Complete Guide to Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo – The Making of Harry Potter

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Are you a Harry Potter fan looking for a magical adventure?

If so, Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo – The Making of Harry Potter is the ultimate destination for you.

Step behind the scenes and discover how the iconic Harry Potter films brought to life.

What is Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo?

Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo is the largest Harry Potter attraction in the world and the first Warner Bros. studio tour in Asia. 

This walk-through entertainment facility offers a unique behind-the-scenes look at the filmmaking process, providing an immersive experience for fans.

The same team that built the sets for the film built the sets for the Japanese studio tour.

Some exhibits even include actual costumes and props from the movies, allowing visitors to feel as if they have stepped directly into the Wizarding World. 

Location of Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo

Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo is located near Toshimaen Station.

It is about a 2-minute walk from Toshimaen Station on the Seibu Toshima Line, or about a 5-minute walk from Toshimaen Station on the Oedo Line.

If you take the Seibu Toshima Line, you might spot a Harry Potter-themed train wrapped in movie advertisements, adding to the excitement of your visit. 

Inside the tour

One of the highlights of the tour is the chance to stroll down Diagon Alley, visit the Great Hall of Hogwarts, and even British Ministry of Magic. 

Upon arrival, you’ll see the impressive exterior of Studio Tour Tokyo. 

Prior to entry, your ticket will be checked and your belongings will be inspected.

To the right of the lobby, there is a cloakroom where you can store your belongings for free. 

Next to the cloakroom, you will find restrooms.

Although there are some restrooms along the tour route, they are not plentiful and can be hard to find, so I recommend using the restrooms near the entrance before the tour begins.

You can enter the studio one hour before your reservation time. 

Until the tour begins, you can visit the gift shop(“Studio Shop”) or use the café (“Frog Cafe”) and restaurant (“The Food Hall”).

Upon entering through the tour entrance, you will be in a no-photography area where you will listen to an introduction about the studio tour.

Opening the heavy doors reveals the set of the Great Hall at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Guests celebrating a birthday have the opportunity to open these doors on behalf of the tour group.

Long tables are set with cutlery, and mannequins dressed in the costumes of characters from each boarding house are displayed.

There are also the iconic staircases.

“The staircases changes, remember ?”

The beds in the Gryffindor boys’ dormitory are surprisingly small, likely meant for the younger students who are still shorter in height.

The potions classroom is another highlight, filled with fascinating details.

My personal favorite part of the studio tour is Hagrid’s hut. 

On the bed, there are teddy bears lined up, and there is even a bed for the teddy bears.

Imagining Hagrid sleeping while hugging a teddy bear was delightfully unexpected. 

I hoped to find these teddy bears in the gift shop, but unfortunately, they weren’t available.

You can step into the full-size London Ministry of Magic set which is exclusive to Tokyo.

It’s also known as Daniel Radcliffe’s favorite set, who plays Harry.

The Platform 9 3/4 set features the Hogwarts Express train, which you can actually board.

The Railway Shop is located near the Hogwarts Express at Platform 9 3/4, you can find exclusive Hogwarts Express merchandise that is only available there.

Since you cannot return to this shop later, it might be a good idea to get anything you’re torn about buying.

Another favorite place in the studio tour is Diagon  Alley which is the bustling shopping street, with Fred and George’s shop also present.

At the end of the tour, there is a scale model of Hogwarts Castle.

This model faithfully reproduces the one built by the Art Department for Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.

The details are incredibly intricate.

Finally, the tour concludes as you pass through a room filled with wand boxes bearing the names of all the actors and staff involved in the film’s production.

It was a truly clever and fitting tribute.

Interactive experience 

The studio tour is not just about looking – it’s about experiencing. 

For example, you can be part of a crowd watching a Quidditch World Cup match.

Just like with the Sorting Hat, you’ll be placed into Gryffindor or Slytherin, and under the staff’s guidance, you’ll cheer for your team.

The footage of you cheering can be downloaded as part of an actual movie scene, making for a memorable souvenir.

In the Hogwarts ‘moving staircases’ area, you can become a part of the ‘moving portraits’.”

You can also experience commuting to the Ministry of Magic, giving you a glimpse into the everyday life of a wizard.

This immersive experience helps bring the world of Harry Potter to life in a way that is both entertaining and engaging, making it a must-see for any fan.

Cafe & Restaurant 

Halfway through the Studio Tour, I stopped by the Backlot Cafe.

I chose the Hedwig Cake, which was a delightful surprise. 

Hedwig inside the cage was made of a fluffy cake filled with custard cream, bananas, and strawberries. 

The whipped cream wasn’t too heavy, and the sponge cake was incredibly light and fluffy, exceeding my expectations in taste.

You can check out the other menu here.

After the tour, I enjoyed “Hagrid’s Birthdae Cake” bought from Frog Cafe and “Platform 9 3/4 All Day Breakfast” got from The Food Hall.

I ordered “Platform 9¾ All Day Breakfast with Drink” and “Hagrid’s Birthdae Cake”.

The crispy cheese toast with the Platform 9 and 3/4 logo was yummy.

Here is the menu from The Food Hall and Frog Cafe.

Food at amusement parks is usually mediocre, in my opinion, but everything I ate here was consistently delicious.

Plan Your Visit

Inside the studio tour is quite extensive, and the tour typically takes over four hours.

Hence, I recommend making a reservation on a day when you have plenty of time.

Tickets must be purchased online in advance for a specific date and time.

You cannot buy tickets on-site, so please plan accordingly.

Here is the link you can buy tickets.

Date changes and refunds are generally not possible after purchasing tickets.

However, if you are unable to attend due to illness, you can call the studio tour, and they may make an exception to change the date.

This happened to me as well — I fell ill on the day of my visit and called three hours before my scheduled time.

They informed me that I could change the date for an additional fee of 1500 yen.

Please note that when changing the date, new date must be within three months of the original reservation, and you need to inform the studio of the new date within a week.

The tour is worth visiting, so

Plan your visit and immerse yourself in the enchanting world of Harry Potter!