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Harry Potter theme park is the second theme park in the world, after Florida, built based on the series of the same name by author J.K. Rowling. Located within the Universal Studios Osaka complex, it's just a 20-minute drive from Osaka Central Station. Some of the rides are even decorated with posters of the boy wizard, or other Universal Studios themes.
Upon arriving at Universal City Station, simply follow the signs for about 5 minutes to reach the entrance to the film studio, where the ticket counter is located. Tickets here are for the entire Universal Studios, not just the Harry Potter park. A one-day pass for adults costs 7,600 Yen including tax, and a two-day pass costs 12,800 Yen. Several hotels are located around the film studio for visitors who wish to queue early in the morning to avoid long waits.
Universal Studios also sells Express Passes, which allow visitors to shorten wait times at certain rides or schedule their rides at a fixed time to avoid long queues. Note that these passes are sold separately and do not replace admission tickets. Some people hesitate to pay the extra for the Express Pass, but in my opinion, it's well worth the money, especially if you only plan to visit Universal Studios Osaka once. Without this "wait-free pass," queue times at popular rides like Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey can be up to 90 minutes!
Unlike other attractions in Universal Studios, the Harry Potter park is located in a secluded area, with an entrance through a pine forest and background music creating a gloomy, mysterious atmosphere reminiscent of the Forbidden Forest surrounding Hogwarts Castle in the films. Along the way, you might spot Ron's Flying Car still stuck in a bush by the roadside, occasionally flashing its lights and revving its engine as if searching for its owner.
Walking along the woods for about two minutes, you'll reach the gates of Hogsmeade, and beyond these sturdy stone gates lies the Hogwarts Express train, along with the conductor in his distinctive British uniform. You can line up to take a photo with the conductor, or choose to participate in a cooler activity: show off your magical skills!
Here's something you need to know: At Universal Studios stores, including the Harry Potter theme park, there are two types of wands for sale: the Original Wand and the Magical Wand, which can be considered the "authentic" wand. The Magical Wand is only slightly more expensive, but it has a special sensor that allows you to perform magic when you visit certain locations in the Harry Potter theme park and wave the wand in a specific motion!
Back in the Hogwarts Express, next to the locomotive are several trunks where you can practice your first spell with a special wand. The game master will guide you on how to wave the wand to activate the sensor on the trunk. It will take about two or three practice attempts, but once you get it right, the trunk lid will magically pop open. Scattered throughout the Harry Potter park are many other places where you can show off your wand skills, but remember to buy the specific Magical Wand!
After visiting the Hogwarts Express, the next stop is the butterbeer stalls. There are about two or three food stalls in the park where you can enjoy the favorite drink of young wizards. Butterbeer, or simply butterbeer, is amber in color, topped with a thick layer of creamy foam, and tastes sweet, aromatic, and is non-alcoholic. You can even buy a mug with "Butterbeer" printed on it as a souvenir. Besides butterbeer, the shops here sell other treats that any true Harry Potter fan would recognize, such as imitation chocolates and candies in various flavors…
The shops in Hogsmeade village can keep you captivated all day, from the Honeyduke's Bakery, the Devil's Joke Shop, and most interestingly, Olivander's Wand Shop. The wands are elaborately designed, each reflecting the personality of a character like Harry, Ron, Hermione, Dumbledore, and even Voldemort. Here, you can even take a short tour, exploring Olivander's workshop behind a secret door. One lucky customer will be chosen to try out a wand, just like Harry Potter in the first book. Enchanted objects such as Marauder's Maps, Monster Encyclopedias, and broomsticks are displayed throughout the shops. Make sure you don't miss any of them.
The final destination in the Harry Potter park is none other than Hogwarts Castle. Situated at the highest point of the park, the ancient castle is reflected in the dark, surrounding lake. To ride the 4D "Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey," you'll have to queue for about 1-2 hours, unless you purchase an Express Pass at the entrance. However, you can choose to walk the Castle Walk, exploring the castle's interior on your own, which is also very enjoyable and usually allows immediate entry without waiting.
The castle is rather gloomy inside, but once your eyes adjust to the darkness, you'll discover many interesting details. You'll get to visit Dumbledore's office, the Gryffindor common room, the Defense Against Dark Arts class, meet familiar characters like the Fat Lady, the talking portraits, and of course, the trio Harry, Ron, and Hermione.
After exploring the Harry Potter theme park, if you have extra time, you can try other attractions at Universal Studios, or visit the nearby Takoyaki Museum, which features five of Osaka's most famous takoyaki varieties. It's also worth mentioning that Osaka is known as a culinary paradise in Japan, with many irresistible dishes such as okonomiyaki pancakes, takoyaki, and omurice (rice rolls with egg)... So you can combine visiting the magical wizarding world with a culinary adventure.
Additional information:
+ Time:The best time to visit Universal Studios is in spring, around late March or April, or in autumn, around November. At these times, you can combine your visit with cherry blossom viewing or autumn foliage viewing. Note that these two periods are also extremely crowded in Osaka.
Note:You shouldn't go to Harry Potter Park on weekends, as all the shops and rides will be packed with people and the wait times will be much longer than on weekdays.
+ Other activities:It only takes about 40 minutes by train from Osaka to the ancient capital of Kyoto, so if you want to visit other famous spots like the Arashiyama bamboo forest, Fushimi Inari Shrine with its 5,000 torii gates, etc., you can easily do a day trip.
+ Transportation:Buy a JR Pass before arriving in Japan for cheaper transportation. Use Google Maps to find your way to the train station, as Osaka has many train lines operated by different companies such as JR, Hankyu, Hanshin, etc., making it easy to get confused. Allow extra time for navigation in Osaka!
Contact:If you're traveling in a small group, you can choose to buy a 3G SIM card from Docomo to access the internet on your phone, which is much cheaper than renting a mobile WiFi device.
Text and photos: Le Trinh
