What You’ll Learn in This Article
- Hollywood Dream – The Ride and Backdrop song lists for 2026
- Which is scarier: forward-facing or backward-facing?
- Typical wait times and relatively easier times to ride
- Tips for enjoying the music and airtime while reducing fear
Hollywood Dream – The Ride, commonly known as Haridori is an outdoor roller coaster that races high above USJ while surrounding you with music. Riders can choose one favorite from five songs.
In July 2026, the forward-facing ride features story rides based on One Piece, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, and Jujutsu Kaisen, along with the 25th-anniversary theme song. The backward-running Backdrop has a different lineup, including past anniversary songs brought back to celebrate USJ’s 25th anniversary.
First-time riders and anyone who is not comfortable with roller coasters may find the forward-facing version easier because they can see where the train is going. On Backdrop, you cannot see the next drop or turn, making the same track feel more unpredictable and intense.
- The forward-facing ride and Backdrop offer different song selections
- One Piece arrives on TRACK 2 on July 30, 2026
- If you are not comfortable with thrill rides, start with the forward-facing version
- Backdrop usually has a longer wait than the forward-facing ride
Hollywood Dream – The Ride Song List: Starting July 30, 2026
On the forward-facing Hollywood Dream – The Ride, each rider can choose one song from five tracks.
The following songs are available starting July 30, 2026.
- DREAM TRACK 1: “Osaka LOVER – special edition for USJ –” / DREAMS COME TRUE
- DREAM TRACK 2: “One Piece × Story Ride” / July 30–November 19, 2026
- DREAM TRACK 3: “Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End × Story Ride – Journey by Carriage with a Bird Monster –” / Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
- DREAM TRACK 4: “Jujutsu Kaisen × Story Ride – The Sorcerers After Their Mission –” / Jujutsu Kaisen
- DREAM TRACK 5: “Destiny Journeys” / Vaundy
Through July 29, 2026, TRACK 2 features “Shake It Off” by Taylor Swift. On July 30, it switches to “One Piece × Story Ride.”
The song lineup may change without notice. If your visit is well after this article’s update date, check the queue information and USJ’s official page on the day of your visit.
Which Song Is Recommended in 2026?
For first-time riders, “Osaka LOVER – special edition for USJ –” is an easy choice.
This special version was created for Hollywood Dream – The Ride. The music’s crescendos line up with the coaster’s movement, delivering the refreshing sensation that defines the attraction.
Fans of One Piece, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, or Jujutsu Kaisen should choose a story ride. Hearing the characters’ voices right by your ears while racing along creates the feeling of jumping into the story rather than simply listening to music.
For a special taste of USJ’s 25th anniversary, Vaundy’s “Destiny Journeys” is an excellent choice. It works especially well at the start of your day in the park or during a nighttime ride through the illuminated scenery.
Choose Your Song Before Boarding
You can select a song only between the time the safety restraint is lowered and the train departs. Decide on the track number while waiting so you are not still choosing after you sit down.
You cannot change songs during the ride. If you want to share the excitement with friends, agree on the same song while you wait so it is easier to compare reactions afterward.
Check the Latest Hollywood Dream – The Ride Songs on USJ’s Official Site
Backdrop Song List: July 2026
Backdrop also lets you choose from five songs, but its lineup differs from the forward-facing Hollywood Dream – The Ride.
- DREAM TRACK 1: “Osaka LOVER – special edition for USJ –” / DREAMS COME TRUE
- DREAM TRACK 2: “Shake It Off” / Taylor Swift
- DREAM TRACK 3: “Happily” / One Direction
- DREAM TRACK 4: “Happy” / Pharrell Williams
- DREAM TRACK 5: “On Our Way” / The Royal Concept
From July 1 through November 30, 2026, “On Our Way,” a favorite from USJ’s 15th-anniversary era, returns as part of the 25th-anniversary celebration.
Its fast, upbeat sound is a good match for riders who want to enjoy Backdrop’s unseen twists and drops with a bright, energetic mood.
The One Piece, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, and Jujutsu Kaisen story rides are available only on the forward-facing version. They cannot be experienced on Backdrop, so choose the forward-facing queue at the split if the collaboration is your main reason for riding.
Check the Latest Backdrop Songs
Hollywood Dream – The Ride vs. Backdrop: Which Is Scarier?
Hollywood Dream – The Ride has a white train that travels forward and a red Backdrop train with seats facing backward.
