forbidden journey ride osaka

TOP > Attractions > Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey™

You can experience the magic like never before…

An upgraded version of the beloved adventure ride brings the thrill of a new dimension..

Walk through the winged boar gates and enter Hogwarts™ School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Explore the familiar passageways of the castle and feel the excitement of the upcoming Quidditch™ match being discussed amongst everyone - students and portraits alike! As you enter the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, meet Harry Potter™, Ron Weasley™, and Hermione Granger™ who have just come up with a plan on how to get you to the Quidditch Pitch for the match instead of sitting in on a boring lecture from Professor Binns – you just need to meet Hermione in the Room of Requirement to board an enchanted bench. With the help of a little Floo Powder™, you are ready to soar high above the Hogwarts castle grounds with Harry Potter and friends on an incredibly thrilling adventure that is sure to be unforgettable.

Experience the fine details with your naked eye with realism that goes beyond 3D!

With the implementation of recent technological enhancements, images become shockingly clear, and smooth, and the feeling of dimension and depth impactful. Experience realism that goes beyond 3D as you find yourself exploring the castle grounds without the need for 3D glasses.

• *Photos are for illustrative purposes only.

Enhanced special effects intensity the sensation of magic!

You can experience the magic that Harry Potter™ encounters in the story not only visually, but with your whole body. This time, the special effects have been enhanced even more. The dragon’s fire will become hot air as it strikes you, and the Dementor’s sinister chill will engulf your whole body as you find yourself wrapped up in this thrilling experience.

Go on an adventure through the wizarding world with Harry Potter™!

Go on an adventure through the wizarding world with Harry Potter!

As your feet dangle in the air, the ride's movements are synchronized with the visuals to give you a complete 360 degree experience. Whether you’re having a close call with the Whomping Willow™, or focused on chasing the Golden Snitch™ in a Quidditch™ game, you’ll feel it in your whole body as you partake on this thrilling adventure!

Hogwarts™ Castle Walk

You can walk through Hogwarts™ castle without riding the ride attraction.

Fully enjoy the world of Harry Potter™ including “Moving Portrait Corridor” and “The Portrait of the Fat Lady” like Harry Potter™ and his friends did!

• *Please ask crew members about the operation hours.

Ride and height requirements for all Attractions

Attraction requirements.

Guest experience: Approx. 5 minutes Capacity: 4 persons ◆Special Effects "Fog, smoke, strobes, water, soap bubbles, loud noises, pitch black scents, Rapid acceleration, abrupt stopsturning、sudden upturns, abrupt falls, This ride simulates dramatic aerobatics. *Persons with conditions aggravated by these special effects cannot use this attraction."

◆For Your Safety In an emergency situation you may need to climb up and down the stairs or walk a long distance through a narrow passage by yourself （*） or with your supervising companion. Also, in such a circumstance you may need to wait for a long period of time inside the vehicle. *'By yourself' means you are able to walk without assistance of others.

◆Guests requiring supervising companions - Guests with mental disabilities - Guests with impaired vision - Guests experiencing difficulty using stairs or getting in/off the vehicle

◆Guests who should not use the attraction (1) heart conditions (2) back, neck, or similar conditions, spinal diseases, (3) expectant mothers (4) motion sickness, dizziness, (5) acrophobia (fear of heights) (6) claustrophobia (7) Guests suffering from lack of sleep or poor physical condition (8) Recent surgery (9) Guests unable to maintain the proper posture (10) a physical build not compatible with the seats (11) unable to secure the body by the safety bar

◆The following guests can use the attraction. - Guests who can get in/off the vehicle with or without the support of their supervising companions - Guests who can hold on to the safety bar and remain seated upright at all times - Guests who can endure the violent movements of roller coasters - Guests with impaired vision are assisted with reconfirmation of instructions by the crew. *For those guests with impaired vision, a crew member will explain the attraction experience in details. * Guests with hearing impairment will be assisted by a crew member explaining the attraction experience in details.

◆Request ・For your safety, please sit back in the seat with your back firmly against the backrest during the ride. ・You will be asked to leave the park if you disturb or offend other guests. ・No smoking in the facility ・Please do not bring your belongings into the vehicle. ・Please stow all loose articles (caps, hats, glasses, cameras, wallets, keys, etc.) in the lockers or with an accompanied non-rider.

Universal Express Pass

The Universal Express Pass shortens your waiting time for designated popular attractions!

Single Rider

Guests can use this service to shorten waiting time by taking separate seats on the ride. This service is not available on certain days or at certain hours during the day. For availability and other requirements, please ask a crew member at the attraction.

Child Switch

The Child Switch system enables guests with children/companions who do not meet an attraction’s height or other requirements to take turns and enjoy the attraction without waiting in line again. For details, please ask a crew member at the attraction.

TOP > For safe enjoyment of attractions

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Each attraction has specially developed safety standards. Use of any attraction may be restricted if any of the special effects or features of the attraction is deemed a possible threat to your health. Please inquire the attraction crew regarding safety guidelines and restrictions for each attraction. You are asked to be assisted by a guardian (※1) if you require assistance to use any of the attractions.

In case of emergencies

You may need to climb stairs or move a long distance through a narrow passage by yourself(※) or assisted by a guardian in an emergency situation. You may also need a guardian to enjoy some show attractions. Different methods of emergency exit apply to each attraction. The attraction crew will provide you any necessary instructions. ※1　A guardian refers to a physically and mentally healthy person who is at least 13 years old with a height of at least 122cms in case of using attractions which impose a height restriction. However, a height of 132cms or more is required for Hollywood Dream - The Ride. ※2　'By yourself' means walking by yourself without assistance from a guardian, etc.

Height Requirements

For guests in wheelchairs/ecvs, for expectant mothers, assistance dogs, attractions where assistance dogs are not allowed.

For your safety, service animals are not admitted. Service animals will be placed in a waiting area while guests enjoy the ride.

• Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey™
• Flight of the Hippogriff™
• Despicable Me Minion Mayhem
• Freeze Ray Sliders
• Space Fantasy - The Ride
• Hollywood Dream - The Ride
• Hollywood Dream - The Ride -Backdrop-
• The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man - The Ride 4K3D
• The Flying Dinosaur
• Jurassic Park - The Ride
• Snoopy's Great Race™
• The Flying Snoopy
• Hello Kitty's Cupcake Dream
• Elmo's Bubble Bubble
• Elmo's Little Drive
• Sesame's Big Drive
• Elmo's Go-Go Skateboard
• Moppy's Balloon Trip

Attractions where assistance dogs are allowed

You can enjoy the attraction with your service animal. However, your service animal may be startled by the loud noises from this attraction. Please check details and notes for the attraction before use.

• Hogwarts™ Castle Walk
• SING ON TOUR
• UNIVERSAL SPECTACLE NIGHT PARADE -The Best of Hollywood-
• Playing with Curious George™
• Sesame Street 4-D Movie Magic™
• Shrek's 4-D Adventure
• Terminator 2:3-D®
• 42nd Street Studio -Greeting Gallery-
• Universal Monsters Live Rock And Roll Show
• Hello Kitty's Ribbon Collection
• Big Bird's Big Top Circus

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey

• View history
• 1.1 Pre-ride
• 1.3 Post-ride
• 3 Behind the scenes
• 4 Notes and references

Pre-ride [ ]

The queue for the ride enters through the base of Hogwarts castle, where guests learn through projected films that Muggles are being allowed in to the castle in order to attend a lecture on History of Magic by Professor Binns . At the Headmaster's Office , Albus Dumbledore extends a warm welcome to the Muggles before telling about Binns' lecture. Later Harry , Ron , and Hermione convince the visiting Muggles to skip the lecture and follow them to the Quidditch pitch . Ron tries to perform a magic trick which goes wrong, and one of several special effects, such as falling snow, is triggered. Before continuing on, the Sorting Hat and several portraits in the next two rooms give visitors safety reminders.

The ride begins with a dousing of Floo Powder from Hermione, who asks the guests to say "Observatory" in order to successfully transport them to their desired location, and the enchanted bench flies off through the Floo Network to the Astronomy Tower . The guests then come out of the Astronomy Tower's fireplace into a set of the Observatory itself, where they look out through the open arches to the hills and lake right outside of Hogwarts' bounds. As the guests fly out of one of the Observatory's arches, the ride smoothly switches to a wrap-around projection screen and they follow Harry Potter and Ron Weasley around Hogwarts' buildings and towers to their Quidditch match. As Harry and Ron travel under a bridge, Hagrid hails the riders and asks them if they have seen a dragon. As Harry redirects the riders' attentions back to their journey, Hagrid's new pet Hungarian Horntail Dragon (which he lost, as per rumours told by the paintings and "students" alike) ironically begins to chase the riders. The bench flies out of the projection screen and into a set of the uneven bridge that runs over the valley behind Hogwarts and, after falling out of a hole in the floor of the bridge, riders encounter an audio-animatronic dragon, which breathes fake fire at them. [1]

The riders descend into a set of the Forbidden Forest, where they encounter a representation of the immense Acromantula, Aragog, who spits fake venom ( water ) at them. As Hermione attempts to help the riders away from the Acromantulas (using Arania Exumai ) and towards the castle (encountering many spiders on the way), they run into an audio-animatronic Whomping Willow which swipes at them, conveniently knocking them onto the Quidditch pitch. The ride once again returns to a projection screen as the riders become caught up in Harry and Ron's game of Quidditch (which is tied). As Slytherin scores in Gryffindor's goal, Dementors begin to arrive at the Quidditch pitch, and Harry attempts to lead the riders away, through the structure of the Pitch, and back to the school, but their bench falls into the long-abandoned Chamber of Secrets through the cave entrance in a cliff through which Harry, Ron, Ginny, Fawkes , and Gilderoy Lockhart departed from the Chamber in the second Harry Potter instalment. The riders return to a real set as the Dementors pop out of the pipelines at them and chase them. The skeleton of the long-deceased Basilisk (killed near the climax of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets ) lies on the floor of the Chamber, and expels Lord Voldemort 's Dark Mark into the air as the benches are drawn hazily into the mouth of Salazar Slytherin's statue. [1]

Many Dementors emerge from the darkness while one descends and attempts to suck out the riders' souls. This effect is achieved by projecting the rider's faces onto a cloud of fog in front of the Dementor, blasting cold air towards the riders, and using a deep heart-beat played through the sub-woofers within the benches themselves. After shaking the riders out of the trance, Harry causes the Dementors to flee by using the protective Patronus Charm .

After the final Dementor dwindles and while Harry casts his Patronus, the riders are thrust back into the final video dome segment, where the cliffs outside of the Chamber of Secrets begin to cave in. They fly over the Black Lake , back into Hogwarts and through the Main Hall and Moving Staircase, where they are cheered on by a series of on-screen characters from the movies, made to appear three-dimensional using the "squinching" perspective technique.

Post-ride [ ]

Professor Dumbledore sends everyone back through the Floo Network to the Room of Requirement, where they exit their bench. But before sending everyone back, Dumbledore warns the riders to not forget to pick up their belongings, unless they want them to be confiscated by Argus Filch .

Gallery [ ]

Behind the scenes [ ]

Enchanted Bench for The Forbidden Journey

• One must be at least 48" (1.2 m) tall to ride this ride.
• The film is watched inside Hogwarts Castle and is the largest among the three rides in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter because participants will tour Hogwarts Castle .
• The main cast from the films shot some exclusive footage just for the ride, to serve as guide to all who participate. [2]
• There are moving Portraits inside the castle, including the Fat Lady , [2] a role being reprised by Dawn French .
• Visitors can see some of the set locations seen on films such as the Defence Against the Dark Arts Classroom , the Headmaster 's office , The Gryffindor Common Room , The Room of Requirement , the Grand Staircase , the Greenhouses , the Dungeons and many more. [2]
• The Sorting Hat is also seen in queue, giving safety reminders with the other paintings.
• Attendants on the ride play the role of Hogwarts students and dress in school uniforms of their House colours. They will interact in character, as if they are wizards and witches, with riders.
• Hogwarts Castle , from the exterior, is very large. Iconic rooms, such as Dumbledore's office, the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom and the Gryffindor common room are part of the queue.
• The ride has 12 scenes.
• Acromantulas are present on this ride.
• The ride features Harry Potter , Ronald Weasley , and Hermione Granger as well as Rubeus Hagrid and Draco Malfoy .
• Fred and George Weasley , Ginevra Weasley , Angelina Johnson , Neville Longbottom and Albus Dumbledore can also be seen briefly at the end.
• At the end of the ride, Dumbledore reminds the guests to pick up their belongings before leaving the castle, unless they want them confiscated by Argus Filch . Filch himself does not appear on the ride.
• This ride does not feature other Hogwarts teachers such as Minerva McGonagall , Pomona Sprout , Filius Flitwick , Severus Snape , Horace Slughorn , Sybill Trelawney , etc.
• The Forbidden Journey in Universal Studios Japan is presented in Japanese.

