Universal Studios Japan unveils Wizarding World of Harry Potter

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter has opened at Universal Studios Japan this week, with stars of the Harry Potter films taking part in the opening ceremony on Tuesday (15th July).

Tom Felton, who plays Draco Malfoy, and Evanna Lynch, who is Luna Lovegood in the big-screen productions, welcomed the first 300 specially selected visitors to the attraction by casting a spell.

The $472 million attraction covers nine acres within the theme park, on the waterfront district of Osaka, and operators anticipate that it will boost the number of visitors from 10 million to 12 million in its first year of operation.

The attraction includes a vast recreation of Hogwarts Castle, complete with talking portraits on the walls, the Flight of the Hippogriff roller-coaster, which dives past Hagrid's hut, and The Three Broomsticks tavern, a favourite with teachers at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

The village of Hogsmeade has an array of shops selling Harry Potter-themed souvenirs, including wands, chocolate frogs and Hogwarts school uniforms.

The attraction also has a recreation of the Black Lake and live owls.

Based on the phenomenally popular book series by British author J.K. Rowling and subsequent films produced by Warner Bros, the new Osaka attraction is Universal Studios' second Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park.

The original opened at Universal Studios Florida in 2010 - which recently launched Diagon Alley, a second area of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter - while Universal Studios Hollywood is said to be getting its own version in 2016.

Welcoming the opening of the attraction, a statement from Rowling explained "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."

The Harry Potter books have been hugely popular in Japan, while the first movie in the franchise - Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone - is the fourth-highest grossing movie of all time in Japan.

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