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Tokyo Disneyland or Universal Studios Japan, which is better? Poll reveals sharp regional divide

7 Comments
By Dale Roll, SoraNews24

Which would you say is more popular in Japan, Tokyo Disneyland or Universal Studios Japan? All signs would seem to point to Disney, seeing as they’ve got one extra park over USJ, and have countless seasonal foods, events and parades to keep everything fresh and exciting. But USJ is no weak contender either; with its regular rotation of cool anime and video game attractions, its Harry Potter World, and its upcoming Super Nintendo World, we’re hard pressed to say which is better.

But Japanese theme park fans definitely have their favorite, and the preference may actually be regional. Between September 22, 2019 and April 28, 2020, news and information site J-Town Net asked 1,186 people from across Japan whether they liked Tokyo Disneyland or Universal Studios Japan better, and the results indicated a pretty sharp national divide between eastern Japan and western Japan.

▼ A map reflecting which theme park was preferred by the majority of respondents from each prefecture (red for Disney, blue for USJ, and white for prefectures where USJ and Disney were evenly matched)

df-55.png

On a national scale, Disney seemed to win by a small margin, earning 56.8 percent of the votes. But as you can see, most of the people who like Disney seem live in the east, while the USJ fans seem to live primarily in the west. Respondents from 16 prefectures in eastern Japan prefer Disney, and only four USJ, while in the west, 13 prefectures prefer USJ, though Disney puts up a good fight, as it seems to have captured the hearts of seven western prefectures.

Put in percentages, of the respondents from eastern Japan, 61.4 percent preferred Tokyo Disney and 38.6 USJ. In contrast, 56.4 percent of respondents from western Japan said they liked USJ, as opposed to the 43.6 percent of respondents who liked Disney. It’s a fairly sensible result, given that USJ is in Osaka in western Japan, and Disney is just outside of Tokyo, more to the east. Perhaps the proximity of the theme park increases its appeal for visitors. 

The results are similar if you look at the particular prefectures each park is in. Respondents from Chiba prefecture, where Tokyo Disneyland is, overwhelmingly preferred Disney (80 percent), while those in Osaka tended to vote for USJ (69 percent).

As for why the respondents preferred one over the other, the poll didn’t ask. But for that, we can turn to Twitter:

“Personally I think USJ is way more fun than Tokyo Disney. Their 3-D technology is amazing. Plus all the rides are fun.”

“I like Disney Resort better than USJ. USJ doesn’t have any characters I like so I don’t feel any desire to ride the rides.”

“USJ has more rides than Disney. I like the other attractions, too. Does anyone agree?”

“Disney’s cast is so much more amazing, and you can’t see the outside world from inside the park. The food is cheaper and better too, so I wish I lived closer to Disney.”

So what do you think: Tokyo Disneyland or Universal Studios Japan? Have you been to both? If so, which one do you like more? We like them both, and though they’re both currently closed for the safety of the public, we can’t wait to head back when they open up again.

Source: J-Town Net via Nico Nico News via My Game News Flash

Read more stories from SoraNews24.

-- Universal Studios to open theme park in Okinawa, in case you get bored of the beaches

-- Sounds like Universal Studio Japan’s Nintendo zone is going to be huge!

-- Brand-new all-Harry Potter theme park could be opening in Tokyo

© SoraNews24

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

7 Comments
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Neither. I'll save the money a 2 day trip to either requires and go somewhere in SE Asia.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

I had the season pass 10 years ago for USJ but I got burned out fast. I know it has changed a lot but I hear the crowds were getting bad. Growing up in L.A., Universal Studios is attached to the actual studios so you get more of an authentic feel on the tour attraction through movie sets with less crowds.

Tokyo Disneyland is just plain mobbed all the time. HK Disneyland and Paris Disney seemed to be less crowded so I had a blast. I grew up on Anaheim Disney which TDL is a copy of.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

I would love to go to Disney land and spend as much money as I can.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Which of them gives out free masks and hand gel?

3 ( +3 / -0 )

I had the season pass 10 years ago for USJ but I got burned out fast. I know it has changed a lot but I hear the crowds were getting bad. Growing up in L.A., Universal Studios is attached to the actual studios so you get more of an authentic feel on the tour attraction through movie sets with less crowds.

Tokyo Disneyland is just plain mobbed all the time. HK Disneyland and Paris Disney seemed to be less crowded so I had a blast. I grew up on Anaheim Disney which TDL is a copy of.

I understand you. I'm also from LA, grew up in the Valley. Feel the same way as you. Unlike Anaheim Disney, TDL is more affordable and easier to get to. The food portions are not like Anaheim, but TDL is cleaner and more tamed.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I’m also from California, grew up in the Inland Empire of San Dimas (we have “Raging Waters“ which in itself is a blast, but that’s for a different discussion) when I was a kid, Universal studios was THE MOST boring place you could go to, it just wasn’t exciting, that didn’t change until they built the Universal City Walk in 1993 and when the theater opened back then it was The Cineplex Odeon I was just out of college and that’s when things started to change and Universal with the theaters and new rides and City Walk became the place to hang out and it was always packed, shops and new restaurants galore, great place to take dates out on. USJ is pretty good, very clean, more quiet, everything is like in the States except it’s all more quiet and doesn’t have a party atmosphere like in LA or Florida, but it’s still fun.

As far as the Magic Kingdom is concerned, for me, DL is Anaheim and I’ve visited all the other parks, yeah, TDL is a bit cleaner, but for me, the original is the best, old school! Watched how the park transformed all those years so there’s definitely a bit of nostalgia that I feel with our DL. The others are ok, but that’s about it for me at least.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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