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The first thing most people notice in Donkey Kong Country is the noise. Super Nintendo World is a cheerful racket of coin chimes and theme tunes, but the jungle setting of Donkey Kong Country brings a different mood, with a mine cart coaster running through the Golden Temple. It is the newest part of Super Nintendo World, and getting into it takes a little planning.
This guide covers Donkey Kong Country at USJ properly: what is in the area, what Mine Cart Madness is like and who can ride it, how entry works in late 2026, which Express Passes include the ride and whether they are worth the money, and how to fit it into a day at the park. If you are new to the Nintendo area as a whole, read our Super Nintendo World guide alongside this one; it covers Mario Kart, Yoshi’s Adventure and the rest of the land in detail.
Donkey Kong Country in brief
Donkey Kong Country opened on 11 December 2024 as an expansion of Super Nintendo World, which itself opened at USJ in 2021. According to USJ, the new area made Super Nintendo World 70% bigger, and the park bills it as the world’s first Donkey Kong area. It is not a separate land with its own gate from the park: you reach it through Super Nintendo World, and the same entry rules apply.
Here is what USJ lists in the area:
- Mine Cart Madness: the ride, housed in the Golden Temple. Its Japanese name is Donkey Kong no Kureiji Torokko (Donkey Kong’s Crazy Mine Cart).
- The Golden Temple: the carved stone centrepiece of the area, and the setting for the ride’s story.
- Power-Up Band Key Challenges: interactive play spots that work with the wristband sold in Super Nintendo World.
- Jungle Beat Shakes: a quick-service sweets stand.
- Funky’s Fly ‘n’ Buy: a merchandise shop run, in the story, by Funky Kong.
- Meet-ups and photo spots: a meet-and-greet with Donkey Kong himself, a Donkey Kong photo spot and an on-ride photo for Mine Cart Madness.
The area is compact. Without the ride, you can walk through it, take photos and buy a sundae in twenty minutes. With the ride, how long you spend depends almost entirely on the queue.
Mine Cart Madness: what the ride is like
USJ describes a mine cart ride through the mines with Donkey Kong and his friends, setting off from the Golden Temple.
The practical details, from USJ’s ride page:
- Length: about two minutes.
- Cars: four riders per car, in two rows of two.
- Thrill level: USJ warns that you may get wet. Its safety page lists sudden acceleration, sudden drops and climbs, rolling motion, and fog and mist effects.
Is it scary? USJ’s safety page lists sudden acceleration, drops and rolling motion, so judge by your group. Children who have just cleared the height limit can find a fast coaster intense, so think twice before committing. Our verdict: a good pick for families with older children who like Nintendo games.
Height and health rules
- Riders must be at least 107 cm tall.
- Riders from 107 cm to under 122 cm must ride with a supervising companion, who must be junior high school age or older. From 122 cm, you can ride alone.
- USJ advises against riding if you are pregnant, or have heart conditions, back or neck problems, motion sickness or a fear of heights; read the full list on USJ’s ride requirements page.
- Umbrellas are not allowed, and assistance dogs cannot ride. Check USJ’s accessibility guidance for other needs.
Ride rules change from time to time, so check the ride page in the official USJ app on the day. Loose items are a real risk on a ride with this much motion; use the lockers or a zipped bag.
How to get into Donkey Kong Country in late 2026
This is the part that catches people out. Buying a park ticket does not guarantee you can enter Super Nintendo World on busy days, and Donkey Kong Country sits inside it. USJ’s pages for Super Nintendo World, Donkey Kong Country and Mine Cart Madness all carry the same notice: depending on the day, you may need an Area Timed Entry Ticket or a Standby Entry Ticket to enter.
The three ways in
- A free Area Timed Entry Ticket from the app. Since 5 January 2026, you must use the official USJ app to get these on the day. Once you are inside the park, the app offers entry windows; take the earliest one you can. When those run out, the app may offer Standby Entry Tickets, which put you in a virtual queue for any spare capacity.
- An Area Timed Entry Ticket bought in advance. USJ also sells an advance-booking version on some days. It is the safest option without an Express Pass, at an extra cost.
- An Express Pass that includes the area. Several Express Passes include Mine Cart Madness, and USJ groups some passes under its area-entry-guaranteed tickets. The details are below.
USJ says these tickets may or may not be required depending on the conditions on the day. Do not count on walk-in access, especially on weekends and holidays.
Set up the app before your trip. Download it, link your park tickets, and make sure every member of your group’s tickets is linked, because entry tickets are issued per person. Our Super Nintendo World guide has a step-by-step section on getting the app ready.
