Winter in Japan for the non-skiing family

[ShelleyB]

Day 13 and we are off to Warner Brothers Studios and the making of Harry Potter. ShelleyB-son is a Harry Potter fan, ever since he first read the books. The original plan was to do this on Wednesday, when we are transition to Tokyo to meet Mr. ShelleyB, but over the Christmas period the studio is having a special event with various of the displays dressed with snow and Christmas trees. Today is the last day of that event. For the uninitiated, the studio contains original and replica sets from the Harry Potter films as well as the Fantastic Creatures franchise. There’s behind the scenes information on how the films were made, from set design and construction, costuming and special effects. For those who are not Harry Potter fans, please feel free to skip to the end.

Travel to Warner Bros. Studios is quite easy. There’s a train station a minute’s walk away which can be accessed from two different train lines.

Before entering for the tour we ate at the Frog Cafe in the building. Much sugar ensued.



Tickets are timed entry, mainly to allow participants to hear some briefing videos in groups, and enter the great hall together. The opening of the doors to the Great Hall is an event, and people with birthdays or other special anniversaries invited to open the doors. That was 2 people in our group.

The whole place was enormous, and the sets very very impressive. We probably spent around 5 hours there. Below are some photos from the day.

















After returning from Harry Potter we were quite tired and decided against any exploration of Yokohama or even any fussing about where to go for dinner. A lovely ramen place was just 1 minute walk away from our hotel so it was a no brainer.



Edited to add details of cafe food.

 

[ShelleyB]

Day 14 and a day to enjoy the sights of Yokohama.

I forgot in yesterday’s report to describe the breakfast at The Knot, which is a big oversight as it was fabulous. It is a mix of cooked to order (from a menu) and a buffet. Yesterday I had the omlette and today the roll. The omlette was particularly good. Unsurprisingly ShelleyB-son chose the waffle each day. The buffet was also excellent, quality vegetables, excellent homemade granola. Good coffee and about 5 types of tea prepared in a pot and kept warm. Even sparkling wine was available.

 

[ShelleyB]

After breakfast we headed out towards the waterfront on the train, where there are many sights to see. First up was the Yokohama landmark tower with the now (mainly) retired Nippon Maru training ship scenically moored alongside. The tower is a lovely building which has an observatory on the 69th floor but which is closed until 2028.





A short walk then brought us to Cosmo World, a small amusement park which has a large ferris wheel with enclosed cabins, London Eye style. We rode and although entry was a bit pricey at 1000 yen each, the views were excellent. Views all the way along the waterfront, including of the Asuka II currently in port. Yokohama is her home port.







A little further on was the buiding known as the Red Brick Warehouse. It’s just past the Cup Noodles museum which is closed for renovations to the end of January. The red brick warehouse is an historical building, previously used as a customs storage house but is now an upmarket shopping space. Naturally we did a little shopping plus a light lunch.






A little further on was the buiding known as the Red Brick Warehouse. It’s just past the Cup Noodles museum which is closed for renovations to the end of January. The red brick warehouse is an historical building, previously used as a customs storage house but is now an upmarket shopping space. Naturally we did a little shopping plus a light We continued our walk through Yokohama park to the Yokohama Marine Tower. The tower also has an observatory which unfortunately was closed due to high winds. It was indeed windy, and as such the Yokohama air cabins, a gondala ride over the waterfront area, was also closed. Never mind, ShelleyB-son consoled himself with the most ridiculous tower of cream ever seen at cafe in the tower called Eggs and Things. There are some pancakes under there somewhere.

 

[ShelleyB]

Finally on to Chinatown, which is the largest in Japan. Our intial plan was to grab an early dinner here but the cream tower ruined that idea. If we had been hungry there was no limit to the number of options. And if you want you palm read this is clearly the place to come.









After a little wander about back to the hotel. There we enjoyed the welcome drinks included in our room package. Ultimately no dinner was had as no one was hungry.