Signed Blooms

As promised, and also partly because I don't want all these beautiful photos to go to waste, today, I'm listing various stores and establishments you can find inside the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Universal Studio Japan.

Hogsmeade at Wizarding World of Harry Potter, USJ

Owiie! I've been looking forward to visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter (WWOHP) ever since we started planning our Osaka trip. I'm not really a Potter junkie (I've seen all the movies and I like them but that's it), but the place looks so freaking awesome so I made sure we allot a whole day all for the little kids in us to wander and get lost at Universal Studio Japan.

Hogwarts Castle at Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Universal Studio Japan

We bought our tickets at Kansai Tourist Information Center at the airport on the date of our arrival for JPY 7,400 each. It was a bit expensive than those they sell at the booths in front of the entrance. I would still recommend buying it ahead of time though during peak season to save yourself the trouble. The queue in the ticket booths were relatively long.

We arrived at the theme park early, at around 9 o'clock in the morning, just a few minutes before the gate opens. Once we got in, we asked the staff where to get the timed entry ticket for WWOHP but we were told to just go straight to the place. It's seems like timed entry tickets aren't necessary for a cold, winter day. Well, judging from the stories we heard from those who've been there before, it indeed didn't seem like a day you would say it's crowded. Choosing a weekday was definitely a good idea.

On our way to Hogsmeade, with the Harry Potter soundtrack playing and the beautiful pine trees surrounding us, it was already all magical. It felt like we're really in the movie.

On our way to Hogsmeade!

This flying car was so famous that I only manage to sneak a shot just right before another group's turn.

Flying Car

Finally, we're at Hogsmeade! Please respect the spell limits (or so the welcome sign says).



I mentioned, didn't I? We actually rode Hogwarts Express from Manila all the way here. >.<

Hogwarts Express at Platform Nine and Three Quarters

Before you ask when's the next train coming and how much is the fare, here's a handy timetable.

Hogwarts Express Timetable and Fares

Owieee! Look at all those snow and icicles. They really fit the season and our winter clothes. Honeydukes and Butterbeer spotted on the side!

Three Broomsticks

Ollivanders, Scrivenshafts and Wiseacre's Wizarding Equipments

Owl Post

Three Broomsticks, Wiseacre's, Owl Post—the list of fancy shops just doesn't end. I'll do a separate, more detailed post featuring each of the them soon. For now, let's hurry our way to Hogwarts!



It really is stunning. To think that the one in the movies wasn't even real (or at least its exterior), it's crazy how I was standing next to it (and yet I was telling you I'm not a Potter fan, hahaha).






Right in front of the gate. Hands down to the intricate details.


Behind the gate is the long queue for the Forbidden Journey, the famous Harry Potter ride. We barely minded the time we spent in line though because of the beautiful scenery. We also take it as a chance to charge our phones and munch some snacks.

We waited for about one hour and fifteen minutes before we could enter the castle. Inside, you could find the sorting hat as well as the moving paintings. I don't have decent photos as it was really dark and it isn't a place appropriate for flash photography, either. (How I wish my phone could capture pictures better in low light.) Once we reached the locker area, we're instructed to leave our things so we don't lose it during the ride.

The Sorting Hat

Then comes our turn. Forbidden Journey is a dark ride that uses 4K3D technology for an experience of unparalleled realism. You have to wear 3D glasses and the ride will simulate a broomstick flying experience led by Potter, himself. Not really sure, but I think it was a quidditch match. Aside from Harry apologizing after we almost hit a wall, I could hardly understand a thing as they talk in Japanese.

Ever since I was a kid, I'm not so much fan of theme park rides, especially breathtaking roller coasters. That's why Forbidden Journey is such an experience for me! With all those soaring across the sky at high speed, sudden turning right before you hit the Hogwart's wall, flipping and tossing to avoid getting burnt by a dragon's flame, it was so freaking CRAZY but heck, FUN! I was so thankful it's a dark ride, giving me no idea how high I was from the (real) ground or how fast we were going.

I was up for another round as one of the staff gave me a pass for the 11:30 time slot but my friend was not looking well already after the ride. >.< I was feeling a bit dizzy myself so we just decided to go ahead and get lunch.

Is that a rabbit hole, I see? Yes, it is! Welcome to Wonderland...I mean Alice On Wednesday. With the exterior that pretty, it's probably the cutest shop I've ever been.

Alice on Wednesday (Osaka)

We dropped by this little store during my trip to Osaka last January. It was located near the America Village (Amerika-mura) where streets were crammed with cafes, miscellaneous good shops, clothing stores, fashion malls and more.

The store is divided into two areas, the Red Queen's room which comes right behind the rabbit hole and the more brighter White Queen's Room where the cashier is located.

Red Queen's Room (left) and White Queen's Room (right)

The Red Queen's features a long table of Alice in Wonderland charms on checkered flooring. From all kinds of jewelries to bags to hair accessories to key chains to stationery, they have it all!


I did try my best to take decent photos but it was really dark inside the Red Queen's room and I don't want to ruin the mood with flash photography.

The White Queen's room, on the other hand, is like a mini pastry shop for your tea party fixes. It has various kinds of cookies and candies. The Drink Me bottles (although I read that they taste like cough medicine) and the Eat Me cookies are just so adorable. No wonder Alice was tempted to try them.

White Room Goodies

Drink Me Bottles

Eat Me Cookies in a Book

Fortune Cookies

Look at all these Wonderland goodies I got myself, vintage pocket watch, White Rabbit charm and Eat Me cookies in a book! The little Alice on me is rejoicing!

Alice on Wednesday Hauls

Will definitely drop by this shop again when I got to come back to Japan, maybe the Tokyo branch next time. ^o^

Ever since I've came to know such thing exists, I been always wanting to fly a sky lantern. Tangled makes the experience seems really pretty and magical. The idea of writing your wish on a paper lantern, lighting it up and letting it go so it can fly high above is just so dreamy. Even this scene from the popular Kdrama, Love in the Moonlight makes me want to attend a sky lantern festival so badly.

Love in the Moonlight (Photo Credits to BEAB)

That dream realized when I attended last year's Yi Peng festival in Chiang Mai, a province situated at the north of Thailand.

Yi Peng also known as Lanna (northern Thai) festival is celebrated on the evening of the full moon of the second month according to Lanna lunar calendar (usually November). Thousands of sky lanterns (khom loi) are launched into the air where they resemble large shoals of giant fluorescent jellyfish gracefully floating through the sky.^[ref]

Yi Peng 2016

Yi Peng coicides with Loi Krathong, another festival celebrated annually throughout Thailand, Laos, as well as parts of Malaysia, Myanmar and China. The name literally means "to float a basket", and comes from the tradition of making krathong or buoyant, decorated baskets, which are then floated on a river.^[ref]

Lit Krathong Floating in the River

Having thousands of lanterns floating up above the sky and at the same time, baskets of flowers with lit candles floating through the river, really made the night glow.

Yi Peng and Loi Krathong Celebration at  Nawarat Bridge, Chiang Mai, Thailand (2016)

Last year's celebration was actually toned down as the Thai people were still mourning the death of their former King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Colored lanterns were banned and fireworks display was cancelled. But this doesn't make the event less fun. Everything that night was still so fascinating.

I just got to cross out an item on my bucket list! Fly a sky lantern: ✓