The highly anticipated Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo - The Making of Harry Potter will open on June 16, 2023. Located only 20 minutes by train from Ikebukuro or Shinjuku in central Tokyo, the walkthrough style entertainment facility, which is the second of its kind after the one in London, invites visitors into the world of Harry Potter.
I had the opportunity to visit the facility before it opens to the public, and had an excellent time and wonderful experience in the world of Harry Potter. This article is based on the preview without giving too much away, and visitors can expect a similar experience. The Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo is a short two minute walk from Toshimaen Station. Detailed information about the facility, including tickets and transportation, can be found here.
Seibu Railway Toshimaen Station
Platform at Toshimaen Station with some Harry Potter decoration
It is a short two minute walk from station through this green space to the entrance of the facility
Ticket holders enter into the lobby and are greeted with three options. The entrance to the self-guided walking studio tour, the main shop and restaurants.
Upon entering into the tour area, visitors are led through a short introduction of the self-guided tour, followed by a short movie which then leads to the large, imposing doors like the ones of the Great Hall in Hogwarts. An immersive and interactive experience in the Wizarding World awaits those who step past those doors. The walking tour takes one through the iconic sets and provides a close look at the costumes and props from the movies. Also available are a number of green screen experiences, which additionally provide interactive and personalized elements to the tour. It is recommended to allocate at least 3-4 hours for a visit.
The main shop looked like a set in itself
The Food Hall offers some English-inspired dishes
Posters about the people who made the movies possible
Beyond these doors lie the movie magic of the Harry Potter series
Excellent and well-done bilingual (Japanese and English) descriptions and subtitles all throughout the facility
Marble Staircase area
The author, yours truly, trying out one of the green screen experiences, which is being a moving portrait in one of the picture frames in the Marble Staircase area
A closer look at the Slytherin common room and its details
Another green screen experience, this time being a spectator at a Quidditch game
Peering into Dumbledore's office
Plenty of photo opportunities like this library/study nook
The outside area with the Great Bridge and other outdoor exhibits, marks the midway point of the tour route
Hagrid's hut is in the outside area
The author sitting in Hagrid's motorcycle, and the Dursleys' house, which can be entered, is in the background
After the outside area, the tour continues with the Platform 9 3/4 set
Behind the scenes animatronics magic
Ministry of Magic set is exclusive to Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo
Another green screen experience here, in which you arrive to work like a ministry employee
Prop magic
Iconic sets were interspersed with exhibits about movie making techniques
Diagon Alley
There should be an owl cafe somewhere in the facility, but there isn't :(
The sound section of the tour was very interesting, including this bit on Foley
Anatomy of a broomstick, and in the background is the last green screen experience on the tour: riding a broomstick. An additional fee is required to get the data for this experience
Tour route ends with a beautiful model of Hogwarts
Food and drink establishments offer a varied menu, and Butterbeer, the popular wizarding drink, is also available. Rounding up the experience at the entertainment facility are the shops, which make up the largest Harry Potter store in the world, where visitors can purchase personalized items and limited edition goods among regular items.
Backlot Cafe, which is located along the midway point of the tour route, serves up meals. Just about when I was starting to get a little hungry and tired from the walking
Cute cakes inspired by the movies
The Butterbeer Bar is located along the midway point of the tour route
Outdoor Butterbeer break
Clever combination of wand and signpost to show directions in the main shop
Tokyo Exclusive Merchandise
Wands for sale
A sample of a personalized Letter of Acceptance to Hogwarts. A total of seven products are available for personalization, the most of any official Harry Potter stores in the world