Express Passes that include Mine Cart Madness
USJ’s Express Pass line-up changes through the year. USJ’s Japanese pass page lists these example passes. Every Express Pass needs a separate park ticket; prices start at the figures shown and vary by date.
| Pass | Includes Mine Cart Madness? | Other rides | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| Express Pass 7: Mine Cart & Selection | Yes | Mario Kart, Yoshi’s Adventure, Forbidden Journey, Flight of the Hippogriff, Flying Dinosaur or Minion Mayhem, JAWS or Jurassic Park | ¥21,800 |
| Express Pass 4: Mine Cart & Jurassic Park | Yes | Yoshi’s Adventure, Minion Mayhem, JAWS or Jurassic Park | ¥14,800 |
| Express Pass 4: Minion & Hollywood Dream | Yes | Forbidden Journey, Minion Mayhem, Hollywood Dream or JAWS | ¥16,800 |
| Express Pass 5: Adventure Special | No | Mario Kart, Yoshi’s Adventure, Hollywood Dream, Flying Dinosaur, Minion Mayhem | ¥18,900 |
Three things to check on the pass page before you pay. First, whether it includes guaranteed entry to the Super Nintendo World area, not just the rides; USJ shows this on each pass. Second, the time slot for each ride, which you choose when you buy. Third, the ride’s maintenance schedule: USJ sells Express Passes at the regular price while rides are closed for maintenance, so look at the closure calendar for your date. Passes go on sale about two months before each date and sell out for busy days. Our Express Pass guide explains how the system works, and the USJ tickets guide covers the park ticket you also need.
Is an Express Pass worth it for Donkey Kong Country? On a weekend, a public holiday or any day in the Christmas season, it is worth considering if Mine Cart Madness is high on your list, because it covers both the entry gamble and the ride queue. On a quiet weekday outside school holidays, you may manage without one if you get into the park early and take the first timed entry window the app offers.
The VIP option
USJ’s ride page lists VIP priority service for Mine Cart Madness, as part of the park’s guided VIP experiences. These are sold on USJ’s Japanese VIP pages; check what the current tour includes before booking.
The Power-Up Band: worth it for Donkey Kong Country?
The Power-Up Band is the wristband that turns Super Nintendo World into a game. Tap it on blocks around the land to collect virtual coins, and use it to play the Key Challenges, short interactive games that earn you keys. Donkey Kong Country has its own play spots for the band. The band costs ¥5,600 including tax for the standard design on USJ’s online store, and it is also sold at a cart in front of Super Star Plaza. You do not need the app to use it, and it also works as an amiibo.
Two limits are worth knowing. The band does not get you into the area, and it does not get you on any ride faster. The Key Challenges also have their own queues on busy days. For a child who loves Nintendo games, one band per child is a genuinely good use of money and keeps them busy between rides. For adults on a tight schedule, skip it: the ride is the reason to come to Donkey Kong Country, and the band does not help you ride it. Until 11 January 2027, the current Key Challenge is the 5th-anniversary “Invincible Together”, and the Bowser Jr. showdown is recommended for ages five and up.
Eating, shopping and meeting Donkey Kong
Jungle Beat Shakes is the area’s snack stop, and its DK Crush Sundae, tropical banana flavour, costs ¥1,500, or ¥2,200 with a souvenir mug (USJ’s listed price). It is a fun treat, but there is no full meal in Donkey Kong Country itself. For lunch, Kinopio’s Cafe elsewhere in Super Nintendo World is the themed option, and our USJ guide covers places to eat across the park.
Funky’s Fly ‘n’ Buy sells Donkey Kong merchandise. If you just want a plush or a keyring, buy it here on your way out.
The Donkey Kong meet-up is part of the land’s character greetings, alongside Mario, Luigi, Peach and Toad. The 5th anniversary began on 18 March 2026 and runs until 11 January 2027, with anniversary meet-ups; see USJ’s meet-up page for who appears. Queues for character greetings can be long.
Visiting between November 2026 and January 2027
The winter months are busy at USJ, with plenty happening and several closures to plan around:
- Super Nintendo World 5th anniversary: until 11 January 2027, with special meet-ups, more Yoshi colours in the Yoshi meet-up from 10 September 2026, and the anniversary Key Challenge.
- Christmas: USJ’s winter season, Universal Holiday Wonders, runs until 17 January 2027. Our USJ seasonal events guide has the details.
- Holiday Kids Free Pass: from 13 November to 30 December 2026, USJ sells a ticket that lets one child in free with a paying adult. Good value for families, but it also means busy days.
