Harry Potter Theme Park To Open In Japan, Toshimaen To Close

Home to Disney x2 – Land & Sea, as well as whole host of other theme parks, the Japanese capital is to get a Harry Potter themed attraction – by 2023.

Set to fill the site of the 94-year-old Toshimaen amusement park west of the city proper that is due to close next week, the 30,000 square meter site owned by Seibu Railways will, it is understood, soon be filled with Harry Potter film sets, centered on costumes and props used in the movie series.

First penned by British author J.K. Rowling, the Harry Potter books took the world by storm as did movie versions when released later; the stars of the movies subsequently becoming household names around the world. The park, when built, “will offer its

C: Artem Maltsev

“fans of all ages a unique way to get closer to the films” with the company also “looking forward to creating something very special” according to Ann Sarnoff, the current chairperson and CEO of Warner Bros.

The site will be the first such facility in Asia and only the second in the world – the ‘Warner Bros. Studio Tour London — The Making of Harry Potter’ open since 2012, being the first.

Toshimaen for decades was a household name in the Tokyo and wider Kanto area, and dates back to 1926, leaving fans of the old-school amusement park just a few more days to enjoy its many old-fashioned rides, including one wooden carousel made in Germany in 1907, and brought over to Toshimaen in 1971.

Amy Wu

Amy is a Taiwanese graduate student based in Phoenix, Arizona, currently home in Hsinchu to ride out the COVID-19 pandemic. She has a passion for Hakka culture, and the rights of minorities around the world. She will cover SE Asian news and topics.