18 Jul 2014
US$500m Harry Potter attraction casts spell over Osaka, Japan
BY Tom Anstey
Harry Potter fans in Japan can now get closer to the magic, following the opening of the US$500m (€362m, £297m) Wizarding World of Harry Potter attraction yesterday (15 July) in Osaka.
Located at Universal Studios Japan, the attraction covers nine acres within the theme park and includes a giant recreation of Hogwarts Castle, a Hippogriff roller coaster, the Three Broomsticks tavern and Hagrid’s Hut.
The village of Hogsmeade also has an array of shops selling Potter merchandise, including wands, chocolate frogs and Hogwarts school uniforms.
The attraction also offers talking portraits, live owls and a recreation of the Black Lake.
The theme park is hoping to build on the 10.5m visitors it received in fiscal 2013, an improvement of 7.7 per cent from the previous year and the second-highest figure since its first year in fiscal 2001.
The Potter brand is extremely popular in Japan, with the first of the movie franchise – Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone – the fourth-highest grossing movie of all time in the country.
Stars Tom Felton and Evanna Lynch, who play Draco Malfoy and Luna Lovegood, officially opened the park by “casting a magic spell”.
Potter attractions have been springing up across the globe recently, with Universal Orlando’s new Potter attraction opening last week to much fanfare, while Warner Bros is also reportedly considering developing Potter attractions based on the spin-off series Fantastical Beasts and Where to Find Them.
Universal Studios Japan, which is owned by a consortium that includes Goldman Sachs and two Asian investment firms, may reappear on the Tokyo Stock Exchange next year. The park was delisted in 2009 following financial troubles, which resulted in the investment from Goldman Sachs. The theme park has since bounced back and last year saw more than 10m visitors for the first time since 2001. Following the launch of the Potter attraction, the park is reportedly looking at sites for further expansion.
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