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Is Warner Bros Studio Tour Tokyo Worth It? – An Expert’s Insight

Is Warner Bros Studio Tour Tokyo worth it? Read our review to find out what you can expect from this immersive Harry Potter experience, and decide if it’s right for you.

I recently had the opportunity to visit the much-anticipated Warner Bros Studio Tour Tokyo, and I couldn’t help but wonder if the experience was worth the hype. 

Known as a modern counterpart to the acclaimed Harry Potter Studio Tour in London, this immersive attraction delves deep into the world of film and television, showcasing beloved franchises and propelling guests into the heart of their favorite stories.

The moment I stepped foot inside the massive complex, I was bombarded with glimpses of iconic films and shows, leaving me both excited and curious. 

The tour provides behind-the-scenes access to exclusive sets, costumes, and production secrets, allowing guests to witness first-hand what goes into creating some of Warner Bros.’ most memorable productions. The attraction’s broad appeal caters to both casual fans and dedicated cinephiles.

Throughout my visit, I carefully examined the cost, the enjoyment I derived, and the overall value of the experience to form an informed opinion. 

I will be sharing my thoughts on whether or not the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo is worth the time and the expense, while offering insights into the myriad of elements that contribute to the tour’s allure.

Page Contents

Is Warner Bros Studio Tour Tokyo Worth It?

The worthiness of the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo depends on your love for movies and the Harry Potter franchise. This attraction offers a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at film production, including iconic sets and costumes. 

If you’re a die-hard fan of Harry Potter or Warner Bros. films, it’s a must-visit. However, it can be relatively expensive, and the experience may not be as immersive as, say, the Harry Potter theme parks. 

If you’re a casual fan or not particularly interested in the film industry, you might find it less compelling. Overall, its value is subjective and best suited for dedicated fans of the studio’s work.

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What is the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo?

Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo is an immersive entertainment experience located in Tokyo, Japan. 

It allows visitors to have a behind-the-scenes look at one of the world’s most successful and innovative film studios. 

The tour is situated in Toshimaen, a popular amusement park, and aims to provide a unique experience for movie lovers and casual visitors alike.

During my visit, I had the chance to explore various interactive exhibits and attractions that showcase the rich history of Warner Bros. productions. 

Walking through the tour, I witnessed how my favorite movies and TV shows were brought to life and learned about the intricate processes involved in their creation. The tour also offers several hands-on experiences, which allow visitors to feel like part of the action.

According to the official website, the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo is designed to give guests a taste of the magic and wonder of Hollywood filmmaking. 

From authentic sets and soundstages to exclusive exhibits and memorabilia, this tour is a must-see attraction for anyone visiting Tokyo.

In summary, the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo offers an enjoyable and educational experience for movie enthusiasts and travelers alike. With its prime location in Toshimaen, informative exhibits, and hands-on experiences, it is a valuable addition to any Tokyo itinerary.

Layout and Sets of the Warner Bros. Studio Tokyo Tour

As I entered the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo, I immediately realized the attention to detail and authenticity put into the layout and sets of this magical experience. 

From the iconic sets like the Great Hall and Diagon Alley to lesser known corners of the wizarding world, it felt like I had been transported into the world of Hogwarts.

The Great Hall was stunning, capturing its immense size and enchanting atmosphere. The long, wooden tables were adorned with magical floating candles and cutlery. 

Walking down the hall, I could feel the magic and grandeur that once welcomed Harry, Ron, and Hermione.

Next, I ventured into Diagon Alley, the main street of the magical world. From the towering shelves of Flourish & Blotts bookstore to Ollivander’s Wand Shop, each store was designed in intricate detail. 

The cobblestone path led me to Gringotts Wizarding Bank, with its intimidating marble columns and golden doors.

As I continued my journey, I found myself in the Forbidden Forest, with its eerie, realistic atmosphere. 

There, I encountered towering trees, mythical creatures, and that same sense of adventure as experienced by the famous trio. 

I then discovered the backlot, which showcased the larger set pieces, such as the Hogwarts bridge and Hagrid’s hut, where fans could pose for photos and imagine life at the magical school.

Next up was the Hogwarts Castle, which stood tall and majestic, just as I imagined it would. 

Winding corridors and secret passageways led me to some of the iconic classrooms and common rooms, with portraits of famous witches and wizards adorning the walls.

One of the most memorable sets I visited was Dumbledore’s office. The room was filled with mystical artifacts, books, and even his pet phoenix, Fawkes, perched proudly upon its stand. 

The subtle, intimate details of the room gave me a true sense of the wisdom and power held by the Hogwarts headmaster.

Platform 9 ¾, complete with the famous Hogwarts Express, was another highlight. The train was precisely recreated, from the luggage racks to the vivid red exterior. I could almost hear the whistle blow as I stepped on board, envisioning myself journeying from London to Hogwarts.

Lastly, I explored the impressive set of the Ministry of Magic. The grand architecture and elaborate details transported me to the heart of the wizarding government, making me feel like I was in an episode of Harry Potter.

The layout and sets of the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo are thoughtfully designed and highly immersive. The tour allows fans to step into the world of Hogwarts and explore the magical universe that has captivated millions for years.

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Warner Bros. Studio Tokyo Ticketing Information

When planning my visit to the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo, I found the ticketing process to be quite simple and straightforward. 

There are different types of tickets available depending on age groups, including adult tickets, junior tickets, and child tickets.

The admission ticket prices are set to cater to different age groups, making it more accessible for families with children. I found that purchasing my tickets through platforms like Klook made it easier to get a better deal on ticket prices. This helped me save some money in the process.

Adult tickets are for individuals aged 15 and above, and junior tickets cater to those aged 4-14. 

As for the child tickets, they’re offered at a reduced price for children aged 3 and under, which are often free, making it a perfect destination for families with young kids.

In my experience, booking tickets in advance is highly recommended as it guarantees entry to the popular studio tour. 

Additionally, it’s essential that one keeps in mind possible date restrictions, and checking the availability of preferred dates in advance is always a good idea.

When it comes to ticket availability, I’d like to point out that Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo tends to be a busy attraction, especially on weekends and during the holiday season. 

Hence, I recommend planning your visit accordingly to avoid disappointment.

Overall, the ticketing process for Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo is smooth, user-friendly, and accessible to all age groups. The affordability and availability of various ticket options adds to the experience and makes it worth considering for your next trip.

How To Get To Warner Bros. Studio Tokyo

My journey to Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo started at Ikebukuro Station. This station is located in Tokyo and is easily accessible for tourists coming from various parts of the city. 

From Ikebukuro Station, I hopped on the Seibu-Ikebukuro Line. There are frequent trains available, so I didn’t need to wait for long.

The train ride itself was a breeze. The Seibu-Ikebukuro Line took me straight to Toshimaen Station, which is the nearest station to the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo. 

The ride was just about 15 minutes, and the trains were comfortable and easy to navigate. 

When I arrived at Toshimaen Station, I was excited to see that the park was just a short walk from the station.

As a fan of the Harry Potter series, I was particularly thrilled to see that the station was designed to resemble Platform 9¾. 

As I walked towards Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo, I couldn’t help but feel that I was entering the magical world of Hogwarts. 

The Hogsmeade Train Station stood prominently at the entrance, adding to the excitement and anticipation of the adventure that awaited me.

In summary, getting to Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo was straightforward and added to the overall enjoyment of my experience. 

By starting at Ikebukuro Station, taking the Seibu-Ikebukuro Line, and arriving at Toshimaen Station, I was able to immerse myself in the enchanting world of Harry Potter from the very beginning of my visit. 

Remember to plan your trip to align with the train schedules and enjoy your journey to this magical attraction.

Cinematic Magic Warner Bros Studio Tokyo

Visiting Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo, I was amazed by the incredible demonstrations of special effects and visual effects.

The tour showcased a vast array of props and costumes from the Fantastic Beasts series, each of which was meticulously designed and created for the movies.

As I ventured further into the tour, I marveled at the life-sized models and intricate details that went into making some of the most magical creatures from the Fantastic Beasts universe come alive.

These beautiful models showcased the skill and artistry of the team working behind the scenes.

I also had the opportunity to see firsthand the techniques used in creating the immersive on-screen worlds, as the tour offered a peek into the behind-the-scenes process.

From set design to post-production, it was fascinating to see the amount of work and collaboration that goes into bringing these stories to life.

Overall, the Cinematic Magic section of the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo provided a unique and breathtaking experience that brings fans even closer to the wonderful world of Fantastic Beasts.

Immersive Shopping Experience At Warner Bros Studio Tokyo

As I entered the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo, the immersive shopping experience immediately caught my eye. The studio tour shop offers a wide selection of exclusive merchandise and memorabilia inspired by some of the most beloved franchises.

For fans of Harry Potter, there is the Harry Potter shop, and it truly feels like stepping into the Wizarding World.

In the Harry Potter store, I was especially excited to see items that I had only previously encountered in the books or movies.

Flourish and Blotts caught my attention with its unique collection of Wizarding World literature, some even written by Rowling herself. The shop features prop replicas, collectibles, and beautiful stationary items, making it the perfect place to pick up a souvenir for any Harry Potter fan.

Apart from that, Honeydukes is another major highlight of the shopping experience. The entire store is designed with a whimsical aesthetic, reminiscent of the candy shop from the books. 

Brimming with delightful confectioneries like Chocolate Frogs and Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Beans, Honeydukes allows visitors to indulge in the sweet treats that were once only part of the fictional world.

The gift shop also offers a variety of merchandise such as clothing items, accessories, and even home décor. 

I appreciated the attention to detail and the wide array of products that catered to different preferences. 

Additionally, the souvenir guidebook is a fantastic keepsake, as it beautifully encapsulates the tour experience.

Throughout my shopping adventure at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo, I found the stores to be a well-crafted extension of the attractions themselves. 

The immersive environment combined with the incredible variety of exclusive products made for an unforgettable experience.

Food and Dining Options at Warner Bros. Studio Tokyo

At the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo, I found a variety of food and dining options to enjoy throughout my visit. 

One of the highlights was definitely the Butterbeer, a creamy and delicious non-alcoholic beverage. It’s perfect for a refreshing break during the tour.

In addition to Butterbeer, I came across several cafes and restaurants offering a selection of British fare. 

A visit to the Chocolate Frog Café is a must for any Harry Potter fan. As the name suggests, they offer the famous Chocolate Frogs among other wizarding treats. I loved the magical atmosphere and the theming of the café.

There are also multiple dining options when it comes to British food. From casual cafes to sit-down restaurants, I had no difficulty finding something that suited my taste and budget. 

Many of these establishments offer popular British dishes like fish and chips, Shepherd’s pie, and hearty sandwiches. It was nice to be able to try a variety of British cuisine while on the tour.

For those who enjoy a more relaxed experience, there’s the afternoon tea option. I found that some establishments offer this traditional British treat, with a selection of sandwiches, scones, and pastries served with tea. 

It was a delightful way to spend an afternoon during my visit to Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo.

In conclusion, I can say that the food and dining options at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo cater to all tastes, with a focus on authentic British fare. 

Whether you are looking for a quick snack, a sit-down meal, or a magical treat from the wizarding world, you will not be disappointed.

Interactive Experiences at Warner Bros. Studio Tokyo

As I stepped into the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo, I immediately felt the magical atmosphere of the Wizarding World. 

The entire place is filled with incredible interactive experiences that made my visit truly unforgettable.

I got the chance to practice my wizarding skills, learning how to cast spells using a wand. The interactive experience is designed with motion sensors, so when I swished and flicked my wand, I could see the spells come to life right before my eyes. 

It’s perfect for both witches and wizards of any age, making you feel like a true part of the magical universe.