Notes and references [ ]

• ↑ 1.0 1.1 Wikipedia - Harry Potter and the Forbidden Jorney
• ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince DVD 2nd-Disc Special Feature: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Sneak Peak

See also [ ]

• The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
• Dragon Challenge
• Flight of the Hippogriff
• Harry Potter
• 1 Tom Riddle
• 2 Harry Potter
• 3 List of spells

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A muggle’s guide to having a magical time at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

February 25, 2020 //  by  Mae-Gene //   Leave a Comment

Why, hello there! This post might contain affiliate links, which means I earn a commission (at no extra cost to you!) if you purchase from them. 

As a child in the late 90’s and early 2000s, Harry Potter was a huge part of my childhood. I was obsessed with the adventures that Harry, Hermione and Ron went on.

And I was convinced that my owl inviting me to attend Hogwarts got lost (hey a girl can dream, right?!)

Regardless of whether you’re a straight-up Harry Potter nerd or if you’ve never read a Harry Potter book in your life (the movies were pretty amazing ) there is something oh-so-magical about the world of Harry Potter and how J.K Rowling has captured our imaginations.

Luckily, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Universal Studios Osaka, is the perfect place for your inner child can roam free and pretend that magic is real, even for a day…

Why should you visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Osaka?

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is part of the Universal Studios theme park in Osaka, Japan.

When visiting Japan, Universal Studios is probably one of the best theme parks you can visit here (other than Tokyo Disney, of course!)

For fans of the Harry Potter franchise, this is the perfect place to visit, as the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is home to Hogwarts Castle, a real-life Hogsmede with magical stores and rides that bring the world of Harry Potter to life.

And as an English speaker, it’s somewhat fun to see the world of Harry Potter in Japanese, including a Japanese speaking Harry Potter on one of the rides here!

How much does it cost to visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Entry to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is included in your Universal Studios Ticket.

Entry to Universal Studios is typically around 7,900 JPY for adults (approximately $80 USD) but the price is demand-based and can vary depending on the season you’re visiting and the day.

This means that ticket prices increase for busier days and decreases for non-peak periods.

How do I get there?

Universal Studios Osaka is located in the city of Osaka. The most convenient way to get there is via train. The nearest train station Universal City is a 5 min walk from Universal Studios. This is a really helpful guide about the best way to get to Universal Studios .

How to make the most of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Yep, this is where we get to the juicy bits that I’m sure my fellow Harry Potter fans want to know!

It’s important to remember that Universal Studios Osaka can get really busy so you need to go in with a game plan. The theme park is extremely popular with tourists and locals alike, so the crowds can get busy during peak periods.

I have 2 tips that apply regardless of your budget, and that is:

1. Choose a “low traffic” day to visit and avoid Fridays and weekends if possible. This is a helpful calendar to find out when peak and off-peak periods are for Universal Studios <link to busy calendar>

2. Purchase your tickets prior to visiting. You do not want to waste time on the day buying tickets! You can buy your tickets directly from Universal Studios, or use Klook.

Now, depending on your budget, your game plan needs to be a lil’ different, so I’ve put together 3 plans depending on how much you can spend.

Read on my fellow wizards and witches!

Budget traveler: no fast pass tickets / early entry tickets

This is what I did when I visited Universal Studios, and I had an amazing time. I only paid for my entry tickets to Universal Studios and nothing extra.

Haven’t bought your tickets yet? You can buy your Universal Studios tickets from Klook here.

If this is you too, try to arrive before the park officially opens.

We arrived 30min before official opening and there were already crowds and crowds of people.

Honestly, if I could do it again, I’d arrive at least 1 hr before. If the crowds get too big, the park opens early. We visited on a “low” traffic day and this was still the case.

Before you line up at the gate to get your ticket scanned, check with the staff at the ticket boxes (these are before the gates) and find out whether they’re running timed entry to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

On low peak days (like the day we visited) they don’t have timed entry and basically let people enter the Wizarding World of Harry Potter as they like. But on busier days, you need to get a timed entry ticket (this is included in your ticket price).

You need to find out what applies on your day so you know exactly where to head the moment you’re let in! The machines to get timed entry are in a different place to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

When you enter…

If there is no timed entry: run (or walk) directly to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter!

If there is timed entry: head straight for the ticket machines (grab a map from the ticket box before you line up to enter the park!) You can choose an entry for later in the day or as early as you want!

When you get to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, head directly to Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride. This is one of the most popular rides and waits can often be 1.5-2hrs! We ran directly to this ride (because I’m extra like that *shrugs*) and didn’t even have to wait – this saved us loads of time.

“I could spend a bit extra” traveler: buy a ticket with early entry

If you’ have a bit of $ to spend, this is where I’d spend it.

Paying for early entry to Universal Studios is 100% worth it, especially since this is cheaper than paying for a Fast Pass.

The early entry is approximately $30 USD extra and gives you entry to the park 15 min before official opening hours.

You can purchase your Universal Studios Early Entry ticket from Klook .

Often Universal Studios will open before the official opening time, and if you have an early entry ticket, this means you can get entry to the park even earlier.

Yes – you’re paying for 15min entry before, but if you pay for early entry you could be admitted entry even before that.

So make sure you show up early to make the most of that early entry.

Once you enter the park, head on straight to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Depending on your priorities, you can hang around Hogsmede and take photos, or you can head for the most popular ride (and thus the one with the longest lines), Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride.

“I have dollars to burn”: buy an Express Pass

If you have money to burn, this is where you should spend it. The Express Pass is expensive (especially when compared to buying a regular ticket) but if you’re really into theme parks, this is the best option.

I’d choose this option if you hate waiting in line for rides, and want to make the most of your visit to Universal Studios beyond Harry Potter.

The cost of the Express Pass increases depending on how many rides you want to have express access for. It’s important to note that you can only use your pass once per ride. This means if you use your pass for Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, you can’t use it a second time for the same ride. You would need to line up like a regular ticket holder if you wanted to do it a 2nd time.

Depending on your budget or how many rides you want to ride, you can get an Express Pass for 4 rides or an Express Pass 7 rides .

Important reminder: entry to Universal Studios needs to be purchased in addition to the express pass. The express pass is an additional pass.

What every muggle needs to know before visiting Universal Studios Osaka

1. make sure you buy your tickets before you go.

Like I mentioned above, you definitely should buy your tickets well before your visit. Purchase them online directly from Universal Studios or online from Klook .

2. There will be a bag check

Once your tickets are scanned, there is a brief bag search at the gate. You aren’t allowed to bring in food.

Bottles of water are allowed, but they can’t be too big (I had a 1L bottle and it was thrown out as I was told it was “too big”). There are water fountains around the park, so if you bring a smaller bottle you can refill it throughout the day.

3. There are 2 main “rides” in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

The most popular ride is the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride, and this is what I would prioritize first.

I won’t spoil it, but it is a virtual reality ride and definitely a bumpy roller coaster (I read one review from someone who got motion sickness from it!)

There are lockers at the start of the ride where you can store your loose items/bags

The second ride is the Flight of the Hippogriff, which I didn’t find quite as exciting. Honestly when the ride ended I thought “is that it?” and I’m not even a theme park regular! But as a Harry Potter fan, it’s still worth a visit!

4. You need to buy a jug of butterbeer

Did you visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter if you didn’t get a butterbeer?

You can even purchase yours with a souvenir cup, they’ve got a plastic option and a more expensive stainless steel mug.

5. The best place to get shots of the Hogwarts castle is behind Hogs Head pub

One of the coolest parts of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is seeing the Hogwarts castle.

There’s a lookout point where you can take photos in front of the castle, but if you’re planning on grabbing a bite to eat the Hog’s Head Pub (one of the main places to eat in the Harry Potter section of the park) the back of the pug also has amazing views of Hogwarts.

6. On busy days, there is timed entry required for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

I’ve mentioned this above, but it’s definitely worth remembering. Make sure you check at the ticket desks before the gates when you arrive if there is timed entry on the day you’re visiting.

This might influence what you do first. I would definitely head straight to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter on non-timed ticket entry days.

Otherwise, head straight for the machines to book your timed entry time. (these machines are in a different location)

7. If you’re on a budget, bring your own Harry Potter gear and wear it on the day!

I wish I had remembered to bring my Griffindor scarf (I know, I know only a fellow Harry Potter nerd would understand) but you can definitely dress up when you visit.

Official Harry Potter gear is super expensive at Universal Studios, so if you’ve already got your own bring it, or purchase cheaper alternatives online before you go .

8. Spend your time exploring Hogsmede

Unlike the Harry Potter Studios in London, Hogsmede here is much more real.

The shops are not empty shop fronts – they’re actual shops.

That’s right, you can buy sweets from Honeydukes or enjoy a meal from the Hog’s Head.

9. This is the place to practice magic and embrace your inner witch or wizard

You read that correctly, you can actually practice magic here!

You can purchase a wand that actually performs magic at various spots around the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Make sure when you go to Ollivander’s you purchase the magic performing wands (make sure you get the right one). You’ll get a special map which you can use to find the magic spots!

Psst: These wands can be used at other Wizarding World of Harry Potter locations like Orlando!

Regardless of when you’re visiting the Wizarding World of Harry Potter or your budget, you’ll definitely have an amazing time. Hopefully, these tips helped you plan your trip!

About Mae-Gene Yew

I'm obsessed with eating copious amounts of sushi and hiking in New Zealand. But on most days you can find me in my home city of Melbourne dreaming of my next adventure, working my lil' corner of the internet (this blog!) or gettin' ready to strap on my hiking boots. Read more...

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Harry Potter and The Forbidden Journey in 4K3D

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is a motion-based dark ride located in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter-themed areas of Islands of Adventure in Orlando, Florida; Universal Studios Hollywood in Universal City, California, Universal Studios Japan in Osaka, Japan and Universal Studios Beijing in Beijing, China. The ride takes guests through scenes and environments in and around Hogwarts Castle from the Harry Potter series of books and films. Mark Woodbury, president of Universal Creative, described the ride as an in-depth look at the world of Harry Potter, which utilizes never-before-seen technology which transforms "the theme park experience as you know it". The ride first opened at Islands of Adventure with The Wizarding World of Harry Potter on June 18, 2010; subsequent versions opened at Universal Studios Japan on July 15, 2014, at Universal Studios Hollywood on April 7, 2016, and at Universal Studios Beijing on September 20, 2021.

More information and contact

Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Potter_and_the_Forbidden_Journey

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Coordinates 34°40'7.815" N 135°25'53.868" E

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The Ultimate Guide to Harry Potter Japan

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The Ultimate Guide to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Japan

When I first found out about Universal Studios opening Harry Potter World Osaka, I felt two things. First, I felt grateful for still living in Japan at the time. And second, I felt the sudden urge to drop everything and run off to Osaka to go explore what seemed like the coolest place on Earth.

Over the years, I’ve become quite a Harry Potter fan. One of the best things about living in Japan is that a lot of adults here are totally OK with carrying their childish side into their grown-up lives. Escaping into a world of fantasy is at times the best reality. So, how good is Harry Potter World Japan at creating this alternate reality?

Overall, it wasn’t a perfect experience, but we still had a blast and I’m glad we were able to go. Below are some pictures from Harry Potter Japan and my own review of our experience in January.

Park Fees & Entrance Passes

Are you traveling at all on the bullet train? You’ll want to get a JR Pass. The Shinkansen is super expensive without it. Get your JR Pass today and have it FedExed to you within days. Don’t wait to purchase your pass. Purchase it here. 

A Review of Harry Potter Japan

What i loved about harry potter world japan.

The entire design of the Harry Potter World Osaka was simply awesome.

Hogsmeade Village is fantastic.

Hogwarts Castle looks amazing. It’s really beautiful though we couldn’t help but wonder what the rest of the castle is being used for?? It’s so big but we only saw a tiny bit of it. But you can see Dumbledore’s Office and the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom! We definitely enjoyed the walking tour A LOT more than the ride, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey . (SEE my review of this ride below).

