The Background Music Played at Universal Studios Japan, Vol. 1

Born in Osaka, raised at USJ (?) I, the author, would like to introduce the music that is played at Universal Studios Japan (or as Japanese from Western Japan like to say Univa)! Various kinds of music are played at Univa, and they match the theme of each area. This time, I would like to introduce some of my most memorable songs that are played in Jurassic Park, San Francisco, and WaterWorld!
The park has a wide variety of themed areas on its vast grounds, and the music played in each area is very diverse. Please note that the music introduced here is only a small selection of what you would hear at the park!

■Jurassic Park
- Area is modeled after the Jurassic Park movie series

Speaking of Jurassic Park, many people probably already have the theme in their brains even if they don’t listen to it!

Welcome To Jurassic Park

Theme From Jurassic Park

The Lost World (From "The Lost World: Jurassic Park" Soundtrack)

Just listening to the Theme From Jurassic Park excites me and brings me into their world immediately. It also makes me want to eat turkey...! Dinosaurs lurk near the stand where you can buy turkey legs, but I must warn you if you’re holding one, you might end up inviting the dinosaurs. (;・∀・)

Unfortunately, Jurassic Park the Ride is currently closed (as of December 2023) and it’s expected to undergo renovations until its scheduled reopening in sometime early 2025. Although details of the renovation have not been announced, I expect that it will be an attraction similar to Jurassic World the Ride at Universal Studios Hollywood! There are visual effects and other performances in Hollywood so I expect the ride in Japan to also be really good!

☆Something else I want to share as an added bonus☆

When you go from the San Francisco area to the Jurassic Park area, the feeling changes at once from a harbor town to a green space. These two parks are connected by a bridge with sparkling wind chime sound effects playing. This sound serves as a transition between the two parks! I’ve been going there for years, but I never noticed it until I became more consciously aware of it as I was walking by...

MEINL / CH27 Bar Chimes

■San Francisco Area
- The San Francisco area is a recreation of Chinatown and Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco, USA. This is an area where you can feel like you are in the American port city.

The music playing here is as follows↓

Victorious - Panic! At The Disco

Again - Flyleaf

OneRepublic - Counting Stars

Personally, I think of the many cool rock songs that are played in this area. The area has a good view of the lake, so when I walk around this area listening to the background music, I really feel like I am in an exotic, faraway port town.
It makes you want to walk with some swagger (haha).
There are cafes, Chinese restaurants, and popcorn carts lining the street, so if you’re taking a food break, pay attention to the background music!

■WaterWorld
- Based on the movie Waterworld

The show is worth seeing more than once as you can feel the power of the movie through the full-scale stunts!
You will be splashed with a bucket of water so this show is perfect in the summertime. The seats in the back usually don’t get splashed so you’re safe if you sit there!

This is the song you will hear when you’re in WaterWorld!

Escaping The Smokers - James Newton Howard

This is also the theme that is played when the cast members see you off from the boat on the water after the show, so this is the most memorable song.

The set has letters in various languages when you’re waiting in line, but this one seems to say Coca-Cola in Thai ( ˘-ω-˘ )

What do you think? I have no knowledge or taste in music, so I can’t really say anything about it, BUT... I can say that when I listen to all the music that is played in theme parks, I am brought back to all the good feelings I had when I was there. Whenever I miss Univa, I play the background music from the theme parks and work harder at my job so that I can go back and visit as soon as possible!