Both use the same track, but whether you can see where you are going greatly changes how the drops and airtime feel.
Forward-Facing Hollywood Dream – The Ride
You can see the direction of travel and the next drop, giving you time to prepare mentally.
You will still feel the height and speed, but the combination of music, scenery, and airtime makes it an exhilarating coaster rather than one that is only scary.
First-time riders and anyone deciding between the two versions will usually find it easier to begin with the forward-facing ride.
Backward-Facing Backdrop
Because you travel backward, you cannot see when the train will drop or which way it will turn next.
Even if you have ridden the forward-facing version, the direction in which your body is pulled and the sensation of airtime are different, so it can feel like an entirely different coaster.
It is best suited to riders who enjoy unpredictable thrills.
Most people tend to find Backdrop scarier, although fear is highly individual.
The forward-facing ride emphasizes the fear of seeing the height and the ground, while Backdrop emphasizes the fear of not knowing where the train is headed. The scarier option may differ depending on whether you dislike heights or unpredictable motion more.
What Makes Hollywood Dream – The Ride Scary?
The highest point is 43 meters. In addition to the first major drop, the course includes repeated moments of airtime that can make you feel as though your body is lifting out of the seat.
The seats are designed so your feet do not touch the floor, and that open feeling beneath your legs adds to the thrill.
At the same time, the loud rattling and harsh side-to-side shaking associated with older roller coasters are reduced. The speed and airtime are strong, but the ride itself is smooth.
Tips for Making the Ride Less Scary If You Dislike Roller Coasters
If you are afraid of dropping from a great height or dislike the floating feeling in your stomach, try the following riding techniques.
- Keep your eyes open and look ahead or toward distant scenery
- Do not hold your breath; shout during the drop
- Avoid tensing your shoulders and legs too much
- Choose a bright, familiar song
- For your first ride, choose the forward-facing version
Keep Your Eyes Open and Look Far Ahead
Fear may make you want to close your eyes, but not knowing what comes next can increase anxiety.
On the forward-facing first drop, look toward the distant USJ official hotels or the sky instead of staring at the ground directly below. This can help you ride without focusing too intensely on the height.
Breathe and Shout Instead of Holding Your Breath
Holding your breath and stiffening your body before the drop can keep you tense for longer.
Shouting as the train drops makes it easier to keep breathing and can help you enjoy the shared excitement of the music and your friends.
Let the Seat Support Your Body
Rather than bracing continuously through your legs and shoulders, let the seat support you. This helps your body move with the coaster’s smooth motion.
Do not try to adjust the safety restraint yourself. Ride in the position instructed by the crew.
Focus on a Fun Song
A familiar or upbeat song is a good choice for anyone who is not comfortable with intense rides.
Choose the same song as your friends and share your reactions to the chorus and major ride moments afterward. This can turn the memory from simply “scary” into something you enjoyed together.
Hollywood Dream – The Ride Wait Times: Is Backdrop Longer?
Hollywood Dream – The Ride is close to the park entrance and is a popular attraction for guests seeking its music and limited-time collaborations.
Based on past crowd patterns, the forward-facing ride may have waits of roughly 40–120 minutes on weekdays and 60–180 minutes on weekends and public holidays.
These are not fixed wait times. Attendance, weather, the number of trains in operation, and temporary closures can cause major changes.
Backdrop generally has a longer wait because fewer trains run in that configuration. Compare the posted times for the forward-facing ride and Backdrop at the queue entrance before deciding.
Times When the Wait May Be Shorter
If Hollywood Dream – The Ride is your top priority, check the wait time after entering the park and before heading to other attractions.
However, because it is near the entrance, many guests head there immediately after opening on some days. Morning does not always mean a short wait.
Wait times may temporarily decrease when more guests are eating lunch or during major shows and parades. If you prefer not to ride immediately after a meal, check the wait before eating.
Waits can also be shorter at night, but the queue may close early depending on crowds and weather. Do not rely only on the period just before closing; monitor the wait time in the official USJ app.
- Check the initial wait time after entering the park
- Check again during major shows or parades
- Compare the posted times for the forward-facing ride and Backdrop
- Use the forward-facing Single Rider line when available
- Use an eligible Express Pass
【2026】Universal Studios Japan Attraction Wait Times: When Are Lines Shortest?
USJ Crowd Forecast for August 2026: Summer Vacation, Night Events, and Best Days to Visit
Location, Height Requirement, and Ride Duration
Hollywood Dream – The Ride is located along Hollywood Boulevard after you enter USJ.
