As a devoted Potterhead, I have eagerly awaited the release of every Harry Potter book and movie over the years. So, when I learned that the Harry Potter Studio Tour Tokyo was now open, I couldn’t wait to book my tickets and visit, much like when we went to Harry Potter’s Wizarding World at Universal Studios in Osaka.
In this article, I’ll provide an overview of the Harry Potter Studio Tour Tokyo along with some highlights from our visit. I’ll also share useful tips and address common questions at the end. If you have a specific inquiry, feel free to jump straight to that section using the index.
This is an official Warner Brothers Studio Tour featuring studio sets, props, costumes, and insights directly from the film production. Please note that it is not a theme park. While there are some interactive activities, there are no rides, and you won’t encounter characters in costume. However, you will see plenty of visitors donning robes, which is welcomed and even encouraged.
Getting to the Harry Potter Studio Tour Tokyo
The Harry Potter Studio Tour is situated outside the city center but is easily reachable via train to Toshimaen Station. There are two Toshimaen stations—one on the Seibu Line (an above-ground train) and another for the subway. Which station you arrive at will depend on your starting point, but they are located close to each other, so it really doesn’t matter.
If you’re traveling on the Seibu Line from Ikebukuro, you’ll notice that the Ikebukuro station platform is designed to resemble Kings Cross, while Toshimaen Station features a Hogsmeade theme. It’s a charming detail if you can fit it into your itinerary, but it’s not worth diverting if you can take the subway directly from your hotel.
It’s just a short walk from the station to the park entrance, which opens at 8:30 a.m., with the first tour starting at 9 a.m. The surrounding area boasts impressive statues of the basilisk and other characters, and strolling beneath the towering trees sets an enchanting atmosphere for what’s to come.
The Harry Potter Studio Tour Tokyo Experience
We booked our tickets for the Making of Harry Potter Studio Tour online through Klook as soon as we confirmed our travel dates and flights. Tickets are available for the current month and three months in advance. While this may seem far ahead, securing your desired date and time early is advisable.
We opted for the 10 a.m. tour. With a 40-minute train ride ahead of us, we planned to arrive about an hour early, which allowed us to schedule lunch around midday. The timing worked out quite well.
Be sure to arrive earlier than your ticket time. The tour begins at the time indicated on your ticket, and you’ll join a group of visitors with the same time slot. The first few sections of the tour are organized, but after that, you can explore at your own pace, allowing the crowd to disperse.
The Entrance Foyer
Upon arriving at the studio, you’ll walk through the park to the main building. While there may be a queue, ours moved quickly. Your ticket will be checked, and you’ll go through a security check, which may involve a look inside your bag. Regular bags and small backpacks can stay with you during the tour, but larger bags and luggage must be checked into the cloakroom. We didn’t need to store anything, but the process seemed smooth and efficient.
Now, you’ll enter the entrance foyer, featuring a spacious central area with seating, the queue for the tour, the gift shop, the Great Hall (Food Hall restaurant and Frog Cafe), restrooms, and the cloakroom for items. You’ll start and finish your tour in this area.
Setting the Stage
We want to avoid spoilers, so we will stick to the essentials about the tour’s flow and available facilities to help you plan accordingly.
You will need to line up at the entrance prior to the scheduled time on your ticket. In the first section, you’ll walk through castle hallways adorned with movie posters and dynamic wizarding portraits. Once everyone gathers in a larger space, an audiovisual presentation sets the scene for the tour before you transition to the theatre for an introductory seating session. This is likely the only time you’ll sit before reaching the halfway point.
While waiting, you can scan QR codes to set up for the interactive activities inside. Don’t worry if you miss it; you can complete this while waiting for your first activity.
The First Hall
The Harry Potter Studio Tour Tokyo is divided roughly into two halves, although we spent a bit more time in the first half.
While you can rent a digital guide for additional information in several languages, it isn’t necessary for English speakers. When the audio is in Japanese, English subtitles are provided, and there are well-written information boards in English. We have previously used digital guides at various attractions and found them more of a hindrance than a help, so we opted out this time.
The iconic moving marble staircases of Hogwarts glide overhead, showcasing their functionality. While many staircases move in the films, only one on set was actually operational. The rest were created using a miniature model and green screen filming to integrate the actors into the scene.
While the studio does not include rides, it does feature several interactive exhibits that explain various cinematic effects. One notable activity allows you to join the crowd cheering for your Hogwarts team during a Quidditch match from the grandstands.
Experiencing the sets up close was truly fascinating. The meticulous attention to detail in creating the authentic ambiance was remarkable. Another highlight for us was the potions classroom, complete with bubbling cauldrons and shelves filled with tiny potion bottles containing various dried herbs, liquids, and even plastic insects.
As you approach the end of the first half, you’ll find yourself in the Forbidden Forest, a section that is phenomenally executed, featuring the flying car, Aragog, Hagrid, and Buckbeak.
The Interlude
Exiting the Forbidden Forest, you’ll arrive at Hagrid’s Hut, providing a natural opportunity for lunch or refreshments. The Backlot is the outdoor area, where you can gauge the weather. We encountered a little rain, but still managed to explore everything and enjoy lunch.
Indoor and sheltered outdoor seating is available at The Backlot Cafe. The menu offers typical British fare, such as fish and chips, pies, and lighter snacks. We found the food quality to be reasonably good for what essentially feels like a theme park, a trend we’ve consistently noticed in Japan compared to home in Australia.
Don’t miss the Butterbeer bar; for us, it’s an essential part of any Harry Potter experience. It’s only sold here in souvenir plastic tankards, making it a bit pricier and less environmentally friendly, as many are likely discarded afterward. However, it’s worth a try, and they offer a station to rinse the cup afterward and provide a plastic bag to carry it home. The drink is reminiscent of butterscotch cream soda—sweet yet distinctly Butterbeer.
You can also explore the inner details of Hagrid’s Hut, pose on Hagrid’s flying bike and sidecar, enter the Night Bus, visit the house at 4 Privet Drive, try out the life-size wizard chessboard, and take pictures on the Hogwarts wooden corridor bridge. Although this area may seem small compared to the entire site, there’s a lot to engage with, leading you to queue for each attraction. We learned that the day we visited, tickets were sold out, but the lines were never excessively long. If you want to grab lunch and have a Butterbeer as well, you’ll likely spend plenty of time in this section.
The Second Hall
The second half of the indoor section offers additional interactive photo opportunities, such as capturing a video of yourself apparating through the Flue network, posing to board the Hogwarts Express, and trying out a green screen experience to simulate flying over London on a broomstick.
This section also caters to those interested in the ‘how’ of the filmmaking process. There are detailed displays showing how some of the elaborate sets were constructed, particularly the Ministry of Magic. The Flue Network and Ministry offices provide insights into the levels of creativity, artistry, engineering, and craftsmanship required for each set.
One of the interactive experiences in this section is using flue powder to travel through the fireplace network. This activity records a video of you that connects to the QR code scan for later download. Despite our lack of direction, it turned into a hilarious moment, even if it wasn’t the smooth social media clip they likely intended. We should have reviewed it before moving on, as the queue was short enough to allow another attempt.
The final segments include a walkthrough of the Diagon Alley set, showcasing Gringotts Wizarding Bank, Ollivanders wand shop, and Flourish and Blotts. Display cases line the walls, showcasing props used in the films. You might think any old piece of paper suffices as a prop, but every item making it onto the set is meticulously crafted to match its intended appearance.
Do I Need to Book in Advance?
We highly recommend booking online as soon as you have your travel plans set or once ticket sales open for your desired date. Peak times fill up quickly, and entire days can be completely booked well in advance. If you want to visit the tour while in Tokyo, you definitely need to plan ahead.
Check available dates and book your Harry Potter Studio Tour in Tokyo
On the bright side, this venue is mostly indoors, so inclement weather won’t spoil your experience. Buying tickets online does not incur extra costs, and booking with a reputable partner like Klook ensures a smooth process.
How Long Should I Plan to Stay?
They suggest allowing at least four hours for the tour. However, if you plan to stop for lunch, participate in interactive sessions, and read through the numerous information boards, I recommend budgeting around five hours. Individual experiences may vary, but based on our visit, four hours is the minimum to consider.
Only the very beginning of the tour is timed. Your ticket entry time takes you to the first hall, where everyone gathers to watch an interactive presentation that provides some insights about the attractions and sets certain expectations. You’ll be standing during this segment, after which the entire group moves to the theatre for a seated introduction.
Following the introduction, you’ll enter the Great Hall featuring house and teachers’ uniforms. You’ll be moved out of this room before the next cinema session concludes, but from that point on, you can explore freely, setting your own pace through the various sections.
If you can manage it, I’d advise booking a morning tour. The crowds typically start to build after 11 a.m., and beginning your visit earlier grants more flexibility if you find yourself lingering a bit longer in certain areas than anticipated.
Is the Tokyo Tour the Same as the One in London?
Both venues operate under the Warner Brothers brand. The London tour opened first, with the Tokyo location debuting in 2023. Both locations emphasize the filmmaking process, featuring costumes, props, and sets. While the merchandise available is largely similar, some exclusive items can be found at each location. It’s not expected that visitors would go to both venues unless they’re true fans, but many do.
Is the Harry Potter Studio Tour Tokyo Worth It?
If you are a Harry Potter fan or even if you simply enjoyed the movies, I believe the studio tour is absolutely worth the visit. It offers a truly memorable experience as part of your trip. Even if you are accompanying a Harry Potter enthusiast but don’t consider yourself one, it remains worthwhile. Witnessing their joy and awe as they immerse themselves in Hogwarts and its intricacies is priceless, and they’ll likely appreciate you even more for joining them.
We genuinely enjoyed the tour. We found it provided great value for what felt very close to a full day’s entertainment, catering to a range of interests with plenty to see and do.
If you have time after the tour, consider traveling back to Ikebukuro on the Seibu line for some exploration or dinner. The station offers a variety of shops (including my favorite Pokémon Store) and many excellent dining options. It’s easy to return to most parts of Tokyo from Ikebukuro in the evening using the Yamanote Line (JR) or the subway.