The details inside Hogwarts Castle are impressive and the holograms of Harry, Ron, and Hermione inside the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom look very real.

 What I Didn’t Love About Harry Potter World Osaka

The prices are extortionist. If I had to make just one complaint about this place, I’d complain about the prices. 1800 yen for a tiny box of Harry Potter Jelly Beans?? And of course, there is merchandise everywhere. Wands, robes, candy, keychains, notebooks, shirts, etc. There is a ton of cool stuff, but it’s very marked up in my opinion.

The Harry Potter and The Forbidden Journey ride made me very sick. I threw up afterward, though it was a miracle I didn’t hurl on the ride. It was miserable, but I am prone to motion sickness. I rode other rides around the park as well that cautioned against such ailments and felt totally fine. Well, unfortunately, the same can’t be said for this ride!!

If you are even slightly susceptible to motion sickness or if you are just overly sensitive to noise etc., do yourself a favor and DON’T ride this ride. It took me a few hours to feel right again. Essentially, the ride felt like being shook around in a box for like five minutes. It’s a 4K imaging ride which means much of what you experience is through a large screen as you’re flying through the air on a broomstick, but your cart is moving quite turbulently.

It was hard for me to appreciate the details of this ride because it was too overwhelming to all of my senses. Also, not all Express Passes work with this ride (see below to know what I’m talking about). But, honestly, the best part of this ride was waiting in line because you meander through Hogwarts Castle and can admire all the details inside.

It’s insanely overcrowded. We purchased a set of Express Passes to skip the lines, so they gave us a set time to visit Harry Potter World later in the afternoon. If you don’t buy an Express Pass, you’ll have to wait in line to filter into Hogsmeade.

This wasn’t a problem though as we simply spent time in the rest of the park until then. But even still, the stores are very overcrowded, but that’s to be expected. We went on a Sunday and we hear it’s always this busy. See more about Express Passes under Tips below.

Lastly, there was NO Dobby creature anywhere. Dobby is my favorite character in Harry Potter and I ADORE him, but I didn’t spot him anywhere.

The best way to get to Harry Potter World Osaka is to simply take the Shinkansen to Osaka station. There are plenty of hotels around the area and taxis are a lot cheaper in Osaka than in Tokyo.

Where to Stay

There are lots of hotel options in Osaka. If you didn’t read my review already, here’s my experience at The St. Regis Osaka. It ranks as one of my top stays of all time and I always enjoy staying at Japanese hotels. You’re rarely disappointed with the service, but The St. Regis was truly a 5-star experience. The St. Regis is about a 20-minute cab ride to Universal Studios Osaka.

Of course, you can stay near Universal Studios at either of their official hotels: the Hotel Kintetsu Universal City, Hotel Keihan Universal City, Hotel Keihan Universal Tower, or the Hotel Universal Port. But here you can take a look at the 19 Partner Hotels with Universal Studios.

If you plan on doing a lot of shopping for merchandise inside the park, perhaps you should look into staying at one of the Universal properties because you’ll be able to send your stuff from the store straight to the hotel.

If you’re feeling extra adventurous, then go for a ryokan!

Parks Fees, Tips, and Advice

Personally, we only needed one day at Harry Potter World Osaka. Originally we weren’t quite sure if we wanted to return again for another day, but one day was more than enough. The park really isn’t that big and you can experience everything in just a day. But we don’t have kids!

There are plenty of fun shops inside Harry Potter World and inside Universal Studios to buy robes, wands, shirts, hats, everything! Head over to Ollivander’s and pick out a wand. But try to get there early enough to avoid the crowds.

Purchase an Express Pass to skip ahead of the lines. This is highly recommended because there will always be a big crowd. We felt the easiest way to purchase the pass is to simply buy it at the counter window when you first arrive at Universal Studios, BUT you risk it being sold out – especially in high season.

Fortunately for us, they weren’t sold out but we did go on a Sunday in January. But we bought the Express 5 pass option which was great, allowing us to bypass the lines on 5 of the main rides. You can try purchasing these passes the day before at official Universal hotels or online if you can read Japanese.

Lawson convenience stores are also supposed to sell them as well, although we didn’t try this method. But the Express Passes saved A LOT of time. Totally worth the extra cost. Click Here for current Harry Potter Japan   ticket prices. We paid around a total of $100 USD equivalent for a 1-day ticket and Express 5 pass, but prices fluctuate depending on the year.

More Photos From Harry Potter World Japan

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hi! i’m having doubts about riding the Harry Potter and The Forbidden Journey Ride but would i still be able to tour the castle without falling in line for the ride?

Hello! I’m loving all your posts 🙂 I was wondering, do you think the express pass is worth it if I’m not a fan of rollercoasters? My main interest is to see the stores and the castle, not really into the attractions….

Good afternoon, thanks for writing the article Do you know what is the timing of the castle tour? Im trying to find it online, but with great difficulty D: Thank u in advance

Hi, sorry I don’t know that good luck!

how much are the robes?

Hi, I posted a pricelist here: geekykat.com/2016/03/30/the-ultimate-shopping-guide-to-the-wizarding-world-of-harry-potter-in-osaka-japan/

Hi! Me and my friend have been planning to go to the wizarding world of harry potter in Japan. How much is the ticket? I’ve watched a video and they said you only need “Timed Tickets” to get inside and it’s for free.

I’m planning to get the whole Ravenclaw uniform and a wand… How much is it? Is Hogwarts totally like the Hogwarts from the movie? How much is the chocolate frog and the every flavored jelly beans? Sorry for so many questions… I really enjoyed your blog!

I can’t really tell you the prices of items except things are really expensive. I think the frog and beans were like $20 each. Hogwarts is obviously not like the movie because there are tons of tourists. The castle’s exterior is really cool though, but you can’t see too much on the inside. The details are nice though. It’s as if I’d expect at Universal Studios.

Hello! Nice blog! 🙂 iknow it’s really late but i am still looking forward for a reply. Do you remember the price of the butterbeer?

Sorry, I don’t! Probably around 8 to 10 USD equivalent

Hello!! Loved your post! I have a quick question, you can buy the Express Pass or the DAY Studio Pass or you need both to skip the long lines? Thank you!

I’m not familiar with the day studio pass, but I know with the Express Pass you can skip the line for only rides that honor it, and up to the number allotted on your pass (3, 5, 7).

How Much is the Wand?

Not sure exactly, but likely around $50 – $60 USD or 6000 yen

Dobby is in the kitchens!

Thanks for the tip!!

Hi! i really love you review about the park 🙂 I hope you can still remember but can I ask how much is the robes? I know that this is really late but I am really looking forward about your reply 🙂 thank you very much and have a nice day…

Thank you! Honestly, I think it was about $100 – $130 but I’m not 100% sure. Hope this helps!

i love how you blogged about harry potter’s world! im from the philippines and im having a vacation in japan this august all by myself (its my first time to travel alone and visit universal studios so im a bit nervous and excited as well). can you give me more tips on how to “survive” the day in HP’s world. how about the food? have you tasted the famous butterbeer? how much does it cost to buy some souvenirs like the chocolate frog? wands and candies? and what are the difference between the three express passes? pls pls pls 🙂

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it. I think a solo vacation to Japan is always a good bet. 🙂

As far as HP world, it’s expensive, not going to lie. There are a lot of different restaurant in the Universal Studios Park though and a few in HP world. It’s normal theme-park food. I tried the butterbeer, although my husband drank most of it. It’s worth trying!

Souvenirs are not cheap in this park, but as for the frog, I can’t recall the price but honestly it’s probably close to 1200 yen at least. I recall a small box of Harry Potter jelly beans costing close to 1800 yen. Just bring more than enough cash if you plan to buy souvenirs, although they take credit card too.

The different express passes when we went (you can see the picture in my blog) are 7 rides, 5 rides, and 3 rides meaning you can use your express privilege for 7, 5, or 3 rides. You can see the prices in the corresponding photo in my blog post. However, we bought them on a week day and they weren’t sold out. Depending on what day you’re going, you may want to purchase them ahead of time which in Japan I think can be done at a Lawson. Ask your hotel. Also, August will be hot so dress cool!!

Thanks so much for your lovely comment on my blog! Omg this is basically my dream xx

http://reallyliteral.blogspot.ca/

Great review of Harry Potter’s world! I love Harry Potter, and am dying to go to one. It’s a shame everything was so expensive, because I know I’d want to buy everything! 🙂

Thanks! Yea it’s costly but not too super expensive, just overpriced in my opinion. Hope you can go!

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Universal Studios Japan (USJ) Osaka: Complete Guide

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Universal Studios Japan or USJ is a dream theme park for everyone because there are characters from their beloved movies such as Harry Potter, Minion, Spiderman, and many more. I insist you’ll be overjoyed taking pictures, and the rides are extremely fun. For those who like thrilling rides, you should come here, haha.

If you guys want to know how cool Universal Studio Japans or USJ is. Let’s read the entire review which includes full details of plan preparation such as; buying tickets, highlight rides, and how I finish all of the rides in one day. Please read and follow!

How to prepare yourself before traveling to Universal Studios Japan : USJ

You all may be wondering about whether we really need to prepare for the Universal Studios Japan: USJ trip? Well, I think you need to, because the admission ticket along with the Express Pass, it costs over 30 USD. You have to pay quite an amount of money, so I suggest you to roughly plan it. You will be able to get into the highlight rides for a good value. In this review, I’ll show you guys all about Universal Studios Japan (USJ). Let’s read this considerable info.

Where should I buy a USJ ticket and Express Pass?

If you ever read the travel reviews on HASHCORNER , you may already know that most of the activity tickets I used were bought from KLOOK because it’s very convenient. Everything is done via the mobile app, from the purchase, voucher usage, to various tickets or passes. The cool thing about KLOOK is; they have many options that fascinates me, so I never buy any tickets from the other agencies anymore.

⚡️ So, in this review, Universal Studios Japan (USJ) admission tickets, Express Pass 4 or 7, USJ VIP Wristband Special Entry, and shopping vouchers from the park stores are all purchased from KLOOK . if you’re done purchasing a selected item, you’ll receive an E-ticket in the form of a QR Code. You just open the voucher KLOOK send you via email or mobile app to the staff, they will scan it, then you don’t have to queue up to exchange tickets anymore. That’s it. Oh, but don’t forget! There is a KLOOK discount updated monthly. You can check the KLOOK discount code here, it helps to save your budget a lot.  > Click to see KLOOK Discounts

• Universal Studios Japan (USJ) admission ticket
• Express Pass 4 or 7
• USJ VIP Wristband Special Entry
• Store shopping coupons in Universal Studios Japan (USJ)

1.) Universal Studios Japan (USJ) admission ticket

It’s certainly everyone has to buy a USJ admission ticket otherwise you can’t get in the theme park LOL. Anyone wishing to buy tickets through KLOOK like me, viewing on the website might look a bit confusing because it shows many different types, from Universal Studios Japan (USJ) ticket alone to the Combo Pack with many more tickets. For those who decide to buy more options than the entrance ticket, I suggest you consider the Combo Pack as KLOOK sometimes will frequently reduce the price (But sometimes the Combo Pack price is equal when buying separately. Must carefully check out).

⚡️ How to buy tickets: There will be ticket types like Ticket A / Ticket B / Ticket C, and the prices are varied depending on the season. (The information based on the Universal Studios Japan (USJ) website which can check from this link > https://www.usj.co.jp )

List of  Universal Studios Japan (USJ) admission tickets. There are too many types of choices!

