{
  "id": 4745572,
  "title": "USJ Eyes First-Ever Park Expansion",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/usj-eyes-first-ever-park-expansion",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-31T23:56:26.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "News On Japan",
    "slug": "news-on-japan",
    "url": "https://newsonjapan.com/article/150583.php"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Universal Studios Japan is contemplating its first expansion since opening in 2001, potentially increasing the park's total area by approximately 10%, according to Kyodo News. The proposed expansion site is situated directly north of Donkey Kong Country, the newest segment of Super Nintendo World. The former Nippon Steel factory land, currently vacant, measures around 60,000 square meters. USJ, which opened in 2001 and attracted more than 10 million visitors within its initial year, has experienced a resurgence following the introduction of major attractions such as The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Super Nintendo World. A report suggests the expansion could involve an investment of about 300 billion yen, making it significantly larger than previous projects. Aviation and travel analyst Kotaro Toriumi believes a new area centered on anime or video game characters is the most plausible scenario. He suggests the expansion could feature a prominent Japanese anime or gaming franchise, with Pokemon being a potential candidate. Other possibilities include expanding existing areas, adding hotels, or introducing new experiential attractions like pools or interactive entertainment. Toriumi also mentions that Hollywood-based attractions could still be part of the expansion, but Japanese characters are likely to remain the core of USJ's growth strategy due to their popularity among both domestic and international visitors. Ticket prices are anticipated to rise due to inflation and the scale of the investment, potentially reaching a higher one-day admission price of 11,900 yen during peak periods. USJ has drawn strong numbers of overseas visitors and Japanese guests returning after the Osaka-Kansai Expo concluded. The park's strength lies in its ability to attract both international tourists and Japanese visitors, reducing the risk associated with a large expansion.",
  "summary": "Universal Studios Japan is considering its first expansion since opening in 2001, with plans to use about 60,000 square meters of former Nippon Steel factory land adjacent to the park and potentially increase its total area by roughly 10%. (News On Japan)",
  "key_points": [
    "Universal Studios Japan plans its first expansion since 2001.",
    "Proposed expansion site is 60,000 square meters vacant Nippon Steel factory land.",
    "Expansion could involve 300 billion yen investment and anime or video game theme."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The planned expansion would mark a strategic shift for Universal Studios Japan, potentially bolstering its appeal to both international tourists and Japanese visitors while allowing for higher ticket prices.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}