Harry Potter and his gang of wizards just won’t go away.
The British teenage wizard and company were further immortalized on Tuesday as The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — a Harry Potter inspired theme park – opened Tuesday in Osaka at Universal Studios Japan.
Two of the films stars, Evanna Lynch, who played Luna Lovegood and Tom Felton, Slytherin’s very own, Draco Malfoy welcomed the first 300 visitors to the new attraction while also casting a spell for good luck.
The Harry Potter expansion of Universal Studios Japan cost an investment of 45 billion Japanese Yen or an equivalent of $479 million.
Universal Studios Japan will hope to earn back and profit on their investment with an expected two million additional annual visitors being attracted by the wizard wonderland.
The day before the park opened, J.K. Rowling and her family checked out the park to make sure that it was spick and span for opening day.
The park includes Harry Potter inspired rides, food, shops and entertainment, just like the Harry Potter theme park in Orlando, Florida that opened in 2010.
Photos by: Sasai Shoma