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From the very first monster movies to the blockbuster franchises of today, horror has always been synonymous with Universal Studios. And that legacy extends all the way to Universal Studios Japan (USJ), where Halloween Horror Nights (HHN) transforms the theme park into a realm of roaming zombies, immersive haunted houses, and thrilling live entertainment. There’s so much to experience at HHN, and if it’s your first time braving the event in Japan (or at all), it can seem a little overwhelming.
Never fear! Well, actually, do fear. But in a good way — because I’ve compiled all the must-know details about HHN at Universal Studios Japan:
- HHN takes place at Universal Studios Japan during the fall season, typically starting in early September and ending in early November. This year’s event will take place from September 11-November 8.
- HHN at Universal Studios Japan is not a separately ticketed event. Apart from select premium experiences, most HHN attractions, shows, and experiences are included in your theme park admission, with some offerings available during daytime hours.
- You can find a wide variety of limited-time food, drinks, and merchandise throughout the theme park, only available during HHN season.
- While HHN at Universal Studios Japan is open to guests of all ages, some of the more intense offerings are better suited to guests 13 years and older and the age recommendation for the mazes is 15 years and older.
Dying for more info? Read on for a complete guide to Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Japan, or click below to jump to a specific topic:
THINGS TO KNOW | HAUNTED HOUSES | STREET ZOMBIES | SHOWS | RIDES | WHAT TO EAT | WHAT TO BUY
What to Know About HHN at Universal Studios Japan
A key thing to know about HHN at Universal Studios Japan is that it’s not a separately ticketed event. That means you can enjoy all of the HHN offerings with your regular theme park admission, along with everything else USJ has to offer! Event dates are typically announced in the summer, and as long as you secure a ticket for admission on one of those dates, you’re good to go. This year’s event dates run from September 11-November 8. Click here to explore the ticketing options currently available for USJ.
The second most important thing to know — and perhaps the more surprising fact for those of us familiar with HHN in the United States — is that the event takes place during the daytime and evening at Universal Studios Japan. While not all HHN offerings are available from park open, many begin operating in the morning. Some experiences are still only available in the evening, however, such as the popular Street Zombies (more on them here!).
PRO TIP: To easily keep track of park hours, wait times, and showtimes, download the official app for Universal Studios Japan ahead of your visit. There’s an English version, so no sweat if you aren’t fluent in Japanese yet!
If you want to maximize your time at the event, you can purchase an Express Pass and enjoy shorter wait times for select HHN offerings, including the haunted houses. Express Passes typically go on sale a couple of months before event start, and you can add one when you purchase your theme park admission. Different Express Passes include different attractions and experiences, so be sure to choose the one that includes your top priorities!
What to Do at HHN at Universal Studios Japan
If you’ve been to HHN in the United States, you know the event encompasses terrifying haunted houses, scare zones throughout the theme park, and thrilling live entertainment. The same is true for HHN at Universal Studios Japan, just in a slightly different configuration that I’ve broken down below:
Haunted Houses
Halloween Horror Nights is known for jaw-dropping haunted houses, and USJ’s event is no exception. Although HHN is open to all guests with daytime admission, the haunted houses are designed for guests 15 years or older — and make no mistake, they are intense. Since HHN starts in the daytime at USJ, your eyes won’t be adjusted to the dark for any haunted houses you visit earlier in the day, which translates to even more scares.
While the lineup changes annually, these tips will ensure you make the most of the fear no matter the year:
- Never go alone. This is the tagline for HHN in the United States for a reason, and it’s great advice for USJ’s event, too! You can certainly brave any of the haunted houses alone, but if you want to maximize the
fearfun, you’re going to want to bring your friends along. - Take in the details. Across the globe, the commitment to detail at HHN is what makes it a premier Halloween event. When you’re not screaming your head off, be sure to look around and take it all in!
- Watch the movies. Or play the games. Or watch the shows. Whatever the year’s line-up brings, you’ll enjoy it even more if you’re familiar with the featured franchises! (Yes, sitting on the couch and watching a scary movie is vacation planning.)
Street Zombies
If you’re familiar with scare zones from HHN in North America, Street Zombies are basically the equivalent for HHN at USJ. Throughout the theme park, you’ll encounter roaming hordes of zombies, each sporting a unique appearance. Past zombie hordes have included Decadent Nightmares (menacing vampires and Gothic ghosts), Possessed Playthings (creepy dolls), and Tortured Test-Subjects (pretty much what they sound like).
You can find Street Zombies in the New York, Hollywood, and San Francisco areas of Universal Studios Japan starting at 6 p.m. on each event day. And find them you should, because about every 30 minutes, something truly awesome happens: ZOMBIE de DANCE. Fog drifts through the air, music starts to pump, and the zombies… Well, they dance! And they are very good dancers.
