Full Guide Before Visiting The Making of Harry Potter - Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo

Set off for Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo with ease via trains on the Seibu Railway departing from Ikebukuro Station.
See as your adventure is already underway with splashes of design inside the station that play into the magical whimsy you know and love from the films.
There’s brick wallpaper wrap and an oversized clock on the platform made in homage to the look and feel of King’s Cross Station. Around the station walkways you’ll notice footprints and delightful details that pull you into the magical world before even getting on the train.
You might even catch one of the specially designed Studio Tour Tokyo Express trains running from Ikebukuro Station. You’ll know them by your favorite film characters featured on the side, inviting you on your own special ride to Hogwarts.

Studio Tour Tokyo Express is the trusty train that shuttles from Ikebukuro to Toshimaen Station. The train features an eye-catching wrap with the famed trio Harry Potter, Hermoine Granger, Ron Weasley and the Forbidden Forest backdrop, just like the movies.
This extra special train is designed to bring all the fantastic wonder of your tour straight to you, for a ride that’s even more unforgettable.

Find yourself whisked away from Ikebukuro Station in just 15 minutes. You’ve arrived at Toshimaen Station, your stop for Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo. You may notice the red hues and design made to evoke a similar vibe from Hogsmeade, the last stop on the Hogwarts Express.
The train platform glitters with nods to the film magic, including model magical trains and a red phone booth to bring the fantastical world that much closer. As you step out of the station, be sure to catch the iconic patronus statues on guard outside.

One of the main draws behind Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo is the chance to see the fascinating layers behind the fantasy and film-world of Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts.
The tour invites you to walk through real movie sets and step into the iconic backdrops from the films like The Great Hall at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, The Forbidden Forest, Diagon Alley and more. The space is speckled with exhibits showing the costumes and props used in the films, inviting fans to draw in even closer to feeling how the films were made.

Feel free to snap photos or film your adventures while exploring most areas in the studio space. There are even designated photo spots so you can grab a shot in front of the Hogwarts Express at Platform 9 ¾ or inside the Gryffindor common room.
Strike a pose in front of your favorite spot and capture all the magic in frame.
Keep in mind that the green screen movie experience corner is one of the few areas you cannot film. Be sure to avoid filming other guests while you’re there, and refrain from crowding one space for too long or using flash photography.

The studio space is set indoors so you can book an outing no matter what the weather. The studio areas are virtually all indoors, providing comfortable air conditioning for even the hottest summer and chilliest winter days. The lights and soundscapes inside are specifically designed to transport you into all the movie magic despite whatever is going on outside. Book a visit and gear up for all the magical delights, no matter what the season, rain or shine.

Exclusive exhibits and limited-time corners are a major draw here.
One showcase example is the 20th anniversary of the Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire film that featured an exclusive reimagined set from the movie, complete with goblet of fire plus props and costumes from all three wizarding schools from the Triwizard Tournament.
Visitors in winter are dazzled with Hogwarts in The Snow, an exclusive event that unveils the Great Hall from Hogwarts decorated in over 400 candles, a redesigned model of the Hogwarts castle or Diagon Alley in snow, and heaps more to love from the fantasy world.

Take a pause for a bite at one of the cafes or shops inside during or after your tour.
All the shops are open with no prior reservation required so you can pop an easily whenever needed. The café shops stay true to the wizarding world with theme’s you’ll know and love, like set plates at Backlot Café designed for each house at Hogwarts, magical sweets at Frog Café, iconic butterbeer at Butterbeer Bar and much more.
Get a full-on meal, light bite or whimsical delights for a true taste of the world behind of the films.

The tour kicks off by opening to the Great Hall from the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Lean into the giant double doors to unveil countless candles floating mid-air, white owls dipping across the air overhead, and a picture-perfect reimagining of the set from the movie made real before your eyes. From stone walls and sprawling tables to stain glass details and a fireplace, the tour kicks off with undeniable floor-to-ceiling movie magic to explore.
The space sees a regular rotation of design changes, ensuring something new to discover with each visit.

The magically motored Grand Staircase is one eye-popping favorite from Hogwarts that you can find at the space in full, meticulous detail. True to form, different short and longer staircases come together in a beguiling system of steps that sing with Hogwarts magic. One wall even features a number of portraits that move and talk, just like in the films.

