Better than USJ: Ride on a broomstick here! 🧹

If you’re heading to Tokyo on your next trip to Japan and love watching the Harry Potter movies, run don’t walk (and be sure to include this place in your itinerary!)

As a potterhead myself, I spent a good half day (~6 hours) just exploring and immersing myself in the studio tour because the place is so huge and all the explanations were so detailed.

Before you head down:

🪄 Book your tour tickets in advance (6,500 yen) and a slot in the morning for ample time to explore! If you decide to go there at the last minute, chances are the only tickets left are late in the day and you won’t be able to make the most out of it.

🪄 Don’t waste your money on the digital guide (save 1,300 yen!) as most of the signboards and videos are written and explained in English.

🪄 Set aside 20-40 mins (depending on where you stay) to reach the studio as it’s quite far out! The studio is a 2-min walk from Toshimaen station.

What I did there:

🧙🏼‍♀️Bought a Gryffindor house robe and got my name embroidered on it! I did it before starting the tour and it only took 15 mins. LOVED IT so much! It kept me warm despite the winter winds, and I’m planning to repurpose it for Halloween

🧙🏼‍♀️Got a matching wand for the full experience; I chose Hermione Granger’s. The wands sold here are non-interactive, hence are slightly cheaper than the USJ wands. If you’re planning to get a wand, it’s better to get them here as you can’t use the interactive feature outside of USJ anyway

🧙🏼‍♀️ Act as a spectator in a quidditch match! The staff prompted us when to boo the opponents and when to cheer for our house. Super competitive sia, but we were SO into it and gave our 100% 🫡

🧙🏼‍♀️ Rode on a broomstick in front of a green screen and laughed so hard because the end result looked so fake 💀

🧙🏼‍♀️ Took a mugshot - You can buy the digital copy without the watermark but didn’t think it was worth the money

🧙🏼‍♀️ Got to recite the entire viral TikTok verse from chamber of secrets at the outdoor chess piece “No Ron, there must be another way!”

🧙🏼‍♂️ Drank 1.5 cups of butter beer. I don’t normally drink sweet drinks but I really like it. Imagine 100% sugar bubble tea, but sweeter with hints of maple syrup. Feel USJ’s is better though.

🧙🏼‍♂️ Explore the live set of Uncle Vernon & Aunt Petunia’s house, a landed where you can peek into Harry’s room — the cupboard under the staircase. Really quite jialat 😢

🧙🏼‍♂️ Simulate using floo powder and wishing I can get to diagon alley… bruh, of course I didn’t magically transport there and had to walk out like a muggle 🚶‍♀️🚶‍♀️🚶‍♀️

🧙🏼‍♂️ Got scared by the huge animatron spiders at the Forbidden Forest when it suddenly moved 😭

🧙🏼‍♂️ Walk through the Hogwarts Express and saw dementors trying to get through the window. Nope 💀

💔 Get all in my feelings at the wooden bridge because Hogwarts isn’t real life

They also hand you a QR code where you can scan at various experiences and it’ll automatically upload your digital image and video into the same link. Super handy ‘cos there’s a photo spot every 10 steps.

For me it was a full 10/10 wholesome experience reliving my childhood. Brought my non-HP fan friends there and they enjoyed the tour too. Definitely give it a go on your next Japan trip and experience it for yourself!

The Making of Harry Potter

#MyLemon8Diary #MyFreeTime #Japan #japanrecommendations #harrypotter