• Universal Studios Japan™ 1 Day E-Ticket Click to buy at  http://bit.ly/2tBfEXG  |  USJ pass for 1 whole day
• Universal Studios Japan™ 1.5 Day E-Ticket Click to buy at  http://bit.ly/2Xim4J1  | USJ pass with day 1 entering from 3 pm onwards, and the whole day for day 2
• Universal Studios Japan™ 2-Day E-Ticket Click to buy at  http://bit.ly/2SUAd0n  | USJ pass for 2 consecutive whole days
• Combo: Universal Studios Japan™ 1-Day Ticket + Nankai Limited Express Rapi:t Ticket Click to buy at  http://bit.ly/2GYd46k  | Saved up to 27% purchasing USJ pass with Airport round trip ticket <-> Osaka City
• Combo: Universal Studios Japan™ 1-Day Ticket + Osaka Amazing Pass Click to buy at  http://bit.ly/2V7wQ2S  | Purchasing USJ pass with the Osaka Amazing Pass for those who want to travel in downtown Osaka at popular locations, and use unlimited subway services.
• Combo: Universal Studios Japan™ 1-Day Ticket + Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan Ticket Click to buy at  http://bit.ly/2Tb1QBM  | Saved up to 33% purchasing USJ pass with Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan ticket

2.) Express Pass 4 and Express Pass 7

This Express Pass is perfect for people who want to ride all the attractions. They are categorized into Express Pass 4 and Express Pass 7. Each one is sorted by the related categories. For example, Express Pass 4 is to experience the top 4 must-see rides which divided into Express Pass 4 – Standard, Express Pass 4 – Minion Ride, and Express Pass 4 – Flying Dinosaur. In my opinion, it’s not much of a difference. But each of these Express Passes is definitely included Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey™ express ticket which many people looking forward to it. The remaining other 3 allow you to choose what you want to play most, ride such as Minion Ride or Flying Dinosaur, the standard will change according to the season that theme park is customized. Like now, it will be Lupin the 3rd Car Chase XR Ride.

⚡️ If you don’t have any of Express Passes, the highlight rides are needed to stand in a queue at least 60 mins, or the peak will be up to 120 mins (it’s true, I see it with my own eyes). Express Pass 4 and Express Pass 7 are being sold in limited quantities each day. For safe and prevent mistakes, it is advisable to buy in advance about 15 days before the date of Universal Studios Japan (USJ) entry. // In conclusion, if you don’t have an Express Pass, there is no way you can complete the highlight rides.

As for me, I chose the Express Pass 7 – Flying Dinosaur . Because honestly, I wanted to play all the highlights to reflect it in this trip review. Including describing the feelings on each ride for those who won’t buy an Express Pass or buy only an Express Pass 4 to read and make the right decision.

To purchase Express Pass 4 and Express Pass 7, the links are provided below;

• Express Pass 4 – Universal Studios Japan Click to buy at  http://bit.ly/2Nm0RcF
• Express Pass 7 – Universal Studios Japan Click to buy at  http://bit.ly/2GEejrY

3.) USJ VIP Wristband Special Entry

If you want to enter Universal Studios Japan (USJ) approximately 10-20 mins before other visitors, to have more preparation time and rush to the favorite attraction. I recommend buying the USJ VIP Wristband Special Entry which join-purchasing with the Osaka Harukas 300 Observation Deck on the Osaka tallest building. I think the price is quite high. But if you seriously want to accomplish all the attractions. BUY IT NOW!

⚡️ For people who buy USJ VIP Wristband Special Entry + Harukas 300 Observation Deck tickets, you have to go up to the viewpoint of Harukas 300 building before the day you go to USJ to pick up the wristband + password paper, to check the time and location of the VIPs on USJ official website. If you don’t go to Harukas 300 first, then it means your wristband purchasing is in a wasted fashion, so plan your trip carefully.  > Click here to buy USJ VIP Wristband Special Entry

4.) Universal Studios Japan (USJ), JPY 5,000 Shopping Coupon

Many people may be confused, what is it? Is this really available? Well, it is. If any of you think that you definitely have to buy Universal Studios Japan (USJ) souvenir back home. Make a purchase of this shopping coupon via the KLOOK website. They will sell a 5,000-yen coupon. If you convert it to USD currency, you’ll get about 1.9 – 3.1 USD cheaper depending on the range and currency at the time. And if anyone gets more KLOOK discount code, the price is further reduced. You might get USJ cute items at a lower price than the actual price.

There are advantages and disadvantages. The coupon you redeem, it will come as a piece of paper as 5,000 yen business card size. If you don’t buy 5,000 yen in one receipt. The store will not change in cash. You can buy more and paying extra cash. But if you buy less, you’ll lose all the remaining balance. This is the disadvantage that must be mention first. Boo-hoo

> Click to buy  coupon for shopping at Universal Studios Japan (USJ) 5,000 JPY

Let’s get started with universal studios japan (usj).

Oi, so much of the introductions + the info is really packed. Let’s start traveling to Universal Studios Japan (USJ) . If you guys don’t have USJ VIP Wristband Special Entry , then enter the normal entrances. For those who own it, line up at the right-most entrance which shows ‘Studio West’ , you’ll get inside 10-20 mins faster than a general visitor. Now, if you pass through the gate. Hurry and run!

Which one you want to go for. Just head there, go for it. Most people rush running to the Harry Potter zone first. But I didn’t run there because I held the Express Pass 7 that had a specific time for attending Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey™ in 4K3D . so, I went to Hollywood Dream The Ride instead.

For people who hold Express Pass 4 or 7, and want to play the fav ride for twice. I suggest you head there after passing through the theme park gate because for the first time of riding, you don’t need to use the Express Pass to play (I’ll tell you why later), but the second time, yeah… just uses it. So you’ll be able to play your fav for 2 rides.

Okie so here’s the order of attractions I rode. How good is each one? How thrilling? Should you play it or not?  Let’s check the answer now!

• Hollywood Dream The Ride

Hollywood Dream The Ride was the first attraction I rushed to play after entering the gate. At first, I acted big by showing the Express Pass to the Staff. But he said, ‘you don’t have to use it now, not many people line up yet.’ So I kept the Express Pass right away LOL.

From the first moment, I walked without knowing any better. Once I awoke, I was already on a roller coaster of Hollywood Dream The Ride . Of course, I screamed out loud. It is a roller coaster with a 7/10 level of sensitivity which comes from time to time. The rail length is so long that we can experience a lot throughout the riding. Overall, I like it. The roller coaster may look cute but the excitement is considered valid. I really like it!

• The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man The Ride 4K3D

The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man The Ride 4K3D is similar to Transformers: The Ride 3D at Universal Studios Singapore (USS). Seriously, it’s almost the same. Just changing the story and movie to the Spider-Man instead. If asking whether is it fun. For those who previously play Transformers in Singapore. The enthusiasm for playing this attraction may be less exciting and enjoyable.

But if you have never played both of them before, I confirm this is fun and exciting. You will be dragged into the middle of an adventure among Spiderman fighting with villains. There is a falling building by illuminating the 4K3D screen. In conclusion, it is another attraction you should not be missed. For me who enjoys thrilling rides in amusement parks, the excitement is at a medium level.

Backdraft is based on the movie with the same title ‘Backdraft’, created in 1991 (I was just born), after going in the attraction, they will let you see the 3 settings, each setting will tell a story in the movie revolving with fire. The first two settings are normal, almost without any fire effects, nothing to be excited, and the movie clips they are shown on the screen are in the Japanese language. Until reaching the final one where it is fully organized. There are bombs, flames, fires, and water bombs. In the final scene-setting, I must admit that it’s amazing and well-done.

For me, Backdraft is quite disappointing. Overall, it is a bit boring. Only the last scene is given you the full-excitement, but before reaching that scene, you will take quite a long time. So if you don’t have Express Pass or no enough time, you can pass it. But whoever has Express Pass and must choose Backdraft with another attraction. This might have to be considered whether the other choice is better LOL.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™

Come and have a look at the highlight zone such as The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ which is the hot spot among people who visit the theme park here. From what I read in many other reviews, there is the need to press for a queue ticket to enter the zone. But from the time I got there (February 14, 2019), there was no longer a queuing management system. You can walk in-out anytime which is a bit confusing LOL. (However, if you want to make sure if there still a queuing machine, try reading another review for confirmation.)

When attending the Harry Potter zone. Here, I can say it felt like I was living in another world… like I really stepped into the movie. From the pine forest at the entrance / King’s Cross Station No. 9 ¾ / various magic villages with a decorative item from the movie which is movable, and the essential Hogwarts Castle. Overall it made the atmosphere magical.

Of course! Entering this zone is all about taking pictures, and a pleasurable feeling to walk into the various shops. I got a 4,900-yen Gryffindor scarf. There is also a magic wand of every Harry Potter character whose these wands will be further separated as the normal souvenir and the magic features you can enchant with the inside attractions. Yeah, money burned a hole in my pocket LOL!

• Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey™ in 4K3D

For the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey™ in 4K3D is set in and around the magnificent Hogwarts Castle. The Express Pass is a specified time when you should play the attraction. You just come on time. Honestly, before coming here, I didn’t really know much about the Harry Potter zone and didn’t even get a picture of the rides here, haha.

At first, you will walk into Hogwarts Castle and experience the environment inside which I must admit, they’re doing a good job in decorating the castle, including using a holographic display of the chosen characters, it looks like the real person. And my personal impression is a magical portrait of professors that hanging on the inner wall, it’s moving just like in a movie, this is very smooth. When I moved to stare closely, the texture of the moving portraits looks like a painting on canvas. I didn’t even notice it is a screen. Wow, this is astonishing!

The ride of Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey™ in 4K3D is surprisingly good and favorable. The seat moves higher and higher, swaying, then taking us to a large 4K3D screen and various models decorating around. The experience while riding can be expressed as exciting, frightened, and thrilling. It gives you a full-fledged sensation. This is awesome! It’s a must-play attraction.

• Flight of the Hippogriff™

Flight of the Hippogriff™ is a roller coaster that is more suitable for children than adults. Children may be excited. But ‘WE ’as an adult would be just chill and sitting back and forth. It’s fun and enjoyable, but it’s a pity that the roller coaster track is rather short. In a minute, it’s all done! Hey, I was not feeling anything yet. 😅

• Jurassic Park The Ride

Jurassic Park The ride is like a boat tour to the dense jungle of the dinosaur world which kids will be excited about. Because there are large dinosaur models moving, if you keep going, there is also a Jurassic Park area that arranges the same scene as in the movie. The climax of Jurassic Park The Ride is nearly at the tip of the boat track which is a little tense. Besides, if you sit in the right spot. You’ll surely get wet LOL. // Overall, I like it.

• The Flying Dinosaur

One of the greatest rides for me is the Flying Dinosaur , a roller coaster that retains a rider in the prone position, the fly is at high speeds with the dinosaur leading the procession. There is a series of loops and corkscrews. This made me screaming so loud until my throat hurt. then, I tore down instead. 😂

I want to say the Flying Dinosaur is a real deal and considered as the most thrill attraction at Universal Studios Japan (USJ) . It was a shame that I got to play this only one round with the Express Pass. When I planned to queue again, I regretted wasting 2-3 hours to line up which was so crazy! If I could turn back time, after the theme park was open, I would rush over here to play the Flying Dinosaur first, boo-hoo.

Minion Park

Minion Park is another adorable and colorful zone. Believe it or not? USJ here is proudly the largest Minions-themed attraction in the world.

There are many cute minions-theme stalls which sell various kind of souvenirs, collectibles, foods, including game facades. The attraction that should not be missed in this park is the Despicable Me Minion Mayhem . I confirm the park is another incredibly cute zone impacting mostly for a girl visitor!

• Despicable Me Minion Mayhem

My last ride in Universal Studios Japan (USJ) was Despicable Me Minion Mayhem that shows us a story of a human (a rider) who transforms into an actual Minion. The ride will take us into Felonious Gru’s Laboratory which describes as the place he turns our body into Minion body form.

Each scene on the ride is identical to the Minion animation and game. The whole things are just great! It’s not a heart-stop thrilling ride like a roller coaster, but it has a story plot and features the 4K3D screen on the attraction. My fav part of Despicable Me Minion Mayhem is; an English subtitle on a motion picture, allowing us to understand the whole story. Well, in short summary… you must play this!

The Ascending Order of My Favorite Attractions

All the rides at Universal Studio Japan (USJ) are quite good and remarkable. I myself prefer riding on the thrilling attraction. So, the list I make below is my top favorite attraction to the least favorite one.

In conclusion, I played on 8 attractions, there were 3 attractions I intended to use the Express Pass but finally, I didn’t need to use it on Hollywood Dream The Ride / The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man The Ride 4K3D / Jurassic Park The Ride because they were opened in less than an hour (After the entrance opening times), so while I was riding on these 3, most of the visitors remained in the Harry Potter zone which made the other attractions had a few people lined up for.

⚡️ From all these plays I experienced, I would like to suggest that buying Express Pass 4 might be enough, the pass with 4 specific times on whether it be Harry Potter or the other zones, you just hit those targets on time. Then, for the rest that excludes from the Express Pass, you should run for all of them within the first hour after the theme park is open.

