Super Nintendo World

Super Nintendo World is a theme park area that opened in in Osaka on March 18, 2021. It features attractions, products, and themes mainly based on the Mario franchise. The slogan of Super Nintendo World is "#We Are Mario!! アソビの本能、解き放て！ (Asobi no honnō, tokihanate!, Release your play instinct!)" The area has also been announced to open in, , and.

While visiting the area, attendees can wear a magnetic wristband known as a "Power-Up Band" (originally unhyphenated), which allows them to interact with various features in the area, compete with other attendees, and keep track of scores and items (such as coins and stamps) earned from such activities. The Power-Up Band also connects to the Super Nintendo World section of the official Universal Studios Japan smartphone application found on the App Store and Google Play Store, which contains a map of the area and its key locations, and allows the user to view their rankings and add, remove, and edit bands. Six different designs of the Power-Up Band have been shown so far, all based on emblems of Mario characters: Mario, Luigi, Peach, Daisy, Toad, and Yoshi.

Of the Mario-themed elements present in Super Nintendo World, it features both a Mario Kart-themed attraction titled Mario Kart: Koopa's Challenge and a Yoshi-themed attraction titled Yoshi's Adventure. Peach's Castle, Bowser's Castle, and a red Toad House are also present. In regards to decorative features, many Mario objects can be seen throughout the area (some of which move, such as coins and Cloud Lifts), though much of the environmental aesthetic is based on that of Super Mario 3D World, including the colored, diamond-patterned platforms, Piranha Creeper vine, pyramids from World 2, and most prominently the grassy platforms, which make up a tall, mountain-like structure replicating Mount Beanpole, with a Goal Pole on the summit. Animatronics of various Mario characters and enemies are also present, including Yoshi and a Thwomp. The area's background music also consists of arrangements of various songs from the Mario franchise.

The song "We Are Born to Play", performed by and, was released as a music video to promote Super Nintendo World, which depicts numerous attendees exploring a CGI-animated version of the area with many Mario characters and enemies present.

Entrance
The entrance to Super Nintendo World is a large Warp Pipe leading to the foyer of Peach's Castle, which features the sun design on the floor and the cloud pattern on the ceiling, as well as paintings of Bob-omb Battlefield and Tiny-Huge Island from Super Mario 64. An open doorway leads to the main theme park area. If attendees view the paintings from the doorway, the Bob-omb and the Big Goomba morph into Bowser Jr. holding his Magic Paintbrush and Peach's Golden Mushroom in his Junior Clown Car. "Inside the Castle Walls" can be heard in the background while inside the castle.

Mario Kart: Koopa's Challenge
Mario Kart: Koopa's Challenge, simply referred to as Mario Kart in the Universal Studios Japan app, is an on-rails ride based on the Mario Kart series where attendees race through a course designed by Bowser. It is located inside Bowser's Castle. Attendees are seated in vehicles designed after the Standard Karts from Mario Kart 8, with a steering wheel included with each seat. The ride makes use of, as attendees are equipped with AR headsets with Mario Caps for the duration of the ride. Attendees travel through different environments including an underground area, underwater, a ghost area resembling Twisted Mansion, a sky area resembling Cloudtop Cruise, a volcano area with the Bowser Monument, and Rainbow Road, and items can be used. The ride lasts for approximately five minutes, and each kart can hold up to four people (two rows of two seats).

The foyer of Bowser's Castle features stairs leading up to a large Bowser Statue, while the hall leading to the ride itself features displays of the original eight cups from Mario Kart 8. There is also a large display of the trophy, which is designed after the Universal logo, as well as Bowser's challenge letter next to it that reads:

よく聞け、マリオ！わがはいの城に来い！カートでしょうぶだ！待っているぞ、逃げるなよ！ガーッハッハッハ ''Yoku kike, Mario! Wagahai no shiro ni koi! Kāto de shōbu da! Matteiru zo, nigeru na yo! Gāhhahhahha'' Listen up, Mario! Come to my castle! It's a kart contest! I'll be waiting; don't run away! Gahahaha

The queue winds through two storage rooms adorned with various Mario Kart-themed banners and signs, a Mario Kart TV broadcasting room, Bowser's library, a boiler room that serves as a Bob-omb and Mechakoopa factory where attendees are given their AR headsets, and two Mario Kart TV briefing rooms where Lakitu provides a tutorial for the attraction's interactive elements.

