The second Wizarding World park opened on Tuesday at Universal Studios Japan, and Harry Potter’s Evanna Lynch (Luna), Tom Felton (Draco), and J.K. Rowling were on hand for the celebration.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade celebrated its opening with a fireworks show and many fans. While the land is similar to the attraction found at Universal Orlando, the Japan version differentiates itself by including the Black Lake and real owls.
Check out this beautiful look at Hogwarts sitting on the water:
Photos from today’s grand opening show off a spectacular fireworks show as well as Felton and Lynch making their arrival. Click each image to see it full size!
According to The Telegraph, Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling visited the new land with her family the day before the grand opening.
Said Rowling in a statement, “The craft and attention to detail across The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Japan is incredible and I will take away the memory of Hogwarts castle reflected on the Black Lake in particular. I’m delighted that Harry fans in Japan and around Asia can experience a physical incarnation that is so close to what I imagined when writing the books.”
Photos of the author’s visit can be viewed below (via Snitch Seeker). The second photo is particularly heartwarming as we see Rowling within Hogwarts – something we’ve never seen before from any of her visits to a film set or park.
Like Orlando, Japan’s Wizarding World includes the thrill ride Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, The Three Broomsticks restaurant, and shops like Zonko’s. No Diagon Alley attractions are in Japan.
Universal is also building a third Wizarding World at their Hollywood theme park which will be opening in 2016.
Universal Orlando just opened up their Diagon Alley expansion and Hypable attended a media preview in June.