Actually, there were other attractions that I didn’t ride on because it was closed for maintenance such as JAWS, Space Fantasy, and Hollywood Dream – Backdrop, the Backdrop is similar to Hollywood Dream The Ride but it’s a running backward roller coaster version. Apart from that, each month, Universal Studios Japan (USJ) will hold a special event that has the rides altered often, such as the COOL JAPAN where introduces the attraction like Lupin the Third: Car Chase XR Ride . Judging by the look. I cried out like OUCH, then skipped to the next one immediately because the queue was so long, I had to wait up for at least 3 hours. OFC, I GAVE UP!

Hogwarts™ Magical Night

Lastly, before heading home, to complete this Universal Studios Japan: USJ visit, who comes during this period until February 28, 2019. USJ will arrange the winter light-up event on the magnificent Hogwarts Castle. I tell you; the whole image was so amazing. Many people tended to miss it because they didn’t know there was a light-up show as well.

For those who come after February, you can check further events and shows details through Universal Studios Japan: USJ Website. But if I’m not wrong, I think the regular night show should probably be Universal Spectacle Night Parade – The Best of Hollywood.

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ส่วนตัวเป็นคนที่ชอบเล่นสวนสนุกมากกกกก นี่ก็พยายามจะเก็บแต้มสวนสนุกทั่วโลกแล้วเอามาเขียนรีวิวแบบละเอียดๆ ให้ทุกคนได้อ่านและตามกันเนอะ สำหรับใครที่มีแพลนไปเที่ยวสวนสนุกที่ไหนตามลิสด้านล่างนี้ คลิกอ่านรีวิวได้เล้ยย

1. Universal Studios Japan (USJ) / โอซาก้า ญี่ปุ่น กำลังอัพเดทใหม่ 2. Universal Studios Singapore (USS) / สิงคโปร์ 3. Tokyo Disneyland / โตเกียว ญี่ปุ่น 4. Tokyo DisneySea / โตเกียว ญี่ปุ่น 5. Shanghai Disneyland / เซี่ยงไฮ้ จีน 6. Disneyland Paris / ปารีส ฝรั่งเศส 7. Disneyland Park California / แคลิฟอร์เนีย อเมริกา 8. Disney California Adventure Park / แคลิฟอร์เนีย อเมริกา 9. Universal Studios Hollywood / ลอสแองเจลิส อเมริกา 10. Fuji-Q Highland / คาวากุจิโกะ​ ญี่ปุ่น 11. Lotte World | โซล เกาหลีใต้ กำลังเขียน

อ่านรีวิวเมืองนี้จบแล้ว อ่านรีวิวเมืองอื่นในญี่ปุ่นต่อกันเลย 🤗.

ญี่ปุ่นเป็นประเทศไม่กี่ประเทศที่นี่รู้สึกว่า ไปกี่ครั้งก็ไม่น่าเบื่อ ไปแล้วไปอีกได้ตลอด และยังประเทศที่ตัวเองตั้งมิชชั่นว่า อยากจะเก็บให้หมดทั่วประเทศ ฮ่าา เอาเป็นว่า HASHCORNER นี่ก็มีรีวิวญี่ปุ่นให้อ่านและตามรอยเยอะพอสมควร ทั้งหมดนับแล้วเกือบ 50 รีวิวแล้ว เยอะโคตร ใครที่มีแพลนไปเมืองไหนในญี่ปุ่นที่มีชื่อเมืองตามลิสด้านล่าง สามารถคลิกลิงค์อ่านต่อได้เล้ย

ภูมิภาคคันโต (Kanto Region)

1. รีวิว โตเกียว (tokyo) 2. รีวิว โตเกียวดิสนีย์แลนด์ (tokyo disneyland) 3. รีวิว โตเกียวดิสนีย์ซี (tokyo disneysea) 4. รีวิว harry potter: warner bros. studio tour tokyo 5. รีวิว โยโกฮาม่า (yokohama) 6. รีวิว คามาคุระ (kamamura) 7. รีวิว นิกโก้ (nikko) 8. รีวิว ฮาโกเน่ (hakone).

⸺⸺⸺⸺

ภูมิภาคคันไซ (Kansai Region)

9. รีวิว โอซาก้า (osaka) 10. รีวิว universal studios japan (usj) 11. รีวิว เกียวโต (kyoto) 12. รีวิว นารา (nara) 13. รีวิว โกเบ (kobe) 14. รีวิว ฮิเมจิ (himeji) 15. รีวิว อิเสะ-ชิมะ (ise-shima) กำลังเขียน 16. รีวิว อิกะ อุเอโนะ (iga ueno) กำลังเขียน 17. รีวิว อะซุกะ (asuka) กำลังเขียน, ภูมิภาคชูบุ (chubu region), 18. รีวิว คานาซาวะ (kanazawa) 19. รีวิว ชิราคาวาโกะ (shirakawa-go) 21. รีวิว ทาคายาม่า (takayama) 21. รีวิว คาวากุจิโกะ (kawaguchigo) 22. รีวิว สวนสนุก fuji-q highland 23. รีวิว ยามานากะโกะ (yamanakako) 24. รีวิว ชิซึโอกะ (shizuoka) 25. รีวิว อิซุ (izu) กำลังเขียน 26. รีวิว คาวาซึ (kawazu) 27. รีวิว อิโต (ito) กำลังเขียน 28. รีวิว อาตามิ (atami) 29. รีวิว คารุอิซาวะ (karuizawa) 30. รีวิว นากาโน่ (nagano) 31. รีวิว มัตสึโมโตะ (matsumoto), ภูมิภาคคิวชู (kyushu region), 32. รีวิว ฟุกุโอกะ-ดาไซฟุ (fukuoka-dazaifu) 33. รีวิว นางาซากิ (nagasaki) 34. รีวิว ยูฟูอิน (yufuin) 35. รีวิว คุมาโมโตะ (kumamoto) 36. รีวิว ภูเขาไฟอะโสะ (mount aso) 37. รีวิว ทาคาชิโฮ (takachiho), ภูมิภาคโอกินาว่า (okinawa region), 38. รีวิว โอกินาว่า (okinawa), ภูมิภาคฮอกไกโด (hokkaido region), 39. รีวิว ซัปโปโร (sapporo) 40. รีวิว โอตารุ (otaru) 41. รีวิว อาซาฮิกาวะ-บิเอะ (asahikawa-biei) 42. รีวิว อะบาชิริ-คุชิโระ (abashiri-kushiro) 43. รีวิว ฮาโกดาเตะ (hakodate), ภูมิภาคชูโกกุ (chugoku region), 44. รีวิว ฮิโรชิม่า (hiroshima) 45. รีวิว เกาะมิยาจิม่า (miyajima) 46. รีวิว โอคายาม่า-คุราชิกิ (okayama-kurashiki), แนะนำโรงแรม / พาสรถไฟ, 47. แนะนำที่พักในโตเกียว (tokyo) 48. แนะนำที่พักในโอซาก้า (osaka) 49. แนะนำที่พักในฟุกุโอกะ (fukuoka) 50. แนะนำที่พักในนิกโก้ (nikko) 51. เรื่องต้องรู้ก่อนซื้อ jr pass, related topics.

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The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Universal Studios Japan's newly opened themed area

If you are like me, when you heard that Universal Studios Japan was opening a Wizarding World of Harry Potter area at its theme park in Osaka, you couldn't stop yourself from ecstatically jumping around and promising yourself to check it out as soon as possible. Which is what I finally got the chance to do this Halloween.

My friend and I decided to take the 2 days pass since the Harry Potter World is new and we thought the queuing time would be really long. We were definitely right. I recommend that you either do the same (especially if you want to see the rest of USJ’s attractions as well) or that you go in a few years when, maybe, the hype will have calmed down a little and you won’t have to wait 3 hours for the main ride like we did (clearly not an option for most!).

The main ride, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey , located in the castle and in that humongous white building (you can see it behind the castle in the first photo), was the best ride of my life. Of course, Harry Potter is, to me, what religion is to the Pope. And I also know I am not the only one in that situation, so I am sure most of you will really enjoy this ride. Keep in mind that it moves around quite a lot so don’t eat too much before. My friend got quite dizzy afterward. But I promise that it is otherwise perfect, I really got the impression that I was in the world of Harry Potter, the single row of benches make it seem like you are alone in the ride and it is quite long (though I never wanted it to end) so I was very pleased with it. Even with the 3-hour wait.

The other ride offered is The Flight of the Hippogriff , which is actually a normal family roller coaster with straw-covered cars shaped similarly to a Hippogriff. To be honest, unless you can’t live without trying everything, you can probably overlook this ride if the wait time is longer than 20 minutes. It is surprisingly fast, but lasts only around 20 seconds and doesn’t feel as special as the Forbidden Journey. Actually, its waiting line where you can see Hagrid’s hut and a Hippogriff’s nest was way more interesting than the actual ride.

Other attractions include Hogsmeade Village where you can buy a ton of goodies, see funny props (like moving bludgers, owls, or Sirius’ wanted poster) and eat at The Three Broomsticks restaurant. As can be expected, everything is quite expensive, but since it was a once in a lifetime experience for me, I still paid ¥1,100 for a normal and boring fizzy drink that they call Butterbeer because I wanted to bring the plastic Butterbeer cup back home.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter already exists in Florida, but the Black Lake only exists in Osaka so make sure to take lots of pictures. Another special feature in Osaka is the live owls that you can see being walked around by their caretakers.

When you first get to the theme park in the morning, you might not be able to simply enter the Harry Potter area, you would first have to get a ticket (free) with a certain time on it at another location near the Jaws and Jurassic Park rides.

Prices: 1 day pass: 6,900 with taxes 2 days pass: 11,740 with taxes

Check the website for opening hours

Find out more about Universal Studios Japan (USJ) .

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By Camille Dufour-Blain

Community writer

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Universal Studios Japan (USJ)

2 Chome-1-33 Sakurajima, Konohana Ward, Osaka, 554-0031, Japan ( Directions )

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Universal studios japan: review of rides and attractions.

Universal Studios Japan (USJ) is one of the must-do places when you visit Osaka in Japan . And the biggest draw for me is definitely the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, the closest thing to living my Hogwarts dream. Read on for my review of USJ, right down to every single ride I’ve tried!

Before your trip

Before visiting the park, check the crowd calendar to see the projected number of guests each day and pick one with the least visitors.

Also, get your tickets online before you visit the park to avoid having to queue to purchase the entrance tickets AND queue up again to enter the park!

I’ve gotten my USJ entrance tickets from Klook and received the tickets (in the form of QR codes) almost instantly. And the best thing? You don’t even need to print the e-tickets out. Just wave the QR codes at the entrance of the theme park, get scanned and you’ll get whizzed in. Real lifesaver when you are preparing all these logistics the day before you take off!

Unlike its Disney counterparts in Tokyo, USJ does not have a fast pass system. So if you’re visiting on a relatively crowded day (~30 and above according to the crowd calendar), you may want to consider getting an Express pass .

The express passes are limited for a selection of the rides (each pass has a different combination). Klook has two choices available and both are Express 4 (which entitles you to 4 pre-selected rides) and possibly the most value-for-money.

We wound up purchasing an Express 4 for a timed entry to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, express rides for Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, The Amazing Adventures of Spider-man, Jaws OR Backdraft and Space Fantasy OR Terminator OR Jurassic Park. This selection is no longer available. Read on to decide which rides excite you so that you can select the express package that suits you the best!

Entering USJ

As we bought the express pass, we didn’t feel a need to arrive early. Park-goers, especially the locals, are known to start queuing since early morning! We entered the park at about 10-ish with rations from convenience stores.

If you didn’t get the express pass, you might want to consider queuing up early and make a dash for your most-anticipated ride right away.

Rides and Attractions

The queues for rides in USJ are exceptionally long so unless you’re visiting on a real-empty day or have an express pass, you’ll probably only get your chance on 5 or 6 rides. It’s thus extremely important to plan strategically and prioritise the ones that you’re looking forward to.

I’ll start with the ones that I highly recommend:

Wizarding World of Harry Potter

This refers to the entire Harry Potter themed area of USJ. If the park is crowded, you may have to get a timed entrance ticket from Central Park (within the premise of USJ) to enter at a designated time. The timed entrance ticket is usually also included in express passes. These timed entrance tickets determine the time you can enter the area. You can stay there as long as you like but you will not be able to re-enter the area.