One of the highlights of my visit was the Quidditch game. I was so excited to try out this beloved wizarding sport! I mounted a broom and felt the sensation of flying while wearing a pair of special VR goggles. 

As I soared through the air and chased after the golden snitch, I couldn’t help but feel like I was really in the middle of an intense Quidditch match. 

This interactive game was exhilarating and gave me a fantastic glimpse into the world of competitive Quidditch.

Throughout the tour, I encountered several interactive experiences that truly made me feel immersed in the Wizarding World. 

From practicing spells to playing Quidditch, there’s no shortage of enchanting activities to enjoy and memories to create. The Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo truly is a magical experience that’s not to be missed.

Harry Potter Themed Areas at Warner Bros. Studio Tokyo

As a huge fan of the Harry Potter series, I couldn’t wait to explore the Harry Potter-themed areas at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo. The attention to detail is remarkable, truly bringing the beloved series to life.

Upon entering the area, I was greeted by the iconic Knight Bus and the Hogwarts Express. 

Boarding the Hogwarts Express, I could hear the steamy huffs and the whistle, making me feel like I was really traveling through the Wizarding World.

The tour showcases the four Hogwarts houses, Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw. 

I marveled at the house common rooms, each one beautifully designed to capture the spirit and essence of its respective house. Each common room is adorned with the house colors and emblems, creating a strong sense of pride.

As I wandered through the tour, I couldn’t help but feel immersed in the Harry Potter theme park atmosphere. 

There are plenty of interactive experiences and photo opportunities, from hopping aboard the broomsticks to posing with the Sorting Hat, making it a memorable visit.

For those looking to take home a piece of the experience, the gift shop offers Harry Potter merchandise, ranging from house robes to wands. I personally treated myself to a Gryffindor scarf and a wand replica.

With the magical ambiance and the meticulous attention to detail, the Harry Potter-themed areas at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo did not disappoint. It’s definitely a must-visit attraction for anyone who, like me, grew up with the Harry Potter series.

Review of the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo

I recently visited the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo, and I would like to share my thoughts on the experience. The atmosphere of the tour is immersive, making visitors feel like they have stepped into their favorite Warner Bros. films and shows. 

There are various sets and interactive exhibits that allow fans to gain an in-depth understanding of the behind-the-scenes magic.

The lines for popular attractions can be quite long, but they do move steadily. To make the most of my time, I arrived early and prioritized the attractions I wanted to see the most. 

It is also a great idea to make use of the tour’s Fast Track option if it is available, which can be purchased in advance to help bypass any lengthy queues.

One thing I appreciated about my visit was the opportunity to receive helpful tips from the knowledgeable staff at various points throughout the tour. 

They were enthusiastic and eager to provide insights into the filmmaking process, helping me to fully appreciate the work that goes into creating the beloved movies and shows.

In terms of refreshments, there are dining options scattered throughout the tour, offering a variety of dishes catering to different preferences. I found the prices to be reasonable and the quality of the food was satisfactory.

The tour offers a range of options for visitors of all ages, making it a worthwhile experience for both families and hardcore fans. 

I personally found that the unique, interactive features allowed me to gain a deeper appreciation for my favorite productions.

Warner Bros. Studio Tour Comparison: London vs Tokyo

I recently had the opportunity to visit both the Warner Bros. Studio Tour in London and the new Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo. 

As a fan of the Harry Potter and DC Comics franchises, I was excited to compare the two experiences and see which one is worth the visit.

In my experience, the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London is a must-visit for all Harry Potter fans. It offers an extensive look at the making of the films with real sets, costumes, and props used during production. 

Some highlights include the Hogwarts Express, the Great Hall, and Diagon Alley. In addition, you can try butterbeer and enter the Forbidden Forest. The focus of this studio tour is solely on the world of Harry Potter.

In contrast, the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo feels more like a broader amusement park. It showcases several popular Warner Bros. productions, including Harry Potter, DC Comics, and other famous film franchises. 

While the Tokyo tour still offers Harry Potter attractions such as the Hogwarts Castle and Diagon Alley, the experience is less immersive compared to the London tour. However, it makes up for it with its variety.

London Studio Tour:

• Exclusive focus on Harry Potter
• Real sets, costumes, and props
• Interactive experiences like butterbeer tasting and the Forbidden Forest

Tokyo Studio Tour:

• Features multiple Warner Bros. productions
• Blends of Harry Potter, DC Comics, and other film franchises
• More of an amusement park experience

In terms of location, the London Studio Tour is situated just outside of the city, while the Tokyo Studio Tour is part of the larger Toshimaen amusement complex in Nerima, Tokyo. Depending on where you’re visiting from, the ease of access to the tours may vary.

Regarding ticket prices, both the London and Tokyo tours are similarly priced, ranging between $60 to $80 per adult depending on the available discounts and time of visit. 

For a more in-depth experience specific to Harry Potter, the London Studio Tour is definitely a better value.

So, is the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo worth it? If you’re a fan of multiple Warner Bros. properties and travelling to Asia, then the Tokyo tour offers an enjoyable experience, but for a die-hard Harry Potter fan, the London Studio Tour has a more comprehensive and immersive experience that is well worth the trip.

Final Thoughts

Visiting the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo was an enlightening experience for me. The tour provided a captivating glimpse into the world of film and television production. 

As a fan of movies and TV series, especially those produced by Warner Bros., I found the various sets, exhibits, and activities to be truly fascinating.

The level of detail and the effort put into recreating some of the most iconic scenes from popular titles was remarkable. 

For instance, walking through the streets of Gotham City or exploring sets from the Harry Potter series truly felt like stepping into those magical worlds. 

Additionally, the studio offered opportunities to learn about different aspects of filmmaking, from costume design to sound and special effects. 

This helped me appreciate the incredible amount of work and dedication that goes into bringing these stories to life.

In terms of the overall value, I found the Studio Tour to be reasonably priced considering the variety and duration of activities offered. 

However, it is important to bear in mind that your personal interests will significantly impact your experience. 

If you are a fan of Warner Bros. productions, you will likely get more enjoyment and value from the tour.

Lastly, the accessibility and organization of the tour were commendable. The staff was both helpful and knowledgeable, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable experience for all visitors. 

All things considered, I believe the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo is a unique and engaging way to explore the magic of movie-making.

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Harry Potter Studio Tour Tokyo: How to Visit and an Honest Review 

Table of Contents

‘Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo – The Making of Harry Potter’ is a brand-new Harry Potter attraction in Tokyo, Japan. It opened in June 2023, and as soon as I planned my trip to Japan , I knew I had to visit.

The Tokyo tour is very similar to the tour in Watford, in the United Kingdom. The immersive experience takes visitors on a magical journey into the making of the famous films. From the iconic Great Hall, the bustling Diagon Alley and the mystical Forbidden Forest, the tour is a must-visit for any Harry Potter fan – especially those who have yet to visit the tour in London. It also has the biggest Harry Potter store in the entire world.  

In this post, you’ll find all you need to know about visiting the Harry Potter Studio Tour in Japan. This includes how to get there, a description of the tour itself and if it’s worth visiting… if you don’t speak Japanese (!). I’ve also included an honest review of my experience.

Where is the Harry Potter Studio Tour in Japan?

The Harry Potter Studio Tour is in Tokyo, the capital of Japan. It’s about a thirty-minute train ride from Shinjuku, which is one of the major tourist destinations in Tokyo. This makes it an easy activity to build into your itinerary.

Be careful not to confuse the Harry Potter Studio Tour with Harry Potter World. Harry Potter World is a theme park near Osaka.

How to get to the Harry Potter Studio Tour?

Getting to the Harry Potter Studio Tour in Tokyo is relatively easy. The closest train station is Toshimaen which is on the Seibu-Ikebukuro Line or the Metro’s Toei Oedo line.

I used the amazing Japan Travel app to get around Tokyo (and all of Japan). The app will tell the best way to get to where you want to be. My favourite part of the app is you can even say which type of rail pass you have, and it will tell you if it’s included or not.  

How long to spend at the Harry Potter Studio Tour?

During the introduction to the tour, the staff explained it takes on average around four hours to complete the full studio tour.

I had done some research online beforehand and found mixed information. Some people said they spent a couple of hours there and others said they spent all day there. I spent two hours there.

Honestly, I think it depends on how involved you want to get. I’ll warn you now, it gets incredibly busy there. Most of the interactive activities, such as the broomstick riding or photo spots such as Privet Drive, had loooooong queues. And I mean LONG queues. I asked someone at the front of one queue how long they’d been waiting, and they said about thirty minutes… for a photo!

If you want to do all the activities (and why wouldn’t you?!), and get all those iconic photos, be prepared to spend a few hours there. As I was by myself, I didn’t really feel like standing in queues all day so skipped a few of the activities.

Is the Studio Tour in Tokyo different than London?

Yes and no! The idea is the same – both studio tours take you on a magical journey into the making of Harry Potter. Both have replica sets and famous costumes and items from all the movies.

One of the biggest differences is the Ministry of Magic set – this only features in the Tokyo Studio Tour. I really enjoyed this part. There were a couple of interactive elements and it was also a lot less crowded than other parts.

Overall, they’re both very similar and if you’ve already been on the London tour, you will probably find the Tokyo tour a little repetitive (depending on how big of a fan you are).

How to book the tour

The tour often sells out, so it’s imperative to book in advance if you want to go. Klook is the best way to book activities you want to do in Japan. 

I’d suggest booking well in advance. I booked in August for a late October visit, and most times had already sold out.

Is the tour in English?

The Harry Potter tour in Tokyo is certainly more catered to a Japanese market. The opening film includes a welcome speech from Kensho Ono, who voiced Harry Potter in all the movies for Japan. However, whenever Japanese is being spoken, there are English subtitles. Many of the films also included interviews with the cast and crew and these were shown in English with Japanese subtitles.

The main thing I struggled with was the staff only spoke Japanese. At the start of the tour, you’re given a five-minute welcome speech. I wish I could tell you what was being said!

Despite this, I still enjoyed visiting the tour. The Japanese language is a small barrier, but I still think you can enjoy the experience.

Studio Tour Breakdown

Here’s a quick recap about everything on offer at the tour.

• Welcome: to start the tour, you’ll head into a big room which is decorated with all the film posters for the movies. You’ll be shown a welcome video in Japanese (but with English subtitles), explaining how the tour works. After this, you’ll head into the cinema to learn more about the filmmaking process.  
• The Great Hall: the first replica set you’ll experience is the Great Hall. It’s a very impressive start to the tour.  
• Moving Staircase: after the Great Hall, you’ll get to see the Moving Staircase… that really moves.

• Dorm rooms: here, you’ll get to see all the different dorm rooms for each house, as well as the official uniforms and fun design facts.
• Quidditch Experience: this is an interactive activity which allows you to be in the crowd for a game of quidditch. The activity itself is free but if you want to keep the video, you’ll have to purchase it at the end.
• Movie props: there are an array of movie props to explore in the next part, as well as videos and information boards about how the props are made. 
• Potions and Spells : enter the classroom to cast your own spell.
• Forbidden Forest : this was one of my favourite parts of the tour. The set was so well designed and it had amazing detail.

• The Backlot: the next part of the tour is outside, this is your chance to grab some food or try some Butterbeer. They also have the sets for Hagrid’s Hut, Privet Drive and the Knight Bus.
• King’s Cross Station : next up is another highlight – platform 9 ¾ and the Hogwarts Express.
• The Ministry of Magic : this is exclusive to the Tokyo tour, it’s a really awesome set.
• Creatures workshop : learn how many of the special effects in the film were created.
• Ride a broomstick : ever wanted to ride a broomstick? Now is your chance. It’s free to try, but you’ll have to pay if you want to keep the video.

