Universal Studios You can go from the ocean! Shuttle Cruisers "Captain Line "

The Captain LIne is a shuttle cruise connecting USJ with the Kaiyukan West Pier by the Osaka Aquarium via sea. One way trip to Universal City takes approximately 10 minutes. Once there, reaching USJ proper is a matter of a 5 minute walk.
The Kaiyukan West Pier is located in the Oska Bay Area, right next to the Kaiyukan Aquarium and the Tempozan Harbor, home to the Tempozan Market and Tempozan Ferris Wheel. There is no shortage of attractions, but when it comes to it they fade in comparison with USJ. The popular lands and attractions dedicated to famous franchises like Harry Potter, Spiderman, Minions, Jurassic Park or the Super Nintendo World attract countless visitors of all ranges. Whether solo visitors, couples or families, anyone can enjoy a day at the USJ. Right next to USJ there is the Universal Citywalk Osaka, condensing the essence of Osaka into a compact area for the visitors to enjoy. Featuring many restaurants, shops and even shows, it complements nicely a visit to USJ. Among the attractions of the Citywalk is the Takoyaki Museum, for those interested in this staple of Osaka cuisine. If the official USJ hotel is a bit pricey, staying over in the Bay Area and visiting USJ via the Captain Line is an excellent, budget friendly alternative.

Taking the JR train or the highway is the most common way visitors come to USJ, however that also means those are also the most crowded and busy routes. Especially on weekends and holidays, or during the summer holidays it can be quite a hassle to get to USJ in the first place, but not with the Captain Line. On top of being quite enjoyable on its own, the cruise takes you to USJ quickly and comfortably. Plus, the sight of USJ coming ever closer is quite exciting! The boat has a total capacity of 146 passengers and in peak season it sets sail every 30 minutes.
However please be advised that operating hours may differ depending on season as well as business hours of either the Kaiyukan Aquarium or USJ, so please be sure to check in advance on the cruise service website.
There are also discounted tickets available, combining the boat ride with entrance fee to the nearby Kaiyukan Aquarium, an excellent choice for those who would like to enjoy the Bay Area to its fullest. These tickets are available for purchase at the Captain Line ticket booth, Kaiyukan Aquarium, Hotel Kintetsu Universal City, Hotel Keihan Universal City & Tower, Hotel Universal Port and Hotel Universal Port Vita

Get the best of both worlds! The Captain Line connects the Universal Studios and Universal City Walk Osaka area with the Osaka Bay area, famous for the Tempozan Marketplace and Kaiyukan, one of the world's largest aquariums.
At Universal Studios, you can enjoy countless popular attractions and activities based on popular franchises. The adjacent Universal CityWalk Osaka is an entertainment-type commercial complex with many restaurants and shops, a great place for souvenir hunting. The popular "551 Horai", the famous "Pomu no Ki" omelet rice restaurant, and the okonomiyaki restaurant "Fugetsu USA" are all great spots to enjoy a bit of local cuisine. Takoyaki Park, a collaboration of six famous Osaka specialty takoyaki restaurants, is especially recommended!
The Bay Area is home not just to the Kaiyukan Aquarium, but also to the Tempozan Ferris Wheel, Tempozan Harborland with the Market, Japan’s smallest man-made mountain and the Tempozan Park. Combined, both areas offer countless opportunities to spend an exciting fun day, so staying over at either of them is highly recommended. As a rule of the thumb accommodation tends to be more budget friendly in the Bay Area. Coupled with ease of access to USJ via sea it definitely is a smart choice.

The boat fare for an adult is 800 JPY for one way and 1500 JPY for a return ticket, whereas the discount ticket combining the cruise with the entrance fee to the Kaiyukan Aquarium costs 2900 JPY and 3600 JPY respectively. Considering the fact that the entrance fee to the aquarium on its own costs 2400 JPY per adult person, the combined ticket is quite a decent deal. However, the deal gets even sweeter. If you present the ticket at the Tempozan Marketplace Information Center, you will be given a discount voucher for the gourmet court of the Tempozan Market. Plus, you can get a 100 JPY off of the Tempozan Ferris Wheel ride fare as well!
Or how about a 10% discount on food and drinks at the Kintetsu Epoch or Seagull hotels? Epoch offers Swedish buffet style dining, whereas the Seagull is famous for the free shuttle bus service to Kansai Airport, both great options for a stay.
You can also get 100 JPY off at the Rex Cafe in the Universal Port Hotel, or a 10% discount at the official USJ restaurant Port Dining. As said above the combined ticket on its own is quite a deal, but if you make use of the other perks and discounts we have listed it really makes a difference.
There are also other types of combined tickets, for example the one combining a cruise on the Santa Maria sail ship (1600 JPY per adult) with a one way trip via the Captain Line (800 JPY) at 2200 JPY, or the one offering a roundtrip on the Captain Line (1500 JPY) with an entrance ticket to Legoland (1800 JPY) located at the Tempozan Harbor Land for a total sum of 3200 JPY. The more you use it the more you save, making it a really good investment if you plan to get the most of the two areas.

The Captain Line might not be the biggest cruise boat out there but it comes equipped with a ramp for prams and wheelchairs, making it accessible to the young and old alike. Even though the cruise takes only 10 minutes, the boat is equipped with restrooms, seats and even air conditioning, guaranteeing a comfortable experience. The boat may gently sway upon setting sail and docking, however the cruise itself is actually very smooth. The total capacity may differ depending on the boat type, but in general up to 146 or 300 passengers may board at the same time. If you don’t manage to grab a seat there are benches and standing zones with tables on the upper deck, offering an excellent view as you approach USJ in the distance. The cruise passes underneath the 45m tall Tempozan Bridge, offering quite a thrilling experience on its own. In the distance you can see the cityscape of Osaka with its skyscrapers and famous spots, a perfect opportunity for a snapshot to commemorate your trip. Once you reach USJ, spend a fun day with the countless attractions, before setting sail back to the Bay Area and visiting the aquarium for a special nightly feature or riding the illuminated Ferris wheel for an amazing view of Osaka at night.

The Captain Line connects two popular areas of Osaka with plenty of attractions in both. On one hand you have the Universal Studios Japan theme park, with world-class entertainment, guaranteeing a full day of fun with its attractions and sights. On the other you have the Osaka Bay Area with one of the world's largest aquariums, where you can see large whale sharks among other peculiar marine wildlife. The aquarium has a special nighttime feature starting at 17:00, creating a very different atmosphere compared to the daytime experience.
You can also ride the Tempozan Giant Ferris Wheel, enjoy shopping and gourmet food at Tempozan Marketplace, eat your fill of Osaka gourmet food at Naniwa Kuishinbo Yokocho in the Marketplace, take the sailing ship Santa Maria for a sightseeing tour of the Osaka Bay Area from the sea, and enjoy the seasonal scenery and night view at Tempozan Park. Thanks to the Captain Line, it is quite easy to enjoy USJ during the day and Osaka Bay Area after dark.

Venue Name: Captain Line
Business Hours: 9:15 - 21:15 (may vary due to circumstances)
Phone Number: 06-6573-8222
Regular Closing Days: On days when USJ/Aquarium is closed, also in bad weather.
Address: 〒552-0022 Osaka, Minato Ward, Kaigandori 1-5-37
Access: Osakako Station on the Chuo Line, City bus headed for Tempozan Harbor Village
From Universal City Port take the JR Sakurajima Line to Universal City Station

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