- Closures elsewhere in the park: USJ’s closure calendar lists WaterWorld from 28 November to 25 December 2026, Space Fantasy – The Ride until 24 January 2027, and Jurassic Park – The Ride from 9 to 22 January 2027. Mine Cart Madness is not on the list for this period, but check the calendar for your date.
Christmas week, New Year and the January school holidays are typically very busy. If you can choose, a weekday in November or early December is usually calmer than the holidays.
A simple plan for Donkey Kong Country
USJ’s opening hours vary by date, so check the official schedule in the app before you go and plan to be at the gates well before opening. Then:
- With an Express Pass: you choose the ride times when you buy. Do the rest of the park freely and turn up at Super Nintendo World a few minutes before your slot. Ride Mine Cart Madness, then explore Donkey Kong Country and the rest of the land while you are inside.
- Without an Express Pass: as soon as you are through the turnstiles, open the app and take the earliest Area Timed Entry window offered. While you wait for your window, ride elsewhere: the Wizarding World is a sensible first stop. Once inside Super Nintendo World, head straight for Mine Cart Madness, because it is the area’s newest ride, then double back for Mario Kart and Yoshi.
- Check the live wait: the app shows current waiting times for every ride. If Mine Cart Madness is unusually long when you arrive, do the photo spots and the shop first and look again in twenty minutes.
Allow at least an hour in Donkey Kong Country on a busy day, and more if you plan to do the Key Challenges and the meet-up.
Getting there and park tickets
USJ is in Osaka’s bay area. The nearest station is Universal City on the JR Yumesaki line; from Osaka Station, take the JR Osaka Loop line to Nishikujo and change there, unless you catch one of the trains that run through. JR West has also run trains in Super Nintendo World livery on its Osaka lines.
Park tickets are dated and priced by demand. On USJ’s ticket page, a one-day Studio Pass starts at ¥8,400 for adults, ¥5,500 for children aged 4 to 11 and ¥7,600 for seniors aged 65 and over, with prices depending on the date. Buy from USJ’s official site or an authorised seller, and link the tickets to the app straight away. If you are staying close by, our hotels near USJ guide covers the options, and families should read our USJ with kids guide too.
Donkey Kong Country USJ: FAQ
Do I need a separate ticket for Donkey Kong Country?
Not a separate paid ticket, but on many days you need an Area Timed Entry Ticket or a Standby Entry Ticket to enter Super Nintendo World, which includes Donkey Kong Country. You get these free in the official app on the day, or buy an advance-booking version or a qualifying Express Pass.
What is the height limit for Mine Cart Madness?
107 cm. Riders from 107 cm to under 122 cm must ride with a companion who is junior high school age or older.
Which Express Pass includes Mine Cart Madness?
The Express Pass 7 (Mine Cart & Selection) and both Express Pass 4 options (Mine Cart & Jurassic Park, and Minion & Hollywood Dream) include it. The Express Pass 5 (Adventure Special) does not. Line-ups change, so check before you buy.
How long is the ride?
About two minutes, according to USJ.
Is Mine Cart Madness scary?
It is a coaster with sudden acceleration and drops, and you may get wet. Young children who only just meet the height limit may find it intense, so check the requirements first.
Is there a single rider line?
Check USJ’s single rider page and ask a crew member at the entrance on the day.
Can I meet Donkey Kong?
Yes. USJ lists a meet-up with Donkey Kong in Donkey Kong Country.
Where to go next
Donkey Kong Country is one part of a big day out. Start with our Universal Studios Japan guide for the whole park, then the Super Nintendo World guide for the rest of the Nintendo area. The Express Pass guide and tickets guide will help you decide what to buy. Back in the city, Nintendo fans should not miss Nintendo OSAKA and the other character shops above Osaka Station, covered in our anime and pop culture guide, and Capcom’s new play centre in Abeno, in our CAPCOMIX Osaka guide.
Ride rules, area contents and event dates checked in November 2026 against USJ’s official English and Japanese pages, its online store and press releases. Prices and pass line-ups change by date, so confirm them on USJ’s ticket pages.
Photo Credits
Super Nintendo World: USJ Super Nintendo World overview by Jpatokal, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Donkey Kong Country entrance: Entrance to Donkey Kong Country by Avatar5991, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Power-Up Bands: Power up bands at Super Nintendo World (Universal Studios Japan) by Jonathan Deamer, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Super Nintendo World train: JR-West 323 USJ Super Nintendo World by Mr.ちゅらさん, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
