The most magical theme park that every Muggle dreams of visiting — A guide to enjoying The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Japan in Osaka

Text & Photos /Viviyu
Officially opened in July 2014, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is located within Universal Studios Japan in Osaka. With frequent new features being added, many people seem to plan a trip here every once in a while to immerse themselves in the whimsical world and thrilling rides.

Welcome to the magical world of Harry Potter. I’ve been reading the novels from the very first book until the final chapter. Now that the first Wizarding World in Asia has opened at Universal Studios Osaka, even though it wasn’t on my original itinerary, I decided to join my cousin and her classmates for this exciting adventure. There’s so much to explore that you simply can’t finish it all in one day. The place is divided into so many amazing sections — I walked until my feet were sore and still didn’t get to experience everything. It’s perfect for families to enjoy together.

We took the JR train from Tsuruhashi Station to Universal Studios, which was very convenient. It’s best to check the transportation options near your hotel in advance.

As soon as we exited the station, everyone dashed forward as if afraid they wouldn’t make it inside!!

Actually, there are many restaurants just outside Universal Studios, but if you only buy a one-day ticket, you won’t be allowed to exit and re-enter for a meal. Annual pass holders or those leaving the park before mealtime have a better chance to dine out.

The signs here are quite amusing — I spotted the familiar Hard Rock Cafe, which I stayed at in Macau just this year, so it really stood out to me.

I left home at 6:30 AM to catch the train, but when I arrived at the entrance, there was already a huge crowd waiting to get in. The number of people was absolutely insane.

The Earth globe is practically the landmark of Universal Studios — almost everyone takes a few photos here. I took quite a few shots myself while waiting in line.

You can click here to check detailed ticket prices.
Adults [12 years and above]: 6,980 yen (tax included) Children [4–11 years]: 4,880 yen (tax included) Seniors [65 years and above]: 6,270 yen

If you’ve already purchased your tickets in advance, you won’t need to queue twice — just go straight to the entrance gate. But since I made the decision at the last minute, and my cousin and her friends were getting annual passes, we had to line up for regular tickets. Ticket sales started around 8:00 AM. If you think time is money, you might consider buying an Express Pass, but it’s not cheap. It reduces your wait time and is available for entry into 3, 5, or 7 themed areas, but to access The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, you’ll need to buy the 5-area or higher pass.

Of course, you can also purchase tickets at Japanese convenience stores, but the prices aren’t any cheaper. For these Harry Potter tickets, I figured it was worth lining up in person. The three of us each got tickets featuring Hermione, Harry Potter, and Ron — great souvenirs to take home.

The difference between an annual pass and a regular ticket is the validity period. These tickets are super advanced — just scan the QR code to enter. But a one-day ticket can only be scanned once for entry.

When entering with an annual pass, facial recognition is also required to prevent the same ticket from being used by different people.

By just 8:00 AM, the crowd waiting to enter was almost bursting at the gates. Operating hours may vary slightly each day, but even though the official hours were 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM, they actually started letting people in around 8:30 AM.

While queuing, we started studying the park map and making our battle plan. The two most popular zones right now are The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man (based on context, assumed to be “恶灵古堡” as “The Haunted Mansion” or “Spider-Man” zone). We made a mistake that day — we should have first picked up tickets for The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man and then gone into Harry Potter. That way, we could have hit the two hottest rides in one day. This tip is important — write it down.

As soon as we entered, everyone started running — it was so energetic. About 80% of the visitors headed straight for Harry Potter, and without realizing it, I found myself running too — run, run, run.

Luckily, the weather was great, and everything looked amazing no matter how you shot it. As soon as you step into Universal Studios, it feels like you've entered a movie scene — like a dream.

It felt like walking into an American small town. I really wanted to stop and take photos, but seeing everyone else hurrying along, I ran along with them...

We’ll cover this area in another article — it’s great for little kids. Let’s focus on the main event for now.

In the distance, you can see the magical world — those iconic spires signal that you’re close to your destination. No worries about getting lost; just follow the crowd and you’ll get there.

Normally, you need to get a special entry ticket to enter the park, but since we rushed in right when it opened, we didn’t need to get any extra tickets. What a perk of arriving early — the park limits daily attendance to 6,000 people, and once it's full, no more entries are allowed.

Even before entering, you’ll spot a famous car — do you recognize it? Yep, it’s Ron’s car.

The Hogwarts Express — this is like the gateway to the magical world. You can even take a photo with the conductor. Then it’s time to head to Platform 9¾ and enter the school.

The Butterbeer that the main characters drink in Hogsmeade is sold at two stands here, and it’s very popular. You can even take the mug home as a souvenir — nearly everyone gets one.

Three Broomsticks

From the outside, it looks impressive. Inside, you’ll find Hogsmeade’s famous Butterbeer, fish and chips, and classic British fare.

