When it was announced that the Wizarding World of Harry Potter opened in Universal Studios Japan in July 2014, I thought to myself, I had to go there. My chances of visiting the park in Orlando was a wee bit smaller than the size of my thumb, but Osaka, Osaka was a much bigger possibility. I took the risk in April 2016, just a month after my trip to Macau and Hong Kong and booked the damn flight to Osaka.
I was going to go alone, but thankfully, my now travel buddy was always game for new adventures. She booked the same flight in June.
I did a lot of research about tourist spots and average daily costs and of course, the Visa application and I couldn’t have been happier when my friend and I were granted a Single-entry tourist Visa. We filed our Visa application with UHI (Universal Holidays Inc) and got our passports two days later. Check this link to see a list of requirements 👉🏼 http://www.ph.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/00_000035.html
Fast forward to October 19, 2016 which was probably one of the best days of my life, I couldn’t believe I was able to make my dream trip happen.
Below was our 4-day itinerary in Japan:
Day 1 – Universal Studios
We opted to go to the park on our first day because we didn’t want to take chances and go there on a Friday or during the weekend. Turned out it was the best decision ever because we came at around 8.30 AM, the park was already open and we headed straight to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter without any need for Timed-Entry tickets. If you’re a die hard Harry Potter fan, you’d know that you should always pay a visit first to the wizarding world and explore the rest of the park later. Trust me, it was too early but we spent almost 45mins in line for the Forbidden Journey.
Additional tip: If you see Mr Weasley’s Ford Anglia on your way to Hogsmeade, do not be tempted to take photos already. You can take your photos once you exit the park. Be smart and head straight for the castle!!! 🤓
It also took us about an hour to ride the Flight of the Hippogriff. It’s not your typical roller coaster but you’d still feel a bit of a stomach ache. 🤗
Below is a snap of Hagrid’s motorbike while we were on our way to the Hippogriff.
After the rides, proceed with exploring the rest of the park. Don’t forget to watch the magic show at Ollivander’s Shop. It’s a little hard to spot but if you see a line that looks like it’s for the bathrooms, that’s probably it. 😆
The show was truly magical but the fun part for me was that Ollivander speaks fluent Japanese.
Of course we ate lunch at the Three Broomsticks. We ordered one chicken and rib platter because we were two tiny girls and one big platter was obviously just enough for us two.
We missed the performance of the Durmstrang boys and the Beauxbatons ladies but we were able to see the Hogwarts choir perform while drinking a delightful cup of Butterbeer.
We roamed around some more and ended up buying Hermione Granger wands and a couple of souvenirs.
After Harry Potter, we had half a day to explore the rest of the park, which clearly was too limited. We were able to try a couple of exciting rides though. The shark encounter with the Jaws ride was a thrill. The Jurassic Park ride didn’t seem too exciting until the last part when we were greeted by a T-Rex and the ride dived at a very steep slope. I held on too tight to the rail for God’s sake!
The most unforgettable ride I had been in so far has got to be the Flying Dinosaur. Unlike rollercoasters, you’d be strapped to your seat like an actual Pterodactyl is grabbing your shoulder and lifting you up so high in the air! You’re pretty much in a Superman position except you’re not as brave as Superman! 😂 I felt the space between my tummy and the strap and I got scared I’d fall but then I ended up screaming “Mama”, teary-eyed because there’s a body of water underneath. It was the most terrifying yet most fun experience I’ve had in a theme park. 😭 To be honest, it was more fun than the Forbidden Journey (even though I’m a big Potter fan).
The thing with the Flying Dinosaur, however, was that we fell in line for three hours and I’m not even half-kidding. We were in line for three hours and missed the Waterworld show (which we saw in Singapore).
It was almost dusk when we got off the ride and as it got darker, Zombies began appearing out of nowhere. 😱 (You’re likely to experience the same nervous walks in the park if you go to USJ in late October or early November, as part of the Halloween celebration).
We tried about three more rides despite the fact that we tried to stay away from the walking dead. Spiderman was so much like the Transformers ride in SG. And instead of the Terminator 4D, since it was Halloween season, we watched a real-life Sadako come out of the screen before our very eyes. (no, not really, but the special effects were great).
If you’re a scaredy cat, you may opt to go to attractions more suited for young children. Zombies aren’t allowed in there. 😉
The theme park closes at different times daily. That day, we stayed there until around half-past ten in the evening, when it was already eerily quiet.
Only a few shops were still open so we decided to settle with instant noodles for dinner. 😅
Below is a summary of our expenses in Osaka on Day 1:
Airfare and Travel Tax – Php 9,662
Shuttle from KIX to Hostel – ¥1500 or Php 750
Dinner (night of Oct 19) – ¥ 200 or Php 100
Hostel (2 nights, Oct 19-20) plus towel rental – ¥5100 or Php 2,550
USJ Entrance Fee – ¥ 7400 or Php 3700
Souvenirs (wand, keychain, butterbeer ball, pen) – ¥8450 or Php 4,225
Dinner (night of Oct 20) – ¥200 or Php 100
Total – Php 21,087
Do the math and you’ll probably say, so you spent more than 65% of your budget on Day1? Yeah!!!
Oh and if this isn’t enough to convince you to fly to Osaka, go check this video posted by Klook –> https://www.facebook.com/klooksg/videos/1860736507547674/
…continued in Part 2…
Travels of a Wallflower 