Fortunately, I have never encountered the use of timed entrance tickets and was able to visit the area multiple times on both visits.

Fervent fans will recognise the wreckage of Arthur Weasley’s wrecked flying car as they enter the park. Meandering into the main area, the next distinctive feature will be the Hogwarts Express. At the next turn, be prepared to get transported to Hogsmeade with the Hogwarts castle looming in the background.

Grab yourself a cup of butter beer while you’re there or sit down at Three Broomsticks for a snack. And don’t forget to pop into Honeydukes for chocolate frogs and Bertie Botts’ every flavour jelly beans.

Almost wished they looped Harry Potter soundtracks.

Walking tour of Hogwarts

Sometimes, the castle, which houses the forbidden journey ride (see next point), is opened up for a walking tour.

We managed to try it the first time we were there. The route was slightly different from the queue for the ride and queueing times were significantly shorter. We could really take our times to explore and appreciate the interiors.

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey

This was my favourite ride at USJ! The ride had the thrill and novelty factors and really brought back childhood nolstagia. I felt the chills when the dementors ‘swarmed’ towards me!

The ride is in Japanese but ardent fans should be able to follow even with the language barrier. Even if you can’t, the ride still delivers in the visual department.

Filch’s Emporium of Confiscated Goods

Don’t forget to grab some Harry Potter souvenirs from this shop as you exit from the Forbidden Journey ride.

Space Fantasy

This indoor mini rollercoaster was a pleasant surprise. Not tied to any recognisable franchise, this ride was tucked at one corner with reasonable queue times and brought us on a high-speed adventure through space.

The interior was mesmerizing – it was pitch black and dotted with millions of lights to mimic the stars and galaxies. Imagine zooming past these on a spaceship.

The Flying Dinosaur

Perhaps the most thrilling ride in the entire park, I was the only one out of the group of three who went on the ride. After everyone was seated, the seats were rotated 90 degrees to face the riders downwards and that was when the fear (and adrenaline) started crippling in.

I took the single rider queue and completed the ride fairly quickly, in about thirty minutes. At the end of the ride, I was slightly light-headed from all that high-speed whirling. 😂

This rollercoaster spans across the theme park and park-goers can witness the riders screaming their heads off!

And here are those that I think were not bad and you can try them when the queue times are reasonable:

Flight of the Hippogriff

Mini rollercoaster right next to Hogwarts castle. Suitable for children.

The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man

A 3D ride which is similar to (but feels like the predecessor of) the transformer ride in USS.

Hollywood Dream: The Ride

This is a typical roller coaster. I remembered it providing adequate excitement but wasn’t too exhilarating. Would have wanted to try the back-facing version – Backdrop, but the queues were always so long.

This would have gone into the disappointing category if it wasn’t for the superbly animated tour guide we had. She made everything more entertaining and more exciting with her dramatic flair.

Jaws started off with a leisure boat ride around Amity island and we were given treats of the reconstructed scenery. Halfway through, the guide brought our attention to the appearance of a dorsal fin and visitors would eventually see the bloodied shark. As the feared predator circled the craft, the boat would rock precariously. A battle between the guide and the shark ensued with the guide firing shots and throwing grenades at the shark, resulting in flames and explosion effects. The shark was eventually defeated and the boat returned to the docking harbour.

Despite the predictability, the ride felt well-designed and it really was great to be able to take a rest from all the walking on the boat.

And the one which was extremely disappointing:

Despicable Me Minion Mayhem

This was a huge letdown; the ride was typical and lacked novelty. Didn’t help that we queued for more than 2 hours for this. Minion Mayhem was a reboot of the Amazing Spider-Man and USS’s Transformer rides with no evident improvement, bringing you through the journey of misdemeanor as a minion.

The children seemed to enjoy the ride tremendously. One of the children riding the same pod told her father that she wanted to go on it again; the father has all my sympathies.

Stay on for the night shows (and fireworks)

USJ usually schedules a night show extravaganza daily. The current one on rotation is the UNIVERSAL SPECTACLE NIGHT which I have not seen personally. For the past two occasions that I’ve visited USJ, I was fortunate enough to time it near the end of the year and caught their Christmas special programme.

Gifts of Angels

On both occasions, we were treated to angels suspended in midair above the roof with spectacular fireworks shooting up behind them in the special program – Gifts of Angels. The facade of the buildings were also projected upon to form a magnificent backdrop. Coupled with the impressively-lighted Christmas tree, the programme was truly a sensory feast.

We usually head to the souvenir stores after the night show and leave the park to avoid the closing-hour crowds. Dinner would be a simple affair at the restaurants or food joints (like Mos Burger) on the way back to the train station.

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15 comments.

It’s cool how it really does look so much like Universal in Florida. I would have expected more differences but it’s kind of nice how similar they look – especially with their Harry Potter exhibits.

Really? I’ve never visited the one in Florida. Hope to get the chance to in the future! 🙂 I’m sure there are some different rides and vibes!

I once went to Universal Studios Singapore, the Japan one looks almost the same. The crowd in Singapore had scared me so I couldn’t enjoy a lot/

It’s not that crowded on weekdays but yes, weekends are crazy!

We didn’t know that there’s a Universal Studios in Japan as well! We like the one in California (actually the only theme park that we like). And it’s also awesome that the one in Japan has so many Harry Potter themed exhibits, and even a Mel’s Drive In! Thanks for sharing this. 🙂

The Japan one has more rides too!

I had never considered including this in our Japan itinerary, but I think we’ll make it a stop after reading this article! Looks like a lot of fun!

Universal studios is among the places that everyone would love to go and explore. Me and my daughter are huge fans of minions. We would surely go crazy on that rides.

The decorations there are pretty on point! They also sometimes have a minions parade. I’m sure you and your daughter will like it.

Yes, it’s a cozy guesthouse!

Japan is always my dream destination. Reading your post make me wanna there more. thank you for your sharing and stunning pictures. it will be in my list when visiting Japan.

omg universal studios japan! one my bucket list! thank you so much for sharing this. this post makes me want to go to Japan right away!

I heard Universal Studios Japan was worth a visit! I would just go for an excuse to visit the Wizarding World again. We love Harry Potter! Since it’s in Japan, are there any Japanese food there, or is it mostly American fare?

There’s curry rice but everything else seems pretty must American fare.

Am now craving chocolate frogs!

We are due to go to the one in Orlando but this one looks so much more fascinating to explore! 🙂

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Hi there! I’m Eunice.

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Complete Guide to Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Close your eyes and try to remember how you felt the first time you saw Hogwarts castle in the  Harry Potter  film series. Imagine the majestic turrets that seemed to stack one on top of the other; the beautiful glass windows; the intricate stonework. Do you feel the warmth in your chest yet?

For many of us who truly love being immersed in Harry Potter’s world, glimpsing Hogwarts castle is a sign that we’re home again, just as it is for our hero. But what if I told you that you could take this reverie a step further and venture  inside  Hogwarts castle and on an adventure unlike any other? I’ve got great news: this is the Hogwarts letter you’ve been waiting for!

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey  is a thrilling dark ride in   The Wizarding World of Harry Potter -Hogsmeade at   Universal Islands of Adventure . On board an enchanted bench, you’ll encounter a ferocious dragon, the famed Whomping Willow, a pack of dreaded Dementors, and… I’m getting ahead of myself. Let’s start at the beginning.

Dumbledore has welcomed Muggles to Hogwarts to attend a lecture on the history of the school given by the ever verbose and ghostly Professor Binns, but our favorite trio has other plans. Harry, Ron, and Hermione stealthily urge you to meet them in the Room of Requirement so they can instead sneak you down to the Quidditch pitch for a thrilling match.

It may surprise you to learn that my favorite part of this attraction is actually the part where I wait in line, but seriously…  this queue is just that good. Entering between the two tall stone pillars topped with winged boars, you’ll make your way into the castle and through its many tantalizing corridors. As relics like the Mirror of Erised come into view, your tour will start to bring back memories of your favorite moments from the films:

• In the greenhouses, you’ll be delighted to see that Professor Sprout’s mandrakes are coming along nicely.
• Professor Dumbledore’s office houses not only the magical Pensieve and the Sword of Gryffindor, but the headmaster himself will appear and greet you.
• Next, enjoy a trip to the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, where Harry, Ron, and Hermione will appear from under the invisibility cloak and brief you on their plans.
• After a quick venture behind the portrait of the Fat Lady and into the Gryffindor common room, you’ll pass the famed Sorting Hat on your way to the Room of Requirement for your adventure.

There are   so many things to see along the way , you’ll want to keep your eyes open.

Underneath a candlelit ceiling, you’ll climb aboard an enchanted bench for a scenic and thrilling dark ride unlike any other! As you get ready to take off with a dose of Floo powder, Hermione asks you to say “Observatory” to make sure you reach the intended destination. Away you’ll fly through the Astronomy Tower and toward the Quidditch pitch, right alongside Harry and Ron on their brooms.

On this journey, your bench will twist, turn, and spin as it reacts to the world around you. And there’s quite a bit to react to:

• Hagrid is looking for a Hungarian Horntail dragon.
• In the Forbidden Forest, you’ll encounter the large Whomping Willow tree with its branches primed for clobbering.
• Dementors descend upon the Quidditch match and lead you deep into the Chamber of Secrets.
• And  then — well, I’ll leave that up to you to find out.

RIDE DETAILS

• Height requirement: 48” (122 cm)
• You will need a locker for this ride
• Child Swap is available upon request
• Universal Express Pass is available
• Single Rider is available

FILCH’S EMPORIUM OF CONFISCATED GOODS

Once off the ride, you can peruse items taken from students who got on the wrong side of the school’s resident caretaker, Argus Filch. From t-shirts, bags, caps, and scarves to plush toys, stationery, and mugs, every fan will find at least one must-have item here.

PRO TIP : There are plenty of authentic movie prop replicas stationed throughout the store. Plan to spend some time pointing out your favorites. Mine is the Marauder’s Map… complete with moving footprints!

Riding Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey feels like flying through the scenes that have lived in your imagination for years — great for both hard core and casual fans of the  Harry Potter  films. I’ll never be able to express how immersed I felt when I first got on board and realized everything I’ve always wanted to see was coming to life in front of me. 

Happy  adventuring !

What are you most looking forward to seeing inside Hogwarts castle? Tell us in the comments below!

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Kelsey Shea Weinrich

Kelsey is a Content Representative at Universal Orlando Resort. She considers The Mummy (1999) a perfect movie and doesn’t tolerate Hufflepuff slander.

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What is the weight maximum for the ride? Can you walk through the line to see the displays without taking the ride?

Hi Mark! We would recommend reaching out to our Guest Services Team at 407-224-4233 for more information on our attractions!

I am always looking over to the door that leads to Professor Snapes Potions class room. And at this moment I also remember very fondly Alan Rickman who is no longer with us, but so brilliantly portrait Professor Snape.

He was truly my favorite character in the films. Though, I loved his work before HP. He was brilliant. Out of my middle aged life, HP Orlando was the best park experience I’ve ever had.

Fantastic description of this magical experience…really amazing!!! And as she said, everyone will absolutely love it, not only the Potter’s fans. Universal is the best park EVER! But there is a part where the text is duplicated: Dumbledore has welcomed Muggles to Hogwarts to attend a lecture on the history of the school given by Dumbledore has welcomed Muggles to Hogwarts to attend a lecture on the history of the school given by the ever verbose and ghostly Professor Binns, but our favorite trio has other plans.

Kelsey, although the story was great and I loved the ride, my OCD kicked in hard reading the beginning of the “STORY”. It went a little something like this:

“Dumbledore has welcomed Muggles to Hogwarts to attend a lecture on the history of the school given by Dumbledore has welcomed Muggles to Hogwarts to attend a lecture on the history of the school given by”

An edit maniac 🤣🤣🤣🤣 Keep up the great writing!!!

Oh man, Bobby. You caught a peak behind the curtain on this one! This was not on Kelsey and her fabulous writing and was 100% on me and my sloppy copying and pasting! Thanks for the catch and keep up the great editing!

What a perfect description of how I felt too. I love the room with all the moving and talking paintings. Best line to explore ever!

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Ultimate Guide to Minions, Harry Potter and Halloween at Universal Studios Japan in Osaka

This is the ONLY guide you need to Minions, Harry Potter and Halloween at Universal Studios Japan in Osaka! In this article, we will touch on different areas of Universal Studios Japan and the Halloween events we experienced.