The Daily Prophet, wow!

It feels so magical to see it right in front of me~

Scenes from the novels and movies are all around the streets of Hogsmeade. Checking out the products in the shop windows is really fun—I was even examining this magical tea set because it keeps spinning!

A wand is the essential item for getting into Hogwarts. Which one do you like?

Ollivanders

In a shop piled with wands reaching the ceiling, want to experience the fun of a wand choosing its master firsthand? Wait in line and you might get your chance during the same batch. Suddenly a flash—and the magical power of the wand appears. Hehe, of course that’s just special effects. The wands you take home are just for keepsakes.

Here you can not only buy wands but also souvenirs from the four houses—Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Slytherin, and Hufflepuff. Of course, the most popular is Harry Potter’s house, Gryffindor, hands down.

Uniforms from each house. And look, these are notebooks—definitely eye-catching when you take them out, though the prices aren’t cheap either.

I originally thought no one would buy the house uniforms, but they sold out before long. When I came back later, they were gone. They’re really money magnets. Walking around here is overwhelming—each item is priced at 3,500 Q?? What are they made of, gold? All the famous lines from the movie kept popping into my head, like “Expelliarmus!”

Dumbledore’s wand is the most beautiful—I think it has the best texture—but my cousin bought Hermione’s wand. She gave it a new use: styling her hair and drawing attention...

Visiting the majestic Hogwarts Castle was the highlight of my trip—it’s also the most popular attraction for visitors. The wait in line can be several hours; we waited about 1.5 hours, going around in circles. Bring some drinks and snacks—it’s easy to get hungry... You can also enjoy the view of the artificial lake and trees. It really feels like a European castle and is perfect for photos.

While waiting in line, seeing the entrance up close gave me goosebumps—it was so touching!

But if you don’t want to spend time in line, trade money for time. I saw people using express passes and was really envious. I’ll go earn more money first and come back later...

From the outside, it really looks just like the real thing. Can’t wait to go inside and pay homage~

Sorry, but from here on you can only take photos of the lockers—no photos allowed inside. Along the way, you’ll pass talking portraits and Dumbledore’s office, which are really decorated to feel like you’ve stepped into Hogwarts. Riding the train feels like flying on a broomstick into the movie world—it’s really fun and a must-do!!!

If you visit the Harry Potter Wizarding World and don’t try this ride, it’s like you never came...

Everyone who’s read the Harry Potter books or seen the movies will remember the Sorting Hat. Come find out which house you belong to~

Of course, come prepared with extra cash—you’ll find lots of souvenirs to choose from.

The Triwizard Tournament

A competition between the three major wizarding schools, plus beautiful performances with gorgeous women. Even under the blazing sun, it’s still super appealing~ The martial arts show is quite thrilling, with kicking and punching. Watching the blonde performers really gives off strong Harry Potter vibes.

The beautiful performers then put on a flexibility show, all smiling brightly. There’s also a photo session at the end. I think the host looks a lot like Hermione—very smart—but hearing her speak Japanese threw me off a bit. I think she’d be better in English~

Just looking at architecture like this, doesn’t it feel like you’ve arrived in a European town?

No need to fly far—come to Osaka to experience the world of castles. Why not start planning your trip? The yen exchange rate is now 0.28, so it costs less.

“Muggle drinks” are for non-magical folk—this design is just super cute.

Owl Post & Owl House

There are lots of Hedwig-themed souvenirs here. At the Owl Post, besides buying postcards, you can also send mail~

The house-style scarves are super popular in the heat. Some people actually wear them while walking around. I’m drenched in sweat—true die-hard fans, indeed.

How can you come to the wizarding world without a broomstick? I really hope I could actually fly. But these are just display items—you can only take photos and let your imagination soar.

The biting book is also actually displayed—it’s hidden in the Owl Post. Don’t miss it!

There’s an owl clock that chimes on the hour. Coming here lets you step into the Harry Potter wizarding world. Just this themed area alone is worth half a day of play. There are also places like Honeydukes and the joke shop... where you can buy plenty of souvenirs to take back to Taiwan. Next up, I’ll introduce other theme parks to you—there’s just too much to do in Universal Studios in one day~

Universal Studios Japan

Address: 33, 1-chome, Sakurajima 2-chome, Konohana Ward, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture
Phone: (+81) 5-7020-0660
Business Hours: 9am–10pm (Hours vary daily, so please check online before you go)
Transportation: Take the Yumesaki Line from JR Osaka Station to Universal City Station (about 15 minutes)
Website:http://www.usj.co.jp/tw/

"Join the Viviyu Small World fan page to receive real-time updates and never miss out"
‘VIVIYU Small World'~ Travel across Taiwan, gaze at the world"