After taking in all the true-to-movie glory at the Great Hall, make a stopover at the Gryffindor and Slytherin common rooms. The Gryffindor common room sits in a wash of antique flair, with the same furniture and red sofas that Harry, Ron and Hermoine sat on between their adventures. Many of the cast and crew said the set was so cozy that it also become an easy break spot between shooting scenes.
The Slytherin common room sits in stark contrast; a cold, brooding space that’s true to the movie mood and memory of Draco as he gathered with his friends.
The rooms were originally a dungeon room that went through a number of remakes and redesigns, even to work as a set as a Trophy Room.

Steeped in a distinguished mystique, Dumbledore’s office offers a glimpse into an air of magic, history and ancient knowledge. One wall stands with a bookshelf of old books and magical bobbles, while Dumbledore’s desk waits at the room’s center. Just next to it there’s even the Pensieve, a tool used to reanimate old memories once lost. Peer inside and you may even catch Tom Riddle, the same character who calls himself Voldemort and other misty visions floating by.

All aboard the next stop along the tour, the ever-popular train platform and a certain special steam engine that awaits the chance to shuttle fans into a world of magic.
Step up next to find a full-size Hogwarts Express set and station platform, complete with handcarts and station signs in a row. A glimpse inside the train reveals scenes of Harry and Ron buying treats off the snack trolly, or the reimagined scenery of the flying car just outside the window.
On the opposite side of the Hogwarts Express waits the sought after photo spot and scene where Harry’s luggage cart pushes through the wall onto Platform 9 ¾. There’s also the Railway Shop, a bonus find for exclusive goods.

The Ministry of Magic space is a one-of-a-kind exclusive you can only find at the Tokyo studio location, complete with life-size, full-scale scope and details.
With over 900 m2 of sprawling floor space, the ceiling measures a staggering height over 9 meters high, drawing the eyes up across the striking design and Victorian-esque architecture.
Once inside, the full fantasy of the movies opens in focus via embellished walls of some tens of thousands of tiles and a massive fireplace used to travel in with fellow cohort to the ministry.

The bustling air of Diagon Alley, the iconic shopping district from the wizard world is one of the most treasured stops of Studio Tour Tokyo. The cobbled streets sing with the flair of eclectic shopfronts and the reimagined joke shop run by Weasley twins Fred and George. The lifting top hat shop-sign is a giveaway you’re there.
Unlock movie memories at must-see spots like the Ollivanders magic wand shop or Eeylops Owl Emporium where Hagrid gifted Harry with a white owl of his own.
Walk the reimagined streetscape of stores designed in real scale for a wave of movie wonder you can see and feel.

The library embues an undeniably grand air of scholarship with ceiling-high bookshelves and a stock of different texts. The cool calm is warmed by soft-lit lamps, just like in the movies.
Many use this spot to snap a shot like in the films, posing as if just about to pull out a book.

Here’s your chance to transform into a witch or wizard via the broomstick Green Screen Experience. Jump on the broomstick set just in front of the green screen and strike a pose for the camera of you flying over the streets of London or above the Hogwarts Castle sky.
There are staff on hand with tips about timing and poses so you can get the best snap without a hitch. Your final take will be transposed into a personal video you can purchase and take home as proof of your magical journey through the skies.

The iconically mobile Grand Staircase and the magically moving portraits all around it are one special frame that you can get in for yourself. There are 5 cameras on set for fans to record an 8 second mini-video that will show-up in one of the portrait frames once you’re done.
Each background is different so you can choose your favorite, but the exact picture frame that will play is a surprise. Free to try but completely unforgettable, make sure to use your phone to grab a video of your guest appearance in the moving portrait world.

Step up and join the movie thrill of magic travel via Floo Powder.
This experience starts when you step into the fireplace of the Ministry of Magic and ends in a plume of smoke and lights that looks just like you’ve transported from the movies.
If you scan the QR code and register before stepping in, your final video will be available to download.

Here’s a set complete with the Quidditch Match spectator’s stand from the movies, inviting you to come and join the cheering crowd.
If you follow the prompt with cheers and reactions you’ll end up with a finally transposed scene of you joining in with the crowd that’s immediately ready for replay.
The Quidditch Filming Experience is another interactive corner where you can download the final data if you pre-register with a QR code before you start.

Step inside the lobby area to find the immediately available Food Hall, available for a casual meal both before or after you go.
The eating space is designed to mimic the Great Hall from the movies, complete with high ceilings, long-style tables and a look and air that’s undeniably Hogwarts.
Order anything from sweets and drinks to English plates and favorites like Fish and Chips, Shepherd’s Pie, Roast Chicken, or even the movie-inspired Platfrom 9 ¾ All Day Breakfast.

