USJ draws record number of visitors

OSAKA: Universal Studios Japan drew a record number of visitors for the third consecutive year in fiscal 2016, helped by anniversary events, while two Disney amusement parks near Tokyo saw their visitor numbers edge down due to unfavorable weather, operators said yesterday.

Universal Studios Japan i n Osaka marked a 5.0% rise from the previous year to 14.6 million for the year that ended last Friday as it held special events to mark its 15th anniversary, USJ Co said.

Its attraction featuring manga characters from weekly comic magazine Shonen Jump, published by Shueisha Inc, also contributed to the rise by drawing more male visitors, the operator said.

The combined number of visitors to Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea, meanwhile, declined 0.6% to 30 million, Oriental Land Co said in a preliminary report.

The operator blamed last summer’s bad weather, including several typhoons, for the fall.