Universal Studios will open its first amusement park in Japan in Osaka on March 31, the company's Japanese unit said Monday, January 29. The 54 hectare (133.4 acres), facility in Japan's second city is the first Universal Studios theme park to open outside the United States, Universal Studios Japan said in a statement.
Movie studio and entertainment company Universal Studios Inc. operates two other theme parks, in Hollywood and in Florida, which together have attracted more than 100 million visitors.
"Following in the tradition of Universal's Hollywood and Florida theme parks, Universal Studios Japan is a Hollywood movie theme park featuring 18 authentic attractions," USJ said.
Construction work began on the 170 billion yen ($1.45 billion) attraction in Osaka's Konohana waterfront district in October 1998 with Hollywood director Steven Spielberg advising on the movie-based attractions. The attractions include a Jurassic Park Ride, Jaws, and an E.T. Adventure. There would also be new attractions designed specifically for Japan including Woody Woodpecker's Animation Celebration and Snoopy Studios, it said.
Domestic ticket sales will start from February 7, with an all-day pass costing 5,500 yen ($47) for adults and 3,700 yen for children. USJ plans overseas sales initially in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and South Korea at branches of Japanese travel agencies but said it had yet to decide when to start. The theme park is expected to attract eight million people in the year to March 2002, the company said.
USJ is privately-owned, with the Osaka municipal government holding a 25 percent stake and Universal Studios Inc. of the United States 24 percent, while Japanese companies including Sumitomo Metal Industries Ltd., and Hitachi Zosen Corp. have smaller holdings.—(AFP)
© Agence France Presse 2000
© 2001 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
