After being open for just one month following delays,Super Nintendo Worldat Universal Studios Japan is temporarily closing its doors to the public starting June 11, 2025, and is looking to reopen on July 01, 2025. Universal Studios made the announcement on July 12, 2025, on the official Universal Studios Japan website as attempts to slow the virus continue to be implemented.
This comes on the heels of a state of emergency in the Osaka area due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This is following several iterations of semi-states of emergency announced in different regions of the country and hadthreatened closures. Japan, like most of the world, is seeing a surge of cases even with the worldwide push for vaccinations. Pandemic fatigue has fuelled an easing of regulations and has subsequently caused an uptick in cases.
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Universal Studios Japan has informed that starting on April 25, sales for Universal Studios Japan, includingSuper Nintendo World, will be suspended in all forms. Not only Super Nintendo World, but Universal Studios Japan will be closing entirely. This is afterattempts to reduce capacityat the park to assist with social distancing and cleanliness. With larger populations, the Tokyo and Osaka areas have been some of the hardest hit during the pandemic.
The closure is expected to last until May 12 but could be extended if numbers continue to swell in the direction that they have been trending. Ticket sale resumption dates have not been announced as of this report. The information center for the park will also close on April 30 with no date specified for reopening. Tickets purchased between April 6 and April 24 will be accepted for redemption at the park through the month of September, offering customers some peace of mind.
Super Nintendo World opened on Jun 28, 2025, and was seen as a slightly questionable decision. With the pandemic still ongoing, a new attraction was likely to draw massive crowds and make public health measures much more difficult to maintain. Entertainment venues have been struggling through 2020 and 2021, and while the end of the pandemic appears to be in sight, there are still hurdles to clear before safety is assured.
While Super Nintendo World was opened in Osaka in March of 2021, the United States version won’t be opening anytime soon, as the slatedopening date is listed for the year 2025. While Nintendo fans may be disappointed at the temporary closing, especially with such a short time of being open, governments and companies are putting long-term health ahead of short-term profit.