• Sound in film : this next part of the tour is all about the sound effects and the official music score. There are videos with the composer, but it’s not interactive as such.
• Diagon Alley : another highlight for me was walking through Diagon Alley, it felt so realistic!
• Shop : after looking at a miniature (but impressive) version of Hogwarts, the tour is done and you’ll be taken into the world’s largest Harry Potter store.

An honest review of the Harry Potter Studio Tour in Tokyo

The Studio Tour is a must-do for any Harry Potter fan. The tour is engaging, creative and has the perfect balance of interactive and informative activities. The attention to detail during the tour was phenomenal. I’m not a dedicated fan of the Harry Potter films, but the tour was interesting, nonetheless.

My only real criticism of the tour is how busy it was. The queues for a lot of the interactive activities such as the broomstick riding were easily close to an hour. This meant many people skipped the activities, and I was left to question the price of the ticket. As the tickets are pre-booked, it seems like an easy fix to slightly reduce the amount of people allowed in at any one time. 

Is the Harry Potter Studio Tour in Tokyo worth-it?

If you’re a Harry Potter fan, it’s absolutely worth-it. The studio tour is well thought out and covers every angle of the film-making process. It has some fantastic interactive activities. Even if you’re not the biggest fan of the films, it’s still a fun day out. It’s an immersive experience that all can enjoy. 

Don’t be put off by the fact it’s catered to a Japanese market. All the signposts and information boards had English translations. The films themselves were often in English (when the cast and creators were talking) and if not, they’d have English subtitles.

If you’ve already been to the London tour, the Tokyo tour is very similar, but if you love Harry Potter then I’m sure you will still enjoy it.

Book your trip to the Harry Potter Studio Tour in Tokyo via Klook. 

Hakone is another perfect day trip while in Tokyo. Plan your trip to Hakone with my guide. 

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A Spellbinding Journey: Visiting Harry Potter Tokyo Studio Tour

Stepping into the world of Harry Potter is always a magical experience, and the Warner Brothers Studio Tour Tokyo: The Making of Harry Potter is no exception. Reminiscent of our enchanting visit to the London studio a few years back , this adventure promised even more wonder and excitement.

Planning the Visit

We chose a quiet Monday at the end of January break for our visit and secured the earliest tickets possible. This strategy paid off, giving us a less crowded space and ample time — a full three hours — to explore the enchanting world of Harry Potter. I’m not sure how you “predict” when it will be less crowded but we were helped by our school being off and most other schools (including Japanese schools) being back in session.

Comparing Tokyo and London Studios :

Tokyo’s version of the Harry Potter studio seems notably larger and packed with more interactive experiences than its London counterpart. (At least at the time I visited the two) While both studios present challenges in terms of accessibility, we opted to drive to the Tokyo studio, making use of their pre-booking system for parking.

Tokyo had a different vibe for us as well since now I have three Harry Potter fans who are all fascinated by how movies get made. When we visited the London studio I had only a little Big Little. ( Read about our 2018 visit to the London studio here .)

Experiencing the Studio

Practical tips :.

The entire studio tour is bilingual, offering displays in both English and Japanese. While there’s an option for an in-depth audio guide, we found ourselves completely absorbed without it, easily navigating through the spellbinding exhibits on our own. Staff members were able to easily help us in English. It was refreshing to realize we could fully experience an attraction!

• Dress according to the outdoor temperature, as the warehouses can be quite cold, and some exhibits are outdoors.
• For a mid-tour break, I recommend stopping at the café for a Butterbeer or a quick snack. We enjoyed our Butterbeer.
• Eat while you are there. We ended up in the Great Hall-themed area of the dining hall, which was a delightful experience in itself and not any more expensive than grabbing lunch outside of the studio.
• Make sure your phone is fully charged and bring an extra battery. You will take more photos than you think you will and you need the phone to access some of the extras
• Even if you are not into shopping, take time to enjoy the gift shop.

Touring the Exhibition :

This is the part where I just want to share all the amazing photos you can take while visiting. I mean, you going to go so you can be immersed in the Harry Potter universe and discover a bit of the movie magic.

Practically, the exhibition is split into two distinct halves, separated by a Butterbeer stop. Each half took us the same amount of time to get through. I recommend you don’t short yourself on time as its hard to know how into something you might be. My kids were fully fascinated by some sections, looking up close at each detail, and breezed through others.

Even if you’re not usually into souvenirs, the gift shop is a must-visit. Its theming is as meticulously crafted as any other part of the tour.

Should You Spend Your Time In Tokyo at the HP Studio Tour?

Our visit to the Harry Potter Tokyo Studio Tour was more than just a walk through a movie set; it was an immersive dive into the magic and mystery of this beloved universe. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or just appreciate the artistry of the Harry Potter films, this tour is a captivating experience.

So… Is the Harry Potter Tokyo Studio Tour a must-visit while in Tokyo? It’s important to note that the studio tour isn’t a quintessential Japanese experience – in fact, there’s nothing uniquely Japanese about it. This is a slice of the wizarding world, reminiscent of the one in London, situated in the heart of Tokyo. However, for Harry Potter enthusiasts or those who won’t be visiting London anytime soon, it’s an absolute delight.

You don’t have to be a superfan to enjoy the tour, but a basic familiarity with the Harry Potter universe or a keen interest in movie magic will greatly enhance your appreciation of the meticulously crafted sets and interactive experiences. If you’re a Potterhead or a movie buff, this tour is a spellbinding detour from the traditional Japanese attractions.

Have you ever immersed yourself in the world of Harry Potter, either in Tokyo or elsewhere? Share your magical memories or questions below!

And for more adventures and tips on family travel, don’t forget to follow me on Instagram!

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Harry Potter Studio Tour: Muggles' Guide to Tickets, Getting There, and More

The Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo — The Making of Harry Potter finally opened on June 16, 2023! Luckily, we had a first look behind the veil.

Check out this guide to find out how to save your galleons and not spend it all on Butterbeer.

Potterheads can also get their fix of Polyjuice Potion at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter inside Universal Studios Japan theme park .

What is The Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo — The Making of Harry Potter?

The Tokyo Potter experience isn’t an amusement park. In other words, don’t expect to ride a Hippogriff roller coaster. There are, however, interactive experiences, such as becoming a spectator of a Quidditch match and riding a broomstick.

The main fun to be had is touring the likes of Hogwarts, Diagon Alley, and the Ministry of Magic and seeing actual displays of sets, costumes, and props. Some of these attractions will be recreations, but others will be the authentic article used in the films.

Since the Tokyo Tour promises to give fans a unique way to experience the wizarding world of Harry Potter, you could argue that it’s better than an amusement park.

How to get there

¥ 188 13 minutes from Ikebukuro to Toshimaen

The Studio Tour was built from the ashes of the old Toshimaen theme park in Nerima City , which is only about a 15-minute train ride from central Tokyo (Ikebukuro). The nearest train station is Toshimaen on the Oedo and Ikebukuro/Toshima lines, and the entrance is around a 5-minute walk away — spot the stag and doe patronus statues. They also have a big parking complex if you’d prefer to drive.

Look out for the Ikebukuro and Toshimaen railway stations to get a Harry Potter makeover — you might be able to board the train at Platform 9 ¾ to get there.

Getting tickets to the Studio Tour

¥ 6,500 for adults Get tickets here

The Tour requires all bookings to be made in advance and distributes visitor arrivals evenly to prevent congestion. This means you won’t have to wait in massive queues, regardless of popularity.

There are three main prices: ¥ 6,500 for adults, ¥ 5,400 for ages 12–17, and ¥ 3,900 for ages 4–11. Under 4s enter for free. Tickets are non-changeable and non-refundable. You can buy from the official website — although be warned, in true British style, you may end up waiting in a queue — or from other ticketing websites like KKday .

What to see and do at the Harry Potter Studio Tour

The tour is split up into an indoor soundstage and outdoor backlot areas. The indoor soundstage will contain most of the main attractions like the film sets, while the outdoor backlot will showcase iconic houses, vehicles, several sculptures, and an outdoor seating area. You’ll find props and costumes throughout, so keep an eye out.

Explore the Harry Potter sets

Note: When you first enter, there won’t be any bathrooms for around an hour.

Be sorted at the Great Hall

The Hogwarts Great Hall will be the first set you happen upon after exiting from the cinema. Find costumes worn by some of the actors and other props. You can even spot Dumbledore, Snape, and teachers at the top of the hall, as well as overhearing part of the sorting ceremony.

Inside Hogwarts

Here you’ll get a taste of what it would be like to work, sleep, and study at Hogwarts. Walk around classrooms and watch potions brew independently, take a Defence Against the Dark Arts class, or grab a book from the library. You’ll see Slytherin and Gryffindor common rooms, as well as dormitories, Dumbledore’s office — including his Pensieve billowing mist — and moving staircases.

Go out of bounds in the Forbidden Forest

Try not to get killed — or worse, expelled — when you venture into the forest. Large trees and creepy sounds make this section very atmospheric but be warned, those who have arachnophobia (the fear of spiders) might want to give the end a miss.

Where it all began

Once you’ve made it through the Forbidden Forest and past Hagrid’s Hut, you’ll come across a very familiar-looking house — Number 4 Privet Drive. Placed outdoors (where houses should be), Harry’s original home is surrounded by a giant wizard’s chess set, the bright blue Weasley car, Hagrid’s motorbike, and the Knight Bus. You can even go inside the home and relive unforgettable book and movie moments.

Board the Hogwarts Express at Platform 9 ¾

While the real steam train — and station — is still in London, this version was created as a direct copy. Sounds and smoke bring it to life and there are many iconic photos to be shot here, including an overloaded luggage cart (or trolley) on its way back to the muggle world. You can even go inside the train and get a glimpse of some memorable scenes from the movies over the years. The Railway Shop is also on the platform and provides wands, robes, and other products.

Tip: The final gift shop may have very long queues, so buy something here if you want to grab your souvenirs quickly.

Save your galleons at Diagon Alley

One of the best moments of the London Tour was Diagon Alley and Tokyo also doesn’t disappoint. The rickety, lopsided shops are infused with realism, from Gringotts Wizarding Bank to Ollivanders wand shop and the colorful, enigmatic exterior of Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes. You can peek into cobwebbed windows and listen to the moment Harry gets his wand.

Floo away in the Ministry of Magic

The Ministry of Magic set is unique to the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo and it is more than impressive. Its walls alone are around 9 meters tall and it was constructed by the filmmakers who worked on the Harry Potter films. The emerald green tiles and central statue transport you into the working world of a wizard. You can also step into a Floo fireplace yourself and recreate the feeling of arriving for a day on the job.

Interactive experiences at the Harry Potter Studio Tour

The tour isn’t all about walking around and looking at stuff, you’ll also get to put on your best wizard or witch face for photos and videos numerous times: Be on the wall of moving portraits and do your best Fat Lady impression; become a spectator at a game of Quidditch and cheer on your house team; find your face on a wanted poster; ride a broomstick through central London; and see if you can pronounce Diagon Alley while using Floo powder.

Some of these experiences will come with a free download of your photo/video — you’ll need to use a QR code — and others like the broomstick experience will require you to pay quite a bit extra for physical or digital copies.

Behind the magic

When you aren’t using up all your phone space taking photos, you’ll find pockets of information about the process behind the films. Experience the whole of the Potterverse; sound, creature, set, costume, SFX, VFX, and endless design departments all get their moments to shine. Eddie Redmayne, the lead actor in The Fantastic Beasts films, even makes a virtual appearance.

