If you’re flying to Osaka for the backward drop on Hollywood Dream, February may be too early. Universal Studios Japan has scheduled four temporary ride closures starting in January 2027, and Hollywood Dream – The Ride: Backdrop is the one that stretches deepest into the year. It’s listed as closed from January 22 through March 19.
As of November 3, the park’s official ride closure calendar also shows January shutdowns for Jurassic Park – The Ride, the forward-facing Hollywood Dream coaster, and The Flying Snoopy. Space Fantasy – The Ride carries an existing closure into January. If you have one day at Universal and everyone in your group has a different must-do, the exact date matters more than the month on your itinerary.
Universal Studios Japan’s 2027 Ride Closure Dates
The park lists these as closure periods, so include both the first and last dates when you compare them with your itinerary.
- Jurassic Park – The Ride: January 9–22, 2027
- Hollywood Dream – The Ride: Backdrop: January 22–March 19, 2027
- Hollywood Dream – The Ride: January 25–February 6, 2027
- The Flying Snoopy: January 26–28, 2027
- Space Fantasy – The Ride: Existing closure from June 2, 2025, through January 24, 2027
Jurassic Park is the first of the four January shutdowns. Disney Dining previously covered the boat ride’s return after a much longer refurbishment, which was scheduled for January 2025. This time, the park lists a two-week closure. Its last listed day, January 22, is also the first day of Backdrop’s shutdown, with Space Fantasy still on the closure calendar that day.
Space Fantasy has served as a vehicle for limited-time versions, including the Zedd-themed coaster overlay Disney Dining covered in 2025. For this trip, use the current calendar entry for the standard attraction. Its listed closure ends January 24, just before the forward Hollywood Dream closure begins on January 25.
Both Hollywood Dream Rides Are Out for the Same 13 Days
The names look nearly identical on the calendar. On the ride, the difference is the direction you face. The park’s Backdrop attraction guide describes the backward coaster and points guests to the forward-facing version separately. Both are scheduled to be unavailable January 25 through February 6. On January 26–28, The Flying Snoopy is also scheduled to be down, so moving a family park day by even a few days could change which members of the group miss their first pick.
February offers a different choice. The forward ride’s closure is scheduled to end February 6, while Backdrop stays on the list through March 19. The park’s 25th-anniversary guide lists the anniversary versions of both rides through March 30. If the backward ride with its anniversary soundtrack is the draw, March 20–30 is the window where the published calendars line up.
Express Pass Will Still Sell at Regular Prices
Universal says it will sell Express Pass at its regular price during the listed maintenance. Its closure notice directs guests toward other eligible attractions when a selection is out of operation and excludes time-designated attractions from that instruction. The park’s Express Pass guide also says advance passes are valid on the date printed on the ticket and for the attractions designated by the pass.
That makes the exact package worth a look before you pay. If Backdrop was the ride that made Express Pass worthwhile for you, read the rest of the lineup and decide whether you’d buy it for those attractions alone. If you’re comparing two days within the same Osaka stay, match each package against the closure calendar first. A cheaper package is only a better fit if it includes experiences you actually want to spend time on.
What to Put on Your Osaka Itinerary Instead
If your travel dates are fixed, pick a backup that fits what you wanted out of the original ride. For a movie-themed boat ride, put JAWS on your shortlist and read how Universal changed the way its Osaka JAWS boats are powered. If a coaster is the priority, Disney Dining’s coverage of Donkey Kong Country and Minion Park offers two areas to consider, including Donkey Kong’s Mine Cart Madness. Check the operating lineup for your date before counting on either ride.
A themed lunch can also give a mixed-age group something to plan the day around. Our look at dining inside Universal Studios Japan covers the Three Broomsticks and Kinopio’s Café. Pick the stop that fits the part of the park you most want to visit, then check its hours and entry arrangements closer to the day.
Before you buy a dated pass, pull up the closure calendar and read it against your group’s top three rides. Universal says the schedule can change without notice. If Backdrop is the reason you’re going, keep March 19 on your radar as the last listed closure day and check the park’s schedule again before locking in a visit.
