Looking to take Harry Potter-themed photos to your heart’s content? Check out this guide to prepare for a variety of photo opportunities during the tour and know what to expect.
(Note that these are ones I saw when I went to the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo – The Making of Harry Potter in May 2024 and are not official or sponsored recommendations.)
Special note: Green screen opportunities.
There are a few occasions where you’ll have an opportunity to create videos from interactive experiences in front of a green screen. All the photos and videos from these experiences can be downloaded (after your visit with an imagic account. See this page for more details, as well as these instructions on creating an imagic account (can be done before or during the tour). These opportunities will be noted with an asterisk (*) in this guide.
What to Wear
Be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes as you will be walking throughout the tour. If you are looking to take some Harry Potter-themed pictures, wear your house pride and the clothes you want to take pictures in! If you don’t have costumes, you’ll have an opportunity to explore some of the gift shops before you enter the tour; there are cosplay and costume sections you can purchase from beforehand. Note that a set of adult Hogwarts House robes costs about 13000 yen (as of May 2024). There are changing rooms available before you enter the tour, so don’t worry about needing to wear all your Hogwarts gear during your commute to the facility (unless you want to of course).
What You Can and Can’t Take Pictures Of
Please pay attention to the intro videos and signage as they will explain what you can and can’t take pictures of. Examples include cinematic sections and some of the special photo experience areas.
Obviously, you can take pictures at any display, but the following are some props and areas specifically made for photos or are great spots for photos in general. Since you can’t re-enter sections or the tour in general after exiting, keep an eye out for these as you make your way through.
Without further ado, let’s get into it!
1. Hogwarts Moving Portrait *
You and your friends have an opportunity to become a Hogwarts moving portrait! This utilizes a green screen.
2. Quidditch Cheer Section *
Become a Quidditch fan and cheer on your House players! A staff member will guide you through different expressions and scenes to act out to make it like you are reacting to Quidditch scenes as shown in the films. This utilizes a green screen.
3. Potions Classroom
Immerse yourself in Potions class with cauldrons spewing out fog, filled with colorful contents, and self-stirring ladles. Thankfully Snape isn’t around to judge your potion-making skills.
4. Defense Against the Dark Arts Classroom
Check out the detailed blackboards in the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom and take part in a small interactive activity with a staff member to practice your spells!
5. The Mirror of Erised
Take a photo with the Mirror of Erised! Though I’ve heard that the desires the mirror presents to you don’t show up in photos…
6. The Library
Take some time to be as studious as Hermione and peruse the books in the Library!
7. The Forbidden Forest: Buckbeak and Hagrid
The Forbidden Forest has several props to take pictures of, from giant spiders to centaurs. This area with Hagrid and Buckbeak is interactive and a staff member will guide you to gain Buckbeak’s trust. You may get a bow in return!
8. The Forbidden Forest: Cast Your Patronus
There are a couple of areas in the Forbidden Forest for you to cast a Patronus charm to defeat the Dementors! Although it is very dark in these areas they are fun, interactive scenes where you get to yell, “Expecto Patronum!” and watch your patronus fight the Dementors!
9. Butterbeer
About halfway the tour you’ll have an opportunity to eat a meal at the Backlot Cafe or grab a butterbeer and snack at the Butterbeer Bar. The butterbeers can be pricey but you get to keep the cup as a souvenir! So be sure to take some pictures with your butterbeer before you (or your friend… or a family member…) drink it all! There are sinks in this area for you to rinse out the cup when you are done, and little baggies so you can carry your cup with you through the rest of the tour.
10. The Flying Car
Right next to the butterbeers you’ll find a Ford Anglia to take pictures in! Unfortunately, you won’t be able to fly around in this one…
11. Hagrid’s Hut
There are several pumpkins for you to sit on to take pictures in front of Hagrid’s hut!
12 & 13. The Knight Bus and Telephone Booth
You’ll have an opportunity to take pictures with the triple-decker Knight Bus and the telephone box entrance to the Ministry of Magic.
14. Hagrid’s Motorcycle
Grab a friend and take pictures riding Hagrid’s motorcycle! Unfortunately, this one doesn’t fly either…
15. Giant Chess Pieces
Let’s play wizard chess!
Just kidding, not all the pieces are present and these ones don’t move (trust me, I kept asking them to move to different squares so we can get a group photo but they wouldn’t budge). This is a fun place to take pictures with the fan-favorite giant chess pieces as seen in the first film.
16. Hogwarts Covered Bridge
The Hogwarts covered bridge is seen several times throughout the films. It really makes you feel like you’re at Hogwarts!
17. The Hogwarts Express
You’ll probably have to wait in line for a bit, but you’ll get an opportunity to get a picture with the Hogwarts Express before it takes off!
18. Platform 9 ¾
And of course, there’s a line of trolleys to take pictures with as you enter onto Platform 9 ¾ .
19. Floo Entrance to the Ministry
There are two different types of fireplaces at the Ministry of Magic you can take pictures with. One has a fog machine and lights built in to make it look like you just arrived by floo powder. The other side just has empty fireplaces, but fewer people tend to wait for these so you can take your time getting photos.
20. Magic is Might
You’ll see the “Magic is Might” statue in the Ministry of Magic as seen in Deathly Hallows Pt. 1 and the surrounding offices you can take pictures with.
21. Broomstick Riding Experience *
Get photos and videos of yourself riding a broomstick, just like in the movies! A staff member will guide you through a series of actions so your video looks like you really went out and flew around London. Note that the photos and videos from the broomstick green screen experience are a separate purchase. This utilizes a green screen.
22. “Have You Seen This Wizard?” Poster *
Right next to the broomstick riding experience, there is a section where you can get yourself on a Wanted Poster, just like Sirius Black as seen in the Prisoner of Azkaban. This utilizes a green screen.
(Disclaimer: I didn’t get to fully see this section, let me know in the comments if this is wrong or changed!)
23. Diagon Alley
Do all your Hogwarts shopping in Diagon Alley!
24. The Daily Prophet
In a hallway that showcases the various Daily Prophet papers, tapestries, signs, etc. used throughout the movies, take a picture with this giant page of the Daily Prophet as seen in Deathly Hallows Pt. 1!
The entire tour is worth a photo op, but these are some of the notable ones if you are looking to prepare for specific props to take photos with. Enjoy immersing yourself in your favorite Harry Potter scenes!
Thanks for reading!
じゃあ、またね！
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