas and winter season, we have not been able to confirm an official announcement as of August 21, 2026. We’ll add the dates to this page once they are published.

For closures, USJ’s official show & attraction closure page lists three facilities: Sesame Street 4-D Movie Magic™ (from January 8, 2026, for the time being), Shrek 4-D Adventure (from January 8, 2026, for the time being), and Space Fantasy – The Ride (from June 2, 2025, for the time being). The tabs for September and October 2026 list the same three, and no additional closures were posted as of August 21, 2026. Separately, USJ has officially announced that “Sesame Street™ Fun World” and the attractions in that area closed for good on Sunday, May 10, 2026. Closures can change, so check the official show & attraction closure info (English) before you go.

Opening hours can change without notice, and some days run extended hours during event periods. Just before your visit, check the official operating hours & schedule (English). Annual-pass block-out days from November onward are listed as to be announced later, so confirm the latest listing on the official annual-pass block-out day page (English).

When to book your hotel: timing & plan trends

For Silver Week and the Halloween-period weekends, check hotel and transport-package availability early — not just tickets.

If you’re mainly doing USJ, the official partner hotels closest to the park are the most convenient for getting around. If you’re also folding in Osaka sightseeing, the Alliance and Associate hotels become options too. The 25th-anniversary special plans and travel packages differ by agency in both content and sales period, so it pays to compare hotels and tickets together, and early. Official hotel categories and perks can change, so confirm on the official partner-hotel info (English) before booking.

Easier windows for an overnight stay are weekdays outside the block-out days and holiday weekends: early September and the end of the month after the block-out window, October weekdays outside the block-out days, and November weekdays after the fall events end. The dates worth locking in early are September 12–13, the September 19–28 block-out stretch that includes Silver Week, almost every weekend in October, Halloween itself on October 31, and the November 21–23 three-day weekend. Plans that bundle a Universal Express Pass or transport can shift in availability and terms, so compare early.

For hotels near the park, a multilingual booking platform makes it easier to compare rooms across dates.

More English guides

Browse all English travel guides.

USJ® and Universal Studios Japan® are registered trademarks of NBCUniversal / USJ LLC. SUPER NINTENDO WORLD™ and characters such as Mario are trademarks of Nintendo. Harry Potter is a registered trademark of J.K. Rowling / Warner Bros. Minions are works of Illumination / NBCUniversal. Snoopy and PEANUTS are registered trademarks of Peanuts Worldwide LLC. Elmo and Sesame Street are registered trademarks of Sesame Workshop. Resident Evil (Biohazard) is a registered trademark of Capcom Co., Ltd. This site is for informational purposes and is not an official partner of any of the above companies.

Note: Images on this page were created with generative AI.

Official reference pages

• USJ — Operating Hours & Schedule (English)
• USJ — Show & Attraction Closures (English)
• USJ — Annual Pass Block-out Days (English)
• USJ — Partner Hotels (English)
• Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) — official travel info