A common problem travelers face when planning their trip to Universal Studios Japan is opening the official USJ website only to find the Express Pass they want missing for their dates. USJ is one of the busiest theme parks in the world, so it is not surprising that the most popular Express Passes sell out quickly.
Many visitors assume this means a product is permanently sold out. But what most people do not realize is that "sold out" often just means "sold out for now." Express Passes that disappear will often come back on sale days or even weeks later. We have even seen Express Passes marked as "sold out" for "today" briefly become available again. Yes -- you can sometimes buy an Express Pass for "today" while you are already inside the park!
The challenge is knowing when an Express Pass has come back on sale, and being ready to buy the moment it appears so you can grab it before someone else does.
What really happens when an Express Pass "sells out"
At usjalert.com, we monitor Express Pass availability throughout the day which gives us a clear picture of how ticket availability works.
Take December 26, 2025. It is one of the busiest days of the year at Universal Studios Japan. The Universal Express Pass 8: Mine Cart & Minion Blast Special is the most complete option available, so is naturally extremely popular. It sells out quickly and is the go-to option for people who prioritize making the most of their single day at the park.
When we reviewed our tracking data for this date, we saw something that most travelers never notice. After the initial allocation sold out, this Express Pass went through several cycles of returning and selling out again. These restocks happened across a span of only a few days, and each time only a few passes were available. Sometimes they stayed available for a couple of hours, sometimes less.
This pattern is extremely common during peak periods. Availability appears, disappears, and then comes back with no announcement. Someone checking the official site once or twice will likely never see any of these openings.
USJ Alert Pass focuses on exactly these situations. It sends an alert the moment new stock appears, giving travelers the best possible chance to claim an Express Pass before it disappears again.
Can you still buy a "sold out" Express Pass?
Often, yes.
Our continuous monitoring shows that high-demand Express Passes for peak periods frequently come back at least a few times before the visit date, but each restock may last only minutes and include only a handful of passes. Without monitoring, the only option is to refresh the official site repeatedly and check multiple sellers throughout the day.
USJ Alert Pass is built to solve this problem. It monitors Express Pass availability continuously and sends alerts the moment a new batch is available, giving travelers the best possible chance to secure their desired Express Pass for their travel date.
So what does "sold out" really mean?
When an Express Pass does not appear for your date, it usually means one of two things:
- The product has not been released yet for that date.
- The product is currently unavailable, but may receive additional stock later.
The trick is knowing the moment the Express Pass comes back on sale. The USJ Alert Pass is designed to let you know the moment this happens.
How does USJ Alert Pass help me?
USJ Alert Pass is the premium upgrade from usjalert.com that watches Express Pass availability for you. You choose your dates and the Express Passes you care about, and the service sends instant alerts when new stock appears or restocks open up. Instead of refreshing the official site all day, you get a simple notification when it is time to buy.
In conclusion
Express Pass availability changes far more often than most travelers expect. Products that look sold out can return multiple times, sometimes even for the same day. With USJ Alert Pass watching availability for you and notifying you the moment new stock appears, you have the best possible chance to secure the Express Passes you want without constantly refreshing the official site.