We could get a commemorative photo taken by professional there.
We could get postcards and stamps of Hogsmeade such as Harry Potter.
If we send postcars from the post box beside the Owl Post, they would be delivered with Hogsmeade postmarks.
The Hogwarts Castle was like a real castle!
Episode of Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Tomo&Chouchou got the information that the Wizarding World of Harry Potter [ウィザーディング・ワールド・ハリーポッター] had been open since 15 July in 2014, so we went to the Universal Studios Japan.
We went to the Universal Studio Japan by Japan Railways: JR. We changed the train at Nishikujo station [西九条駅] direction to Sakurajima [桜島].
The characters of Harry Potter movie were drawn on the train which goes direction to Universal city. So it already excited us.
After walking straight foward from the ticket gate of Universal City station [ユニバーサルシティ駅], we could find the entrance gate of the Universal Studio Japan.
On the way from the Universal City station to the main entrance of USJ, there were many kinds of shops. It was already very interesting. We wanted to buy some but we decided to visit these shops on the way to go back.
To go to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, we went to the right side from the main entrance of USJ. To enter the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, we needed the timed entry ticket [整理券]. The timed entry tickets are free. We hurried to get the timed entry ticket at the Central Park in USJ. The time we could enter the Wizarding World of Harry Potter was shown on the timed entry ticket like 10:00-10:30. The time that we would go out from Harry Potter area was not decided.
We gave the timed entry ticket to the USJ staff near the entrance of the Wizarding World when it was time. Then we needed to walk a bit until the entrance gate of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
As soon as we approached the entrance gate, we found the world of Harry Potter in front of us! We were super excited to see it. Everything was recreated perfectly and meticulously, so we could really feel that we were in the world of Harry Potter stories.
On the right side from the entrance gate, there was a steam locomotive [蒸気機関車] called "the Hogwarts Express" [ホグワーツ特急] which carried students of Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry [ホグワーツ魔法魔術学校] from London King's Cross station [ロンドンのキングズ・クロス駅] to Hogsmeade station [ホグズミード駅].
On the left side from the entrance gate, there were shops. One of the shops was called "Zonko's Joke shop" [ゾンコの「いたずら専門店」] and we could find unique joke items such as Sneakoscopes [かくれん防止器], Extendable Ears [伸び耳], and violent Fanged Flyers [噛み付きフライヤー] there. Another shop was a sweetshop called "Honeydukes" [ハニーデュークス] and we could find unique sweets such as Bertie Bott's Every-Flavour Beans [バーティー・ボッツの百味ビーンズ], Chocolate Frogs [蛙チョコレート], Acid Pops [すっぱいペロペロ酸飴], and Exploding Bonbons [爆発ボンボン].
In front of the entrance gate, we could find the Hogsmeade village [ホグズミード村] where wizards lived.
After going forward further, we found a butterbeer stand. Around there, there was the Owl Post [ふくろう便] and restaurant (bar). We can get postcars and stamps of Hogsmeade such as Harry Potter. So we bought Harry Potter postcards and we sent them from the post box beside the Owl Post. There were also other shops called "Wiseacre's Wizarding Equipment" [ワイズエーカー魔法洋品店] and "Filch's Emporium of Confiscated Goods"[フィルチの没収品店] around there. We can get robes, ties and scarves of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. There was also a shop called "Ollivanders" [オリバンダーズの店] which sold wands around there. At Olivanders, we could experience the scene that a wand chose a wizard. Unfortunatelly Tomo&Chouchou were not chosen. But it was interesting to see.
When we went foward further, we could find the Hogwarts Castle [ホグワーツ城] which has the most popular attractions. The Hogwarts Castle was like a real castle! We were so impressed.
There are two course; 1) walking course in the Hogwarts Castle, 2) riding an attraction course called Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. We chose riding an attraction course. Until riding an attraction, we could experience Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry inside the Hogwarts Castle.
We could meet magical portraits who were in paintings, who moved and who talked. We could see the animated newspaper. We could meet Dumbledore who was the president of Hogwarts School. We could also meet Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger.
Everything surprisingly looked so real so we could feel we were in the magical world.
Harry Potter and the Forbitten Journey is the attraction which uses 4K technology. We can experience the feeling that we fly with the magical broom. However, Tomo got motion sickness by this ride.
Hogsmeade village and Hogwarts Castle were lit up at night. They changed the appearance completely from the daytime. Hogwarts Castle was more magical at night. We felt we were in the scene of Hogwarts school at night. ;-)
There is a roller coaster called "Flight of the Hippogriff" in front of the Hogwarts Castle. We really enjoyed the night view while riding Flight of the Hippogriff because we could see the whole area of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter while riding.
We drank butterbeer and frozen butterbeer at the restaurant bar called "Three Broomsticks" [三本の箒（ほうき）] which was located in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Both butterbeers were extremely sweet. If it's in winter, there is hot butterbeer. When we went there, it was in autumn. So we couldn't try hot one.
We ate Fish&Chips which was a traditional English meal.
Souvenir shops in Harry Potter area were super crowded and we needed to line up even to enter the shops especially Honeydukes. We anyway bought some souvenir there.
We spent most of the time in Wizarding World of Harry Potter on that day. It was like a paradise. It was a perfect Harry Potter world! We loved Harry Potter area in USJ!
Tomo&Chouchou's advices for Wizarding World of Harry Potter & USJ
1) We cannot enter Harry Potter area again after we go out from there, so
please enjoy enough and go out from the Wizarding World.
2) We recoommend Olivanders. We'd like you to experience the scene that a wand chose a wizard. Your wand may be luckily chosen.
3) "Harry Potter and the Forbitten Journey" 4K technology attraction moves a lot.
If you are bad at watching big screen image while riding an attraction, you had better go to the walking course in the Hogwarts Castle. Both walking course and attraction course are mostly same walking route
inside the Hogwarts Castle, so you can enjoy the Hogwarts Castle maximum
except the ride.
4) If you like night view, we recommend you to enjoy the night view while riding "Flight of the Hippogriff" because you can see the whole area of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
5) We inform you that both butterbeers are very sweet and drinkable for kids because of non-alcohol beverage. In winter, there is hot butterbeer too. If you are interested in getting a Butterbeer mug, you need to say to the cashier and pay extra fee.
6) If you are not planning to buy specific things which are only sold in Harry Potter area, you can also buy most of the souvenirs at the shops near the main entrance of USJ. Because the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is basically very crowded. Or you can try to go to Harry Potter area on weekdays.
7) On the way from the Universal City station to the main entrance of USJ, there are many kinds of shops. We can eat Tako-yaki which is the specialty of Osaka in some shops. Why don't you visit there after going out from USJ?
Please visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and enjoy the magical world♪
UNIVERSAL STUDIOS JAPAN
ユニバーサル・スタジオ・ジャパン
Address: 2-1-33 Sakurajima, Konohana-ku, Osaka 554-0031 Japan
住所：554-0031 大阪市此花区桜島２丁目１番３３号
Closest station: Universal city station (JR Yumesaki Line)
最寄駅： ＪＲゆめ咲線「ユニバーサルシティー駅
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