A special website detailing Super Nintendo World attractions is now live, with additional information on tours, activities, dining options and merchandise that will be available in the new theme area when it launches at Universal Studios Japan in Osaka on February 4. Read on for details, and also be sure to check out our article on how the Super Nintendo World was gamified for even more details on the rides and unlockable achievements that await visitors in the park.
A video presented on the new website shows what visitors can expect from the two tours in the area, including a mock-up of the AR visuals and projection mapping incorporated into the ambitious Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge tour, along with the first concrete glimpses of the O Yoshi’s Adventure tour, which a USJ spokesman described to us as a family attraction for all ages in the style of It’s A Small World, from Disneyland. The website lists some basic principles about each tour, revealing that the duration of each tour will be approximately five minutes, along with useful details, such as height restrictions. Check this article for many more details.
In addition to the previously announced Kinopio Cafe dining area, the new website shows that there will also be Yoshi’s Snack Island food carts in the Nintendo area, serving a calzone filled with Koopa Shell-shaped noodles and flavored with mango and melon lassi drinks . The site also features photos of the two types of popcorn buckets that will be on sale – a Mario Kart bucket with glow-in-the-dark wheels and a totally glowing Super Star bucket. The previously announced 1Up Factory gift shop will also have a second store, Mario Motors.
Regarding COVID-19 countermeasures, the USJ spokesman told us that entry into the Nintendo area will be restricted to avoid overcrowding and that advance registration, available on the USJ application or through an agent, will be required. travel.
The Super Nintendo World is due to open on February 4. However, while COVID-19 numbers in Japan remain considerably lower than in the United States and much of Europe, a recent steady increase in cases has led to the declaration of a state of emergency in Tokyo and some neighboring city halls, starting in January 8 and lasting up to a month. Although Osaka is not currently included in the list of affected prefectures, the USJ spokesman noted that the opening date is currently under internal discussion.
Either way, Japan is not granting tourist visas until further notice, so if you plan on visiting the Super Nintendo World, you may have to wait. At least the new website will help you plan when you get there.
To learn more about the Super Nintendo World, check out the recently unveiled map of the area and some of the exclusive products for sale in the park, a guided tour by Mario Shigeru Miyamoto creator and the Mario-themed cafe and shop at USJ.
Daniel Robson is chief editor of IGN Japan. Follow him on Twitter for a glimpse of life and games in Tokyo.