We will also tell you how to get to the Universal Studios Japan, where to stay near Universal Studios Japan and how to buy ticked for Universal Studios Japan (we will touch on the Universal Studios express pass and which one is the best to get!).

Grab a coffee and a seat in your favourite comfortable chair – this is a huge article dedicated to making your day at Universal Studios Japan the best it can be!

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Table of Contents

Introduction to Universal Studios Japan

Universal Studios Japan (USJ) is divided into 9 areas each with its own themes and attractions, shows and ride. The Park covers a land mass of 54 hectares (108 acres) so make sure to bring comfortable walking shoes!

The USJ Areas Include:

• San Francisco
• Jurassic Park
• Minion Park
• Universal Wonderland (mainly for small children)
• Water World
• Amity Village
• The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Universal Studios Japan Map

The official Universal Studios Japan site offers limited information in English (most of the information is in Japanese) so it can be a little difficult to navigate so it’s best to check out a few reviews online.

While Universal Studios Japan sees huge amount of traffic throughout the year, it can a little less crowded in January and between December to February as this is the off season for Japanese Visitors. There are no particular days in the week that are less crowded, Friday through to Sunday are the weekly peak time.

Universal Studios Japan has different events throughout the year to change “things up”. I went during the Halloween season however below is a list of different events/season through the year:

January – Feb: Cool Japan event (Cool Japan sections of the park are all based on iconic anime, video game, music, and manga titles produced in Japan)

March (onwards): Summer season, which they also offer Easter events and other promotional events (this could be the launch of a new ride or a special co-hosted event)

July – Aug: Summer theme events

Sept – Oct: Halloween events

Nov -Dec: Christmas events.

Universal Studios Japan Tickets

I was going to touch on the tickets for USJ at the end of this article however the type of ticket you purchase can and will impact your day in the park.

A few things to keep in mind, during peak periods at the park you will need a “Timed Entry Ticket” (which is free) to be able to enter places such as the Wizarding World of Harry Potter . You’ll be able to obtain this ticket either before your visit, or on the day of admission.

Make sure to purchase your tickets before arriving at the park otherwise you might need to get used to lining up in long lines…  By purchasing beforehand you will receive a QR code that you scanned at the automated teller, bypassing the lines entirely!

There are basically 2 types of tickets you can get at Universal Studios Japan;

A studio pass grants you admission to the park and a Universal Express® Pass will shorten the waiting time for attractions.

Standard entry ticket – Studio Pass:  

You can select either a 1 day or 2 day pass, depending how much time you have allocated to the park. Personally I think, if you’re going via standard entry I would recommend a 2 day pass – 1 day for all the rides and the second day to wander around the park and check out the parades.

With this ticket type, you may need to get a Timed Entry tickets on-site (for harry Potter), you can proceed to the ticketing site at Central Park inside Universal Studios and get it for free.

The ticketing site is located next to Jaws. The machine requires you choose a desired time of entrance. Remember that this ticket can only be used at designated times, if you miss your time slot, the ticket cannot be re-issued.

If you go for the Standard entry, I would recommend getting to the park as early as possible so that you can be first in line for your first ride. The lines for the rides can be 2-3 hours!

Standard entry ticket – Studio Pass Prices (as of September 2017)

1 Day Pass: Adult – 7,038 yen (7,600 yen with tax) Approx. $85 AUD Children – 4,723 yen (5,100 yen with tax) Approx. $57 AUD

2 Days Pass: Adult – 11,852 yen (12,800 yen with tax) Approx. $143 AUD Children – 7,982 yen (8,620 yen with tax) Approx. $96 AUD

Universal Express® Pass

Purchasing an Express Pass before arriving at the park will also give you access to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter (as mentioned above – during peak times you may need to get a timed ticket).

The Universal Express® Pass is a convenient ticket that lets you enjoy each attraction once with shortened waiting times and guarantee a spot for viewing the parades.

Tickets can be purchased on the day at the park at ticket windows inside the park, but are available only while supplies last or tickets can be purchased through flight centre, Sachi Tours and JTB in Australia or at hotels near USJ (for hotel guests only). Don’t get caught by purchasing ticketed from unauthorized sellers as you won’t be able to get in.

The ticket booths inside the park are located in the following locations:

Stores within the park Backlot Accessories Universal Studios Store The Amazing Spider-Man Store Jurassic Outfitters

The express passes require you to purchase a standard entry pass (see above) to gain entry into the park.

There are 3 types of express passes you can get depending on what you want to see and do in the park:

Universal Express® Pass 7

Fully enjoy the Park by experiencing 7 popular attractions!

Price: 6,852 yen (7,400 yen with tax) through to 13,704 yen (14,800 yen with tax) (approx. $82 AUD through to $165 AUD)

Universal Express® Pass 4

Experience the top 4 must-see attractions at the Studios!

Price: 4,630 yen (5,000 yen with tax) through to 8,519 yen (9,200 yen with tax) (Approx. $56 AUD through to $103 AUD)

Universal Express® Pass 3

Experience the top 3 must-see attractions at the Studios!

Price: 3,797 yen (4,100 yen with tax) through to 6,575 yen (7,100 yen with tax) (Approx. $45AUD through to $79 AUD)

** I was advised by my guide that you can also purchase an afternoon ticket from approx. 3pm which can be found on the Japanese section of the USJ website however they can be purchased at the gate.***

I personally think the express passes are well worth it as they skip the large 2-3 hour wait times for rides and free up your day however if you can’t afford to upgrade I would recommend queuing up in the “single rider lines” (which means you may not be able to go on the ride with your friends) however it means you’ll like get on the ride quicker!

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter ( Universal Studios Japan Harry Potter)

Great news for all those Harry Potter fans out there!  The Wizarding World of Harry Potter opened in April 2016 as a permeant feature in USJ. As mentioned above you may need a timed ticket however when I went it was open to all.

Keep in mind it can get very crowded so if you’re a big fan I would recommend getting to the park first thing in the morning and heading straight to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter to get all the best photo ops!

For the full Harry Potter experience, you can purchase a robe and wand from Hogsmeade Village. Inside a number of shops sell Harry Potter merchandise, from what I could see some stores stole similar items for the same price.

A robe can cost around ¥14,000 ($$156 AUD) and a wand ¥3,000 ($33AUD) – ¥4,500 ($50AUD) *prices are subject to change*. You can select your own wand or go to Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands – here the Ollivander selects someone from the crowd to demonstrate a wand selection ceremony.

If you purchase a “Magical Wand” you can wander around The Wizarding World of Harry Potter with your wand and check out the “wand attractions” which comprised of six spell-casting stations.

Here the Wand Assistants teach you how to light the chimney by waving the wand in a specific manner and chanting Incendio! As well as several other wand stations around and guide you through your new spells!

The Harry Potter Expecto Patronum Night Show starts just after sunset is one of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter best feature (this will go on till November 2017).

It consists of state-of-the-art technology (aka Magic!), producing a never before seen look inside The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Witness a tremendous magical battle between the ominous Dementors™ and the students of Hogwarts™ School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the skies above Hogwarts™ castle.

The view at the restaurant 3 Broomsticks is the best, so try in early (30-40mins before the start of the show) and request a seat outside (note you can’t see the full performance form here but you will get a better view of the castle). Enjoy a meal and a butterbeer while you’re there.

Visitors get to pick from three of butterbeer varieties: hot, cold or frozen (available in Summer). The Frozen versions is similar to a frozen coke and very refreshing on a hot summers day.

The hot version comes with a hint of ginger and was much sweeter than the cold version. (¥550 Regular ($6AUD), ¥1,000 ($11 AUD) which includes a take home plastic mug – you need to rinse this out in the bathrooms when you’re finished).

I’d highly recommend The Great Feast (¥7,600 – $85 AUD) from The Three Broom Sticks! The platter comes with Roasted Chicken, steamed corn, potatoes, broccoli, carrots, and a slab of BBQ Pork Ribs and serves 2 people.

There are 2 rides in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, which is the Flight of the Hippogriff and the Forbidden Journey ride. The Flight of the Hippogriff is a roller coast and the Forbidden Journey ride is a 4K3D ride – I won’t ruin it for you but the graphics are incredible!!

Lastly If you’re not keen on queueing for hours (or don’t have an express pass) for the Forbidden Journey ride, you can still take a stroll around Hogwarts Castle, exploring iconic places like Dumbledore’s office, the Defence Against the Dark Arts and Herbology classrooms, and walk through a corridor of moving portraits (that do more and talk).

Minion Park at Universal Studio Japan

The Minion park is one of USJ biggest attractions and why it, its super cute! Who doesn’t love the cute little yellow minions!

The park is fairly small but still have plenty to do such as the Despicable Me Minion Mayhem, where you head into Gru’s house which doubles as his laboratory, hop into a vehicle designed by Gru to transform you into an actual Minion (if only!) Most of the storyline is in Japanese however keep an eye on the screens as some sections to have English subtitles.

If you don’t have time to go on one of the rides, then there are smaller games within the Minion Park that you can play to win prizes, or head to the “Sweet Surrender” store to purchase a few minion goodies to take home for the kids (or nieces and nephews).

There are a few quirky things in the Minion park such, I especially loved the “Bank of Evil” in the where you can withdraw money from “someone else’s” bank account, (not really – that would be slightly illegal but it’s still cool non the less).

If you’re feeling peakish, try “The Delicious Me Ice-cream Sandwiches” which are something worth the wait (there is usually a long lone but it goes quickly), they come in 3 flavors and are perfect for children and even the kids at heart. 

Mango Marshmallow Mousse, Tiramisu Cream, and Banana Ice-cream and fruit. Prices range from ¥500-600 ($5-$6 AUD). Or head over to the Minion Popcorn cart aka Pop-A-Nanna (which yes also can have a long line), they offer banana/banana Carmel flavored popcorn which you can get in a small box or you can purchase a Minion collectable carrier for ¥2,980 ($33AUD).

Minion Park Map:

Halloween at Universal Studio Japan

Halloween runs from September 8 (Fri) to November 5 (Sun) 2017

As mentioned above a lot of the attractions in Japanese, I was lucky to have an English speaking guide who translated for me but most people won’t have this opportunity so I have provided a quick guide on each Halloween attraction we went on:

The curtain rises on the terrifying show of atrocities….He’s back to attack, slice, and dissect patients! Get swept up in a sense of tension with no escape, and a realistic, unsettling world.

You wander through a hospital full of Chuckie’s either hacking away at patients or trapped in cages, some jump out at you or chase you! The fear level of this attraction is level 5 (out of 10).

You start off in a factory where the military personnel telling us that the factory has had a chemical spill and you have to get through the forest to a decontamination area however the forest is full of zombies and a few dead ends!

Chased by a horde of zombies into a dark, gloomy forest, you encounter a series of terrible traps…You’ve got to escape this mad nightmare on your own!

The fear level of this attraction is level 4 (out of 10) – personally I found it very funny watching other people getting freaked out I did get a fright now and then from Zombies jumping out of nowhere!

Street Zombies

If you want the zombies to “attack you” you can purchase a small light up necklace that tells the zombies that you want to get up, close and personal.

The park will be the site of an outbreak of the nastiest and most diverse zombies ever, with over 20 kinds of all shapes and sizes! The fear level of this attraction is level 2 (out of 10). If you don’t want to see the street zombies or have young children, there are safe areas in the park that you can use to avoid them.

**The Zombies were a little hard to capture in photos as the park asks guests not to use flash photography on the Zombies.**

Trauma 3 has the highest fear level – 10 out of 10! Sadly, we didn’t get to experience this due to time constraints however needless to say I heard a lot of screams coming out of this building!

After arriving at the facility, you must now embark on a long, mad journey through a maze (the longest one in the parks history!). You’ll witness twisted human experiments that have been covered up, and uncanny creatures that attack you no matter where you go.

The Parade!!!

The Festa de Parade starts at approx. 2:30pm everyday during the Halloween season (each season there are different parades eg: Summer there is usually a water “fight” parade”).

The Parade includes large colourful floats, interesting characters and live performances. The floats Fire confetti into the sky and you’ll lose yourself in the bubbles (shooting from foam guns!).

You can join in on the parades (when in invited to do so – usually when the floats have stopped) so you can dance in the street with all the characters.