Music that plays in the rooms prior to the actual attraction includes the castle theme from New Super Mario Bros. Wii at the stairs, the castle theme from Super Mario World and "A Boss Approaches" from Super Mario 3D World in the trophy hall, Neo Bowser City's theme from Mario Kart 7 in the storage rooms, "Waltz of the Boos" from Super Mario Galaxy in Bowser's library, Mario Kart TV's theme from Mario Kart 8 in the first briefing room, Electrodrome's theme from Mario Kart 8 in the second briefing room, and Bowser's Castle's theme from Mario Kart Wii in the area after the briefing rooms. In the attraction itself, Twisted Mansion's and Cloudtop Cruise's themes from Mario Kart 8 and Rainbow Road's theme from Mario Kart 64 play in the ghost area, sky area, and Rainbow Road, respectively, while Mario Kart Stadium's theme from Mario Kart 8 plays at the finish line.

Yoshi's Adventure
Yoshi's Adventure is a ride where attendees travel in Yoshi-like vehicles to search for Captain Toad and three "mysterious eggs" using a map. The entrance is a large, yellow Warp Pipe located at the center of Super Nintendo World. The ride lasts for approximately five minutes, and each vehicle can hold up to two people.

The ride first transports attendees over a bridge, then into a Warp Pipe tunnel through a scene with two Yoshis carrying Baby Mario and Baby Peach being pursued by Kamek and some Toadies, with Poochy nodding his head at passing vehicles at the exit. Additionally, another branching path within the pipe tunnel has a view out into space looking at Starship Mario. Exiting the pipe, the Yoshis arrive in a desert and jungle area, and finally to Captain Toad's location at the end of the jungle. The ride's queuing area features designs and murals from Yoshi's New Island.

Music that plays in the attraction includes the main level theme from Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island in the queuing area, the main theme from Yoshi's Story at the bridge, the opening theme from Yoshi's Island in the tunnel, the desert theme from New Super Mario Bros. Wii in the desert area, and "Captain Toad Goes Forth" from Super Mario 3D World in the jungle area.

Power-Up Band Key Challenges
The Power-Up Band Key Challenges are activities found throughout Super Nintendo World that attendees play using the Power-Up Bands to collect keys to help Princess Peach retrieve the Golden Mushroom from Bowser Jr. After collecting three of the five keys, attendees can participate in a boss battle with Bowser Jr. in Bowser Jr. Shadow Showdown.

Each key is guarded by one of Bowser Jr.'s minions. The challenges include:
 * 1) Goomba Crazy Crank: The key for this challenge is guarded by a Goomba.
 * 2) Koopa Troopa POWer Punch: The key for this challenge is guarded by a Koopa Troopa. The challenge involves timing the chain-reaction impact of a series of Red POW Blocks to launch a moving Green Shell at a POW Block with the key on top to collect it. The shell moves left to right while passing through an upside-down T-shaped pipe, and the attendee must physically hit a Red POW Block at the right time so the shell passes over the last Red POW Block when it is activated and launches towards the key. Attendees hold their Power-Up Band in front of a Key Coin reader to start the challenge, and again after they have successfully completed the challenge to claim the key.
 * 3) Piranha Plant Nap Mishap: The key for this challenge is guarded by a red Piranha Creeper.
 * 4) Bob-omb Kaboom Room: The key for this challenge is guarded by a Bob-omb. It is located at the end of the underground maze, after attendees walk through a passageway that gives them the illusion of being shrunk down. As a result of this, the Bob-omb appears giant. The Underground Theme from Super Mario Bros. plays inside the maze.
 * 5) Thwomp Panel Panic: The key for this challenge is guarded by a Thwomp.

Names in other languages

 * Bowser Jr. Shadow Showdown


 * Goomba Crazy Crank


 * Koopa Troopa POWer Punch


 * Piranha Plant Nap Mishap


 * Bob-omb Kaboom Room


 * Thwomp Panel Panic

1-UP Factory
1-UP Factory is the main gift shop of Super Nintendo World. The shop sells various exclusive Mario-themed merchandise and clothing, one of which is Tokotoko Mario, a batteryless Mario toy that walks while it is pushed with either one's hand or a Red Shell-shaped walker.

Mario Motors
Mario Motors, named after the Mario Kart sponsor of the same name, is a gift shop that mostly sells merchandise themed after the Mario Kart series. It is located on the far north side of Super Nintendo World next to Bowser's Castle.

