Planning began in 1992 with the establishment of Osaka Universal Planning Inc., but it took years of negotiation and design before construction officially started in 1998. The location was deliberate: Osaka's Konohana-ku district, on the shores of Osaka Bay, offered the space and the transportation links to serve the entire Kansai region. The park opened with attractions modeled on Universal's Hollywood and Florida properties -- Jurassic Park, Jaws, Back to the Future, and E.T. Adventure -- but adapted for Japanese audiences. From the beginning, Universal Studios Japan mixed American blockbuster spectacle with a cultural sensibility tuned to Japan, creating a hybrid identity that set it apart from its American siblings.

The park's trajectory shifted dramatically on July 15, 2014, when The Wizarding World of Harry Potter opened its gates. The meticulously recreated village of Hogsmeade, anchored by a full-scale Hogwarts castle housing the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride, transformed USJ from a popular regional attraction into a global destination. The area included details unique to Japan: a Black Lake and live owls not found at Universal's Orlando park. Economic projections at launch estimated 5.5 trillion yen in regional economic effects over ten years. Hotel occupancy rates across Osaka climbed. Attendance surged, and by 2023, Universal Studios Japan recorded 16 million annual visitors -- the highest attendance of any non-Disney theme park on Earth.

On March 18, 2021, USJ opened Super Nintendo World, the park's tenth themed area and the first of its kind anywhere. Developed with deep involvement from Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto -- the creator of Mario -- the land brought the Mushroom Kingdom into three dimensions. Visitors wear Power-Up Bands to interact with physical environments, punching question-mark blocks and collecting virtual coins as they walk through the area. Mario Kart: Koopa's Challenge uses augmented reality headsets to place riders inside a live race through Rainbow Road. Yoshi's Adventure offers a gentler ride through the landscape. In December 2024, the area expanded further with the opening of Donkey Kong Country, the first Donkey Kong attraction in the world, adding jungle-themed rides and experiences to the growing Nintendo footprint.

Universal Studios Japan sits at the center of a hospitality ecosystem. Five official hotels ring the park, from the Hotel Keihan Universal City to the Park Front Hotel. The CityWalk Osaka entertainment district provides dining, shopping, and nightlife steps from the park entrance. Comcast, the American media conglomerate, completed its full acquisition of the park in 2017, making USJ a wholly owned subsidiary and signaling long-term investment in the property's future. The park continues to layer new experiences: seasonal Cool Japan events bring limited-time attractions themed to anime franchises, and a constant rotation of live performances keeps the entertainment schedule fresh. For Osaka, a city long defined by commerce and street food, USJ added a new identity -- that of a world-class entertainment capital.