If hungry creeps in by the end of the tour, swing by Frog Café by the lobby area for a bite. This café shop is themed after the Chocolate Frog treats as seen in the movies, while serving up full dollops of fantasy in desserts and latte art.
Some food and drink items are available for takeout if you’d rather grab and go with a tasty bonus for the way home.

Mid-way through the tour sits a backlot area and Backlot Café, the go-to spot for a breather or bite of lunch along your tour. A timeless foodie favorite here are the house themed plates, themed for the four Hogwarts houses Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw. There’s even a special Hedwig’s Cake dessert to cap it off in real Harry Potter flair.

Swing by Butterbeer Bar, just steps from Backlot Café for a taste of the character favorite drink from the movies, Butterbeer. Each mug is topped with a sweet froth that tastes like creamy buttercream that matches perfectly with the refreshing bubbly delight underneath.
The foamy flavor is reminiscent of butterscotch and made with absolutely no alcohol so both adults and kids can enjoy. Once your mug is finished it’s yours to wash and take home. If the weather outside is right, the drink makes a perfect companion for a relaxing sip on the terrace set by the iconic Hogwarts Bridge.

One absolute must item for Studio Tour Tokyo is a wand of your own.
At the shop you’ll find wands from your favorite characters, themed designs to match each house, plus limited-edition models and so much more. Select models in the line-up are available for personal inscription if you want to really make a wand all your own.
Keep a wand on hand as you walk through the studio space for a perfect frame that sings with all the fantasy of the movies.

All the cinema staples int eh palm of your hand, including the Chocolate Frog treat shaped like its name, or the Every Flavour Jelly Beans with a surprise punch of flavors you can never quiet expect.
The packaging design is just like in the movies, for an extra movie razzle dazzle before you dig in. Great to look at and even better to eat, these tasty treats also double as a perfect souvenir for family and friends.

Browse through coveted merchandise from the Harry Potter series that you know and love, with goods from all four houses: Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw. Designed for the crest and colors of all four, sift through scarves, neckties, robes, notebooks and more. If you’re still on the fence, be sure to check the Wizarding World official website for which house you’d be sorted into so you can gear up for an unforgettable tour.

Expect peak crowds at Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo on weekends, holidays and long extended holidays (Golden Week, summer break, New Year’s). For a slower chance to take in all the magic, aim for weekday afternoons, or evenings on weekends on holidays.

Once at Studio Tour Tokyo you can enter the building as early as one hour prior to your reservation. So if you’re booked for noon, you can actually enter as early as 11:00am.
Many groups tend to arrive earlier so that they can buy robes or wands at the Main Shop in the lobby or grab a quick bite at The Grand Hall or Frog Café as the countdown to open begins. Later time slots may have the issue of making it in time for last order so it might be better to head to the cafés beforehand.
Keep an eye out along your tour for special photo spots to take home as a memento.

Make the most of your tour and drop off any unnecessary bags over at the free coin lockers and coat check.
There are lockers for large-size suitcases, but you can also drop them at coat check for free.
The coin lockers required a 100 yen coin to enter but it will return once you pick up your things.

Many savvy witches and wizards make a stop at the Main Shop in the lobby before starting their tour.
The shop is stocked with iconic character wands, robes from all four Hogwarts houses and much more to shop.
Don your favorite robes and wand to bring you that much closer to the movie magic.
There are heaps of items that will add the perfect touch to your tour, so be sure to drop in before you start.

Studio Tour Tokyo is designed specifically as a walk-through style experience.
Get the most out of your booking by keeping comfortable shoes and clothes in mind.
For the shutterbug fans out there, be sure to bring a mobile battery for your phone or camera so you can snaps your favorites shots without interruption. You may also want to consider bringing water or similar drink to stay hydrated.
The inside of the space is air-controlled for extra comfort, but you may want to consider layers in case of longer waits or moving outside.
For clothes, try to avoid wearing green or blue if you’re planning on trying one of the green-screen based experiences.

Tap into the free Wi-Fi available across the Studio Tour Tokyo space.
The wide service area makes it that much easier to share any snaps or videos you take during your tour online or with family and friends.
The tour also features a few experiential corners where you can download your finished moment so be sure to connect without worrying about your data.

Studio Tour Tokyo is a child-friendly space you can enjoy with the whole family.
Every bathroom inside is equipped with changing tables, in addition to two separate nurseries available on site.
For extra ease, feel free to bring your own stroller or use a rental.
Many family’s star this spot for keeping kid-friendly menu’s at the café shops inside.