“I wonder how scary the roller coasters at USJ are. I’m worried if I can handle riding them…
I completely understand that fear.
That’s because I myself am absolutely terrible with thrill rides.
Before getting on one, my heart pounds and races.
Every time I ride, I brace myself as if it might be the end—but so far, I’ve survived.
So to you, who are worried thinking, “I’m afraid of roller coasters, so I don’t know if I can handle the attractions…”
Here’s what I want to tell you:
Don’t worry—at USJ, you can ride all the thrill rides except the one ranked No.1!!! (Probably)
As someone with a roller coaster phobia who really struggles with thrill rides, I actually tried every single thrill ride at Universal Studios Japan.
Based on that experience, I created a fear ranking to show which ones are the scariest.
**”We are analyzing all the attractions that USJ categorizes on its official website under ‘Full of Thrills and Screams.’
By reading this article, you’ll know exactly which rides are scary and which ones aren’t.
I want to try riding thrill rides, but I don’t know how much I can handle…
If that’s you, try starting from the lower-ranked rides in the list!
USJ / Universal Studios Japan Roller Coaster Fear Ranking
Alright, let’s dive into the ranking!
Starting from the top, the rides get scarier, and as you go down the list, the thrill level gradually decreases.
If there’s an attraction that catches your interest, I’ve written about it in detail below.
Click the links to jump directly to the section.
USJ Scariest Ride Ranked #1: Hollywood Dream – The Ride
- Fear: ★★★★★ (Extremely scary)
- Fun: ★☆☆☆☆ (Has a sense of exhilaration)
- Floating sensation: ★★★★★ (Very strong)
- Repeatability: ☆☆☆☆☆ (Never want to ride again)
Ranked #1 for sheer terror is Hollywood Dream – The Ride, commonly known as Haridori (maybe only Kansai people call it that?).
Hollywood Dream – The Ride has two versions: the standard forward-facing drop and the backward-facing “Backdrop.”
For this ranking, we’re talking about the forward-facing standard version.
I’ve ridden all of USJ’s thrill rides (only the forward-facing Haridori).
This is the one attraction I absolutely never want to ride again. Never, ever!!!
I didn’t die or faint on Haridori, but it was so terrifying that I cried.
So, I decided to ignore my friend’s words: “It’s fine! The backward version isn’t as scary!”
I will never again listen to anyone who says, “Haridori is the most fun!”
If you’re not good with thrill rides, start by trying the attractions ranked below #2.
If you find yourself thinking, “That was totally fine!”, then go ahead and challenge Hollywood Dream – The Ride.
If you hate roller coasters, whatever you do, don’t make Haridori your first ride!
If you find the forward-facing Haridori “fun!”, why not challenge yourself with the backward-facing Backdrop as well?
Some people say they actually prefer the Backdrop because having their back against the seat gives them a sense of security.
Unfortunately, I’ve become someone who can never ride Haridori again, so I can’t confirm that myself. (Sorry!)
Strategy: Focus on the music and keep singing throughout the ride.
On Haridori, there’s a button right in front of your seat that lets you choose music, so you can ride while listening to your favorite song.
Honestly, it’s way too scary to even pay attention to the music, but if you can focus on it, the drop happens right at the chorus, which makes the exhilaration incredible (according to my friend).
Many people choose DREAMS COME TRUE’s “Osaka Lover.”
Because of this experience, even now when I hear “Osaka Lover,” I get chills as it reminds me of Haridori’s floating sensation.
It’s a trauma.
USJ Scariest Ride Ranked #2: The Flying Dinosaur
- Scariness: ★★★★☆ (Extremely scary at the beginning)
- Fun: ★☆☆☆☆ (Just a little)
- Floating sensation: ★☆☆☆☆ (Almost none)
- Repeatability: ★★☆☆☆ (Wouldn’t really want to ride again)
The Flying Dinosaur is an attraction that rotates a full 360°.
When you watch it from the ground without riding…
Too scary!! No way, no way, no way…
When you actually ride it, the speed is so intense that your brain can’t even process what’s happening before it’s over.
The combination of extreme velocity and strong wind tosses you around, and before you know it, you’ve already arrived at the end.
My simple impression after riding was: “Exhausting…”
Before departure, your body is tilted forward by 90° into a suspended position, and that’s the scariest part.
You’re connected to the ride only by a bar securing your upper body and another locking your ankles, which makes it feel like you could fall headfirst at any moment.
It’s not just nervousness—it feels like pure fear of death.
On the other hand, there’s almost no floating sensation, so for people who dislike that “roller coaster floating feeling,” this might actually be more tolerable.
Strategy: Don’t look down. Instead, enjoy the sky and the scenery of the park.
For people who are afraid of thrill rides, many also struggle with heights.
On The Flying Dinosaur, the full rotation makes the ground clearly visible—even the people walking below—so anyone with acrophobia will feel their heart drop.
The best tactic is not to look down. Keep your gaze upward and focus on the sky.
On the other hand, if heights don’t bother you, riding with your eyes open can give you the sensation of soaring like a bird through the air.
