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Japan Times
18-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Japan Times
Calling all Potterheads: ‘The Goblet of Fire' comes to Tokyo
'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire' turns 20 this year (yes, millennials, we're that old), and to celebrate with a good dose of nostalgia, Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo is staging its first-ever special exhibition based on the movie from April 18 through Sept. 8. Following a successful run at the sister Studio Tour in London, the Tokyo event located a few steps from Toshimaen Station starts with the Great Hall of Hogwarts, where a familiar sight beckons: the Goblet of Fire, blue flames turning red and spewing pieces of parchment with the names of chosen champions. There's the age line drawn by school headmaster Dumbledore to prevent underage students from entering the Triwizard Tournament, and dummies of the mischievous Weasley twins, white-haired and sprawled on the floor after having tried to fool the barrier with an aging potion. For Harry Potter fans, it's all just like the movie, but this limited-time event adds never-before-seen content to an already impressive collection, including the enchanted water taps of the prefects' bathroom, as well as props and behind-the-scenes footage of underwater scenes in Hogwarts' lake. Visitors can also get up close and personal with a 3-meter-wide replica of Tom Riddle's gravestone, and the meticulously detailed model of Hogwarts Castle at the end of the tour has been turned into a backdrop for projection mapping, culminating in a dazzling reenactment of the dragon chase from the eponymous movie. Diagon Alley is remade at the "Goblet of Fire" exhibition, giving visitors the chance to peek into some of the iconic shops of the Harry Potter series. | GENDEL GENTO Of course, everything that has made the general exhibition great since its opening in 2023 is still there, including many of the real costumes worn by actors during filming. But this is no mere museum. There are a myriad of interactive activities: Insert yourself into one of the school's animated paintings as a moving staircase pivots overhead; join spectators in the first movie's quidditch match and see your reaction shots seamlessly edited together into the actual scenes; or attend a Defense Against the Dark Arts class and fend off a dastardly Death Eater. You can also fly around film locations on a broomstick, but should you want the photos and video of your flight, that'd be 5,000 galleons — I mean, yen. All of the texts and videos accompanying the exhibition items have English translations, but explanations and activity instructions from staff (friendly and expressive though they are) are given in Japanese. The "Goblet of Fire" exhibition turns Hogwarts Castle into a projection mapping backdrop to portray scenes from the same movie. | GENDEL GENTO The tour is especially successful in making visitors feel like they're stepping into the locations and even specific scenes from the series. Take the Ministry of Magic set, which is exclusive to the Tokyo exhibition. As you walk into the imposing atrium as Harry did in the fifth movie (the film's soundtrack playing in the background), it's hard not to be transported into that very scene. The centerpiece of this area is what stays seared into your brain: the Magic Is Might monument, with its mass of nonmagical 'muggles' being crushed under the weight of Voldemort's magical fascism, carved with unsettling detail. Such large-scale sets abound. There's Platform 93⁄4, where you can board the Hogwarts Express after taking the obligatory photo pushing a luggage cart through a brick wall. Then wander the Forbidden Forest and meet Aragog and his spider children, or take a stroll along Diagon Alley and peek into iconic shops like Ollivander's. In all, it takes 3 to 4 hours to go through everything the expanded exhibit has to offer, and if you feel like snacking after all this walking around, popular classics include Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans (they do mean every flavor, so beware the ear wax ones!); chocolate frogs (look inside the package for a collectible card featuring a famous character); and butterbeer, the non-alcoholic refreshment of choice of the budding witch or wizard. If you prefer something more filling, new limited-time meals include two premium burgers based on Hogwarts' rival schools Beauxbatons and Durmstrang, with Instagrammable blue and red buns, respectively. With food offerings ranging from ¥1,000 to ¥3,000 per item, the victuals at the exhibition aren't cheap. | WARNER BROS. STUDIO TOUR TOKYO — THE MAKING OF HARRY POTTER When you're done, the exit takes you through the largest Harry Potter store in the world, selling every imaginable merch you might desire. It'll cost you, though: Get your very own Hogwarts robes for ¥13,000, which you can personalize at no extra cost. Add the magic wand of your favorite character for about ¥4,500. Aforementioned snacks and meals are around ¥1,000 to ¥3,000 a pop. Admission alone is ¥7,000 for adults, but ¥5,000 evening tickets are available until June. All in all, there's much to like about the tour, except maybe the assault on your wallet. The abundance of activities ensures that even those who are not hardcore Harry Potter fans can enjoy themselves. And the grand scale and attention to detail is likely to impress — just make sure to withdraw some galleons at Gringotts before coming.
