Immerse Yourself in the World of Harry Potter! "Studio Tour Tokyo" [Part 1]

​Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo – The Making of Harry Potter (hereinafter referred to as Studio Tour Tokyo) opened in June 2023 on the former site of Toshimaen. Since its opening, as the first studio tour in Asia, it has attracted many Harry Potter fans not only from Japan but also from all over the world.

This spot allows you to experience the magic of movie making through a variety of attractions, including sets, costumes, and props created by actual filmmakers.

This time, we actually went to the "Studio Tour Tokyo"! We will bring you a report from the site, including highlights, gourmet food, and souvenirs.

What is "Studio Tour Tokyo"?

The "Studio Tour Tokyo" stands on a vast site of 90,000 square meters, the equivalent of two Tokyo Domes. It is the second studio tour in the world after London and the first in Asia.

The "Studio Tour Tokyo" is a new walk-through entertainment facility where visitors can experience the world of "Fantastic Beasts" movie, which takes over the “Harry Potter” series and its magical world.

About 2 minutes walk from Toshimaen Station
"Access"

Seibu Ikebukuro Line/Toshima Line "Toshimaen Station"

The red telephone booth on the platform and the Marauder's Map design on the floor are just a few of the details.

To access "Studio Tour Tokyo," take the Seibu Ikebukuro or Toshima Line to "Toshimaen Station," or take the Toei Oedo Subway Line to "Toshimaen Station," a two-minute walk.

Toshimaen Station on the Seibu Ikebukuro Line and Toshima Line has a red-based design reminiscent of "Hogsmeade", a place where only wizards live. You'll feel excited from the moment you step through the station!

If you are driving, it is about 20 minutes from the Oizumi IC on the Tokyo Outer Ring Expressway along Mejiro Street. Parking requires prior reservation, so be sure to make a reservation when purchasing your ticket.

Access method here

Tickets

The Patronus statue of a male and female deer in the station square

Tickets for "Studio Tour Tokyo" must be purchased in advance on the official website. Please note that tickets cannot be purchased on-site!

【Ticket】
Adult ticket: ¥6,500 (ages 18 and over)
Junior high school and high school students: ¥5,400 (ages 12-17)
Children's ticket: ¥3,900 (Infants and elementary school students: 4-11 years old)
Infants (3 years old and under): Free

There is no time limit for staying after entering, so if you want to stay as long as possible, we recommend purchasing a ticket for morning entry!

Purchase tickets here

Admission available 1 hour before the tour begins

Statue of Hagrid and Harry

You can enter the facility one hour before the tour starts (30 minutes before for the first tour).

We had booked a tour starting at 9:30 in the morning, so we arrived at the site just before 8:30. The gates opened an hour before the tour started.

Follow the instructions of the staff to get in line. Wait in line for about 30 minutes until the opening time of 9:00 a.m.

There are coin lockers outside the facility, so you can leave your luggage there beforehand. Re-entry is not permitted, so there is a cloakroom inside the facility if you need to take your luggage out.

We were greeted by the Hungarian Horntail, the same one that Harry fought in the "Goblet of Fire".

Lobby

Map

"Frog Cafe" inspired by "chocolate frogs"

Admission begins at 9:00. Present your ticket, go through baggage check and head to the lobby.

On either side of the lobby are the Main Shop, Frog Cafe, and Food Hall, where you can enjoy shopping and dining until the start of your tour.

Digital guided tours are available for rent, as well as a cloakroom and changing rooms, so be prepared for your tour!

Main Shop

Items such as robes and canes to further enhance the tour are also available for purchase in the "Main Shop". Personalization of robes may take some time, so be sure to get there early. (On this particular day, we went there in the first thing in the morning, and it took about 15 minutes.)

There are limited toilet locations on the tour, so it's a good idea to use the toilet beforehand. There is only one cafe on the tour, so be sure to bring some drinks to stay hydrated.

"Studio Tour" begins!

Movie posters from around the world

Studio tour begins!
After listening to the tour explanation, we head to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

The "Great Hall", where many dramas were born

Great Hall

Costumes of Hogwarts faculty and staff

Costumes of Hogwarts faculty and staff

The "Great Hall", a place that always appears in the "Harry Potter" movie series, is spread out when you open the large door. It is the birthplace of many dramas such as the Sorting Ceremony, the Christmas Dance Party, and the Magical Showdown.

The costumes of the Hogwarts faculty members are also on display at the front. I was surprised at how big Hagrid was!

Hogwarts students' costumes

Candlesticks inspired by the four houses

There are many things to see, such as the snake, badger, lion, and eagle candelabras that represent the four houses, and the costumes of the Hogwarts students. Incidentally, the floors are made of real paving stones called "Yorkstone," which are often used in European castles.

The area in front of the door is a perfect photo spot!

When the lights dim, move on to the next area. It is tempting to take a closer look at every corner, but time passes quickly, so be sure to take pictures as soon as possible!

Building a Wizarding World

On the studio tour, you can not only experience the movie sets, but also learn how the magical worlds of "Harry Potter" and "Fantastic Beasts" were created.

This section, which features models and drawings, is a must-see not only for Harry Potter fans, but also for movie and architecture lovers.

You can also try your hand at portrait painting! "Moving Staircase"

Next we went to the "Moving Staircase" set.

Just like in the movie, you can see the stairs moving erratically. The sight of the stairs moving along with the heavy rumbling sound is very impressive!

