Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo – The Making of Harry Potter has launched "Invitation from Hogwarts," a limited-time special event celebrating the 25th anniversary of the film Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Running from March 18 to September 6, 2026, the event takes visitors through the origins of Harry's story, allowing both longtime fans and first-timers to relive the beginning of his adventures at Hogwarts.
A Giant Acceptance Letter Awaits in the Lobby
As visitors enter the studio, an oversized Hogwarts acceptance letter greets them in the lobby – a nod to the iconic scene in which letters flood the Dursley home. It sets the tone for the Hogwarts-themed experience that follows.
Before heading into the tour, visitors can stop by the Main Shop – the world's largest Harry Potter shop – where a personalization service lets them add their own name and address to a replica Hogwarts acceptance letter. Accessories and keychains inspired by the letter motif are also available for personalization. The Railway Shop, located mid-tour, carries a range of acceptance letter-themed merchandise as well.
Further into the Backlot area, the recreation of 4 Privet Drive – the Dursley family home where Harry spent his childhood – features an enhanced version of the fireplace scene, with even more letters tumbling out than before to bring that memorable moment to life.
The Sorting Ceremony in the Great Hall
For this event, the Great Hall – which is redesigned for each seasonal program – has been transformed into the stage for the Sorting Ceremony from Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Visitors stepping inside are welcomed by hundreds of floating candles and an expressive Sorting Hat.
The Sorting Hat calls out the names of all four Hogwarts houses – Slytherin, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Gryffindor – using audio taken directly from the film. As each house is announced, the entire hall is bathed in that house's colors. The ceremony concludes with a projection mapping sequence that brings the Hogwarts ghosts into view, just as they appeared to surprise new students during the welcoming feast in the film.
The Invisibility Cloak in the Gryffindor Common Room
The event also turns the spotlight on Harry's Invisibility Cloak – the enchanted garment inherited from his father, James Potter, which saved Harry from danger countless times throughout the series. In the Gryffindor Common Room, a live demonstration reveals exactly how the cloak's vanishing effect was achieved on screen. An interactor dons the cloak while the visual effects team's digital processing makes them disappear in front of visitors' eyes.
Behind-the-Scenes Magic: Levitation and Hagrid's Secrets
Another highlight is a demonstration of the filming technique behind the "Wingardium Leviosa" feather-levitation scene from Charms class. Interactors explain and recreate the method live – a surprisingly traditional technique dating back to the days of silent cinema – that made the feather appear to float.
The event also pulls back the curtain on how the half-giant Hagrid was portrayed on screen. Robbie Coltrane, who played Hagrid, stood approximately 183 cm tall – not nearly tall enough to convincingly portray a half-giant. To create a much larger version of the character, a former rugby player standing around 208 cm wore a specially crafted animatronic mask. On top of that, oversized props were used when filming scenes featuring child actors, while normal-sized props were used for Coltrane's close-ups.
In the Creature Effects workshop, visitors can see Hagrid's actual mask up close as interactors walk through the techniques used. Hagrid's hut, situated mid-tour, has also been stocked with some of those oversized "Hagrid-sized" props for visitors to discover.
The Hogwarts Castle Model with Quidditch Projection Mapping
At the end of the tour, the large-scale model of Hogwarts Castle now features a new projection mapping sequence inspired by the Gryffindor vs. Slytherin Quidditch match – the game in which Harry made history as the youngest Seeker in a century. The sequence uses audio from the film for a fully immersive experience.
Limited-Time Food Menu
A lineup of food and drinks inspired by key scenes in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is available throughout the event. Highlights include "Acceptance Letter Crepes" representing the cascade of letters sent to Harry, a "Quidditch Pizza – Gryffindor VS Slytherin," and an "Everything, Please" Milkshake topped with jelly beans and chocolate frogs – a reference to Harry's enthusiastic sweet-shopping on the Hogwarts Express.
Anniversary Collection Merchandise
An Anniversary Collection inspired by Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone launched on March 18, 2026, and is available at the studio tour as well as the Harry Potter Shop Online Japan. The lineup includes a bear wearing the Sorting Hat, a Philosopher's Stone keychain, a Mirror of Erised replica, and more.
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone 25th Anniversary Bear | ¥7,000 |
| Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone Mini Pin Badge Set | ¥5,600 |
| Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone Bear Ornament | ¥2,600 |
| School Trunk Jewelry Box | ¥4,600 |
| Mirror of Erised Replica | ¥5,000 |
| Philosopher's Stone Keychain | ¥1,200 |
Event Details
- Event: "Invitation from Hogwarts" Special Event
- Period: March 18 to September 6, 2026
- Venue: Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo – The Making of Harry Potter
- Official Event Site: https://www.wbstudiotour.jp/invitation-from-hogwarts/
- Studio Tour Website: https://www.wbstudiotour.jp/
All characters and elements © & Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. WBSHIELD: © & WBEI. Publishing Rights © JKR.
