Donkey Kong Country now open at Universal Studios Japan; tour the new land with DK’s creator
Donkey Kong Country is now open in Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Japan. Let’s take a look inside with Shigeru Miyamoto, creator of Donkey Kong.
Updated Dec. 11, 2024; original version published Nov. 11, 2024.
Donkey Kong Country officially opened Dec. 11, 2024 at Universal Studios Japan, expanding the park’s Super Nintendo World (which initially opened in 2021 with “Mario Kart” and Yoshi attractions). Guests can now step into DK’s tropical jungle and ride Mine-Cart Madness, a roller coaster with ride vehicles that seem to jump over broken track pieces, a sensation that will be familiar to players of the long-running Donkey Kong video games.
Note: Donkey Kong Country and Mine-Cart Madness are also coming to Universal Orlando at the new Epic Universe park. We’ll check in on Florida’s Donkey Kong Country at the end of this story, but until that point, the info below refers to Mine-Cart Madness in Japan, not Florida.
Donkey Kong Country grand opening in Japan
Happy Opening Day to Donkey Kong Country! Shigeru Miyamoto (representative director and fellow at Nintendo, and creator of Donkey Kong) and J.L. Bonnier (president and CEO of Universal Studios Japan) were both on hand for the grand opening.
Fans arrived on Opening Day of Donkey Kong Country at Universal Studios Japan clad in their DK best.
Of the grand opening, Mr. Miyamoto said:
The jungle beyond this tunnel is full of our passion, which we worked hard together with Universal Studios Japan and the Universal Creative teams. There are many elements throughout the land where you can find gameplay and design from the world of Donkey Kong, such as a mine cart-themed coaster that is thrilling but enjoyable to children and an activity where you can meet Rambi the rhinoceros. I believe it is a land that can be enjoyed by the whole family.
The opening of this area with so many surprises and discoveries was possible through the strong partnership between Nintendo and Universal.
Super Nintendo World now includes the world of Donkey Kong in addition to the world of Super Mario. Please have a wonderful experience with your friends and family and create fun memories!
As a reminder, a timed entry ticket is required to enter Super Nintendo World.
The imagery below is real life, not computer renderings. Welcome to the jungle indeed!
Donkey Kong walk-around character
The “real” Donkey Kong greets guests at his home in Universal Studios Japan. This marks Donkey Kong’s debut as a walk-around character debut in any Universal theme park.
Animatronics of Cranky Kong and Squawks
Shortly before boarding the Mine-Cart Madness roller coaster, riders will encounter Cranky Kong and Squawks as robotic figures. Turns out we have an important task to accomplish, as Cranky Kong instructs riders:
“Please board the mine carts up ahead, chase the Tiki Tak Tribe away from the Golden Temple, and protect the Golden Banana! I’m counting on you! Whether or not the Golden Banana can be protected depends on all of you!”
This incidentally confirms that guests are first-person characters within the story of the ride themselves, rather than passive observers. This is the case with many Universal attractions: for example, onboard Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts in Florida, we, the riders, are “opening a bank account.” Here in Donkey Kong Country, we’re enlisted to protect the Golden Banana.
Exclusive sundae and hot dog at Jungle Beat Shakes
The snack hut in Donkey Kong Land is called Jungle Beat Shakes, and it’s where Universal Studios Japan guests can find two uniquely themed menu items.
The DK Crush Sundae is “inspired by the way Donkey Kong throws barrels — and how they break — in the games,” Mr. Miyamoto said.
As a savory option, Jungle Beat will also sell the DK Wild Hot Dog with avocado sauce.
A mini-game that unlocks an animatronic
Shigeru Miyamoto detailed a three-player mini-game guests can take on in Donkey Kong Country. Approaching a trio of drums, guests work together to match the beat of drums with a series of lights. When they succeed, Rambi the rhino appears from within a crate as an animatronic!
Guests can also purchase a Power-Up Band to search for the letters “K,” “O,” “N,” and “G” throughout the area, but this had been previously shared prior to the Nintendo Direct stream.
DK’s footprints in Donkey Kong Country
Details abound in the architectural details of Donkey Kong Country including below your feet. Look down as you approach Mine-Cart Madness to see Donkey Kong’s footprints leading the way toward the Golden Temple.
Murals in the Mine-Cart Madness queue
Murals populate the walls throughout the Mine-Cart Madness queue. They depict primates worshiping the sacred Golden Banana — and a reference to the original Donkey Kong video game.
The portal between Super Mario Land and Donkey Kong Country at Universal Studios Japan
Guests access Donkey Kong Country by stepping through a portal from within the existing Super Mario Land area of Super Nintendo World. Within the portal, bricks transition to rocks as guests go from Mario to DK. Here’s a peek at the portal pathway:
Donkey Kong merchandise at Funky’s Fly ‘n’ Buy
Mr. Miyamoto shared a first look inside Funky’s Fly ‘n’ Buy, the retail location of Donkey Kong Country, where guests can stock up on merchandise like plushies, keychains, and headbands.
Here’s a look at some other merchandise Universal unveiled in 2023:
Meanwhile, at Epic Universe
A version of Donkey Kong Country and Mine-Cart Madness will also open in Orlando, Fla. on May 22, 2025 as part of the new Universal Epic Universe theme park. Many elements of the Florida version are similar, if not identical, to their counterparts in Japan. Here’s a recent look at construction progress from aerial photographer bioreconstruct:
A version of Super Nintendo World opened at Universal Studios Hollywood in California in 2023. There are no announced plans to build Donkey Kong Country in California, nor is there visible construction indicating such plans.
Watch Mr. Miyamoto’s full tour of Donkey Kong Country in Japan
Watch Shigeru Miyamoto’s Donkey Kong Country tour at Universal Studios Japan in this video:
More Attractions Magazine stories:
Follow us:
Ready for adventure? Our trusted partner Universal Fan Travel will handle the planning so you can focus on the fun. They offer free vacation-planning services and have nearly 20 years of experience creating epic vacations. Visit Universal Fan Travel for a fee-free, no-obligation quote today.
