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If you’ve ever found yourself power-walking through Hogwarts Castle, desperately trying to soak in the moving portraits while keeping pace with an ever-shuffling line, you’re not alone. At Universal parks, the queue for Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is often just as beloved as the ride itself—but rarely experienced at a pace that lets it shine.
Universal Studios Japan is about to change that. And honestly? It’s about time.
Credit: Universal Studios Japan
Back in 2010, Universal Orlando raised the bar and the castle turrets by opening Hogsmeade at Islands of Adventure. It was a game changer. Suddenly, theme park lands weren’t just themed—they were alive, meticulously detailed environments that told stories from the moment you stepped in. That philosophy has only expanded over time, with versions of the Wizarding World appearing in California, Japan, and most recently, Beijing.
Across all of them, one thing remains consistent: Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is the main event.
‘Harry Potter’ Hogwarts Castle Walk Experience Returns
Tucked inside a towering Hogwarts replica, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey takes riders on a chaotic broomstick-style adventure using a robotic arm system and a mix of real sets and screen-based effects. But before you even reach the ride, you’re already walking through some of the most detailed interiors Universal has ever built—from Dumbledore’s office to the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. It’s theatrical. It’s emotional. It’s also really easy to miss when you’re hustling to get on the ride.
Credit: Universal Studios Japan
That’s why Universal Studios Japan is bringing back its Hogwarts Castle Walk this fall, and this time it’s sticking around longer than usual.
Starting September 1, 2025, and running through January 4, 2026, the walk-through experience will be available daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. While guests ordinarily pass through the immersive queue at the same rapid rate as the line, this special experience gives guests the opportunity to take a guided tour via a special route through the castle.
Universal Studios Japan has sporadically offered the Castle Walk in the past, but this upcoming run marks a formal, months-long return. It also lands right in time for the new school year at Hogwarts.
Credit: Universal Studios Japan
Even More Magic (and Mayhem) Coming to Japan
The castle walk isn’t the only Harry Potter-centric experience heading to Osaka this fall.
From September 5, Death Eaters: Crisis in Hogsmeade will take over the land once again. The immersive nighttime experience, first introduced in 2024 as part of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter’s 10th anniversary in Japan, features a dramatic showdown between Death Eaters and the brave witches and wizards of Hogsmeade. Projections of Dementors and Acromantula will light up Hogwarts Castle during the conflict.
The fall lineup doesn’t stop there. Universal Studios Japan – which is set to debut its own version of Illumination’s Villain-Con Minion Blast later this summer – is also prepping a full slate of Halloween offerings, including Chainsaw Man x Hollywood Dream – The Ride, Chainsaw Man: The Chaos 4D, Street Zombies, a nighttime version of Jurassic Park – The Ride, and Smiley’s Happy Halloween Greeting.
What’s your favorite Harry Potter attraction?
