Hello, fellow Potterheads. I’m Lucy, and I enjoy checking out Wizarding World attractions while traveling. You may assume that the Harry Potter studio tour in Tokyo is the same as the one in Leavesden. I did before I went on a trip to Tokyo this year. Oh, how wrong I was and how glad I am that I went despite this misconception.

First things first, the studio tour in Tokyo does start out the same as the one in Leavesden, which is actually lovely since my favorite part is watching the doors of the Great Hall open. Fortunately, all the videos are either in English or subtitled. The only part we didn’t understand was the instruction given out by cast members, but that doesn’t ruin the magic of the Great Hall, to which my first reaction was, “OMG, it’s bigger than Leavesden’s.” Which it is, and it gives you the feeling of being at a huge school. Like Leavesden’s, it’s decorated according to the time of year, although since we went in September, it was just a general theme.

However, the Tokyo studio tour is not a carbon copy of the London one. While the London studio tour has all the original sets, which are incredible to see, they’re all roped off because of this. But since the sets at the Harry Potter studio tour in Tokyo are re-creations, you’re able to walk onto many of them.

I loved exploring the Potions classroom, where we got a closer look at some brilliant practical effects such as the self-stirring spoon in a cauldron. We also got to sit in armchairs in the Slytherin common room and walk onto new sets that are only in Tokyo such as the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, the Room of Requirement, and my favorite, the little personal sitting room behind Albus Dumbledore’s office. The attention to detail on spaces and objects we don’t even see in the films is insane.

Another reason you should go to the Harry Potter studio tour in Tokyo is that it’s more interactive and immersive than its London counterpart. In addition to the broom flying experience, you can also act out a Quidditch scene, learn how to protect yourself in Defense Against the Dark Arts class, travel by Floo powder at the Ministry of Magic, and produce your Patronus in the Forbidden Forest. I was blown away by the number of activities available to visitors and the fact that all of them are free with admission. You get a QR code that sends your photos and videos straight to your phone. The only thing you need to pay extra for is the broom flying pictures and videos.

Now, on to the part I was most stunned by: The Tokyo studio tour has an enormous Fantastic Beasts collection, especially compared to the London studio tour, where there is only a little bit. Meanwhile, Tokyo has a whole section dedicated to the Fantastic Beasts films, displaying costumes worn by Eddie Redmayne, Zoë Kravitz, and Alison Sudol, just to name a few. My favorite part of the section is the re-creation of the train carriage from Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore.

Of course, we can’t forget about the food options. When you first walk into the studio tour in Tokyo, you have two options for food. You can either enjoy a sweet treat at the Frog Café or sit at your House table in the Great Hall. We loved sitting in the Great Hall after exploring the studio tour. We also tried pumpkin juice for the first time. My honest opinion? I’m glad I tried it, but I don’t need to have it again.

The other point you can stop for a rest and food is on the backlot, which is halfway through the tour. There are two options here as well: the Backlot Café, which serves meals, or the Butterbeer Bar, where, as the name suggests, you can grab a glass of butterbeer. We stopped at the Butterbeer Bar, and I drank the original butterbeer, which was perfect for a very hot September day.

To end the tour, you walk through one of the most breathtaking sets of all: the scale model of Hogwarts Castle, which I feel is a lot bigger than the one in Leavesden. You then walk through the Wand Room, which has a wand box for every cast and crew member who worked on the films. I just had to check whether it’s the same as the one at the London studio tour, which I did by seeing if there’s one for Felicity Walker (known professionally as Flick Miles), Hermione Granger’s body double for the first three films and the host of the podcast Behind the Wand. There is!

Lastly, to round everything off, you walk through the gift shop. It’s insane how big and incredibly decorated it is. Most sections are themed like you’re in Diagon Alley, but there’s also a large section for each House, a wand shop, and a MinaLima section. To get to the register, you have to go through the large bank gate and into Gringotts.

So is the Harry Potter studio tour in Tokyo worth going to? 100% yes! I wish I had this article when I was making my decision to visit after visiting the one in Leavesden twice, and now I hope it’s helpful for you.

Some questions you may have about the studio tour in Tokyo:

Is it easy to get to? Yes, very easy. Both the platform and the train from Ikebukuro station are covered in studio tour branding, so we were very confident that we were going in the right direction. Toshimaen station is the last stop on the Seibu Ikebukuro and Toshima line, and then it’s just a 5-minute walk through a beautiful park to the studio tour. Please visit the official Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo website for up-to-date information. 

Will I understand it? Yes! Every information guide is written in both Japanese and English, and most of the videos played are in English (and if they are in Japanese, they have English subtitles). You can also get an audio guide, which is available in many languages.

How long did it take, and what time slot should I book? I’ve done the London studio tour twice and the Tokyo studio tour once, and each time, it’s taken me 4–5 hours to complete; the studio tour also recommends you block out 4 hours. In terms of what slot to book, I’ve always booked the first one. From my experience, the tour is a lot calmer, there are times your group is the only one on a set, and you don’t have to wait very long to do the experiences. It also means that you have the afternoon to do something else and not feel like you can’t do anything else with your day. 

Is it worth getting the audio guide? If you got it in Leavesden, I don’t think so. It’s the same content, and there isn’t even anything extra about the new sets. But if you or someone in your group hasn’t been before, then 100% yes, it is worth the extra money.

Let us know your favorite part of the London or Tokyo studio tour.