Photo Station

As in the movie, the portraits are moving, and to my surprise, I can participate as a member of the portraits!

There is a filming station near the set, and the experience is free. The system works by taking a video of about 10 seconds, which appears in a portrait in the set. If you register the 2D code on your smartphone in advance, you can save the video you shot.

The Gryffindor common room where Harry and his friends spent time

Gryffindor Common Room

The Gryffindor common room where Harry, Ron, and Hermione spent time. The set prioritizes comfort over extravagance, creating a cozy space.

If you look closely at the paintings on the wall, you'll see a portrait of Professor McGonagall as a young woman!

This is the Gryffindor boys' dormitory. Can you tell where Harry's bed is? If you look closely at the suitcase under the bed, you can see the letters "HP"!

An experience exclusive to Studio Tour Tokyo! "Quidditch Experience"

There will also be displays of Quidditch balls, Quaffles and Bludgers.

Next up is the section on Quidditch, a sport in the wizarding world.

Here you can participate in the "Quidditch Experience" where you can experience how Quidditch matches are filmed. (The experience is free.)

Following the instructions of the interactors (the names of the staff members at each section), visitors will cheer for the Slytherin vs. Gryffindor match. Video footage of the cheering will be incorporated as a scene from the actual movie, and can be downloaded after the experience ◎.

"Dumbledore's Office" is filled with items that are typical of Dumbledore

Fawkes the Phoenix

The next corner is "Dumbledore's Office." The headmaster's office, which doubles as a private room and study, is located at the top of the tallest tower in Hogwarts Castle. Harry visits it many times in the story.

The room is filled with items that are typical of Dumbledore, who was knowledgeable and loved astronomy.

"The magic of props" "The magic of costumes"

"Magical Potions"

"Defense Against the Dark Arts"

"Hogwarts Library"

The fascinating sections continue with "Magic of Props," "Magic of Costumes," "Potions," "Defence Against the Dark Arts," and "Hogwarts Library."

In Professor Lupin's "Defense Against the Dark Arts" class, you can also experience wand combat, where you use your wand to fight off the Death Eaters. This is a chance to try out spells, so if you have a wand, be sure to join in!

There is also a section where you can experience spell casting! "Forbidden Forest"

"Forbidden Forest"

Next we went to the "Forbidden Forest". It's a little scary because it's a forest that Hogwarts students are never allowed to enter, but let's go inside!

Bagbeak

Hagrid and Bagbeak greeted me. I bowed to Bagbeak, who slowly bowed back to me.

In addition, in the "Forbidden Forest," several famous scenes from the movie are recreated. There is also a corner where you can try out the spell Expecto Patronum (guardian spirit magic), so why not grab your wand and join in!

"Hagrid's Hut"

"Hagrid's Hut"

After passing through the Forbidden Forest, we arrived at Hagrid's hut. This is about half way through the tour.

Lunchtime at the Backlot Cafe

"Backlot Cafe"

The atmosphere inside the store is like a greenhouse for herbal medicine.

The inside of the restaurant is very spacious! There are even seats with electrical outlets.

There are also seats modelled after Professor Umbridge's room, with moving portraits of cats on the walls.

It was just lunchtime, so we had lunch at the Backlot Cafe! This was the only restaurant on the tour, so it was a good time to take a break.

"Hufflepuff Plate (Roast Chicken)" 2,800 yen with drink

The cheese ball in the flowerpot resembles a mandrake, with the bottom part made of mashed potatoes.

You can enjoy various menus such as Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry house-themed plates and seasonal menus. They also have a kids' menu including “kids' hamburgers” and “kids' curry". For adults, beer and wine are also available!

"Hedwig Cake" ¥1,500

Recommended for tea time is the Hedwig Cake in a birdcage-shaped cake stand. Strawberry, banana, and custard cream are sandwiched between sponge. It is too cute to eat and is a must-try sweet for Harry Potter fans!

Enjoy butterbeer at the Butterbeer Bar

Butterbeer Bar

Butterbeer ¥1,000

When talking about Harry Potter, butterbeer is a must!

This non-alcoholic drink with flavors reminiscent of shortbread and butterscotch is perfect for a break. Why not take a bubble mustache shot like Hermione?

You can take the tumbler home as a souvenir. There is a place to wash your tumbler, and you will also be given a plastic bag to take it home in, so you can feel safe.

There are also a number of outdoor sets, including the Dursley house and Hogwarts Bridge!

Hogwarts Bridge

Wizard's Chessboard

Night Knight Bus

In the outdoor space, there are various sets on display, such as the Dursley House, the Hogwarts Bridge, and the Wizard's Chessboard. Every place is perfect for a photo spot!

Dursley's House

You can even go inside the Dursley's house and see the room down the stairs where Harry lived.

There are still plenty of spots we want to introduce, but we'll be covering the second half of the tour in part two! The second half will feature the Hogwarts Express and Diagon Alley, so don't miss it!

Life Designs

2024.05.27

Harry Potter world at the former Toshimaen shopping mall! Available for purchase at the studio tour...

https://life-designs.jp/webmagazine/harrypotter-studiotour_omiyage

There are two shops in the main shop facility: the "Main Shop" and the "Railway Shop". Each shop carries different items. (Some of the items are the same.) The main shop is located near the entrance, so you can use it either before or after the studio tour. We recommend purchasing robes and wands before the tour starts! There are a wide variety of items with the world of "Harry Potter" as a motif, from "Tokyo exclusive" items to cute accessories. The Railway Shop...