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Universal Studios Japan Plans to Open 40 Billion Yen Nintendo Attraction Area by 2020
posted on by Crystalyn Hodgkins
Universal Studios Japan and Nintendo announced on Friday that the companies plan to open a Nintendo-themed attraction at Osaka's Universal Studios Japan theme park by the time the Tokyo Olympics are held in 2020.
The two companies plan to build the attraction area to the left of the theme park's front gate (the area pictured in red in the image at right, while the green area is the existing park area). The 40 billion yen (about US$351.5 million) investment project is similar in scope to the "Wizarding World of Harry Potter" attraction that opened at the theme park in July 2014. The new attraction plans to use the popular Nintendo character Mario.
Nintendo had announced last May that it was partnering with Universal Parks & Resorts to bring Nintendo-themed attractions to Universal theme parks in the future. Nintendo stated at the time that the "immersive experiences will include major attractions at Universal's theme parks and will feature Nintendo's most famous characters and games." Nintendo then announced in February that it planned to create attractions at Universal Studios Japan in Osaka.
Universal Studios Japan is currently hosting its second "Universal Cool Japan" attraction until June 26 that features attractions for Evangelion, Monster Hunter, Attack on Titan, Resident Evil, and singer Kyary Kyary Pamyu. The theme park has also recently been holding attractions each summer for One Piece. The park is opening a new "Jurassic Park: The Flying Dinosaur" roller coaster this spring as part of celebrations of the park's 15th anniversary.
Top right image via The Sankei Shimbun
Source: The Sankei Shimbun via My Game News Flash, Hachima Kikō
