Take me back to Hogwarts

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Japan is epic! The Hogwarts Express, Hogsmeade (with many of the shops actual stores, and also two functional cafes at the Three Broomsticks and the Hogs Head), an owlery with real postal facilities (but not real owls to carry the mail LOL), a street theatre corner (that does three separate shows), a Butterbeer stall (the hot Butterbeer available during wintertime is the best!), practical spells that work with e-wands (including on the huge Christmas tree), and of course Hogwarts Castle. Finally got to experience a “white Christmas” there, as the fake snow remains all year round regardless of the season. We were lucky enough to catch the wand demonstration street theatre which was very fun and had many exclamations in pig Latin – a little bit of audience interaction saw a mini-Griffindor being coaxed up on stage, but he wouldn’t go without his mini-Slytherin friend accompanying (awwww!). Hogwarts is far larger and more elaborate than the Fantasyland castle at Disneyland, and best of all there is an option to do a Castle walk rather than having to go on the big scary rollercoaster ride. Let’s just say the magic is real, and the paintings in the portrait galleries do move and talk (with a bonus here of being dubbed into Japanese).

The decorations move around and play music when you perform a spell on the tree.

Overall Universal Studios was wonderful; there was a good vibe amongst the crowds, and fans in Japan really enter into the spirit of things (often entering the theme parks already in full costume, or at least with funny Jaws or Godzilla hats). The walkway of Hollywood stars was fun, and I was most amused by the over-riding obsession with Minions and Snoopy (oh, Japan).

After leaving the parks, we had lunch at Mo’s Burgers in the shopping strip directly outside. Best. Chips. Ever! *drool*

Pork cutlet burger, amazing chips, and melon soda - oishii!