Overview
- Nikkei reported that Universal is considering a 200 billion–300 billion yen investment to expand onto a roughly 60,000-square-meter site north of the current Osaka park, but the plan remains unconfirmed.
- Universal Studios Japan issued a statement saying the Nikkei report was not based on any company announcement and a Universal spokesperson told Reuters the company has not confirmed expansion plans.
- The land in question formerly housed a Nippon Steel plant, includes parcels owned by Osaka city, and the current lease on the site expires in 2027 with a municipal lease for parts of the property reportedly possible around 2028.
- If carried out the project would be USJ’s first outward expansion since it opened in 2001 and would increase the resort’s footprint by about 10%, giving room to build new attractions and relieve capacity pressure after 16 million visitors in 2024.
- The report fits into Universal’s recent global growth drive and, if approved, could reshape Osaka’s waterfront redevelopment, create construction and park jobs, and set a multi-year timetable for design and lease negotiations.