What to eat and drink at the Harry Potter Studio Tour

There are four places to stop for Harry Potter-inspired snacks and drinks along the tour. The Backlot Café and Butterbeer Bar will be situated halfway through and the Food Hall and Frog Cafe will be waiting for you at the start or end of your tour.

Everyone will be scrambling to buy the very sweet, butterscotch-flavored Butterbeer at the world’s largest Butterbeer Bar. A glass does cost a steep ¥ 1,100 , but you can take home the tankard it comes in.

There are some British favorites at Backlot Café, including afternoon tea for ¥ 6,500 per person (you can’t book this in advance), Bangers and Mash (sausages and mashed potatoes) set for ¥ 2,900 , and — our recommendation — pumpkin soup for a reasonable ¥ 400 .

There’s also a ton more to try at the Food Hall — where you can sit below banners as if you were in the Great Hall — and the Frog Cafe.

What to buy at the Harry Potter Studio Tour

Apart from the Railway Shop on Platform 9 ¾, there is only one other gift shop at Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo and it is the world’s largest Studio Tour Shop. You can buy a whole host of wizard-related products and exclusive items, and it is the only store of its kind that offers a whopping seven products for personalization: Hogwarts acceptance letters, wands, robes, t-shirts, trunks, accessories, and notebooks. Of course, there are limitations; you can’t betray your house and have yellow lettering on a green Slytherin t-shirt.

You can also let the wand choose you, get a robe fitting, try Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans (shockingly ¥ 1,900 ) and other snacks, as well as buy jewelry and accessories, socks, mugs — you name it. It’s not cheap, so beware of overspending.

Is it in Japanese or English?

There will always be some form of English-language support, be it subtitles on videos, text below props, or an audio guide. The latter is useful for minor explanations that will be spoken in Japanese, such as in the poster room.

Some of the staff may have limited English-language capabilities, but there will always be someone around who can help.

How long does the tour take?

They recommend four hours for the tour and that’s exactly the time it took for us — this included a stop for some Butterbeer and snacks. It may take more or less depending on what you desire to do and how busy it gets.

How big is it?

The tour covers around 30,000 square meters (approximately four Quidditch fields), so we recommend wearing good muggle shoes.

Is it sustainable?

The Toshimaen area is well known for its green landscape, so Warner Bros and Co have committed to preserving the green space and making sustainability a key principle. New trees will be planted to replace old ones to maintain the greenery. From an economic perspective, the tour will aim to create local job opportunities and drive much-needed growth in tourism.

What other Harry Potter-related things can I see in Tokyo?

How many other studio tours are there.

The two main tours are the original Warner Bros. Studio Tour London and this newly opened Tokyo tour. There is also Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood, but this only features some Harry Potter artifacts. There is also as a large store in New York.

Overall, Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo — The Making of Harry Potter is an immersive, entertaining, and educational experience, so there’s plenty to look forward to.

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Harry potter studio tour tokyo — ultimate guide and review.

• Asia , Japan , Tokyo

The Warner Bros Studio Tour Tokyo — The Making of Harry Potter is a must see when in Tokyo for any Harry Potter fan. This is the second Warner Bros Studio Tour in the world and a large portion of it is similar to its first studio in London. Having been to both the Tokyo and London locations, here is a Harry Potter Studio Tour Tokyo review, as well as some practical information for you to make the best of your time at the studio!

In This Harry Potter Studio Tour Tokyo Review:

Getting to harry potter studio tour tokyo, recommended time spent at harry potter studio tour, entrance time, how is the studio tour in tokyo different from london’s, is the tokyo harry potter studio tour in english, the making of harry potter studio tour tokyo breakdown, final thoughts, harry potter studio tour tokyo review.

The Harry Potter Studio Tokyo is easy to get to via public transport. It takes around 30 minutes via train from Tokyo city centre. The nearest train station is Toshimaen, accessible via the Seibu Ikebukuro line and Toshima line on the railway, and Toei Oedo line on the Metro.

Themed Train Stations

At Ikebukuro Station, the platform where passengers get on the Seibu Ikebukuro line toward Toshimaen Station has been decorated to resemble King’s Cross Station. The Toshimaen station was also decorated to fit the Harry Potter theme, so your journey starts right even before reaching the studio.

The studio’s recommended time spent is 4 hours, but I suggest allowing more time, especially if you’re planning to have a meal in the studio. We spent around 5.5 hours, including a 40 minute lunch break.

The gates to the garden will open 1 hour before your ticketed time. However, you will only be allowed in the garden area, which is outside the entrance to the studio. The studio staff will use this time to remind guests to have the QR codes for their tickets ready.

Studio staff will instruct guests to form a queue outside the studio entrance around 30 minutes before the time slot.

We were officially allowed into the studio around 15 minutes before our time slot. There was also a bag check before entering, so avoid bringing too many items/bags if you want to avoid unnecessarily long bag check.

Tip: I suggest booking a morning slot as it gets crowded after 11am. Being one of the first ones in the studio also mean you do not have to worry about not having tables in the restaurants.

Having been to both, I would say it’s largely similar, in the sense that the exhibits, props and merchandise sold are around 70% the same. Both the Tokyo and London tour aims to showcase the costumes and props used on set, as well as offer a behind-the-scenes look of the editing, sound and video effect works.

There are exclusive merchandise sold at the Tokyo location and also an exclusive set – The Ministry of Magic.

However, the London studio has set changes, such as having the ‘Dark Arts’ event during the Halloween period, and a ‘Hogwarts in the Snow’ event around Christmas. Sets are often decorated slightly differently during these events. The Tokyo studio does not have this, for now, likely because the studio is newly opened.

Yes majority of the studio tour is in English, with the exception of the welcome video, which had parts in Japanese. Whenever there was Japanese audio, it will be accompanied with English subtitles, and when English was spoken, Japanese subtitles will be included.

The exhibits had explanations in both English and Japanese. Most staff can also speak minimally conversational-level English, so not to worry if you are unable to converse in Japanese.

Without giving too much away, here are the exhibits/areas in the studio tour, as well as some of our experience in the different areas.

Lobby: Upon passing the bag check, you will see the main shop on the left and the Food Hall on the right, across the main shop. You can get your supplies such as robes and wands if you want them for photo ops during the tour.

Cinema:  A small room where you will be shown a welcome video (mostly in Japanese, but with English subtitles). Staff will also take this time to have you scan a QR code that will be used for the interactive video experiences throughout the studio tour. Create an account so that you can enjoy the experiences!

The Great Hall:  The famous dining hall in Hogwarts

Marble Staircase: This set actually contains a moving staircase! There was also an interactive video area, where you can take a video and be part of the many portraits. You can download the video for free with the account created earlier.

Living at Hogwarts: Here, you’ll see the Hogwarts dorm rooms and experience being part of a Quidditch match

Costumes & Props: Lots of explanation of how the team conceptualised some of the costumes and props

Learning at Hogwarts: Set into the Potions and Spells classroom; there is also a fun interactive segment where you can learn to cast some spells

Forbidden Forest : Home of Aragog – need I say more?

Hagrid’s Hut: A life-size model of Hagrid’s Hut. This part of the studio tour is partially outdoors.

Backlot: This is where The Backlot Cafe and Butterbeer Bar are located. There are also sets for Privet Drive, The Hogwarts Bridge, Chess Pieces and the Knight Bus here.

We grabbed lunch at The Backlot cafe. It was around 11am when we got there, and it was not too crowded. Food was also served in a pretty reasonable amount of time.

We ordered the Slytherin plate which comes with a drink (¥2,900), fish and chips (¥1,100) and Aragog’s Lair, which is a chocolate cake (¥1,000). The food quality was decent and aside from the Hogwarts Meal Sets, the other food were priced quite reasonably in my opinion.

We also got a butterbeer with a souvenir cup for ¥1,100 at the Butterbeer Bar.

Platform ¾: Here, you’ll find the Hogwarts express and the railway shop – which is a shop dedicated to all things Platform ¾ related! You can also get a personalised Hogwarts acceptance letter here for ¥2,600!

London Ministry of Magic : This set is exclusive to the Tokyo tour. It was arguably the most spectacular set, in my opinion. There is also an interactive video experience here, where you’ll get to use the floo powder! You can download the video for free with the account created earlier.

Creatures Shop : Learn the creatures in the series were created, with appearance of many creatures from the Fantastic Beast series!

Broomstick Experience: Have a go at riding a broomstick! It’s free to try, but you’ll have to pay if you want a copy of the video.

Art of Sound: This area is all about the sound effects and the music of the series. There are videos with the composers and sound effects artists; those not as interactive, is very interesting to learn how the sound effects were created.

Diagonally Diagon Alley : A very realistic set of Diagon Alley!

Hogwarts Model: A miniature, but not exactly mini, model of Hogwarts

Wand Room: A part of the studio shop that carries wands of all the characters in the series.

Studio Shop : This is the same shop you would have come across when you entered the Lobby. There are Tokyo exclusive merch here too.

Overall, I really enjoyed the studio tour in Tokyo and I feel that the interactive portions played a part in adding to the fun. Personally, I enjoyed this tour more than the London studio tour, as there were more sets dedicated to the Fantastic Beast series. Granted that the London studio was built way before the Fantastic Beast franchise, this is not something they can be fault for I guess.

Regardless a Harry Potter fan or not, everyone would be able to enjoy the tour and explore the world of movie magic, as many of the tour’s exhibits offer an insight to the world of movie making, especially for movies that require lots of sound and visual effects. This is definitely something I recommend everyone to add to their Tokyo itinerary if time and budget allows for.

Ticket Prices:   ¥6,300 for adults,  ¥5,200 for ages 12–17, and  ¥3,800 for kids aged 4 -11. Children under 4 enter for free.   From 1 April 2024, it will be increased to ¥6,500 for adults,  ¥5,400 for ages 12–17, and  ¥3,900 for kids aged 4 -11.

Get your tickets on the official Warner Bros. Studio Tour website .

Note: I noticed that Klook sells the tickets at a slightly cheaper price, but as they were packaged with a departmental store discount voucher (and other stuff such as luggage delivery), I decided not to get the tickets from Klook. I decided to include this as it may be a cost saving option, and bundles like the suica welcome card package may be useful for you if you’re a first-time visitor to Japan. However, I personally did not get my tickets from Klook.

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Everything we know about Tokyo's new Harry Potter attraction opening in June 2023

The 30,000sqm exhibition will include replica sets from the main films and creatures from the Fantastic Beasts series

[Update, June 15] Discover all there is to know about the massive new Harry Potter attraction in Tokyo, including how to get tickets, via our ultimate guide to Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo – The Making of Harry Potter .

Get your robes and wands ready because Tokyo is finally getting its own Harry Potter attraction this summer! Officially called the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo – The Making of Harry Potter , the upcoming facility is modelled on the Warner Bros. Studio Tour in London and will open on the former site of the Toshimaen amusement park in Nerima on Friday  June 16 2023 . 

Like the original  Warner Bros. Studio Tour , this Tokyo facility will boast a wide range of exhibits, covering costumes, props, special effects and models used to make the beloved Harry Potter films. (Side note: the entire collection of  Harry Potter films  has recently been added to Netflix Japan and is now available for streaming). 

You can also look forward to exploring key sets for places like Diagon Alley, platform nine and three-quarters, the forbidden forest and the Great Hall. Speaking of the Great Hall, there’ll be plenty of wizarding treats to tuck into between touring each section, including sweets from the Chocolate Frog Café, Butterbeer and classic British dishes (for the muggles). 

The generation who entered the world of JK Rowling with the Fantastic Beasts franchise won’t be at a loss either, as the attraction will be dedicated to both the Harry Potter movies and the spin-off series. The ‘beasts’ might even be the very first thing you encounter – officials have announced that the entrance will include a landscaping area with models of the creatures featured in the franchise. 