Hollywood Dream – The Ride Basics
- Location: Hollywood Area
- Type: Outdoor roller coaster
- Ride duration: About 3 minutes
- Capacity: 36 riders, 4 riders × 9 rows
- Height requirement: 132 cm or taller
- Express Pass eligible
- No loose items allowed; metal-detector screening is conducted
Even if you are at least 132 cm tall, you cannot ride unless you can use the seat and safety restraint correctly. A test seat is also available before boarding to check the seat width and restraint fit.
Can You Choose Your Seat? Does the Fear Level Change Between the Front and Back?
In the regular queue and with an Express Pass, you generally cannot choose your seat. You will board the row assigned by a crew member.
The front offers an open view in the direction of travel and a refreshing sensation similar to flying. Because there is no train directly in front of the first row, some riders feel the height more strongly there.
In the ninth and final row, the first drop produces a stronger sensation of being pulled from behind, making it suitable for riders who want more speed and airtime.
If you are not comfortable with thrill rides, a middle row away from the very front and back may feel easier psychologically. However, seats cannot be selected, so enjoy the surprise of whichever row you receive.
Ways to Enjoy Hollywood Dream – The Ride Beyond the Music
The attraction is about more than the thrill of its drops.
You can also enjoy the views across USJ, the shared excitement between riders and guests on the ground, and the changing color of the sky throughout the day.
Take in the Park Views During the Climb
As the forward-facing train climbs toward its first high point, look around to see many different areas of USJ.
In addition to looking ahead, notice the surrounding scenery as much as is comfortable. It reveals a sense of the park’s scale that you do not get while walking at ground level.
Ride During Both the Day and Night
During the day, enjoy an open-air ride beneath the blue sky with views across the entire park.
At night, the neon lights of the Hollywood Area and nearby hotels spread out around you, while the ride’s LEDs glow. Racing through the night scenery like a shooting star gives Hollywood Dream – The Ride a completely different appeal from daytime.
Watch a Nighttime Hollywood Dream – The Ride Video
Watch the Track Switch in the Queue
As you approach the station, you may see the track points switch according to the route of each train.
Rather than treating the queue as nothing but waiting, observe how trains enter the station and how the forward-facing and Backdrop trains move. It is another distinctive way to enjoy the attraction.
Choose the Same Song as Your Friends
When you ride with the same song, you can compare the coaster’s biggest movements and the moments when the music peaked after getting off.
When confident and nervous riders travel together, sharing a favorite series or song also helps keep everyone’s attention from focusing only on fear.
Empty Your Pockets and Store All Belongings Before Riding
You cannot board Hollywood Dream – The Ride while carrying a smartphone, wallet, coins, paper, or other loose items. All belongings, including everything in your pockets, must be left in the designated storage area.
A metal-detector screening is conducted before boarding. Do not leave even light items such as receipts or handkerchiefs in your pockets, as they could fall during the ride.
- Do not bring a smartphone onto the ride
- Empty your pockets completely
- Place all belongings together in the designated area
- Ask a crew member in advance about glasses or shoes that may come off easily
- Do not remove glasses or similar items after boarding
From Boarding to Song Selection
- Place all belongings and pocket contents in your bag
- Put the bag in the storage area with the same number as your assigned boarding row
- Complete the metal screening conducted by the crew
- Sit in the assigned seat and have the safety restraint checked
- Select and confirm the track number on the control panel
There is not much time to choose a song. Decide on the track number before boarding so you can use the panel without rushing.
Hollywood Dream – The Ride Summary
Hollywood Dream – The Ride is an exhilarating roller coaster that combines music, speed, airtime, and views across USJ.
Starting July 30, 2026, TRACK 2 on the forward-facing ride features “One Piece × Story Ride.” You can also enjoy story rides based on Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End and Jujutsu Kaisen, as well as the 25th-anniversary theme song “Destiny Journeys.”
Backdrop offers five different choices from the forward-facing ride, including “On Our Way.” Choose the forward-facing version for collaboration experiences, or Backdrop for unpredictable thrills.
If roller coasters are not your strength, begin with the forward-facing ride, look toward the distant scenery, and focus on your favorite song. Beyond the fear, you may discover the open sensation of flying through the sky above USJ like a bird.
How Scary Is The Flying Dinosaur? 5 Ways to Make It Less Frightening
Make the latest USJ and Kansai event updates
easier to find on Google.
