Tourism Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo-The Making of Harry Potter opening 16 June

<Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo--The Making of Harry Potter> will open to the public on 16 June. The facility in the capital's Nerima Ward stands on what used to be the site of the Toshimaen amusement park, which closed in August 2020 after 94 years in operation. Today, the media were given a sneak preview of some attractions at the world's second facility devoted to the Harry Potter franchise.

Among the sets open to the media was the Great Hall at Hogwarts that Harry Potter and his friends attended to become wizards, as well as the Ministry of Magic. There is also a gift shop with items only available at this facility. Visitors will feel like they have entered the world of Harry Potter as they walk along Diagon Alley, which has retail outlets that sell to Hogwarts students, such as the Magical Menagerie. The amusement park also contains sets from the spinoff "Fantastic Beasts" movies. The other Harry Potter facility, located just outside London, opened in 2012.

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

We went to the "first" such facility several years ago and it was a great trip. My son was at just the right age to get chosen to participate in the wand choosing experience at Ollivander's. Although the wand chose him, I still had to pay for it.

I know many will miss the old park and that is quite understandable.

But many people won't like it because they never gave Harry Potter a chance and that is just sad. I was almost one of them, but one of my students pretty much made me read a bit from the first book, with her questions about it, and bless her, she unintentionally got me to drop my "too cool for this" arrogance. Now JK Rowling is a personal hero to me, due to the many vital principles she set in her books, such as the fact that standing up to friends takes more courage than standing up to enemies, and it must be done sometimes.

Anyway this looks great! I hope I get to visit it!

I quite enjoyed the books and films but not enough to want to visit the museum, which is about a 15 minute brisk walk from where I live.

What I am impressed with is how well Warner Bros has landscaped the area. The former amusement park took up a lot of land, much of it in the form of ugly car park, and anyone wanting to walk along Shakuji-gawa had to do a large detour around the park. The museum takes up much less space, a well-used grassy park with play facilities for children has been opened where the car park used to be (and visitors are being actively discouraged from arriving by car), trees have been planted, and the public now has access to the river. I've often walked along the river and through the park at night, and it's providing much-needed space for young people to hang out and do their own thing.

Lothor said:

I quite enjoyed the books and films but not enough to want to visit the museum, which is about a 15 minute brisk walk from where I live.

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That calls for an article or, at least, a review!

thomas said:

That calls for an article or, at least, a review!

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Until Lothor gets his done, here's one:

Sure, I can try to write a review of Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo–The Making of Harry Potter. Here is what I came up with:

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If you are a fan of Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts, you will love Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo–The Making of Harry Potter. This is a brand-new attraction that opened in June 2023 on the former Toshimaen site, and it is the largest indoor Harry Potter attraction in the world and the first Warner Bros. Studio Tour to open in Asia12.
The Studio Tour offers you the chance to step behind-the-scenes of the spellbinding movies and discover secrets of the Wizarding World. You will be able to see authentic sets, costumes and props that were used in the films, as well as learn about the amazing craftsmanship and techniques that went into creating them. You will also be able to interact with some of the magical elements, such as riding a broomstick, becoming a moving portrait or joining a Quidditch match12.
Some of the highlights of the Studio Tour include:

• The Great Hall: The heart of Hogwarts, where you can see the house tables, banners and costumes of your favorite characters.
• Platform 9 ¾: The place where you can board the Hogwarts Express and see inside some of the carriages.
• The Forbidden Forest: The mysterious and dangerous place where you can encounter magical creatures such as Buckbeak and Aragog.
• Diagon Alley: The bustling wizarding shopping street where you can see shops such as Ollivanders, Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes and Gringotts Bank.
• The Ministry of Magic: The imposing and majestic place where you can see the offices, courtrooms and fireplaces of the wizarding government.
• Exclusive sets: The Studio Tour Tokyo features some sets that are only available at this location, such as Dumbledore's office, Hagrid's hut and the Yule Ball23.

The Studio Tour also has a Backlot where you can enjoy a refreshing tankard of Butterbeer, the famous wizarding drink, and two cafés that serve British-inspired menus and magical sweet treats. You can also visit the world's largest Harry Potter shop, where you can find a huge range of Wizarding World gifts, souvenirs, stationery and more12.
The Studio Tour is a must-see for any Harry Potter fan, as it gives you a unique and immersive experience of the movies and books that you love. You will be amazed by the details and authenticity of the sets, costumes and props, and you will feel like you are part of the Wizarding World. You will also learn a lot about the filmmaking process and the creative talent behind it.
The Studio Tour tickets must be booked in advance on their website for a specific time and date, as they are not available to purchase at the attraction. Tickets are non-changeable and non-refundable. The Studio Tour is open from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm daily, except on some holidays1. The ticket prices are 6,300 JPY for adults (18+), 5,200 JPY for juniors (12-17), 3,800 JPY for children (4-11) and free for under 4s1.
I highly recommend Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo–The Making of Harry Potter to anyone who loves Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts. It is a magical day out that you will never forget.

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I hope this review is helpful. Let me know what you think.

thomas said:

That calls for an article or, at least, a review!

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If I go! Actually, a friend from the Philippines who really likes HP is visiting Japan this summer, and she might try and talk me into going.