Tickets will be available for booking online from 2pm JST on March 22 . The first round of ticket sales will be for visits between June 16 and September 30 2023. You can also get tickets via our affiliate partner Klook .

Adult tickets (ages 18 and over) are priced at ¥6,300 per person, junior tickets (ages 12 to 17) are ¥5,200 and child tickets (ages 4 to 11) are ¥3,800. Admission is free for children under the age of 4. 

In addition to the new studio tour, two Tokyo   train stations   will be getting a Wizarding World-themed makeover. Naturally, this includes Toshimaen Station, which will be renovated to resemble the  Hogsmeade train station featured in the Harry Potter books. 

The second station set to undergo renovations is Ikebukuro Station, though these modifications (inspired by King's Cross train station in London) will primarily be for two platforms used for trains servicing Toshimaen. Renovations for the stations are projected to be completed in the spring. 

For more information, check out the  Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo  –   The Making of Harry Potter   website .

This article was published on March 29 2021 and updated on March 20 2023.

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Japan Blog by Philbert Ono

Illustrated guide to Harry Potter Studio Tour Tokyo

By Philbert Ono

Went to see the huge Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo – The Making of Harry Potter in Oct. 2023, four months after it opened in June 16, 2023. It was better than I expected with lots and lots to see. Excellent crowd control even when the day was fully booked. Hardly any standing in line.

Conveniently located in central Tokyo near Toshimaen Station , a 15-min train ride on the Seibu Ikebukuro Line from Ikebukuro Station or on the Toei Oedo Line subway (convenient from Shinjuku and Roppongi). It is in Nerima, Tokyo. See Getting there .

This blog post shows 150 photos of the studio’s main highlights to give you a good idea of what’s there. (ワーナーブラザース スタジオツアー東京 ‐ メイキング・オブ・ハリー・ポッター)

Updated: Jan. 15, 2024

Contents: Introduction | Studio highlights | Great Hall | Living & Learning at Hogwarts | Quidditch | Props | Forbidden Forest | Backlot | Hogwarts Express | Fantastic Beasts | Ministry of Magic | Creatures | Broomstick flying | Diagon Alley | Hogwarts Castle | Studio Shop | History | Getting there | Other Harry Potter attractions: Akasaka | USJ Osaka

What is it?

• Huge, warehouse-like building exhibiting actual and replicated studio sets, props, scale models, and costumes used in one or more of the eight Harry Potter movies produced from 2001 to 2011.
• Not an amusement park or theme park. No rides. It’s a studio where you walk through a wide variety of exhibits at your own pace. It’s more like a museum. The “studio tour” is a self-guided tour, no human tour guides except at the tour entrance.
• Includes interactive activities to film yourself in movie sets for downloadable videos or photos (free and paid).
• Shop at the largest Harry Potter gift shop in the world. The Studio Shop includes items exclusive to Tokyo. Tour tickets are required to enter the store.
• Cafes and restaurants serve Harry Potter-themed food and drinks.
• This is only the second Harry Potter Studio Tour in the world, after the London studio tour opened in 2012. Although the Tokyo studio has similar exhibits as the London studio, it has things exclusive to Tokyo. The Tokyo studio (30,000 m 2 ) is also much larger than the London studio (14,000 m 2 ).

The studio is educational and fun for students. It shows the Making of Harry Potter , and you learn about movie-making and the behind-the-scenes work that goes into movie productions. Set design and construction, special makeup (goblins, etc.), visual effects (green screens), sound effects, scale models, animal actors, animatronics, etc., etc. Amazing ideas, hard work, and meticulous craftsmanship by so many talented people, like magic. The studio offers school discounts to school groups of 20 or more including free admission for accompanying teachers. The studio even offers lessons to students about movie making.

What to know …

• Tour reservations and ticket purchases are required in advance through the official website . No tickets are sold at the door. Reserve your desired date and entry time at least a few weeks in advance. Otherwise, your desired tour date/time might already be fully booked. Tickets cannot be changed or refunded.
• Hours: Operating hours vary depending on the season. Studio doors usually open at 8:30 a.m., and the first tour entry time is 9:00 a.m. or 9:30 a.m. The last tour entry time is around 3:30 p.m., and the studio tour closes at around 7:30 p.m. They want you to arrive at least 20 min. before the start of your tour. You can see the current operating hours when you make tour reservations.
• Tickets for adults (18+) are ¥6,300 , age 12–17 ¥5,200, age 4–11 ¥3,800, and under age 4 free. No paper tickets are issued, digital tickets only. Need a smartphone or tablet to show your digital ticket QR code to enter.
• Allow at least four hours to tour the studio including cafe breaks and shopping.
• There’s a bag search at the entrance. Don’t bring any cutting instruments like knives or scissors, alcoholic drinks, pets or other animals. Other prohibited items and actions here.
• There’s a cloakroom near the entrance where you can store coats, bags, and luggage for free.
• Taking photos and videos is allowed in most areas (no flash or video lights). Selfie sticks, tripods, monopods, and drones are not allowed.
• Free Wi-fi available.

Visitor tips

• Best to start the tour in the morning when it’s less crowded. The afternoon may become more crowded with the lingering morning crowd combining with visitors coming in the afternoon. You’ll also have more leisurely time in the studio, including a cafe/butterbeer/meal break and gift shopping. There’s no time limit to exit before the closing time.
• Effective crowd control with only a limited number of visitors allowed in at each time slot. Hardly any standing in line, at least in the morning.
• The exhibits are well captioned in native English and Japanese (translation of the English). Digital audio guides in English or Japanese can be rented (¥1,300) to hear more details about each exhibit. There’s also a studio guide book available in the Studio Shop.
• If you have a Harry Potter costume, wear it to the studio like many other visitors.
• Since most everything is indoors, rainy days should not be a major problem.
• Most everything is wheelchair accessible .
• The studio is within Nerima Joshi Park which used to be the site of Nerima Castle. Almost nothing is left of the castle, but cherry blossoms bloom in late March.
• While walking through the park to the studio, look for the large sculpture of Harry Potter’s eyeglasses.
• To celebrate the opening of the Harry Potter Tokyo studio in June 2023, the United Cinemas Toshimaen movie theater complex next to Toshimaen Station is showing all eight Harry Potter movies one after another from June 16, 2023 to Feb. 1, 2024. Each movie plays for about a month. However, all the films are dubbed in Japanese. Schedule here.
• Also near Toshimaen Station is a hot spring facility named Toshimaen Niwa-no-yu . Looks like a great place for an outdoor bath and Finnish sauna. No tattoos allowed though.

Watch/rewatch Harry Potter movies before you go…

Before visiting the studio, I highly recommend watching or rewatching Harry Potter movies . You can then better recognize or remember the many characters, creatures, stories, studio sets, props, costumes, vocabulary, and movie scenes displayed in the studio.

The studio tour exhibits sets, props, and scenes from each of the eight Harry Potter movies. We saw the first movie over 20 years ago and the last movie came out over 10 years ago. So it would be good to refresh your memory by rewatching/watching the movies. The final and eighth movie ( Deathly Hallows Part 2 ) was a great climax and conclusion too. (In Japan, Amazon Prime has all Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts movies available in English renting for ¥199 each.)

About Harry Potter…

In case you were born yesterday, Harry Potter is a series of fantasy novels by British author J.K. Rowling . They have been made into a series of eight Harry Potter movies from 2001 to 2011 starring Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter, Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley, Emma Watson as Hermione Granger, and Tom Felton as Draco Malfoy. They all started off as child actors around age 10 or 11, and we watched them grow older in the movies during the 10 years. Although they got tired of their roles after a few movies, they managed to stick with it together and came through with an astounding British movie series.

The setting is modern Great Britain with most all the actors being British (as required by the author) and most everyone speaking British English. The stories are about child wizards and witches studying magic at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry housed in Hogwarts Castle.

All the while, they have all kinds of adventures, conflicts, and struggles dealing with magic, non-magic people, evil beings, rivalries, competition, prejudice, friendship, love, rule breaking, and fantasy creatures. There are so many characters , creatures, implements, magic spells, and special vocabulary that it can be overwhelming. Can’t fit everything in the novels into the movies, so some things are inevitably truncated or omitted or not understandable unless you read the novel or movie synopsis . The special effects in the movies are dazzling and the studio tour shows great examples of how it’s done.

*The information and images in this blog post are current as of November 2023. Check the official website for the latest info.

Entrance hall/lobby

Lobby and tour entrance straight ahead as a Hungarian Horntail , a dragon native to Hungary, greets you high above.

The entrance lobby has digital audio guides (left) for rent (not essential) and Information counter and Cloakroom to store coats, bags, etc., for free.

Near the entrance is also the Frog Cafe (coffee and confections) and Food Hall (with floating candles) for British food in case you’re hungry before or after the studio tour. The Backlot Cafe halfway in the tour is also popular.

What are the studio highlights?

The main highlights are shown in the pictures below. These photos don’t show everything. Just a sample of what’s there. (Click on thumbnails to enlarge the photo.)

The tour starts in a room of animated movie posters where they explain a few rules. They also tell you how to register your QR code on your smartphone with your email address. This is highly recommended, so you can do the interactive activities and download free videos of yourself.

Then we go to the doors of the Great Hall where they let a lucky visitor push open the doors to enter…

The Great Hall of Hogwarts (大広間)

The studio tour starts with the most recognized movie set, The Great Hall in Hogwarts Castle. Lots of oohs and ahhs here. This was the Hogwarts dining and meeting room. Two long rows of dining tables have tableware and signboards indicating the dining areas for students in the four Houses: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. This room also displays the robes and uniforms worn by students in each House. A Japanese staff person gives a brief explanation of the Great Hall in Japanese.

The Great Hall measures 12 meters by 36 meters. Modeled after the Hall of Christ Church, Oxford University . Only the ceiling is not like in the movies, and there are no floating candles or flying owls.

Left: Tableware in the Gryffindor section with their robes displayed behind. Right: The head table has mannequins of the main professors.

L-R: At the Great Hall’s head table, Albus Dumbledore , Hogwarts headmaster; Minerva McGonagall (next to Sorting Hat), Hogwarts Transfiguration professor, Head of Gryffindor House, Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts; and Severus Snape , potions professor and later Defence Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts and Head of Slytherin House.

Living at Hogwarts (ホグワーツ・ライフ)

Another impressive room is the Hogwarts Marble Staircase which actually moves (swivels) like in the movies. We cannot go up the stairs though. A few of the oil painting portraits also move.

Moving portrait experience: Next to the Marble Staircase, you can be a moving portrait too. The studio’s first interactive experience has booths with different backgrounds to film yourself for 15 seconds. Let the camera scan your QR code on your phone to start filming. Then smile and make goofy gestures. (Don’t make any obscene/stupid gestures because the other visitors and staff will see it too.) Your short video will soon appear on one of the framed oil paintings on the staircase wall in a looping video (no sound). Take pictures/videos of your moving portrait.

You can later download the video for free. Amusing. (Interactive activities are optional, but highly recommended that you do it.)

Gryffindor boys’ dormitory . The bed length remained the same even as the actors grew into adults during the 10 years of movie making.

Common Rooms with headless mannequins wearing the actors’ costumes. The Gryffindor Common Room has a portrait of Professor McGonagall on the left wall. In the Slytherin Common Room , the mannequin on the left wears Draco’s costume.

Dumbledore’s Office is another impressive studio set. On the left on the cabinet is Gryffindor’s Sword in a glass case. On the right on the floor is Dumbledore’s Memory Cabinet containing vials of his memories. The portraits are of the 48 former Hogwarts headmasters/mistresses. 

Closer look at Dumbledore’s Office complete with his pet phoenix Fawkes which moves and squeals (animatronic). His office was in a high tower of Hogwarts Castle accessible by the Griffin Stairwell on the right. Immobile here, but it spiraled upward in the movie.

Learning at Hogwarts (ホグワーツ・レッスン)

Left: Potions Classroom supposed to be in the basement dungeon for a cold environment. Over 1,000 bottles of potions line the walls. They contain all kinds of stuff. Very elaborate set in multiple rooms. Right: Library . (Don’t touch the books.)

Defence Against the Dark Arts Classroom . There was a wand-waving lesson to defeat a Death Eater (right) on the balcony.

On left is the costume worn by Ron and a chest of Quidditch balls. On the right are more Quidditch player uniforms. Draco Malfoy wears green, Cedric Diggory in yellow, and Harry in red.

Quidditch filming experience: We visitors could act as spectators at a Quidditch match between Griffindore and Slytherin. We stood on the sideline of the Quidditch field and followed the staff’s instructions to cheer and boo as we were filmed for a 30-sec. video.

The finished video included of real movie footage of Harry Potter in a Quidditch match with Slytherin interjected with moments of us cheering or booing in the spectator stands. Hilarious. We could watch the resulting video almost immediately. Video was free to download later.

Japan actually has Quidditch teams and even a Japan Quidditch Association. The name of the sport has been changed to “quadball.”

Props (小道具)

L-R: Nimbus 2000 and Nimbus 2001 Quidditch broomsticks; Goblet of Fire , hand carved from English Elm; and Mirror of Erised which reflects the deepest, most desperate desire of your heart. Harry saw his parents in this mirror, and I saw only myself.

For the movie actors, the broomsticks were custom-designed and fitted for each person. The stick was a solid metal pole strong enough to support the actor sitting on it in front of green screens.

Left: Thirty-three wands of all the wizards and witches, including the most powerful Elder Wand (No. 1). Right: Triwizard Cup and golden egg from Goblet of Fire.

Forbidden Forest (禁じられた森)

Centaurs are guardians of the Forbidden Forest. Facial features are more horse-like than human. Dementors (evil beings) also fly around in the Forbidden Forest.

Hagrid (half giant) and Buckbeak the Hippogriff (animatronic) in the Forbidden Forest. Buckbeak is a white, horse-like golden eagle. Hagrid had so many amazing pets at his beck and call. (バックビーク)

Giant spider Aragog the Acromantula in his lair in the Forbidden Forest. Hagrid raised Aragog, so it never attacks Hagrid. But when Harry and Ron wander nearby, Aragog says in British English and Japanese, “My sons and daughters do not harm Hagrid, but I cannot deny my sons and daughters fresh meat when it  wanders so willingly  into our midst. Goodbye, friends of Hagrid.” The children spiders then chase Harry and Ron. Aragog also moves (animatronic), the legs and even the eyeballs move. (アラゴグ)

In Chamber of Secrets, they used five of these Flying Cars in various degrees of damage before Harry and Ron finally crashed it in the forest. Harry and Ron also used the car to escape Aragog’s spiders in the forest. Impressive exhibit, especially if you like classic cars. It’s a Ford Anglia made by Ford UK in the 1960s. The headlights are turned on and a smoke machine makes the smoke.

Backlot (バックロット)

In the middle of the tour, just when you’re ready to sit and have butterbeer or lunch, there’s the outdoor Backlot . Nice sunshine and fresh-air break from the indoor studio tour. The Backlot has outdoor exhibits and the Backlot Cafe and Butterbeer Bar.

Photo op: In the Backlot, pose inside the Flying Car . One of the few spots where I saw people standing in line. Entrance to the Backlot Cafe can be seen on the left.

Hagrid’s Hut is also in the Backlot. Very cluttered inside and pretty cramped for a half giant. Notice his dog Fang. (ハグリッドの小屋)

Backlot Cafe for lunch. Located halfway through the studio tour. Menu includes the priciest Griffindor Plate (roast beef) for ¥3,200, Forbidden Forest Salad (¥1,300), Aunt Petunia’s Victoria Sponge Cake (¥1,000), Hedwig Cake (¥1,500), coffee/tea (¥500), and Pumpkin Soup (¥400), the cheapest item.

Butterbeer Bar for non-alcoholic butterbeer (¥1,100), coffee/tea (¥500), and salted popcorn (¥700). Butterbeer tastes like butterscotch, slightly fizzy/carbonated with a buttery froth on the top. Butterscotch is not a widely familiar flavor in Japan. It’s good though. Comes in a plastic mug (tankard) which you can wash afterward in the sink and take home in a plastic bag. (バタービール)

4 Privet Drive (Dursley residence)

Full-scale replica of the house where Harry lived with his adoptive relatives, the Dursleys . You can enter and tour the first floor. (Second floor is closed.) For the living room (above right photo), the set decorator selected the ugliest sofas (ha-ha!). Seen here filled with Hogwarts school acceptance letters (delivered by owls) addressed to Harry after the Dursleys kept throwing away the letter before Harry could receive it. Hilarious scene in The Philosopher’s Stone. Special effects crew used pressurized air devices to blow a stream of 10,000 letters into the home. It wasn’t CGI!

Harry’s closet-like room in the Dursley home named Cupboard under the Stairs . Right: The stairs overhead where Harry’s cousin Dudley Dursley would stomp on to annoy Harry below. (Stairs were closed to visitors.)

One of the most hilarious and unforgettable scenes in Harry Potter. In  Prisoner of Azkaban , Aunt Marge at dinner with the Dursleys angers Harry who inflates her into a balloon that floats out of the house and into the sky. She was unaware that Harry was a wizard. Otherwise, why mess with a wizard? The actress (Pam Ferris) actually wore an inflatable bodysuit and it wasn’t CGI. Luckily, her clothing could magically stretch that much without ripping off. ( Video clip here .)

Hogwarts Bridge was created for the movies. Does not appear in the original novels. Only a small section is replicated here outside near the Privet Drive house.

Three-decker Knight Bus complete with beds and a swinging chandelier above. It drives up whenever a wizard or witch needs urgent transportation like when it picked up Harry after he got fed up and moved out of Privet Drive ( Prisoner of Azkaban ). Didn’t see the talking, shrunken head though. (夜の騎士バス)

The bus was custom-made from a real double-decker bus ( AEC Regent III RT ) whose top was cut off to add another deck before reattaching the top.

Left: Giant chess pieces protecting the Philosopher’s Stone. Stationary and non-explosive. Right: From the Backlot, the studio tour continues this way as we go back inside to see…

Hogwarts Express train on Platform 9¾ (9と¾番線)

The second half of the tour started with more oohs and ahhs and hoots at the impressive Hogwarts Express train on Platform 9¾ modeled after King’s Cross Station in London. Another centerpiece movie set big enough to be a real train station.

The full-scale train is the same make and model ( GWR 4900 Class 5972 Olton Hall ) as the original one displayed at the London studio. The train is stationary, but you can enter the passenger carriage and see passenger compartments.

This official video shows how they transported the train to the studio and installed it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyCH3ZJL0VM

Photo op: Through the Wall. Push a baggage cart into the wall to enter Platform 9¾. There’s staff to take your photo too. At the real King’s Cross Station in London, there’s a wall labeled “ Platform 9¾ ” where there’s a similar wall-embedded luggage cart for a free photo op.

Enter the Hogwarts Express train carriage and see the passenger compartments. We cannot enter the compartments. Just look through the compartment windows while walking through the corridor.

The exterior windows are video monitors showing the passing scenery, including a chocolate frog that gets blown away. The compartment on the left shows Ron and Harry feasting on a pile of sweets. That’s when the chocolate frog jumped out. Impressive how the train car was restored.

Platform 9¾ also has this set from Fantastic Beasts, a trilogy of films released from 2016 to 2022 as a spin-off prequel to the Harry Potter films. The main character, Newt Scamander (played by Eddie Redmayne), is a British wizard in the 1920-30s who is a zoologist of magical creatures and keeps a collection of them in his suitcase which is actually a magical zoo of fantastic beasts.

A major difference from the Harry Potter films is that the main characters are adults, not kids. I missed the free spirit and innocent world view of young wizards and witches.

The series is also more international with movie settings in countries other than the UK: America (New York), France (Paris), Germany (Berlin), and Bhutan. The British-only actors rule doesn’t apply to Fantastic Beasts, and the British accent is not as prominent anymore.

Asians are still under-represented though, and J.K. Rowling deciding to have an Asian woman to be an evil creature (won’t mention which) doesn’t bode well among Asians. Best not to offend your major markets. But at least two Asian creatures are mentioned, the Chinese qilin and Japanese kappa in The Secrets of Dumbledore .

The special effects and CGI are dazzling, but they and the accompanying sound effects are now too routine and repetitive. Lightning bolts shooting from wands, wholesale destruction of buildings and streets, numerous pieces of paper spinning/flying in the air, things burning up, etc. We’ve seen and heard it all before except for the fantastic creatures. The films seemed to be driven more by the special effects instead of the story. The genocide theme of magic people wanting to exterminate non-magic people ( muggles ) on the pretext of being a superior race is quite chilling and overly evil. Might make kids afraid of magicians, Halloween witches, and the Wizard of Oz.

As of this writing, there are no plans for additional Fantastic Beasts films.

London Ministry of Magic, Atrium (ロンドン魔法省)

Full-scale London Ministry of Magic , unique to the Tokyo studio. Handmade movie set on 900 sq. meters using 30,000 green and red lacquered wooden tiles. The original set during filming took 22 weeks to construct. This set looks as it appeared in Deathly Hallows Part 1 .

In the center is the “Magic is Might” monument depicting Muggles (non-magical people) crushed under the weight of a witch and wizard atop a marble column. It was installed by the Death Eaters (evil allies of Dark Lord Voldemort) when they took over the Ministry.

Floo Network experience: People usually commute to the Ministry of Magic through the Floo Network where they arrive in green flames in a large fireplace. This is another interactive activity where you walk out of the fireplace’s Floo powder flames upon arrival. The fireplace with dark green tiles is real, but the green flames are added with CGI. You can later download the short video for free.

Creatures (クリーチャー)

Voldemort , The Dark Lord, and his snake Nagini . Each time one of his Horcruxes was destroyed, his greenish robe would fade in color ( Deathly Hallows ).

Left: Animal actors included multiple owls for Hedwig , Harry’s owl. Right: The hilarious and finger-biting Monster Book of Monsters . It moves.

Realistic makeup on a Gringotts Bank teller goblin (ゴブリン) and Hagrid’s giant half-brother, Grawp.

Broomstick flying experience (ほうきエクスペリエンス)

The final interactive activity was broomstick flying . It looks like a ride, but the broomstick is just a stationary prop you sit on and be filmed in a green screen booth. You sit on a small seat attached to the broomstick. There’s also a foot rest for your feet.

The staff tells you when to sway left or right, when to wave, when to reach out your hand to catch the Golden Snitch, etc. The resulting 70-sec. video shows you flying fast on a broomstick amid different background scenery like city streets, Quidditch field, and Hogwarts Castle. To make it look more realistic, they should have a fan blowing in front of the broomstick to blow your hair and clothing in the wind. (See this person’s broomstick video .)

Pretty cool, but they charge ¥3,500 to download the broomstick video (without watermarks). They also take photos of your broomstick ride and charge ¥3,500 for five photos (including the “Undesirable No. 1” poster photo). Total ¥7,000 which is more expensive than the studio admission. Couldn’t help but to get sticker shock after the three previous interactive experience videos (moving portrait, Quidditch spectating, and Floo Network) were free (Full HD quality).

You can view your broomstick flying video and photos on your smartphone, but they are entirely watermarked (photo above). If you don’t buy the video/photos at the studio, you can still buy and download them online later within one month minus the watermarks. If you come dressed as a wizard/witch, it might be worth buying the broomstick video, but I was not suitably dressed for a flying broom and declined. Would rather spend the money on another Harry Potter attraction elsewhere.

Diagon Alley (ダイアゴン横丁)

Diagon Alley is where the young wizards and witches buy their school supplies. The shops are just a facade, and we cannot enter any of them. Window shopping only. Good spot for selfies if you’re wearing wizard/witch robes. Gringotts Bank (with goblin workers) has a facade, but we cannot enter it like at the Harry Potter London studio which has a full-size replica of the bank’s interior.

Owls for sale at Diagon Alley. Do you see Hedwig (Harry’s owl)? At least four different owls were used to play Hedwig. Available as stuffed toys in the gift shop later…

Hogwarts Castle (ホグワーツ城の模型)

The studio tour ends with a large, replicated scale model of Hogwarts Castle with alternating night and day illuminations. Detailed, handcrafted model with fiber optics used for the castle lights. In the movies, a scale model like this one was used with CGI backgrounds. We can walk around the model. I wondered where the Great Hall was.

Hogwarts Castle model in daylight illumination. Looks different from different angles. Architecture was inspired by Oxford and Cambridge Universities, Durham Cathedral , and Alnwick Castle .

Studio Shop (スタジオツアーショップ)

After exiting the studio, you enter the Studio Shop , the world’s largest Harry Potter gift shop. Some items are Tokyo exclusive, available only here. You still need to buy studio tour tickets to enter the gift shop. I think they should also allow the public to shop in the gift shop. It’s not worth buying a studio tour ticket just to replenish my butterbeer supply or buy occasional birthday or Christmas gifts.

The shop accepts cash, credit cards, and Apple/Google Pay. No ATMs on site. No delivery service is offered, but you could go to a convenience store or post office near the train/subway station to ship stuff.

The Studio Shop sells Harry Potter clothing (robes, hoodies, etc.), lots of wands, stuffed toys (owls, dragons, spiders, mice, etc.), confections, and even brooms. You have a choice of 7,000+ products.

Studio Shop rooms guarded by Fawkes the phoenix and Voldemort’s snake Nagini.

Wands and more wands. Buy the wand of your favorite wizard or witch for ¥4,600. You can also engrave your name on the wand. When I was there, the Slytherin wand was sold out.

Hogwarts robes and Tokyo-exclusive hoodies. Robes can be personalized with your name. When I was there, this Tokyo hoodie was available only in Extra Small.

Small stuffed toys: Hedwig (Harry’s owl), Fawkes the phoenix, and Dobby the beloved elf. Made by Sekiguchi, a major Japanese toy maker famous for Monchicchi .

Bottled “Tokyo Special” butterbeer (¥1,000) and chocolate frogs are among the many edibles in the Studio Shop.

Harry Potter Tokyo studio history

The Harry Potter Tokyo studio is on the site of the defunct Toshimaen amusement and water park that closed in Aug. 2020 after 94 years of operation since 1926. It was owned by Seibu Railways.

In 2011, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government wanted to acquire the Toshimaen land from Seibu Railways and close the amusement park to convert the land into a public park for use as an emergency evacuation zone for local residents. Seibu Railways still wasn’t ready to acquiesce.

It wasn’t until 2019 when Toshimaen acquisition negotiations restarted together with a proposal from Warner Brothers to build the Harry Potter studio in its place. ITOCHU Corporation, a major Japanese trading company, had proposed to have the Harry Potter studio built at Toshimaen. Seibu finally agreed to close Toshimaen.

The Toshimaen site was selected for its central location, greenery, and its long amusement history. Plans for the studio was announced in June 2020 when Seibu Railways announced the closure of Toshimaen. The park closed on Aug. 31, 2020 and the amusement park rides were mostly dismantled by April 2021. Most of us thought it was another victim of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Tokyo government started constructing the public park, named Nerima Joshi Park (練馬城址公園), as planned and opened the completed section on May 1, 2023. The southern part of the park which had the Toshimaen waterpark (dismantled in 2023) will reopen in 2029.

The Harry Potter Tokyo studio took two years of construction by Taisei Corporation and opened on June 16, 2023 in the northern part of Nerima Joshi Park. Movie actors attending the grand opening included Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy), Evanna Lynch (Luna Lovegood), and Matthew Lewis (Neville Longbottom). (Both Tom and Evanna were also the celebrity guests at the grand opening of Universal Studios Japan’s Harry Potter attraction in July 2014.) They joined Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike and other officials to open the studio entrance with magic wands before hordes of cheering Potter fans entered and enjoyed the studio’s first day. Ticket reservations were fully booked at least three months in advance.

While the Harry Potter London studio first opened in March 2012 and later expanded in phases to add Platform 9¾ (Hogwarts Express) in 2015 and the Forbidden Forest in March 2017, the Tokyo studio built and opened both Platform 9¾ and the Forbidden Forest from the start.

Unless additional attractions or more entertainment are added (like at Universal Studios Japan), I wonder if there will be a significant market for repeat visitors other than maniacal Potterheads. The education market would be promising for the studio which introduces many vocational fields such as costume and fashion design, set design, woodworking, model making, visual effects, sound effects, and robotics/animatronics. Harry Potter does fit in well in Japan, a land of cosplayers, anime, and other fantasies.

Perhaps the only downside is that the London studio may now see fewer visitors from Japan or Asia.

More photos (180+) of Harry Potter Tokyo studio here.

Getting there

The Harry Potter Tokyo studio is conveniently located in central Tokyo, near Toshimaen Station (豊島園駅), about 15 minutes from Ikebukuro Station by train on the Seibu Ikebukuro Line . Take the train that goes to Toshimaen Station (end of the line) and not any train that goes elsewhere. Otherwise, you’ll have to transfer trains at Nerima Station along the way.

The Toei Oedo Line subway also has a Toshimaen Station, convenient if you’re coming from Shinjuku or Roppongi. Paid car parking is also available near the studio.

Toshimaen Station on the Seibu Ikebukuro Line has been given a bold-red Harry Potter makeover, complete with a red telephone box and a small locomotive which was originally used at Toshimaen amusement park. The station mimicks Hogsmeade Station, the end of the line of the Hogwarts Express. The station name is now a misnomer since Toshimaen no longer exists.

The phone in the red telephone box works, but you only hear a simple recorded message like “Welcome.” It’s not a payphone and you cannot call anyone.

From Toshimaen Station, it’s a short walk through Nerima Joshi Park (練馬城址公園) to the Harry Potter studio entrance. You might see a large sculpture of Harry Potter’s round glasses and Nagini snake sculpture along the way. Just follow the crowd.

Studio address and map: Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo 1-1-7 Kasugacho, Nerima-ku, Tokyo, Japan

Other Harry Potter attractions in Japan

Harry potter in akasaka, tokyo (updated jan. 15, 2024).

Tokyo also has other Harry Potter hotspots. They are near Akasaka Station on the Chiyoda Line subway. (Not to be confused with Asakusa .) Head for Exit 3b.

First see Akasaka Station’s main stairway going up to the street level (near Exit 3b). It has been converted into the Harry Potter Staircase ( Wizarding World Gate ) decorated with 42 oil paintings of famous wizards and witches on both walls and a giant Time-Turner (time machine to go back in time) near the top of the stairs. Modeled after the Hogwarts Marble Staircase (no swiveling).

Paintings of famous wizards and witches on the staircase walls. Also hear the Harry Potter background music.

Near the top of the stairs is a giant Time-Turner, an hourglass on a necklace. Behind it are the words: “It’s Time to Believe in Magic.” The time-turner appears prominently in Prisoner of Azkaban. The upper walls have a mural of the Hogwarts Marble Staircase.

Left: Closeup of paintings on the staircase wall. The lower left painting is Armand Dippet, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry when Tom Riddle was a student there. On the upper left is Newt Scamander, the main character in the Fantastic Beasts film series and author of the required textbook, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them . Right: Mural of the Hogwarts Marble Staircase. The stairs lead to TBS Akasaka ACT Theater.

Staircase exit at Akasaka Station. In the background, the Harry Potter Cafe can be seen.

Harry Potter Cafe is inside Akasaka Biz Tower in Akasaka, Tokyo. Left photo shows the exterior, and right photo shows the entrance inside Akasaka Biz Tower. The cafe is quite busy, so reservations are necessary. It serves Harry Potter-themed meals and desserts different from the eateries at the Harry Potter Tokyo studio. It’s decorated with a giant wand inside, 3.5 meters long.

Near the Harry Potter Cafe is Wizarding World Street with a Harry Potter gift shop called Harry Potter Mahou Dokoro seen on the right ( mahou dokoro means “magic place”). The gift shop may limit entry if it gets too crowded. It sells merch not found in the Tokyo Studio Shop. The street is festooned with banners of the four Hogwarts Houses.

Left photo: Inside the Harry Potter Mahou Dokoro gift shop. Right photo: Gift shop’s PR display (teddy bears) on the 2nd floor of Akasaka Biz Tower.

All this popped up in Akasaka on June 16, 2022 ahead of the July 8, 2022 opening of the long-run Harry Potter Japanese stage production called Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at TBS Akasaka ACT Theater which is also near Akasaka Station. As of this writing, the stage production is slated to run until at least June 2024 for when advance tickets are on sale.

After dining at the Harry Potter Cafe, go up to the 2nd floor of Akasaka Biz Tower to see more Harry Potter decor. This display above shows life-size cardboard cutouts of the Japanese actors in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child being staged in Akasaka. There are two actors each for Draco’s son Scorpius Malfoy (extreme left and right), Harry Potter (center two), and Albus Potter (Harry’s son).

All the actors are Japanese and they speak Japanese. Apparently, the movies’ British-only actor rule doesn’t apply to the stage production.

The play is a continuation of the final Harry Potter film, Deathly Hallows Part 2 which ends with a scene 19 years later when the young children of Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Draco are sent to Hogwarts on the Hogwarts Express at King’s Cross Station. (Yes, they all got married, but I won’t mention who they married in case you haven’t seen the movie.) We might as well call it Harry Potter, the Next Generation.

Tickets range from ¥7,000 to ¥19,000. It’s being staged until at least June 2024. (Also currently being staged in London, New York, and Hamburg.)

TBS Akasaka ACT Theater near Akasaka Station. Even the theater is festooned with banners of all the Hogwarts Houses.

During the holidays in Dec. 2023 and Jan. 2024, the 2nd floor of Akasaka Biz Tower had this holiday display with the Sorting Hat and Harry Potter Christmas tree . You can sit under the Sorting Hat for selfies. There’s even a camera stand for your smartphone. If you want to be officially sorted, the official Harry Potter website has a Sorting Hat quiz for you to answer to determine your House. It’s in both English and Japanese here . (You have to register first.) The Christmas tree has Hogwarts acceptance letters and presents.

Right outside the Harry Potter staircase in Akasaka, is the outdoor Harry Potter Christmas tree . For Christmas 2023, the Harry Potter Christmas tree had Hedwig (Harry’s owl) carrying a Hogwarts letter showing a list school supplies first-year students needed to obtain for school. They included robes, a pointed hat, dragon-hide gloves, a book titled Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander, a wand, and an owl, cat, or toad.😆

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Japan , Osaka

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park attraction at Universal Studios Japan (USJ) in Osaka has rides, shows, a large model of Hogwarts Castle, Hogsmeade village in snow, Hogwarts Express locomotive, and a crashed Flying Car.

