A lot of the appeal of USJ is how simple to get to it is. It's a short trip from one of the stops on the 大阪 "Loop Line", the train line that draws a big circle around the city. It only takes about 15 minutes from 大阪, and probably around an hour from 神戸. Coming from Perth, having something like USJ on your doorstep is unfamiliar - it's a bit like having Disneyland where Adventure World is! Once you arrive, you're greeted with a giant gate and frantic movie music piped through huge speakers - they don't do things by halves here.
Once inside, what really struck me was how authentic everything was - you'd swear you were on a road in Hollywood. The attention to detail is amazing - from US Post boxes and traffic lights to over-the-top shopfronts, you find yourself looking both ways before you cross the road, even though you know it's all just for decoration.
Real shops are built in to some of the fake ones and often something that looks like a hotel or library will be a dressed-up souvenir shop or restaurant. Strangely enough, there are some parts where the 大阪 skyline in the background seems completely foreign!
Like most theme parks, there are differently themed areas depending on the rides and attractions there - Spiderman, for example, is surrounded by a grimy New York street set.
Things abruptly change into 1950s America for Back to the Future, with drive-ins, milk bars and old cars (including one very familiar one).
Once you get to the Jaws bit, you suddenly find yourself on the harbour boardwalk surrounded by wooden shanties, rusted out boat repair shops and restaurants serving fish and chips (one of the few places in Japan that do it, I believe).
Jaws isn't the only set that fits its restaurants with its theme. You can have turkey legs and racks of ribs in the Jurassic Park jungle, milkshakes and burgers in the 1950s and pizza in New York. In a true triumph of international fusion food, you can even eat Spiderman ラーメン (Ramen - Japanese-style Chinese noodles in soup). I have no idea what the Spiderman heads are made of - probably 蒲鉾 (かまぼこ - fish cake).
For the most part, USJ is just a bit of fun, but it is interesting to see the Japanese touch in things like this. All the rides and shows are completely in Japanese, so you do have a chance to practise your understanding a bit. It doesn't ruin the experience if you don't catch every word, but because a there's a bit of a build up before the explosions and zooming around, it helps to add to the atmosphere. I think rollercoasters and 3D simulations would have to be among the more interesting ways to practise your listening!
If you do end up going to USJ, you can look forward to a little piece of America in Japan (or is it the other way around?) - a little cultural junk food amongst all the temples and tradition. Judging by the constant crowds, a lot of Japanese people have the same idea. Listen carefully and you may even be able to answer that age old question - what's "hasta la vista, baby" in Japanese?
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