Trying to picture ZOMBIE de Dance? Check out this video from the 2025 event.
ZOMBIE de DANCE is one of the most popular offerings of HHN at Universal Studios Japan, and it’s easy to see why. Each year, the HHN team collaborates with popular Japanese artists on hit songs for the zombies to dance to! Even cooler, the experience is interactive — guests are encouraged to dance with the zombies and take photos, and some take their fandom to the next level by dressing up like their favorite zombies!
PRO TIP: This year, you can celebrate the 15-year anniversary of HHN at USJ with an all-new ZOMBIE de DANCE show: Halloween Horror Nights Academy: 15 Years of Screams. You can even purchase a ticket to access a special viewing area for the show!
Shows
ZOMBIE de DANCE isn’t the only live entertainment you can experience at HHN at Universal Studios Japan. The event lineup changes each year, but typically, there are one or two shows you can enjoy. This year’s line-up includes Chainsaw Man: The Chaos 4D, presented in the Cinema 4-D theater!
PRO TIP: Shows at HHN are typically presented in Japanese, but English versions may be available toward the end of operating hours. To confirm English showtimes, ask a Crew Member!
I know what you’re wondering: What about HamiKuma? HHN at Universal Studios Japan often spotlights the fan-favorite zombie bear with his very own show, sometimes starring other members of the HamiKuma family. You can expect catchy music, bright colors, and the ultimate celebration of spooky fun.
Rides
Since HHN at Universal Studios Japan takes place partially during the daytime and isn’t a separately ticketed offering, you can experience all of the theme park’s attractions during the event! (If you’re looking for maximum thrills and chills, I recommend prioritizing The Flying Dinosaur during your HHN visit.)
Some attractions get special overlays during HHN, such as ZOMBIE de DANCE x Hollywood Dream – The Ride, where you ride to the beat of past ZOMBIE de DANCE songs. You can also ride Jurassic Park – The Ride with the lights out — which, depending on how you feel about giant dinosaurs lurking in the dark, might be the scariest experience of all. And, new this year, you can experience JAWS: Red Alert, with dimmer lighting, thick fog, and an eerie red hue across the water!
What to Eat at HHN at Universal Studios Japan
Screaming, as we know, is one of the most effective ways to work up an appetite. Which means you’ll need no excuse to snack and sip your way through HHN at Universal Studios Japan! The theme park is known year-round for its wide variety of unique and delicious treats, many of which are themed to popular fandoms, and Halloween Horror Nights is no exception.
Like all aspects of HHN, the food and beverage offerings change each year. Some tasty examples include:
- Caution! Cajun Chicken Pizza: This 15th-anniversary pizza is loaded with chicken and vegetables and drizzled with a black mayonnaise sauce.
- Cocoa-Infused Bacon Cutlet Burger: A demi-glace cutlet burger with cocoa-flavored buns, inspired by the colorful mess spilling out of HamiKuma’s belly.
- HamiKuma Chocolate Sundae: Chocolate soft serve ice cream featuring HamiKuma’s iconic colors and topped with assorted treats.
- Halloween Churritos – Cocoa: A dark cocoa churro that combines spooky and cute into a perfect Halloween treat.
Click here to check out the current seasonal food offerings at Universal Studios Japan.
If you’re like me and want to plan your eats ahead of time, I recommend using the official Universal Studios Japan app to check out menus! (It’s a great way to pass the time on the train ride to the theme park.)
Universal Citywalk Osaka is also home to tons of places to grab a bite. But keep in mind that depending on your ticket and the theme park’s capacity, you may not be able to exit and re-enter. For that reason, I recommend you only plan on eating at Citywalk on your way in or out of the theme park. Because the only thing scarier than HHN is leavingwhile there are still some screams on the table!
What to Buy at HHN at Universal Studios Japan
Going all the way to Universal Studios Japan for HHN and not picking up any souvenirs? That is scary. Especially because USJ’s merch game is pretty much unmatched! Throughout the theme park, you can find exclusive apparel themed to popular characters .I highly recommend stocking up early on in the day so you can flaunt your fandom all night long.
Like all things HHN, the merch offerings switch up every year, but previous items (that I really wish I owned) include:
- Exclusive event apparel, including T-shirts, hats, and bags
- Headbands and ticket holders themed to popular characters
- Plush keychains and toys
- Packaged snacks and treats
Click here for our complete guide to merch at Universal Studios Japan.
Think you’re ready to brave the fog of HHN at Universal Studios Japan? Keep an eye on the official Universal Studios Japan HHN website for event dates, or click here to purchase your tickets!
What are you most excited to experience at HHN at Universal Studios Japan? Comment below and let us know!
NOTE: Images used throughout this article are from previous year’s Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood.