Universal Studios Japan announced plans to invest between 200 billion and 300 billion yen (about $1.26 billion to $1.88 billion) for a major expansion of its Osaka theme park, marking the first growth since it opened in 2001 [1, 2]. Some sources report the investment could reach as high as $2.4 billion, reflecting differing currency conversions [3].
The expansion will add roughly 60,000 square meters of space on land north of the current park, located on a former Nippon Steel factory site [3, 2]. Universal Studios Japan aims to increase annual attendance beyond its current 16 million visitors, which is already the highest for any theme park in Japan [3, 2].
The company’s operator is expected to sign a land lease agreement with Osaka city around 2028 for the site, which is owned by the municipal government [1, 3, 2]. However, a spokesperson for Universal Destinations & Experiences told Reuters that the company has not officially confirmed expansion plans for Universal Studios Japan [3, 2].
The planned expansion would be the biggest change to the park’s footprint in over two decades. The park opened in 2001 and has maintained consistent visitor numbers but had not previously grown its grounds [1, 3, 2]. The addition of new attractions or themed areas on this city-owned site could boost revenues and draw more tourists.
As the agreement with Osaka city is still pending, Universal Studios Japan’s detailed plans and exact investment amount remain unconfirmed. The signing of the land lease is expected around 2028, setting a concrete timeline for the project’s next step [1, 3, 2].