CNN
12-02-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
The Harry Potter Studio Tour experience is going to China
Warner Bros. Discovery announced its intention Wednesday to build a 'Harry Potter Studio Tour' in Shanghai. The company is partnering with Jinjiang International, which made the news official on its WeChat account. The interactive experience is expected to open in 2027 in the existing Jinjiang Action Park. Currently, there are two Harry Potter Studio Tours: the original in London and another in Tokyo. 'The Harry Potter Studio Tour will take visitors on a fascinating behind-the-scenes tour,' Jinjiang said in the post, 'allowing them to gain a deep understanding of the magical world of Harry Potter.' Details on the upcoming studio tour in China are still sparse. However, if the original London location of the attraction is anything to go by, the tour will include some of the most famous set pieces from the Harry Potter films, including Diagon Alley, Platform Nine and Three Quarters, Privet Drive, the Hogwarts Express and the Ministry of Magic, as well as opportunities to sample butterbeer, chocolate frogs and Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans. The project is expected to cover an area of about 53,000 square meters, including a soundstage and a backlot, according to a statement from WBD posted on Wechat. WBD is the parent company of CNN. 'This will be the first tour of its kind in China,' WBD said, adding it will take about half a day for people to visit the whole project. The amusement park is located in the southwest of the city and has a strong nostalgia factor for many Shanghai natives. Its location is convenient for tourists, as it is about 20 miles from Hongqiao International Airport (SHA). The amusement park is currently going through a major renovation. The park closed to the public on January 26, with operators saying it could 'no longer meet the new needs of tourists.' It will reopen in 2027 with the Harry Potter experience as a centerpiece, according to Jinjang. Until now, the park's rides and attractions have focused on Chinese characters. Harry Potter is hugely popular in China, where there are many Harry Potter-themed bars, coffee shops and restaurants, plus the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios in Beijing. The books' hero is called 哈利波特 (Hali Bote) in Mandarin. The movies were some of the only foreign films released in China that faced little censorship, and the characters are still popular in the country across different age groups. China has been pushing its domestic consumption, as well as inbound tourism, amid the slowing economy.
CNN
12-02-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
The Harry Potter Studio Tour experience is going to China
Warner Bros. Discovery announced its intention Wednesday to build a 'Harry Potter Studio Tour' in Shanghai. The company is partnering with Jinjiang International, which made the news official on its WeChat account. The interactive experience is expected to open in 2027 in the existing Jinjiang Action Park. Currently, there are two Harry Potter Studio Tours: the original in London and another in Tokyo. 'The Harry Potter Studio Tour will take visitors on a fascinating behind-the-scenes tour,' Jinjiang said in the post, 'allowing them to gain a deep understanding of the magical world of Harry Potter.' Details on the upcoming studio tour in China are still sparse. However, if the original London location of the attraction is anything to go by, the tour will include some of the most famous set pieces from the Harry Potter films, including Diagon Alley, Platform Nine and Three Quarters, Privet Drive, the Hogwarts Express and the Ministry of Magic, as well as opportunities to sample butterbeer, chocolate frogs and Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans. The project is expected to cover an area of about 53,000 square meters, including a soundstage and a backlot, according to a statement from WBD posted on Wechat. WBD is the parent company of CNN. 'This will be the first tour of its kind in China,' WBD said, adding it will take about half a day for people to visit the whole project. The amusement park is located in the southwest of the city and has a strong nostalgia factor for many Shanghai natives. Its location is convenient for tourists, as it is about 20 miles from Hongqiao International Airport (SHA). The amusement park is currently going through a major renovation. The park closed to the public on January 26, with operators saying it could 'no longer meet the new needs of tourists.' It will reopen in 2027 with the Harry Potter experience as a centerpiece, according to Jinjang. Until now, the park's rides and attractions have focused on Chinese characters. Harry Potter is hugely popular in China, where there are many Harry Potter-themed bars, coffee shops and restaurants, plus the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios in Beijing. The books' hero is called 哈利波特 (Hali Bote) in Mandarin. The movies were some of the only foreign films released in China that faced little censorship, and the characters are still popular in the country across different age groups. China has been pushing its domestic consumption, as well as inbound tourism, amid the slowing economy.
CNN
12-02-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
The Harry Potter Studio Tour experience is going to China
Warner Bros. Discovery announced its intention Wednesday to build a 'Harry Potter Studio Tour' in Shanghai. The company is partnering with Jinjiang International, which made the news official on its WeChat account. The interactive experience is expected to open in 2027 in the existing Jinjiang Action Park. Currently, there are two Harry Potter Studio Tours: the original in London and another in Tokyo. 'The Harry Potter Studio Tour will take visitors on a fascinating behind-the-scenes tour,' Jinjiang said in the post, 'allowing them to gain a deep understanding of the magical world of Harry Potter.' Details on the upcoming studio tour in China are still sparse. However, if the original London location of the attraction is anything to go by, the tour will include some of the most famous set pieces from the Harry Potter films, including Diagon Alley, Platform Nine and Three Quarters, Privet Drive, the Hogwarts Express and the Ministry of Magic, as well as opportunities to sample butterbeer, chocolate frogs and Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans. The project is expected to cover an area of about 53,000 square meters, including a soundstage and a backlot, according to a statement from WBD posted on Wechat. WBD is the parent company of CNN. 'This will be the first tour of its kind in China,' WBD said, adding it will take about half a day for people to visit the whole project. The amusement park is located in the southwest of the city and has a strong nostalgia factor for many Shanghai natives. Its location is convenient for tourists, as it is about 20 miles from Hongqiao International Airport (SHA). The amusement park is currently going through a major renovation. The park closed to the public on January 26, with operators saying it could 'no longer meet the new needs of tourists.' It will reopen in 2027 with the Harry Potter experience as a centerpiece, according to Jinjang. Until now, the park's rides and attractions have focused on Chinese characters. Harry Potter is hugely popular in China, where there are many Harry Potter-themed bars, coffee shops and restaurants, plus the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios in Beijing. The books' hero is called 哈利波特 (Hali Bote) in Mandarin. The movies were some of the only foreign films released in China that faced little censorship, and the characters are still popular in the country across different age groups. China has been pushing its domestic consumption, as well as inbound tourism, amid the slowing economy.