Since it opened in July 2014, it no doubt helped USJ become one of the most popular theme parks in the world, on par with Tokyo Disneyland.

In 2022, USJ actually saw more visitors (12.35 million) than Tokyo Disneyland (12 million). It has relentlessly added or replaced major attractions since it opened in March 2001.

The Harry Potter studio tour in Tokyo and USJ’s The Wizarding World of Harry Potter are not competitors. They are totally different kinds of attractions, so they cannot be considered rivals. They actually complement each other well. One is a theme park centering entertainment and physical thrills, while the other is more educational and visually and mentally stimulating. Harry Potter fans would most definitely go to both. And if you go to one, you would naturally want to see the other one too.

And so all the Harry Potter attractions in Japan and the world has something unique. That’s the way it should be, to make each one worth visiting. Nice that there’s something that doesn’t belong to Disney.✨⚡️

Contents: Introduction (page top) | Studio highlights | Great Hall | Living & Learning at Hogwarts | Quidditch | Props | Forbidden Forest | Backlot | Hogwarts Express | Ministry of Magic | Creatures | Broomstick flying | Diagon Alley | Hogwarts Castle | Studio Shop | History | Getting there | Other Harry Potter attractions | More studio photos

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Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo - The Making of Harry Potter

The Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo is a walkthrough-style entertainment facility, which takes visitors behind the scenes of the Harry Potter film series. Opened in 2023, the facility is built on the grounds of the former Toshimaen amusement park, which closed in 2020, a 20 minute train ride from Ikebukuro and Shinjuku in central Tokyo .

Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo is similar to the one in London, which opened in 2012, and does not feature any rides like the typical theme park . Instead, visitors explore the world of Harry Potter on foot through iconic film sets. Digital guides, which further enhance the self-guided experience with narrations in Japanese and English, are available for an additional fee.

The main attractions in the Studio Tour are the iconic sets , which recreate the magic and atmosphere of the movies, including one which is exclusive to Tokyo. The sets offer plenty of photo opportunities and activities, such as green screen experiences like riding a broomstick, becoming a Hogwarts portrait and stepping into the crowd of a Quidditch match. Note that selected activities and experiences require an additional fee. Visitors can further learn about the props, costumes and detailed artworks of the film series.

A number of food and drink establishments can be found at the Studio Tour, offering visitors a varied menu, including Butterbeer, the popular wizarding drink. Additionally, there are also two shops, where visitors can look forward to purchasing Wizarding World products. The shops can be accessed only by those with valid tickets.

'Wizarding World' and all related names, characters and indicia are trademarks of and © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. - Wizarding World publishing rights © J.K. Rowling., and Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter.

Getting there and around

The Warner Bros Studio Tour Tokyo is two minutes on foot from Toshimaen Station, which is served by the Seibu Toshima Line and the Oedo Subway Line.

From Ikebukuro Station

Take the Seibu Ikebukuro Line bound for Toshimaen from Ikebukuro Station and get off at Toshimaen Station (17 minutes, 190 yen one way).

From Shinjuku Station

Take the Oedo Subway Line from Shinjuku Station and get off at Toshimaen Station (20 minutes, 280 yen one way)

Hours and Fees

Tickets need to be purchased in advance.

Tickets are not sold at the park, but must be purchased in advance for a specific date and entry time slot. They can be purchased from the official website or Klook on a first-come first-serve basis. Tickets are non-changeable and non-refundable.

Admission for an adult over the age of 18 costs 6500 yen. A package, which includes the admission ticket, a digital guide and an official guide book, is available for 9600 yen and slightly cheaper than purchasing them separately.

Hours and closing days

The studio's opening times vary depending on seasonality, and it is advisable to check the official website before your visit.

Questions? Ask in our forum .

Links and Resources

Warner bros studio tour tokyo, hotels around tokyo.

Experiences around Tokyo

Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo, the World's Biggest Harry Potter Exhibit, Just Opened—Explore Inside

On June 16, 2023, the world’s largest indoor Harry Potter attraction, the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo, opened in the city’s Nerima ward. Just like at the original London version  which opened in 2012 at the studio where the movies were made, Tokyo’s exhibition features areas dedicated to all aspects of creation of the films, ranging from sets, costumes and props, to sound effects and graphics. 

But there are plenty of differences from the Britain-based tour, too, including interactive experiences only on offer in Tokyo . Thousands of items have been dusted off and displayed for the first time, and visitors will be able to find bespoke merchandise only available in what’s now the world’s largest Harry Potter store.

“Everything here at the Tokyo tour has been made by the filmmakers from the original Harry Potter films—the sets, the costumes and the props,” says Sarah Roots, Executive Vice President of Warner Bros Worldwide Tours and Retail. “These items were then loaded onto 350 shipping containers and transported to Japan.”

Even if a certain set or prop on display at the Tokyo attraction is a replica, it was still designed with the same attention to detail as the original item, which was an undertaking that brought together the Harry Potter artists once again. “For the second time in their careers, these craftsmen and women have made the same fantastic props and the same costumes,” says Sarah. 

What’s more, visitors to the Tokyo tour can check out several exclusive movie sets that have never been displayed in public before (more on those later). There are also custom-made addition just for Japan’s massive Harry Potter fan base, including a pre-recorded introduction to the tour by Kensho Ono, the actor who voiced Harry Potter in Japan. But speaking Japanese isn’t required—videos have English subtitles on videos, signs carry English translations, and audio guides are available in English (and a range of other languages).

Japanese people tend to be huge fans of Harry Potter. Sign up for this studio tour and you’ll see fellow visitors dressed up as more Dumbledores, Harry Potters, and Luna Lovegoods than you can shake a stick (or wand?) at. One of the best places to catch the Harry Potter-themed cosplay is the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Great Hall set, with its beautiful Yorkstone flooring (pictured above).

Here, visitors dressed as the film’s characters feast on treats from the Frog Café. We recommend one of the cupcakes—there are varieties to represent each of the four houses of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, each adorned with the house flag. But a word of warning: The Great Hall’s tables are also emblazoned with each house’s flag, so expect some disapproving glances if you dare to eat your Slytherin cupcake on a table emblazoned with the Gryffindor pennant.

Thousands of Potter movie props are on display at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo. These include replicas made by the designers responsible for the original versions and duplicates of major items (several versions were often made for multiple takes), some of which have been brought of out of storage. You’ll see everything from wands (some 3,000 were made for the films, and every character had their own unique design) and quidditch balls to toys and musical instruments, including the instruments played by the Weird Sisters in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005). 

Don’t miss the coin-operated Eyeball Bonanza Automata machine, from 2004’s Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban . “One of my favorite stories relates to this gumball machine,” says Roots. “Pierre Bohanna, the head propmaker, told me that his father made the original one for the Harry Potter films, and he recreated it with his son for the Tokyo tour.”

Over 25,000 costumes were created for the eight Harry Potter films, and the dozens of pieces on display in Tokyo include the Yule Ball dress worn by Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005) and a party dress worn by Luna Lovegood (Evanna Lynch) in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009). There’s also an invisibility cloak worn by Daniel Radcliffe in the first film (2001) and several outfits worn by actors in the Fantastic Beasts spin-off films, including a garment worn by Leta Lestrange (played by Zoë Kravitz) in 2018’s Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald . True Potterheads will be able to name the characters who wore the wardrobe pictured above.

This element is only available at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo: Visitors stand in front of a mock-up of a quidditch spectator stand and are prompted to duck, cheer and boo on cue. The footage is then inserted into footage of a quidditch game on enormous screen. Other experiences which can only be found at the Tokyo attraction include the chance to design a Death Eater mask and appear in one of the portraits hanging in Hogwarts. As in London’s tour, there’s also an area where visitors can straddle a broomstick placed against a green screen to generate clips of themselves soaring over some of the films’ most famous landscapes.

Sets which you’ll only find in Tokyo, and which were built by the same craftspeople who constructed the ones used on screen, include a full-size Ministry of Magic (pictured above; London’s tour could only fit smaller portions), the Defence Against the Dark Arts Classroom, and Hogwarts’ moving staircase (which does indeed move). In the walk-through Enchanted Forest, a much larger version of the one that was added to London, clouds of smog ramp up the spookiness. 

The tour heads outdoors as well. Stumbling across a life-sized replica of the Dursleys’ No. 4 Privet Drive, complete with a gnome-dotted lawn and hanging baskets, seems surreal, but wait until you step inside. Visitors can check out the cupboard in which a young Harry was forced to sleep and they can explore the cluttered kitchen, complete with overflowing sink and the remains of a Sunday lunch scattered across the countertop. One standout, just like at London’s exhibition, is an incredibly detailed model of Hogwarts you’ll see towards the end of the tour, complete with glowing windows, ornate brickwork, and miniature pine trees.

Cupcakes may be served in the Great Hall, but the Backlot Café, which is located approximately halfway through the walking tour, is just as spectacular. Offerings give a taste of British pub food in the heart of Japan, including a Forbidden Forest Salad, Gryffindor Plate (roast beef), Hufflepuff Plate (roast chicken), Ravenclaw Plate (fish pie) and Slytherin Plate (sausages and mashed potatoes), all served on color-coordinated tableware and garnished with house flags. And, of course, there’s plenty of Butterbeer on offer. At the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo, there’s only the liquid version available, although visitors can snack on special Butterbeer popcorn, too.

The Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo also has the world’s largest Harry Potter shop, which for Potterheads may be reason enough to come. Souvenirs and collectibles are divided into 14 (yes, you did read correctly) sections, several of which are designed to resemble shops from the film, whether it’s Honeydukes (candy), Ollivanders, (wands), or Flourish and Blotts (books). There’s plenty of exclusive merchandise to get your hands on. That includes Chinese tea sets featuring images of the characters, who also adorn chopsticks, paper fans, and rolls of traditional Japanese washi tape. 

The most popular items which you’ll only find on sale in Japan include keyrings and magnets bearing manga-style images of Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Don’t neglect the shop’s décor, either—about 7,000 more props are displayed amid the merch. 

Is there a must-have item specific to Tokyo? “The headbands are selling like hot cakes,” says Roots. “It seems to a very Japanese thing. If you come in a group, everybody wears matching headbands.”

Two of Tokyo’s train stations have been given Harry Potter-themed makeovers, and they’ll be in place until 2024. At Toshimaen, which has been transformed to nod at the films’ famous Hogsmeade station, fans will recognize the beautiful clock, telephone booth, and bright red benches (albeit bearing the name Toshimaen rather than Hogsmeade). Sculptures of stags,  the creatures which appear when Harry casts his powerful patronus spells, graze outside, and images of owls and trains are regularly projected onto the walls. 

Most visitors arrive at the Tokyo tour arrive by train, which takes 15 minutes to from Ikebukuro station. From here it’s just a five-minute walk to the exhibition. Even the railway carriages on this train have been adorned with images of Harry, Ron, and Hermione, and Ikebukuro station has been redecorated to evoke Kings Cross’s Platform Nine and 3/5, with brick-effect wallpaper and station clocks identical to the ones from the films. 

Tickets : wbstudiotour.jp/en/tickets . Prices:  ¥ 6,300 (US $44) for adults,  ¥ 5,200 (US $37) for ages 12–17, and  ¥ 3,800 (US $26.79) for kids aged 4 -11. Frommer’s recommends that visitors book at least a month in advance and allow around four hours to explore the entire attraction. Wear comfortable shoes—there’s a lot of ground to cover. More Harry Potter coverage may like:  12 Magical Harry Potter Experiences in England and Beyond Harry Potter and the Tempting Merchandise: What to Buy at Diagon Alley

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