Make sur to dress up of your favourite characters during Halloween to add to the fun! We saw a heap of nurses, police (swat) and lots of Anime characters and of course minions!

Where to stay near Universal Studios Japan

For backpackers or travelers who like to travel on a budget you can check out J-Hoppers Osaka Universal Hostel , which is only 1 stop (Ajikawaguchi Station) or a 15mins walk away from the park.

Below are a list of hotels fairly close to Universal Studio Japan, making your trip to the park quick and easy!

• Hotel Universal Port (This hotel offers Minion featured rooms!)
• The Park Front Hotel at Universal Studios Japan
• Kintetsu Universal City
• ‪ The Singulari Hotel & Skyspa At Universal Studios Japan

Other info About Universal Studios Japan: 

Unfortunately, almost all the rides and attractions are in Japanese (keep in mind you are in Japan!). Some of the ride likes the Despicable Me Minion Mayhem do have subtitles, so I would recommend reading up what the rides are about before you go.

My recommendation would be to sit on the left for all rides as you get to see more, except on the Harry Potter “Forbidden Journey in 4K3D”, where the middle seat is the best!

Keep in mind that once you leave the park, you can’t come back in – so you can’t leave to get lunch or go back to your hotel, make sure to plan ahead and do your shopping last – there are also lockers you can pay to use.

What impressed me about Universal Studios Japan is how much detail they went in with not only the attractions but the general areas as well, such as Moaning Myrtle haunts the restrooms at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – however she does talk in Japanese which is a little “trippy”. As well as the detail they put into the Zombies, they look incredibly real.

There are plenty of restaurants in the park, you’ll never go hungry. Make sure to wear comfortable shoes and take sunscreen and an umbrella in the rainy seasons.

How to get to Universal Studios Japan:

From Kansai Airport: Duration: 35-75 minutes Cost: 1550 yen Frequency: hourly

From Itami Airport Duration: 45 minutes Cost: 930 yen Frequency: 1 train hourly

From Namba The USJ is a 5-minute walk from Universal City Station (JR Yumesaki Line) through City Walk. Hanshin Namba Line to Nishikujo (4th stop) then transfer to JR Yumesaki Line and get off at Universal City Station Duration: 25 minutes Cost: 360 yen Frequency: approx. 1 train per 15 minutes

Captain Line transfers people to and from Universal Studios Japan and Osaka Aquarium Duration: 10 minutes Cost: 700 yen one way, 1300 yen round trip Frequency: 1-2 ferries hourly

Universal Studios Japan 2 Chome-1-33 Sakurajima, Konohana Ward, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture 554-0031, Japan Opening Hours:  8:30 am – 9 pm daily Telephone : +81 570-200-606 / 06-6465-4005

Some of the above images have been provided by Universal Studios Japan

If you’d like to save it for later, please save it to Pinterest.

Sam, a seasoned traveler across four continents and 49 countries, is a leading authority in travel planning. Her website, Travelling King, offers tailored itineraries and expert guides for seamless trips. Sam's expertise in luxury travel, fast travel, and destination guides keeps her at the forefront of the travel community.

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wow .. Awesome! post would love to visit here one day!.

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Hello, is the Harry potter and the forbidden...

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Universal Studios Japan Questions & Answers

Hello, is the Harry potter and the forbidden journey ride scary? or like a roller coaster? very scared of rollercoasters and even rides that move you very quickly around.

Is not like roller coaster. Is just a simulation but the ride is a little bumpy. Overall is a nice experience and my daughters aged 10 and 14 who are scared of roller coaster ride find the this ride enjoyable.

It’s no roller coaster, it’s inside in a building and you seat 4 across and it takes off and zooms you around like you’re ‘Harry’ flying around Hogwarts. I liked it, I’m old, kids loved it - we would have gone again, except the queue was two hours long. We waited for an hour. It was worth it, it’s great!!

thank you everyone, comments have been very reassuring. now I know there's a few rides or 3D things I can go on now at least!

It’s a simulation ride but it moves you around and you fly through the air with lots of twists and turns. I’m not a roller coaster person at all and went on it with my kids. 2 of the 3 kids loved it, the other child like me found it a bit overwhelming.

Yes, it's safe as you're belted in an indoor moving seat. The "roller coaster" part is all audio-visual and not physical.

If adults bring kids that could not ride, due to height or choice, they can stand by the side while being accompanied by an adult. So, the entire family does not have to forgo the ride because of one young toddler.

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Get quick answers from Universal Studios Japan staff and past visitors.

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey Ride

Universal Orlando

• Getting There
• The Physical Track
• The Filmed Sequences
• Frequently Asked Questions

The best theme park dark rides take guests on journeys to fantastic places and engage them in adventures that embrace their imaginations and senses of wonder. Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, the signature attraction at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter- Hogsmeade  at Universal Orlando's  Islands of Adventure , is the best of its kind. Opened in 2010, the popular ride has been such a success that Universal Studios Japan, Universal Studios Hollywood, and Universal Studios Beijing have each opened a version of their own.

It exploits technology in new and startling ways while keeping the " how'd-they-do-that?"  magic seamless. It transports muggles into the fanciful realm of J.K. Rowling's books and the movies they inspired. Forbidden Journey is a stunning achievement and a must-see attraction.

• Thrill Scale (0 = Not Scary at All!, 10 = Yikes!): 5.5. There are lots of "gotchas" typical of dark rides and psychological thrills. This is an aggressive ride that simulates flying with sometimes startling vehicle movements. Note that some sensitive passengers experience motion sickness.
• Attraction Type: Dark ride with vehicles mounted on robotic arms.
• Height restriction (minimum, in inches): 48
• Note that the vehicles may not accommodate heavier guests with certain body types. Test seats are available prior to boarding.
• Take care to stow all loose items in the free lockers.
• Consider the single-rider line when the queue is long. Front-of-the-line passes are accepted in both Hollywood and Orlando.
• Forbidden Journey is one of the 12 Best Rides at Universal Orlando and one of the 10 best rides at Universal Studios Hollywood .

Getting to the Ride Is a Journey

Rounding the bend at the end of The Wizarding World's impeccably detailed Hogsmeade village, the sight of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry punctures the sky and stirs the senses. The mythic building, which had previously only existed in the minds of adoring readers and on-screen as part of the film series, looks picture-perfect in person. To board Forbidden Journey, guests pass through its gates and into the majestic castle.

Ambling through Hogwarts castle is, in itself, an immersive attraction. Nestled throughout the queue are artifacts from Rowling's world that will delight ardent fans. Hey! There's the Mirror of Erised. And look! We're entering Professor Sprout's Herbology gardens. In California, there are stunning views of the Hollywood hills to add to the ambiance.

Going Along for the Harry Potter Ride

The Potter-clueless, however, need not worry. If you don't know a Whomping Willow from a weeping willow, you'll still be charmed by the discoveries at every turn. And when you enter the castle's portrait gallery and discover that the paintings come to life, you'll be captivated by the talking characters, even if you don't have a clue what they're saying. The seamless theme park magic we referred to earlier is abundant in the gallery. Of course, oil paintings can't really come to life; however, the effect is so well done, guests can't help but go along for the ride.

In fact, going along for the ride is the whole point of Forbidden Journey. Professor Dumbledore, Hogwarts' headmaster, has opened the school to the outside world for the first time and has invited muggles (non-wizards) to learn about its history. Guests enter his office, and the professor (actor Michael Gambon) welcomes them. Dumbledore's ultra-high-resolution, high-frame-rate projected image (a trick that attraction conjurers have used before) is somewhat realistic if a bit ethereal.

The headmaster sends his visitors along to the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom for what he promises will be a rapturous lecture. However, Harry, Hermione, and Ron doff their cloak of invisibility in the classroom to warn the visitors about the boring lecture that awaits them.

If the line gets slowed or stopped in either Dumbledore's office or the classroom, as sometimes happens, guests held in those areas may be subjected to more than one repetition of the actors' spiels. It's a slightly incongruous note in an otherwise enchanted pre-ride experience.

Advanced Robotics Are a Dark Ride First

The Hogwarts kids hatch a plan to save guests from the tedious talk by inviting them along for an extracurricular adventure. The means of egress are "enchanted benches" and the Floo Network (a kind of magical transportation system in the Wizarding World. So, it's off to the Sorting Hat to get boarding instructions for the not-all-that-forbidden journey.

The vehicles seat four riders and are on an Omnimover-style, constantly-moving track. Over-the-shoulder restraints hold guests snugly in place—a necessity given the wild ride that ensues.

While it is hidden from view in the loading area, each vehicle is attached to a robotic arm. A dark ride first (and given the incredible success of Forbidden Journey, probably not a dark ride last), the advanced robotics enable the vehicles to pivot, swoop, and otherwise move with an astonishing degree of flexibility heretofore unavailable to attraction designers. After Hermione sprinkles the benches with Floo powder, they magically rise, and guests are flying—and I mean flying—alongside Harry and his pals.

The ride alternates between filmed sequences projected onto mini domed screens and actual sets adorned with all kinds of mechanical dark ride "gotchas." The scare tactic of elements jumping out at vehicles is as old as the classic Pretzel dark rides that used to wreak havoc at places like Coney Island in the early 20th century. But the high-tech wizardry Universal employs—particularly the fluid, sudden, every-which-way movements of the robot-driven vehicles—gives Forbidden Journey a decidedly 21st-century spin.

A note of warning: Universal isn't kidding about stowing loose articles in the free lockers. The ride is not intense in a roller coaster kind of way. But we did lose items from our pockets as the bench moved us into a prone position and shook us down. You would, too, if you have anything in your pockets.

The Filmed Sequences Are an Ingenuity

The vehicles' freedom of movement combined with the enveloping screens gives a " you-are-there" dimensional quality. Among the many design mysteries that had us scratching our heads was the fact that the vehicles are constantly moving forward on a track through the ride building, yet the screens remain fixed in front of the benches for at least 20 seconds at a time for each of the filmed sequences. Each ride vehicle has its own mini domed screen that follows it for the duration of each sequence and the vehicle and screen follow a circular path for each scene. Considering the number of vehicles in the high-capacity ride, that's a lot of screens. And a testament to the ingenuity and level of attention lavished on Forbidden Journey.

In the original Forbidden Journey at Orlando's Islands of Adventure, the filmed sequences were not rendered or presented in 3D. At Universal Studios Hollywood, however, they were originally shown in 3D. There, passengers were given "Quidditch goggles" prior to their journey. The added depth and intimacy made the experience more immersive.

To accommodate the 3D, Universal Creative re-rendered the ride's footage. They also made it noticeably brighter and a bit sharper. The colors appeared to be somewhat more saturated in the Hollywood version, which was a bit distracting. Because some passengers were reportedly experiencing motion sickness, the Hollywood location removed the 3D and reverted to a 2D version of the media. However, both Orlando and Hollywood now present the media in higher resolution. While it is still 2D, it is noticeably brighter and sharper (although not as bright or sharp as media that is created natively in high resolution).

What's the Story?

As with many park rides, the story is a bit muddled. Amid all of the chaos, it's hard to follow the narrative. No matter. The encompassing attraction sends riders into its trippy, fever-dream world where things don't necessarily make sense, yet feel astonishingly real.

The story has something to do with gaining a glimpse into the often-harrowing life of the boy wizard. By traveling through the Forbidden Forest (beware the Whomping Willow!), into a Quidditch match, and to other places featured in the popular series, the attraction plays like a Harry Potter highlight reel. Although we were merely passive guests in the very active ride, we were nonetheless welcomed back as heroes by the Hogwarts gang at the end of the journey.

We can't say that we felt like heroes. (Especially when Universal tried to shake us down for a cardboard-framed picture of our enchanted-bench posse in the inevitable post-ride march through the gift shop.) But we can say that we felt like we had been taken to a truly magical place. For a few glorious moments, the Floo Network, flying benches, and willows that whomp seemed not just possible, but actual.

The Forbidden Journey provides a new intersection for park attractions where magic and logic, virtual and reality, and wizards and muggles meet.

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is considered a dark ride, a type of indoor theme park ride in which passengers take a vehicle through a series of scenes. In this particular attraction, passengers enjoy physical sets intermixed with filmed sequences projected onto mini domed screens.

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is just over four minutes long.

Featuring Dementors, a fire-breathing dragon, and giant, animatronic spiders, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey may be a bit scary for people who don't like being spooked. If you're someone who hates roller coasters, rest assured there are no big drops, although there are some twists and turns.

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