OSAKA, JAPAN
DISCLOSURE STATEMENT: This blog is NOT about Osaka. It’s about Universal Studios Japan J I only had a day and a half here and wanted to not be a typical
tourist and see a temple, see a market, do some shopping, eat some Japanese
food. I wanted HELLO KITTY INVASION! Hahaha!
Having been to Universal Studios LA, I knew it was no Disneyland.
Let’s remind ourselves though that it IS October 21st, 10 days
before Halloween. This turned Universal Studios Japan into a WHOLE different
theme park.
When it’s theme park day for me, it’s GAME-ON! I want to be there
from the moment it opens to the very moment it closes. If you’re not ready to
do that, don’t bother coming with me! We left the port at 9:30am to get the
ferry across to USJ (yes, totes using the acronym already like the locals). Got
to the queue which looked monstrous and wasn’t sure why because it couldn’t
have been peak season, surely. WRONG. The rest of the day was queue after queue
after queue. I DON’T DO queues for ANYTHING but when it’s theme parks, even
with express passes in hand, we were still in queues.
Halloween turns USJ into a wild playground, a jungle,
character-dress-up heaven. I know Japan has the Harajuku girls but Harajuku,
move aside. If you want to see wild costumes, just come to USJ during Halloween.
Groups of girls dress up as pumpkins, fairies, nurses, maids, red-riding hood …
you name it, they had it. Couples matching from head to toe. And I don’t mean
just a costume, I mean the FULL ON special effects make up, hair … some dressed
up as characters of Sesame Street and I swear the could have been employees at
USJ!
The rides themselves like The Mummy Museum, Terminator and Jurassic
Park were fun but the streets of Universal were where all the action happened.
Just people watching was enough! Street performers were fantastic, conjuring
flashmobs by the Japanese (cue to watch
my VLOG!). Hello Kitty DOMINATED the place and I couldn’t help but catch
kitty-fever! I mean, 40 minute wait to see Hello Kitty in Hello Kitty land? Are
you serious?
They had hello kitty & snoopy bread buns, elmo popcorn buckets,
blood-bag drinks … their merchandise store seriously kicks the butts of any
other theme park stores!
The best came out after 6pm. As soon as it got dark, the whole theme
park became Halloween Horror Nights themed – zombies and sets quasi Walking
Dead were erected, zombies set loose scaring everyone. Fantastic special FX
make up and street-dancing choreography to ‘Thriller-esque’ routines turned the
theme park into a wild adult zoo! It seemed like the adults were out to play.
A lot of the rides became horror themed and The Ring made
appearances pretty much on every screen possible. The Terminator ride turned
into ‘The Ring’ ride.
It is true that pictures say a thousand words so enjoy! Highly
recommend USJ over Halloween. It sure beats any other Halloween I’ve had! When
the Japanese do something, it’s never half arsed and this Halloween was
everything with strings attached, steak knives thrown in AND MORE.
On that note, it’s time for a feed. Next stop is indeed Nagasaki and
here’s to hoping we survive the escape of this forecasted Category 5 typhoon!
LOVE & GRACE,
Van-Anh J
And for the right nows:
Wearing: NVMN LF skirt, bassike tee, Ralph Lauren boyfriend fit
cardi, Kenneth Cole loafers
Favorite food: ronnefeldt green tea with honey (I know it’s not food
but it’s so good!)
Listening to: Teach U A Lesson – Robin Thicke (oh old-school Robin
Thicke is velvet! SO good!)
Favorite smell: D’issey Miyake – summer fragrance.
Reading: David & Goliath (seriously taking too long to read this
but it’s a good book I promise you)
Wishlist: a mighty purse (look it up)
Next city: Nagasaki, Japan
Missing: piercing sunshine. Thoughts do go out to the people
affected at home in the Blue Mountains area. So sad L
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