Universal Studios Japan to invest up to ¥300 billion in new attractions on Osaka site

Universal Studios Japan plans to spend ¥200 billion to ¥300 billion (S$1.26 billion to S$1.88 billion) to build new attractions on a 60,000 sqm site adjacent to the park, the Nikkei newspaper reported on 28 Aug. The expansion, the park's first since opening in 2001, aims to lift annual attendance be

Universal Studios Japan is preparing to undertake a major expansion, with investment expected to total between ¥200 billion and ¥300 billion (S$1.26 billion to S$1.88 billion), the Nikkei newspaper reported on Friday.

Universal Japan plans to use a 60,000-square-metre site adjacent to the theme park to build new attractions, marking the first time the venue has grown its footprint since it opened in 2001, the report said.

Universal Japan aims to boost its annual attendance above the current 16 million visitors, already the highest among the country's theme parks, as more overseas tourists visit Japan, Nikkei said.

Nikkei added that Universal Japan will extend its grounds on to a former Nippon Steel factory site north of its current property, with the park's operator expected to sign a lease agreement with the Osaka municipal government around 2028 for the portion of the site owned by the city.

Universal's parent company Comcast did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment.