Wizarding World of Harry Potter Japan

This post was supposed to be about Universal Studios Japan but I realized I only have pictures of the Wizarding World so...

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is inside Universal Studios Japan no need for a separate ticket. To go to USJ, just ride a train to Universal City in Osaka. Go to Hyperdia site to help you navigate which trains to ride and the trip schedule. We stayed in Kyoto and took the first train to Osaka at around 5am. We arrived USJ around 6:30am and there were already a lot of people. 

Check what time the park opens and be there at least an hour before especially when you don't have tickets yet. The park was supposed to open 8:30AM but they opened earlier and by 8:32AM we have already been to the Harry Potter ride twice. You can buy tickets online provided you are in the Japanese Version of the site. Check this blog for a step by step guide. http://www.dondelaofertamelleve.com/p/how-to-buy-usj-tickets-online.html?m=1

An adult ticket costs ¥7400. You can also buy Express Tickets on top of the regular ticket. There are different types of Express Tickets, we were going to buy the Express Pass 4, which will allow you to see 4 rides without having to line up. But you can only choose 4 rides and you can only use it once per ride. The Express Pass 4 ticket costs ¥8100 during our admission date and yes it costs higher than the regular ticket so we just opted for the cheaper option.. Run like crazy when the gates open XD

The entrance to the Wizarding World was narrow and like going inside the Forbidden Forest where you can see the Weasley's Magical Flying Car. This is so they can restrict the entrance later in the day. And the entire Wizarding World will be timed entry not just the ride.

When we entered the park, we went straight to the Wizarding World and entry was not yet restricted. But when we came back later, we already need Timed Entry Passes which is like a Fast Pass in Disney. You just have to tap the bar code in the machine to get your timed entry ticket. You can only go inside on the time indicated in your ticket but there is no time limit once you're inside. and yes it's free!

As expected, the Wizarding World was AMAZING! After the forest, you'll be greeted with the site of Hogsmeade!

No it's not snowing when we went it's just how the place was set up. But it was cold so "feel na feel" ang snow ang peg.

Then there's the Hogwarts Express. It doesn't move but you can take pictures.

Zonkos and Honeydukes

And they're not just props, you can go inside and shop your favorite Harry Potter treat.

Pumpkin Juice ¥800

Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans

¥1800

Chocolate Frog ¥1200

But perhaps the most famous is the Butter Beer and you can take the mug home!

Cold - ¥1100

Hot - ¥1200

For me the closest taste is like coke float if you stir the ice cream in coke. But still not quite. Like vanilla I think I don't know XD

The froth tastes like melted marshmallow

Then there's the Hogwarts Castle

Talking Paintings just like in the Movies!

Dumbledore's Office

The Harry Potter ride was like the Transformer's ride. And it would have been nice if the skit was in English. Everything was in Japanese but we still enjoyed it.

Olivander's Shop

Yes you can actually shop for your own wand! (around ¥5000)

Wiseacre's Wizarding Equipment

Scarfs are around ¥4000

Wizard Robes are around ¥10000

We just stayed in the Wizarding World till dark.. kidding we went out and came back around 6:00PM which was the time in our Timed Entry Pass.

And it was equally if not more beautiful at night

It was raining outside but we did spend some time outside the wizarding world. We tried the Amazing Spider Man (which was like Transformers too), Back to the Future (which was disappointing) and Attack on Titans (which was like Shrek). Again all dialog were in Japanese. Considering we didn't have Express Passes, we were able to try a lot of rides.

I was really crushing on this hoodie but I can't get myself to justify the price (around ¥4000) just like the Harry Potter Scarf :(

The rest of the place is pretty much the same as the Universal Studios in Singapore.

Food was around ¥1000 - ¥2000. But we brought onigiri with us as well in case we get hungry while in line. I would love to go back and try the other rides as well. :)