OSAKA - The operator of Universal Studios Japan in Osaka is considering expanding the theme park amid booming inbound tourism, people familiar with the matter said Friday.
The park is hoping to acquire an additional 60,000-square meter lot that would increase its total size by 10 percent. The lot, formerly the site of a Nippon Steel Corp. plant, is currently owned by parties including the Osaka city government.
The current lease contract between the steelmaker and the city expires in 2027 and the operator of USJ is expected to lease the land in what would be the park's first expansion since its opening in 2001.
The 540,000-square meter USJ, known for attractions such as The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, struggled financially in its early years but has since become a popular tourist destination.
It welcomed 16 million visitors in 2024, the third largest among theme parks around the world, according to the Themed Entertainment Association in the United States.
Osaka Mayor Hideyuki Yokoyama said Friday on his social media account that an announcement regarding the city's plan will be made next Thursday.
In 2015, USJ LLC announced it wanted to build another theme park in Okinawa, but the company withdrew the plan later to focus on the existing park.
The firm invested over 60 billion yen ($376 million) in Super Nintendo World, a zone that opened in 2021 featuring Mario and other characters from gaming giant Nintendo Co., attracting many domestic and foreign visitors.
