Day 15 - Making of Harry Potter

Entrance

Right after the Cursed Child play, I visited The Making of Harry Potter studio tour the next day. It was freaking hot outside—around 31°C! I really wanted to wear the Gryffindor cloak I bought back at USJ in Osaka, but I was way too shy. Man, I regret it so much… don’t even get me started. So many other fans were proudly wearing theirs!

In the park outside, we were greeted by statues of Hagrid and Harry. Entering the main building, there was a massive dragon hanging right from the ceiling. I skipped the main shop for now and headed straight into the tour.

Inside

The walls were lined with giant poster displays from all the Harry Potter films. We gathered in front of a massive set of doors while the tour staff gave us an introduction on what to expect. She asked if anyone had a birthday coming up soon… but no one spoke up. Mine was just a month away, but shyness struck again and I kept quiet. I know, I know!!! Please kill me! 😭

After a few minutes, open sesame!

The Great Hall

It was so stunning inside. We were literally walking right through the Great Hall! We saw the Sorting Hat, and as everyone gathered around, it came to life, speaking and calling out all four houses: Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, Slytherin, and Gryffindor!

Hogwarts Sets & Architecture

Triwizard Tournament

Dumbledore’s Office

Potions Class

Defense Against the Dark Arts Class

Charms Class

It’s LeviOsa, not Leviosaa!

TOM MARVOLO RIDDLE aka I AM LORD VOLDEMORT

The Forbidden Forest

Centaurs

Dementors

EXPECTO PATRONUM

Aragog

Hagrid’s Hut

Halfway through, I bought a cup of Butterbeer and popcorn!

Number 4, Privet Drive

Inside the Dursley house:

Cupboard Under the Stairs:

Flying Hogwarts Letters and Aunt Marge:

Platform 9 ¾

Inside the Hogwarts Express:

Dementors:

Quick Story Time

Right near the Hogwarts Express was a Harry Potter Shop. While I was browsing, one of the Japanese staff members noticed my hat and called out to me, saying, “Hey, cool hat!”

I told him I’d gotten it at a concert the week before, and he got super excited, replying, “Eyy sugoi! I’m a big fan of Ado!”

He even showed me his Ado tattoo on his palm! We ended up chatting for 5–10 minutes about our favorite songs and concert moments. I totally forgot to show him the Ado fan map project I made, but it was such a fun encounter!

Ministry of Magic

Behind the Scenes

Don’t forget to cover your ears… Mandrake alert!

Monster Book of Monsters:

Goblins:

Kreacher and Dobby:

Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes:

End of the Road

There was a tiny show, but the video was too long to upload… It was absolutely beautiful, though!

And that’s it for the Making of Harry Potter Studio Tour!

I bought a lot of stuff… a hoodie, the long-sleeve T-shirt Harry wore during the Triwizard Tournament (customized with my name on the back!), the Harry Potter sweater with the big ‘H’, a personalized passport holder, my Hogwarts Platform 9 ¾ ticket, and a ton of keychains and plushies.

Mischief managed! 🪄