OSAKA -- The power of Hollywood arrived in Osaka on Saturday as the Universal Studios Japan theme park opened its doors to the public.

Despite the cold and rain, thousands of people -- some of whom had waited all night -- were on hand when the park in Konohana Ward officially opened its gates just before 8 a.m.

"We arrived at around 10 p.m. last night to make sure we could get on the rides," said 19-year-old Shoko Ikejima, who came with three friends from the city of Sakai in the prefecture.