Experience an incredible adventure at Hogwarts and beyond in Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, the star attraction in Universal Studios Japan’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
We’re finally going to Hogwarts!
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is a 4D motion simulator ride. The ride vehicles are capable of tilting forwards and backwards, and sideways. The ride doesn’t physically move very fast, but the tilting and surging movements – together with the special effects – may cause motion sickness for some.
In Japan, the outdoor overflow queue is used in a way so that guests do not go indoors and out again. This means that on certain days, it’s possible to miss the greenhouse queue area entirely. Japan’s queue also seems to bypass the corridor with the Mirror of Erised.
Other changes in Japan’s version of Forbidden Journey
• Voices are dubbed in Japanese
• 3D glasses (quidditch goggles) are provided for the 4K3D experience
• Due to the glasses, many scenes appear darker than non-3D versions of the ride
• Certain special effects, such as mists, are disabled in Japan as they may fog up the 3D glasses
For Universal Express, the line doesn’t start at the front gates of Hogwarts, but at this side entrance. The Express lane bypasses the outdoor area only. Once indoors, both lines merge into a single queue for the lockers.
Be like the other visitors and marvel at the impressive castle from all angles.
The typical theme park signage is beautifully designed here.
Once you’re actually in the castle, the ride’s extensive pre-show begins. But before you can even get excited, it’s time to stash your belongings inside the lockers.
About the Lockers here
For this ride, bags and loose items are not allowed. Free lockers are available to riders for the duration of the queue and ride.
You will be handed a white card at the entrance to the locker. Hold this card and do not leave it inside the locker.
Find an unused locker (the ones with hanging wristbands), put your things inside, and turn the key to lock it. The wristband can be then pulled out.
Head back to the same entrance to the locker area and hand the white card back to the park crew to rejoin the queue for the ride.
If you do not have any bags or loose items, you can inform the crew stationed at the locker entrance and bypass the lockers.
After the ride, you can re-enter the locker room from Filch’s Emporium to retrieve your belongings.
USJ’s Forbidden Journey queue has similar scenes as the original ride built in Florida. However, Japan chose to alter how the queue flows through the castle. Thus, those in the normal line would miss the following scenes.
For this Grand Photo Tour, I’ve combined both paths into one cohesive walkthrough.
The architect of Hogwarts, with the animals representing the four houses at his feet.
House points hourglasses. Go Gryffindor!
Be impressed by the Gargoyle/ Griffin Statue (secret entrance to Dumbledore’s office) and a statue of Salazar Slytherin.
Stop by the grand staircase/ portrait corridor to witness a conversation between the portraits of the four Hogwarts founders arguing about Harry Potter.
The tour continues into Dumbledore’s Office, where he officially welcomes Muggles to Hogwarts.
A few stone corridors later, and the path leads into an iconic classroom.
Filled with lots of obscure and dark artifacts, this is none other than the Defence Against The Dark Arts classroom.
Pay close attention here, and you might catch Harry, Hermione and Ron sneak into the classroom. The trio finds a way to let us catch a game of Quidditch.
We have to get to the Room of Requirement, and one way is through the Gryffindor Common Room. Don’t miss the talking portrait of the Fat Lady here!
No time to relax at the Gryffindor Common Room, because enjoy the cosy ambiance – don’t you wish you can study here?
The last few talking portraits share about the marvelous Enchanted Benches, which will be used for our adventure. The path leads to the Sorting Hat, who gives us some advice for the Forbidden Journey ahead.
Then, it’s just a short walk into the Room of Requirement to find these Enchanted Benches, and off we go.
After this journey, the tour around Hogwarts concludes with a stop at Filch’s Emporium.
And that’s the last part of the Wizarding World Japan Tour. We’ll have more posts on the rest of USJ soon!
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it really really made me want to come back there soon… (thanks Dejiki..)
just for sharing: i did queue for more than 2 hours to take on the ride. positively, i experienced the whole section of the green house outside the castle.. haha.. yet, still totally worth it. the exterior and interior of the castle. the ride itself.. stunning.. it’s a MUST TRY ride in USJ…. second to the FLYING DINOSAUR. 🙂
Hi Dejiki, may i know if the ride was claustrophobic?