Kinopio's Café
Kinopio's Café is a restaurant run by Toads, with a virtual character named Chef Toad acting as the head chef. The restaurant serves various Mario-themed dishes and drinks, including Mario's Bacon Cheeseburger, the Super Mushroom Pizza Bowl, and the ? Block Tiramisu. The main dining area features designs of various Mario items on the ceiling, as well as a Warp Pipe and Mushroom display at the center. There are also "windows" in the restaurant showing animated videos of Chef Toad talking to attendees and other Toad chefs preparing food. The foyer of Kinopio's Café has two Gift Boxes: a small one and a big one. Attendees can use their Power-Up Band to open one, which may contain an item or coins. "Mount Volbono: Town" from Super Mario Odyssey plays inside Kinopio Café.

Pit Stop Popcorn
Pit Stop Popcorn is a food kiosk themed after the Mario Kart series that sells popcorn. It is located opposite Bowser's Castle.

Yoshi's Snack Island
Yoshi's Snack Island is a food kiosk themed and named after the Yoshi's Island series that sells Yoshi-themed snack food. It is located on the east side of Super Nintendo World.

Merchandise
In Super Nintendo World, general Mario merchandise is mostly sold at 1-UP Factory, while Mario Kart-themed merchandise is mostly sold at Mario Motors.

Characters
Characters from the Mario series are abundant throughout Super Nintendo World. Most of them are animatronics, while others can be found in meet-and-greet areas. So far, the latter kind of characters known are mascots of Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Toad. Attendees can choose to have photo opportunities with the Mario Bros. and Peach in Mario & Luigi Photo Opportunity (Japanese: マリオ＆ルイージ・フォト・オポチュニティ, Mario ando Ruīji Foto Opocuniti) and Princess Peach Photo Opportunity (Japanese: プリンセスピーチ・フォト・オポチュニティ, Purinsesu Pīchi Foto Opocuniti) respectively. Unlike the mascots commonly used for the Mario Bros., Super Nintendo World's Mario and Luigi's costumes have articulated faces, allowing them to move their eyes and mouths. With the exception of Toad, the mascots also can play pre-recorded voice samples.

Development
A partnership between Nintendo and to open a Nintendo theme park area in Universal Studios Japan, Universal Studios Hollywood, and Universal Orlando was first announced on November 29, 2016. On December 12, 2016, Super Nintendo World was officially announced by name, scheduled to open first in Japan in time for the.

On June 8, 2017, construction on the first Super Nintendo World began when Universal Studios Japan held a groundbreaking ceremony, which was attended by Shigeru Miyamoto, Universal Studios Japan CEO J. L. Bonnier, and president Mark Woodbury. A Mario Kart-themed attraction was announced in the ceremony, while a teaser trailer for Super Nintendo World was released the same day.

On April 3, 2019, Super Nintendo World was announced for Universal Studios Singapore by.

During an interview with Universal Parks & Resorts CEO Tom Williams held on September 12, 2019, Williams announced that Super Nintendo World in Japan would open in Spring 2020, and that the Mario Kart ride and a Yoshi ride would be featured in the first phase. Williams also revealed information about a magnetic wristband that attendees would wear and would be used to track scores gained through rides and interactions in the area.

On January 14, 2020, Universal Studios Japan held a "global kick-off presentation event" where many details regarding Super Nintendo World were announced, including the opening now being scheduled for Summer 2020, more details on the function of the wristband (now named the "Power Up Band"), the wristband designs, and the smartphone application. The music video for "We Are Born to Play" was also released the same day.

During a Q4 earnings conference held on January 23, 2020, executives confirmed that Super Nintendo World in Universal Orlando would be part of the upcoming  theme park scheduled to open in 2023. However, due to the, the project was delayed indefinitely. Also as a result of the pandemic, the opening date for Super Nintendo World in Japan was pushed back by a few months.

On October 7, 2020, Super Nintendo World in Japan was announced to open in Spring 2021. In addition, a Mario Café & Store was revealed and announced to open outside of the area on October 16, 2020, ahead of its opening. The exact opening date of February 4 was later announced on November 30, 2020.

On December 18, 2020, Nintendo released the Super Nintendo World Direct. Hosted by Miyamoto, the video toured various parts of the park, including the entrance based off of Peach's Castle, an underground area with Bob-ombs, and Bowser's Castle, as well as 1-UP Factory and Kinopio's Café and the merchandise and food offered. It also showed how Power-Up Bands are used to interact with activities in the park.

On January 14, 2021, the opening was postponed to an unspecified later date as a result of a state of emergency in place in Osaka due to COVID-19. On March 8, 2021, the final opening date was revealed to be March 18, 2021.