USJ Scariest Ride Ranked #3: Jurassic Park – The Ride
- Scariness: ★★★★☆ (Normally scary)
- Fun: ★☆☆☆☆ (Fun until the drop)
- Floating sensation: ★★★★☆ (Quite a lot)
- Repeatability: ★★☆☆☆ (Still bearable)
Ranked 3rd is “Jurassic Park: The Ride”, commonly called Jurapa.
It’s genuinely scary—something you’d rather avoid. But if a friend invites you, it’s the kind of ride you can manage with some effort.
At first, the boat simply moves forward while you watch dinosaurs. Some are even cute, making it feel like a fun little drive as you chat—though your heart is pounding the whole time.
Toward the end, the atmosphere grows increasingly ominous, and finally you’re screamed at by a dinosaur before plunging almost vertically.
The drop itself lasts only a few seconds, so if you hold your breath you can get through it.
What makes it worse are the deafening dinosaur roars and the blaring buzzer right before the fall—they’re terrifying and hard on the heart.
It feels like your lifespan gets shortened… probably.
Strategy: Hold your breath at the moment of the drop.
Just before the drop, the boat pauses for a moment.
At that instant, if you sharply inhale and press your body firmly against the seat, the fall is over so quickly that you should be able to endure it.
USJ Scariest Ride Ranked #4: Flight of the Hippogriff
- Scariness: ★★★☆☆ (The rattling shakes are scary)
- Fun: ★★☆☆☆ (There’s a bit of exhilaration)
- Floating sensation: ★★☆☆☆ (Slightly felt at the moment of the drop)
- Repeatability: ★★★☆☆ (Manageable if invited)
It’s THE classic roller coaster.
Because of the rattling, it can feel a bit unsafe—but rest assured, the ride has never actually fallen.
You do experience a slight floating sensation, but it’s nowhere near the level of “prepare for death.”
Overall, it’s moderately fun and moderately scary.
If invited, you’d probably go along.
Strategy: Just scream, and keep your eyes focused on the distant part of the track.
Shouting can help ease the fear a little.
However, since most people don’t find it scary, yelling might feel embarrassing. In that case, it’s better to keep your eyes focused far ahead.
Not knowing where the ride will go next intensifies the fear, so looking at the track ahead to anticipate the direction can make you feel more secure.
USJ Scariest Ride Ranked #5: Elmo’s Go-Go Skateboard
- Scariness: ★★★☆☆ (You can’t let your guard down)
- Fun: ★★★☆☆ (The music and atmosphere are enjoyable)
- Floating sensation: ★★★★☆ (Too many drops—it feels endless)
- Repeatability: ★★★☆☆ (Manageable—you could ride again)
You mustn’t take it lightly.
It’s just a kids’ ride, piece of cake!
You always end up regretting it once you ride.
The floating sensation during the drops is quite strong and genuinely scary.
But above all—it’s long.
Both the ride time and the sheer number of drops feel excessive.
Since the boat simply swings side to side and keeps dropping, compared to top-tier roller coasters it’s monotonous—yet it continues rattling and plunging endlessly.
For those of us afraid of floating sensations, it’s basically a “greatest hits” package of everything unpleasant about thrill rides.
Simply put: it’s long.
Strategy: Chat with the person next to you to distract yourself and ease the tension.
Keep talking with the person you’re riding with—anything works, like “Isn’t this a bit long?” or “This is pretty scary.”
By focusing on conversation, you can distract yourself from the reality of the drop and it feels easier to handle.
Plus, Elmo cheerfully chats away during the ride (though the details slip your mind), which makes it a little less intimidating compared to other thrill rides.
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USJ Scariest Ride Ranked #6: Space Fantasy – The Ride
- Scariness: ★★☆☆☆ (Not that intense)
- Fun: ★★★★★ (Super enjoyable)
- Floating sensation: ★☆☆☆☆ (Hardly any)
- Repeatability: ★★★★★ (Would ride every time)
It’s really fun.
Although I’m not good with thrill rides, “Space Fantasy: The Ride,” commonly called “SpeFan,” felt enjoyable from the very first time I rode it.
(It was a little scary at first, though.)
I know several friends who are even worse with thrill rides than I am, but they say, “If it’s SpeFan, I can handle it.”
I’m sure you can ride it too!
The speed is fairly strong, but since you drop while spinning, there’s almost no floating sensation.
Strategy: Focus your eyes on the track ahead—by carefully watching the rails, you can anticipate the next direction and reduce the fear.
You’re in darkness the whole time, but if you strain your eyes you can see the rails.
That way, your brain understands which direction you’ll go next, and you can brace yourself before the drop.
I once went during a limited-time collaboration with Attack on Titan. Since the concept was to wear VR goggles and immerse yourself in the anime’s world, the rails were completely invisible—and it was frightening.
If it’s your first time, I recommend going during the regular version rather than a collaboration event!
