Universal Studios Japan has launched its annual Halloween event, running from September 4 to November 5. The park is offering a wide range of themed food, exclusive merchandise, and nightly horror attractions. This year's event is split into two distinct experiences: the family-friendly "Hahaha! Halloween Party" during the day and the intense "Halloween Horror Nights" after 6 p.m.
Key Takeaways
- The USJ Halloween event runs from September 4 to November 5, featuring daytime and nighttime activities.
- New themed food includes extensive Pokémon and HamiKuma character menus, with items ranging from 800 yen to 2,400 yen.
- A new HamiKuma variant, "HamiKuma Candy," has been introduced with its own line of desserts.
- Nightly entertainment includes "Street Zombies" in seven themed zones and a new haunted house, "Factory of Fear."
- A special all-night event requires a separate ticket for Halloween on October 31.
Daytime Festivities Focus on Themed Dining and Merchandise
During the day, Universal Studios Japan offers a lighter, more festive atmosphere suitable for all ages. The main attractions are the extensive seasonal food menus and exclusive merchandise collections. The park has focused on popular characters to create unique culinary and shopping experiences for visitors.
Pokémon Themed Menu at Studio Stars Restaurant
A major highlight of the daytime event is the Pokémon-themed menu at the Studio Stars Restaurant. The menu features several dishes inspired by Ghost-type Pokémon, providing a unique dining option for fans. The restaurant's exterior is also decorated with spooky Pokémon illustrations for the season.
The menu includes both full meals and desserts:
- Litwick’s Lit Up at Night Hamburg Steak Meal: 2,400 yen
- Pumpkaboo’s Roly-Poly Chicken Bagel Sandwich Meal: 2,400 yen
- A Trick? Misdreavus’ Mixed Berry Cheesecake: 950 yen
- Peek-a-Boo! Banette’s Pear and White Chocolate Mousse: 1,100 yen
- Let’s Dance! DJ Gengar’s Grape Soda: 800 yen
For collectors, a special "Let’s Party! Pokémon Placemat" is available for 700 yen, or for 600 yen when added to a food order.
Who is HamiKuma?
HamiKuma is an original character created by Universal Studios Japan for its Halloween events. The character is a zombie teddy bear known for its menacing yet popular design. This year, the park has expanded the HamiKuma universe with new variants and merchandise, making it a central figure of the Halloween Horror Nights brand.
HamiKuma Character Food and Collectibles
USJ's original zombie bear character, HamiKuma, is featured heavily in this year's food lineup. For the first time, the park is offering a HamiKuma-shaped popcorn bucket. The collectible bucket costs 5,500 yen and includes three different sound clips.
Popcorn flavors vary by location:
- Strawberry Cookie Flavor: Carts near Universal Wonderland and Gramercy Park.
- Caramel Flavor: Carts near Stage 22 and Playing with Curious George.
The Universal Market Area offers several HamiKuma-themed savory items, each priced at 1,100 yen:
- HamiKuma’s Chocolate Keema Curry
- HamiKuma Soul Chicken and Cheese White Curry
- HamiKuma Punk Dog with Black Cheese Sauce
New HamiKuma Candy Variant Debuts with Sweet Treats
This year marks the debut of a new character, HamiKuma Candy, a colorful and sweet-themed version of the zombie bear. This new addition has inspired a line of dessert items available at different locations throughout the park.
Desserts inspired by HamiKuma Candy include:
- HamiKuma Candy Churritos (Strawberry Candy): 850 yen, sold at the Happiness Wagon.
- HamiKuma Candy Cake (Strawberry): 1,000 yen, sold at the Beverly Hills Boulangerie.
- HamiKuma Psycho Circus Cake (Dark Chocolate): 1,000 yen, also at the Beverly Hills Boulangerie.
Exclusive Halloween Merchandise
A wide array of exclusive merchandise is available for the Halloween season. Key items feature HamiKuma and other popular characters like the Peanuts gang, who are depicted with uncharacteristically disgruntled expressions for the event.
Merchandise Pricing
- HamiKuma Beret: 4,600 yen
- HamiKuma Mascot Keychains: 2,800 yen each
- Peanuts Stuffed Keychains: 2,900 yen each
- Peanuts Headbands: 3,600 yen each
Halloween Horror Nights Delivers After-Dark Thrills
Starting at 6 p.m. each evening, the park transforms for Halloween Horror Nights. This portion of the event is designed for guests seeking more intense and frightening experiences. The atmosphere shifts with the arrival of scare actors and the opening of horror-themed attractions.
Street Zombies and Haunted Attractions
The signature "Street Zombies" event returns, with scare actors roaming seven designated zones. Each zone has a unique theme, such as "Possessed Playthings" and "Chainsaw Chain-Gang."
A new haunted house attraction, "Factory of Fear: Zombie Tour," has also been introduced. The park notes that zombies in this attraction may interact more with guests who appear visibly frightened.
"Watch out, because the zombies can definitely sense who’s scared the most…and then they’ll chase those people around even more."
Zombie de Dance and Live Performances
Approximately every 25 minutes during Horror Nights, the "Zombie de Dance" event takes place. During this show, zombies and guests dance to the song "So Bad," a new track written exclusively for the event by Japanese band King Gnu.
For a different style of entertainment, "HamiKuma’s Sweet Scream Party" offers a concert-like experience. The show features all four HamiKuma character variants in a high-energy performance with audience participation elements like call-and-response.
Visitor Information and Special Event Rules
Universal Studios Japan has implemented special rules for the duration of the Halloween event to ensure guest safety. These rules cover costumes and prohibited items. It is recommended that guests review these guidelines before visiting.
The park also advises that children aged 12 and under should be accompanied by a guardian during the evening's Horror Nights events. Certain attractions, including the Street Zombies, are not recommended for preschool-aged children.
On October 31, USJ will host a special all-night party. This event requires a separate ticket for entry. Ticket holders can enter the park from 3 p.m., with the special event running from 10 p.m. until 5 a.m. the following morning.
