I still remember the first time I read Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (as it was titled in SA). The book was a gift for my 11th birthday, and I was delighted to discover that the protagonist was celebrating his 11th birthday, too. I was a big fan of Enid Blyton at the time, immersed in the worlds of the Famous Five and the Faraway Tree. I had also devoured almost all of Roald Dahl’s works, and loved movies like Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968) and The Borrowers (1997). All this magic and whimsy seemed to settle into the perfect mix on the first few pages, and by the time Hagrid reveals “Harry — yer a wizard,” I was hooked.
Now, you can say what you want about JK Rowling, but there’s no doubt she created one of the best fantasy worlds of the 21st Century. If you were a fan, your entire childhood was punctuated by the releases of the new books, and later, the movies, which somehow brought our collective imaginations to life. I was in my early twenties by the time the final movies came to Jo’burg; I still remember going to see Part 1 of the Deathly Hallows at the drive-in with my friends (yes, they still had drive-ins in 2010). And for all that time, ever since finishing Prisoner of Azkaban, there was one thing I always wished I could try: Butterbeer.
Not only was Hogsmeade one of my favorite settings in the books, but the idea of warming up with a hot, foaming drink after a walk in the snow also sounded like the bee’s knees to someone from hot, dry South Africa. Sadly, that idea went by the wayside, as many childhood dreams do. There was a lot of beer, sure, but not a lot of butter, and I soon forgot all about broomsticks, never mind the Three of them. The universe, however, had other plans, as it often does.
Fast forward to the last day of 2025. My sister was in Japan visiting me, and we were in Kyoto and Osaka over the New Year break. We had been at a loss for what to do on the actual Eve/Day because pretty much everything shuts down in Japan around that time—everything, that is, except Universal Studios Japan. And guess what’s at USJ? That’s right! The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. And so off to Hogwarts we went.
There’s nothing like visiting a theme park to bring out your inner child. I hadn’t been to one in a long time. In fact, the last time was when I was last living in Japan and went to Huis Ten Bosch, an awesome Dutch-themed one in Nagasaki. USJ didn’t disappoint either.
Getting to the park itself went as smoothly as…well, butter. We took the train to JR Universal-City Station and then walked from there to the entrance gates. After arriving around 8:45 AM, we lined up to go through security. They do a baggage check, much like at the airport, and then you have to line up again to get your tickets scanned. The whole process took less than 40 minutes, and then we were free to run wild inside.
The Wizarding World expansion of USJ opened in the summer of 2014. It features the Forbidden Forest, Hogsmeade, Hogwarts Castle, the Black Lake, and two rides: Flight of the Hippogriff, a rollercoaster, and Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. The journey to Hogsmeade starts in the Forbidden Forest, which is secluded enough from the rest of the park to make you feel like you’re inside one of the movies. It also helps that many people dress up in house robes and carry wands, adding to the atmosphere. (That is, of course, until someone walks by with a Koopa plush hat and brings you right back to reality.) Themed music and sound effects play from hidden speakers, guiding you past the Ford Anglia that Harry and Ron fly into the Whomping Willow, and up to the gates of Hogsmeade.
The village has everything a Potterhead could dream of. There’s Honeydukes, where you can get your Chocolate Frogs and Bertie Bott’s Every-Flavour Beans, and Zonko’s Joke Shop, if you fancy yourself a pair of Extendable Ears. You can get robes and Quidditch supplies at Dervish and Banges, or set your house elf free with a pair of socks from Gladrags Wizardwear. There’s Olivanders, of course, and the Owl Post & Owlery. At a small stage, you can catch a street show, like the Hippogriff Magical Lesson, with the actors performing in a mix of English and Japanese.
When we bought our tickets, we chose timed entry for Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, knowing nothing about it beyond its award-winning status. The ride is inside Hogwarts Castle, which is incredible in its detail. I wish I had photos of the interior and living portraits, but they have you store all your belongings in a locker beforehand so you don’t lose them during the fun.
I mean, it sounded like fun. It turned out to be one of those 3D situations where they strap you into a gyrating chair in front of a 360° screen, which makes you feel like you’ve been dropped right into the action. I had to close my eyes after about thirty seconds because that was the only way not to go full slugulus eructo on everyone around me. There were warning signs about motion sickness in the line, but I was too shy to disturb the wa and turn around, and besides, how bad could it be? Pretty bad, apparently. Should’ve ridden the family-friendly rollercoaster instead, but hey, you live, and you learn.
Speaking of spells, there’s a thing called Wand Magic, which, if you buy a special interactive wand, allows you to cast certain charms around Hogsmeade. You just have to look for the bronze medallions in the pavement and then work your magic. It’s fun even just to watch (although admittedly, at first, we did think people were just getting really method with their cosplay).
After my stomach settled, it was time to head to the Three Broomsticks and finally try Butterbeer. They serve it hot or cold, just like in the books, and you can even get yours in a souvenir Stein to take home, if you like. What we thought would be glass turned out to be plastic, so that was a bit disappointing, but the actual drink? Exactly how I had always imagined it: foamy, creamy, delicious.
Some things, as it turns out, really are worth the wait.
Visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at USJ
USJ is a short walk from the JR Universal-City station on the JR Yumesaki Line (20 min from Osaka-Umeda Station). Buying tickets online in advance is recommended, as timed entry tickets are required for some areas and attractions. For up-to-date information regarding attractions, ticket prices, opening hours, and more, visit the official USJ website. For more information about the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, click here.
