Orlando 2024 Travel Log: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hogsmeade at Universal Islands of Adventure — Day 2: A Tour of Hogwarts Castle

One thing we really wanted to do was walk around Hogwarts Castle, which is home to Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. But again, Minji isn't allowed to go on the ride because she's pregnant and I can't go on because I have high blood pressure. So we asked one of the ride attendants if we could just tour the castle without going on the ride, and he said it was absolutely no problem, just to follow the line-up (which goes through the castle) and exit before the ride actually begins.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hogsmeade: Hogwarts Castle

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hogsmeade: Hogwarts Castle — One-Eyed Witch Statue 

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hogsmeade: Hogwarts Castle — Mirror of Erised

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hogsmeade: Hogwarts Castle — Architect of Hogwarts Statue

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hogsmeade: Hogwarts Castle — Salazar Slytherin Statue

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hogsmeade: Hogwarts Castle — The Griffin Statue

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hogsmeade: Hogwarts Castle — Hall of Portraits

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hogsmeade: Hogwarts Castle — Hall of Portraits

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hogsmeade: Hogwarts Castle — The Pensieve

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hogsmeade: Hogwarts Castle — Dumbledore's Office

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hogsmeade: Hogwarts Castle — Defense Against the Dark Arts Classroom

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hogsmeade: Hogwarts Castle — Dragon Skeleton

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hogsmeade: Hogwarts Castle — The Fat Lady Portrait

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hogsmeade: Hogwarts Castle — The Sorting Hat

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hogsmeade: Hogwarts Castle

Despite the line-up being at an 85-minute wait time, I am so glad we got to see inside the castle. Everything, from the architecture to the statues to the props, is absolutely stunning and incredibly detailed. If, for whatever reason, you can't go on the rides that are housed inside the buildings at Universal, I highly recommend asking to see if you can still go inside to tour it. It's totally worth it.

Hogwarts Castle

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hogsmeade

Universal Islands of Adventure

6000 Universal Blvd.

Orlando, FL 32819, USA

(407) 363-8000

Orlando 2024 Travel Log: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hogsmeade at Universal Islands of Adventure — Day 2: Aboard the Hogwarts Express and Exploring Hogsmeade

After our ice cream, we decided it was time to explore Hogsmeade, so we went to King's Cross Station and boarded the Hogwarts Express, the one ride that both Minji and I can go on.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Diagon Alley: King's Cross Station — Platform 9¾

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Diagon Alley: King's Cross Station — Platform 9¾

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Diagon Alley: King's Cross Station — Hogwarts Express

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Diagon Alley: King's Cross Station — Hogwarts Express

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Diagon Alley: King's Cross Station — Hogwarts Express

There are no photos allowed inside the train, but both the exterior and interior basically look exactly like they are in the movies. There are 8 people to a cabin, and when you look out the window, it's playing a pre-recorded CGI reel so it looks like you're actually traveling to Hogwarts. On the other side of the cabin, through the sliding door, you'll see the silhouettes of Harry, Ron, and Hermione, who chat about random things and order pumpkin pasties from the trolley witch. One thing I truly appreciate about this world is how immersive and accurate it is, even on the train ride from one park to the other.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hogsmeade: Hogsmeade — Main Entryway

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hogsmeade: Hogsmeade — Hogsmeade Village

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hogsmeade: Hogsmeade — Hogsmeade Village

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hogsmeade: Hogsmeade — Hogwarts/Hogsmeade Sign

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hogsmeade: Hogwarts Castle

I have technically visited Hogsmeade before at Universal Studios Japan last year, and they look exactly the same, but it's no less impressive this time around. There are more rides in Hogsmeade, but since Minji and I can't actually go on them, we spent most of our time just walking through the shops. We snagged some more sweets at Honeydukes, mailed out a few Hogsmeade postcards at the Owl Post (complete with the Hogsmeade postmark!), relaxed with some frozen Butterbeers outside of Dervish and Banges, and bought some more merch at Filch's Emporium. I was tempted to buy a fancy wizard chess set before realizing that I have no place for it at home, it costs $400 USD, and I don't actually play chess.

Hogsmeade

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hogsmeade

Universal Islands of Adventure 

6000 Universal Blvd.

Orlando, FL 32819, USA

(407) 363-8000

Tokyo 2024 Travel Log: Day 4 — Ueno Cherry Blossom Festival at Ueno Park

So, we went to Ueno Park in the evening 'cause the Ueno Cherry Blossom Festival started and the park is illuminated after sundown and the view is supposed to be pretty damn spectacular.

Ueno Cherry Blossom Festival
Ueno Cherry Blossom Festival
Ueno Cherry Blossom Festival
Ueno Cherry Blossom Festival

Except we just saw hundreds and hundreds of barren trees because apparently the sakura are blooming late this year in Tokyo. But we did find two trees that started blooming and, hey, at least the lanterns are pretty!

Ueno Park

Uenokoen, Taito City

Tokyo, Japan 〒110-0007

+81-3-3828-5644

Tokyo 2024 Travel Log: Day 4 — Visiting Senso-ji Temple

One place I really wanted to visit on this trip was Senso-ji Temple. For those who don't know, it is the oldest temple in Tokyo, one of the most significant Buddhist temples in Japan, and is the most widely visited religious site in the world. I didn't get a chance to visit last year because we just couldn't fit it in our schedule, so I was determined to go this time. 

Hozomon Gate
Hozomon Gate
Hozomon Gate
Five-Storied Pagoda and Senso-ji Temple
Senso-ji Temple
Five-Storied Pagoda
Hozomon Gate (North face)
Senso-ji Temple
Statue in front of Senso-ji Temple
A yuzu tree
Senso-ji tsukubai
Senso-ji tsukubai
Nisonbutsu (Two Buddhas)
A flowering tree in full bloom
Garden at Yogo-do Pavilion
Koi pond at Yogo-do Pavilion
Cascade at Yogo-do Pavilion
Bronze Hokyoin-to
Seated Bronze Statue of Amida Nyorai
Seated Bronze Statue of Kannon Bodhisattva
Lantern in front of Hashimoto Yakusi-do Temple
A sakura tree
Nakamise-dori
Lanterns at Nakamise-dori
I'm not religious, but my grandmother was Buddhist and always took me with her to temple when I was a kid, so I've always appreciated the beauty of the religion and its buildings for worship. I know it's one of the most touristy sites in Tokyo, but it is totally worth dodging crowds for. (I did skip most of Nakamise-dori, though. Those crowds are a little too much for me.)

Senso-ji Temple 

2 Chome-3-1 

Asakusa, Taito City 

Tokyo, Japan 〒111-0032 

+81-3-3842-0181