A New Harry Potter Theme Park Is Here—and It’s 300,000 Square Feet of Pure Wizarding Fun
Updated: Sep. 27, 2023
Muggles heading to Tokyo can now experience J.K. Rowling's wizarding world first-hand—original movie sets and magical tricks included
Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Slytherin or Hufflepuff? No matter what house you align with, you’ll surely agree that J.K. Rowling’s beloved Hogwarts world holds a special kind of magic. And while Muggles don’t usually get the chance to rub shoulders with witches, wizards and magical creatures, Tokyo’s new Harry Potter theme park gives you the chance to do exactly that: It’s a bucket list experience for all Potterheads, especially those who know all the Harry Potter movies and Harry Potter quotes inside out.
Get your robes and wands ready to explore Japan’s magical wonderland, where you can ride brooms, watch a Quidditch game, sip Butterbeer and discover all the “magical things” in Harry Potter that are actually real. If you haven’t had a Hogwarts acceptance letter delivered by Owl Post, consider this your invitation to get a glimpse behind the scenes!
Where is the new Harry Potter theme park?
@timeouttokyo Here’s your very first look at the new Warner Brothers Studio Tour – The Making of Harry Potter in Tokyo, opening on June 16. In Part 1, we’ll take you to the Ministry of Magic. Like and follow us for Part 2. 🧙🪄 #HarryPotterStudioTour #HarryPotterStudioTourTokyo #HarryPotter #FantasticBeasts #Tokyo #Japan #timeouttokyo ♬ Harry Potter – The Intermezzo Orchestra
The latest must-see attraction for Potterheads is in Tokyo, Japan, and opened its doors on June 16, 2023. Officially called the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo – The Making of Harry Potter, it is located in Tokyo’s Nerima neighborhood on the site of the former Toshimaen amusement park, which closed in 2020 to make way for the magical wonderland. Tokyo is the fifth Harry Potter theme park welcoming fans of the Hogwarts wizards and witches, after Orlando, Hollywood, Leavesden (near London) and Beijing.
The Japanese Harry Potter park is a 15- to 20-minute train ride from central Tokyo, with Toshimaen and Ikebukuro stations (which both received magical Harry Potter–themed makeovers) only a stone’s throw from the entrance.
Is this the biggest Harry Potter park in the world?
@timeouttokyo Part 2 of your first look inside the new Warner Brothers Studio Tour – The Making of Harry Potter in Tokyo, opening on June 16. … Here in Part 2, we’ll take you through the wizarding shopping district, Diagon Alley. Stay tuned for Part 3🧙🏻♀️ #HarryPotterStudioTour #HarryPotterStudioTourTokyo #HarryPotter #DiagonAlley #Tokyo #Japan #timeouttokyo ♬ Harry Potter – The Intermezzo Orchestra
Tokyo’s wizarding world is the largest indoor Harry Potter theme park around the globe and the second-largest Harry Potter land after Orlando, making it a must-visit for Muggles wanting to walk in Harry’s footsteps (or soar on a broomstick over some of the signature landscapes). We recommend putting both parks on your bucket list, along with the London site—the world’s most famous wizard is a proud Brit, after all (as is his creator, J.K. Rowling).
Tokyo’s Hogwarts attraction is nearly 7.5 acres in size and will easily keep you busy for at least half a day. But while there’s no doubt that it is impressively large, consider that Tokyo Disneyland is 115 acres by comparison.
What’s in this wizarding world?
The Japanese Hogwarts experience isn’t a theme park in the traditional sense with roller coasters, ferry wheels or other rides—you can find those in Orlando. Just like its London counterpart, the Tokyo version is more of a behind-the-scenes tour featuring some of the most famous sets, props (including wands, broomsticks and the Goblet of Fire) and costumes worn by the wizard cast. Plus, fans can learn all about the special effects used in the film, sample some magical sweet treats and—of course—pose for selfies in Hogwarts decor and Diagon Alley, the most famous street in the wizarding world. There’s also a massive gift shop featuring some exclusive merchandise only available in Tokyo, including many items that can be personalized.
Are there any exclusive attractions?
Even if you are a massive Harry Potter fan who has been to one or more of the other theme parks, the Tokyo one is still well worth putting on your wishlist. While it features some of the same sets as the existing Harry Potter experiences, such as The Great Hall, Platform 9 3/4 and Diagon Alley, the Japanese site has some attractions you can’t find anywhere else in the world. Unique in Tokyo is the full-size London Ministry of Magic, which you can enter—just like a Ministry of Magic employee—via a fireplace using the Floo Network, complete with smoke and lighting effects. And how does watching Hogwarts’s famous moving staircases in action sound? Tokyo has that too, along with some exclusive interactive attractions: Muggles can hop on a broom and see the magic world from above, join the cheering crowds at a Quidditch match and make their own moving portrait, which they can then download to keep as a souvenir.
What’s on the menu?
No visit to Harry Potter’s wizarding world would be complete without the magical foods and drinks mentioned in the books and movies! The Frog Café inside the studios features sweet treats like cupcakes and doughnuts representing all four houses of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry (make sure you don’t eat your Gryffindor cake at the Slytherin table or vice versa, or you might get hassled by Professor Snape‘s dedicated fanbase!).
The Food Hall, on the other hand, is the perfect place to sample typical British pub food—think: roast chicken and beef, fish pie or sausages and mashed potatoes. And if you’ve always wanted to try a drink that changes its colors, look no further than Backlot Cafe. This is also where you can enjoy a traditional British afternoon tea with scones and sandwiches, served in a place inspired by Professor Umbridge’s office—another exclusive at Tokyo’s Harry Potter theme park. To make the deal even sweeter, the Japanese Warner Bros. Studios are also home to the world’s largest Butterbeer bar!
What are visitors saying about it?
Tokyo’s new Harry Potter theme park has only been open since June 2023, but rave reviews are already dropping in, with most visitors giving the Japanese Hogwarts experience four or five stars out of five. TripAdvisor user Simply4Lou called the new attraction an “homage to film making, with plenty of interaction,” as well as a place to create “magical memories,” while fellow Potterhead Navara C recommends: “Don’t forget to be part of many scenes in films, sip your Butterbeer and have great fun before shopping back home.” On Trip.com, reviewer Need a break noted getting excited even before entering the Harry Potter studios because “more than half of the people in the venue were wearing robes of various colleges,” and super fan _TI***ls, who went twice in just one weekend, writes: “Witches and wizards wannabes and Hogwarts alumni, pack your wands and cloaks, you will feel right at home.”
When is the best time to visit?
Are you ready to dive in to Tokyo’s Harry Potter wonderland? If so, you are in good company—Muggles from around the world are currently making (or planning) a pilgrimage to Japan to immerse themselves in the Hogwarts universe. To join the happy crowd and mingle with your favorite wizards and witches, you need to book your ticket and time slot online in advance. Fans who have already been to Tokyo’s new theme park recommend securing the tickets as far in advance as possible, since they sell out quickly. To maximize your exploring time, pick the earliest available slot, as there’s no time limit once you’re inside.
Originally Published: September 05, 2020
