Opened in June 2023, Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo is the world’s largest indoor Harry Potter attraction and the second of its kind after the one in London. This immersive tour doesn’t have any rides, but rather offers a behind-the-scenes experience of the hit fantasy series.
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What to Expect
The first stop, after walking through rooms showcasing photos and posters from the franchise, is a room to watch an introductory video on the facility. Next, you are shuttled into a cinema-like room to watch another video presented by the stars of the Harry Potter movies — Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint.
You then push open a massive door that opens into Hogwarts Great Hall, filled with its iconic long house tables and mannequins of popular characters.
Everything up to this point is guided and done in a massive group. But from the next room, you are finally set loose to wander at your own pace through the sprawling complex.
Highlights include:
- Forbidden Forest – Encounter Aragog and other magical creatures.
- Mr. Dursley’s house (4 Privet Drive) – I seriously could not get over how real the food replicas looked, from the half-eaten bones to the dirty plates. The kitchen was also super cosy.
- Hogwarts Express & Platform 9 ¾
- Ministry of Magic – Loved the grand atrium with vibrant jade green tiles and golden statues. Thought it was Chinatown at first.
- Diagon Alley – the famous wizarding shopping street.
Littered throughout these sets and exhibition rooms are original props from the films, including wands, robes, and potion bottles. There is also a section with animatronic models of Dobby, Buckbeak, and more.
Interactive experiences
While you can easily satisfy yourself just immersing in the atmosphere of the amazing sets, there are also a few interactive experiences available.
The most fun was pretending to be the crowd in a Quidditch game, which was later spliced into scenes of Harry Potter and other characters playing. You can also ride a broomstick via green-screen technology, or pretend to experience the magical effect of Floo powder in a replica of a Ministry of Magic fireplace.
Food & Drinks
Within the studio tour, you can enjoy a sweet drink at the world’s largest Butterbeer Bar or other Harry Potter-inspired sweets at the Backlot Cafe.
Before or after the studio tour, you can head to the Food Hall which includes the Frog Cafe, as well as a variety of hot and cold meals.
Opposite the food court is the largest Harry Potter store in Asia, selling wands, robes, collectibles, and Tokyo-exclusive merchandise. Prepare to leave the store with your wallet much lighter if you are a shopper.
Tickets
All tickets must be purchased in advance, during which you select a timeslot to enter. There is no time limit to your visit. You can get tickets on the official website or from authorised distributors like Klook and Trip.com.
Tickets cost 7,000 yen per adult, but I recommend picking an evening ticket (5:30pm~) for 5,000 yen available until June 2025. You see the same things and can experience an illuminated Knight Bus, among other night-time views.
How to get there
Address: 東京都練馬区春日町1-1-7
1-1-7 Kasugacho, Nerima-ku, Tokyo
Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo – The Making of Harry Potter is around a 5-minute walk from Toshimaen Station on the Seibu-Ikebukuro or Toei Oedo lines. Toshimaen Station on the Seibu Line has been decorated to resemble Hogsmeade Station, the train station closest to Hogwarts in the Harry Potter world.
Operating hours vary by day but they are generally from 8:30am to 10pm. The facility is open every day but make sure you check the website before going.
In summary
The complex was a lot larger than expected, and it easily takes around 3-4 hours to walk through and appreciate the incredible world building. Make sure you bring a bottle of water! Or your own empty bottle to fill up at a water server partway through. If you’re a hardcore Harry Potter fan, this studio tour is a must-visit. Even a non-fan like myself could enjoy the attention to detail, despite not being so familiar with HP lore. So I can only imagine how exciting it must be for those who grew up with the franchise.
For more interactive fun in Tokyo not focused on rides, check out Immersive Fort Tokyo and Tokyo Joypolis in Odaiba.