Grew up playing Super Mario Bros and controlling Mario as he rushes to save Princess Daisy from Bowser? Then you’d better head to Universal Studios Japan to visit Super Nintendo World and the Mario Cafe and Store for everything Mario and Luigi!
The Mario Cafe and Store brings an entirely immersive experience, as guests can wear special wristbands called Power-Up Bands and use them to jump and hit blocks and collect virtual coins and items. Read until the end to learn more about getting tickets to Universal Studios Japan with skip-the-line advantages!
What are Power-Up Bands?
Guests at Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Japan can wear a Power-Up Band, allowing them to interact with the virtual world. Users can collect items like character stamps to earn coins and feel like they’re actually in a game! Your progress can be recorded on the official USJ app, so you’ll have bragging rights… until your friends visit the Mario Cafe themselves.
The Power-Up Band also allows guests to go head to head in “Boss Battles,” a feature we’re sure the super-competitive among us will love.
Where can I purchase Power-Up Bands?
Excited to have your very own Power-Up Band? You can purchase these on the Cart in Super Star Plaza near the entrance of Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Japan.
To fit more into your day, you can also get a Universal Express Pass, which comes with a Power-Up Band and lets you skip the regular lines at most of your favorite rides and attractions. To get your hands on this fantastic pass, you can redeem one at the California Confectionery in the Hollywood area.
For an even more in-depth guide about the Power-Up Bands at Universal Studios Japan’s Super Nintendo World, read through our Klook-timate guide on these wonderful gadgets:
Where is the Mario Cafe and Store located?
The inside of the Mario Cafe at Universal Studios Japan is incredibly colorful, bringing the entire video game feel to life. And when you’re done marveling at how pretty everything is, you can feast on the Super Mario-themed cakes and drinks. There’s also an awesome Super Mushroom Souvenir Drink Bottle for JPY2,000, perfect to bring home for beloved friends and family (or even for yourself)!
If you’re visiting on a hot day and need a refreshing drink, or if you simply just want a taste of these vibrant drinks in the store, try out Princess Peach’s Peach Soda, Mario’s Strawberry Soda, and Luigi’s Green Apple Soda, which go for JPY600 each.
For something to fill you up, Mario’s Cap Strawberry Shortcake and Luigi’s Cap Grape No-Bake Cheesecake also go for JPY700 each.
The next stop is the Mario Store, designed with Mario Kart in mind to differentiate itself from the Mario Cafe. Check out the checkered floors, the racing flags, and the clear blue skies that are always present in Mario Kart Land.
The Mario Shop has merch with official Universal Studios Japan designs that can’t be bought anywhere else. There are also cute pouches, phone cases, shirts, and keychains just waiting to be brought home.
You can find Mario Cafe & Store in the Hollywood area of Universal Studios Japan.
Super Nintendo World is open!
Great news — Mario and Luigi fans have an even bigger surprise awaiting them at Universal Studios Japan! USJ’s newest area, “Super Nintendo World,” finally opened last March 2021, and it’s filled with everything from the classic video game.
The colorful new area is between WaterWorld and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. True to the video game’s design, there are obvious layers of areas, like mountains, Bowser’s castle, and Princess Peach’s castle. The blocks and coins around the area make it look like the world of Super Mario! In 2024, USJ also plans to unveil a new area dedicated to one of the game’s leading characters, Donkey Kong, so make sure to keep an eye out for that!
There’s no doubt — the main attraction of Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Japan is Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge, where you can experience realistic Mario Kart racing with this immersive ride’s advanced technology. Strap on your helmets and goggles to begin your race to victory.
With your Power-Up Bands, you can acquire items and various power-ups you can use to challenge the enemies with shells as you aim for first place. Alongside Mario and Princess Peach, you get to win and lose some because the experience changes every time you ride. If you don’t get the gold ribbon the first time, just try again!
Universal Studios Japan’s Super Nintendo World also features a family-friendly ride on the back of the cutest green dinosaur, Yoshi. If you’ve ever wanted to ride Yoshi like Mario, this is your chance!
If you feel hungry while trying to save Princess Peach, don’t hesitate to take a break at Kinopio’s Cafe! Enjoy the most adorable Instagram-worthy meals made especially for you by Chef Toad, like Mario’s Bacon Cheeseburger (JPY2,300) or the Hatena Block Tiramisu (JPY800). You can also quench your thirst with the refreshing Yoshi’s Lassi for JPY700 at Yoshi’s Snack Island.
As you plan your next trip here, you can pre-book your open-dated tickets for Universal Studios Japan on Klook. Plus, if you book a selected Express Pass for direct entry to your favorite rides via Klook, you’ll get bonus skip-the-queue privileges too!
Updated by: Elle David