USJ Scariest Ride Ranked #7: Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
- Scariness: ★★☆☆☆ (Just enough to feel a bit uneasy about your footing)
- Fun: ★★★★★ (Extremely enjoyable)
- Floating sensation: ★★☆☆☆ (A slight fluttery feeling)
- Repeatability: ★★★★★ (You’d want to ride it every time)
It’s insanely fun—I want to go every time.
Of course Harry Potter fans will love it, but even casual fans who’ve only seen a bit of the movies can fully enjoy it.
The attraction itself is just so entertaining!
On site, you can buy the wizard school uniforms and wands that appear in the films. Put them on and take photos, and it feels like you’ve wandered straight into the movie world!
Compared to other attractions, it’s relatively new, so it’s very popular and the wait times are long.
But it’s absolutely worth waiting.
The castle and the entire area are built with incredible detail, giving you the sensation of stepping right into the film’s universe.
From the perspective of “scariness,” you sit on a long bench with a safety bar across your upper body, floating in the air—so it’s just a slight fluttery feeling in your feet.
I’ve never met anyone who said, “That was super scary!”
So go with confidence and enjoy!
Strategy: Enjoy the visuals—there’s no need to be afraid.
USJ Scariest Ride Ranked #8: Jaws
- Scariness: ★☆☆☆☆ (Just about as scary as the shark itself)
- Fun: ★★★☆☆ (Pretty enjoyable)
- Floating sensation: ☆☆☆☆☆ (None at all)
- Repeatability: ★★★★☆ (Would happily go again)
You ride a boat and experience the world of Jaws.
During the adventure, the shark appears and gets taken down with a bang.
Basically, the crew members handle everything, so all you need to do is sit back and let them lead.
Since you’re just watching, there’s really nothing scary about it.
The only potentially frightening aspects are if you find the shark itself scary, or if loud sounds like explosions make you uneasy.
Strategy: Immerse yourself in the world—the ride has zero floating or speed sensation, so just enjoy the atmosphere.
USJ Scariest Ride Ranked #9: WaterWorld
- Scariness: ★☆☆☆☆ (Fight scenes or explosions might be scary for children)
- Fun: ★★★☆☆ (Pretty enjoyable)
- Floating sensation: ☆☆☆☆☆ (None at all)
- Repeatability: ★★★☆☆ (Nice to go in summer)
It’s a show-type attraction viewed by a large audience.
Fight scenes and explosions might be a bit too intense and surprising for small children.
Adults, however, should generally be fine.
The stunt performers’ skills are so incredible that no matter how many times you watch, it’s always impressive.
If you sit in the front rows, you may get splashed with water.
It’s the kind of attraction that makes you want to go during the summer.
Strategy: Just be prepared for the loud sounds. Sitting toward the back seats is also a good option.
USJ Scariest Ride Ranked #10: Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge
- Scariness: ☆☆☆☆☆ (None at all)
- Fun: ★★★★★ (Super enjoyable)
- Floating sensation: ☆☆☆☆☆ (Absolutely none)
- Repeatability: ★★★★★ (Would want to go every time)
Why did Universal Studios Japan categorize Mario as ‘Thrilling and Full of Excitement’?
It’s really not scary at all.
Truly, it’s an attraction that both adults and children can enjoy.
Whether you’ve played Mario Kart before or not, you’ll definitely have fun.
You watch Mario Kart visuals while steering with the handle in front of you—it’s like a modern version of go-karts.
If you haven’t been yet, I highly recommend making it a priority the next time you visit USJ.
Personally, it’s my No.1 attraction I want to ride on my next trip to Universal Studios Japan.
Strategy: None in particular—it’s incredibly fun, so just make sure to go and enjoy it!
USJ Scariest Ride Ranked #11: Minion Mayhem Ride
- Scariness: ☆☆☆☆☆ (None at all)
- Fun: ★★★★☆ (Enjoyable)
- Floating sensation: ★☆☆☆☆ (Almost none)
- Repeatability: ★★★★★ (Definitely want to go again)
It’s an attraction where you ride along and enjoy the chaotic, funny life of the Minions in a theater-style experience.
The ride itself doesn’t move forward—it only sways gently side to side and front to back, so there’s absolutely nothing to worry about.
It’s super safe and guaranteed to leave you smiling.
Since the wait time is relatively short compared to other attractions, it’s definitely worth checking out!
Strategy: It’s not scary at all—go let the Minions cheer you up and enjoy their silliness!
USJ Roller Coaster Fear Ranking (English Translation)
Thank you very much for reading all the way to the end!
Although I’m terrified of thrill rides, everything except Hollywood Dream – The Ride felt just scary enough that I might be willing to ride them again.
According to my roller coaster–loving friend, the attractions at USJ are considered beginner-friendly compared to those at other amusement parks.
(I personally don’t agree with that.)
And with that…
If you’re someone who says, “I’m not good with roller coasters!”, why not start by challenging the lower-ranked rides on the list first?
Personally, I really love the attractions ranked from 6th to 11th, and they’re all ones I’d happily ride again.
It’s actually more manageable than you might expect, so go ahead and enjoy with peace of mind!
Well then, see you next time!
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