What You’ll Learn in This Article
- The difference between Magical Wands and Original Wands
- How wand wood and core affect its traits, and how to choose the right wand for you
- Where to buy a wand, the Ollivanders wand experience, and limited-edition and rare wands
Types of Harry Potter Wands at USJ
There are many kinds of wands in the Harry Potter area.
They fall into two main categories.
Here are also two ways to purchase a wand at Universal Studios Japan.
・Wands that let you cast spells like a wizard
・Wands that cannot cast spells
What Is a Magical Wand?
A wand’s traits depend on the type of wood and the type of core used to make it.
The wand then chooses an owner whose personality and temperament match those traits.
To help you find the wand that suits you, descriptions are posted at the Ollivanders wand shop.
In the illustration, the magical creature used for the core is shown on the left, and the wand wood is shown on the right.
This article also summarizes the traits of several wands.
When you buy a wand, a card explaining it is included in the box.
All wand descriptions sold in Japan are written in Japanese.
If you buy one in the United States, the description is written in English.
Magical Wands (Wands That Can Cast Spells)
These wands let you cast fire, water, snow, and other spells in the Harry Potter area.
Price: US$34.38 (tax included)
As of March 2024
USJ Wand Magic Guide: How to Move Your Wand and Where to Cast Spells in the Harry Potter Area
Magical Wand: Poplar
・A noble, stable, and reliable wand that can overcome irritating tendencies
・The owner of this wand has a clear moral compass
・Capable of powerful magic and precise spellwork
On Snow Man’s USJ TV special, Raul and Shota Watanabe used this wand during their spell-casting experience.
Magical Wand: Black Walnut
・An exceptionally perceptive wand that senses its owner’s inner conflicts
・Its power weakens if the owner lies to themselves or others
・The owner of this wand stays true to themselves regardless of what others think
On Snow Man’s USJ TV special, Tatsuya Fukazawa and Ryota Miyadate used this wand during their spell-casting experience.
Magical Wand: Sycamore
・It may burst into flames when bored. If mishandled, its core can weaken and die.
・The owner of this wand is bold, lively, intensely curious, and full of adventure
・A wand that becomes an immensely valuable asset to a worthy owner
On Snow Man’s USJ TV special, Koji Mukai and Ryohei Abe used this wand during their spell-casting experience.
Magical Wand: Yew
・A powerful wand capable of casting spectacular spells
・The owner of this wand is highly skilled and a lone wolf
・This wand is never owned by someone ordinary or timid
On Snow Man’s USJ TV special, Hikaru Iwamoto and Daisuke Sakuma used this wand during their spell-casting experience.
Types of Wands
・An extremely sensitive and responsive wand
・Its owner devotes their passion to one pursuit
・This is one of the most perceptive and loyal wands
・An ideal wand for a talented duelist
・Its owner has a strong will
・A wand that can also adapt to a reckless witch or wizard
・A wand owned by three successive heads of the Wizengamot
・Its owner has integrity and an inexhaustible passion for justice
・Well suited to gifted herbologists, skilled fliers, and trainers of magical creatures
・A striking jet-black wand with a substantial feel and excellent durability
・Its owner follows their own path and is unafraid to stand by their beliefs
・A dependable wand for combat and Transfiguration, though mishandling can weaken it
・A wand that favors adventurers
・Its owner works desperately to achieve great things or willingly embraces adventure
・When owned by an unambitious witch or wizard, it senses the weight of inertia and loses magical power
Original Wands (Wands That Cannot Cast Spells)
These wands cannot cast spells. Many are replicas of wands used by characters in the Harry Potter films.
USJ-Exclusive Original Wands
These wands went on sale in December 2022.
Where to Buy a Wand
You can buy one in the Harry Potter area at Universal Studios Japan.
You may bring a wand sold at Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo into USJ, but it will not work for casting spells there.
Purchase a wand at Universal Studios Japan or another Universal Studios park overseas.
Ollivanders Wand Shop
Enter through the shop entrance, read the wand descriptions, and talk with the shop’s witch while choosing the wand you want to buy.
You may purchase as many wands as you like.
Ollivanders Wand Experience
Each session is experienced as one group of about 20 to 30 guests.
One guest chosen by the wandkeeper can discover the wand that suits them while trying out spells.
Those who are not chosen can witness the moment a wizard is born—the famous scene from the Harry Potter films—right before their eyes.
The wand you encounter here has been waiting for you for many years, so its box is covered in dust.
Being selected is rare, so you will probably want to buy it if you are chosen.
It is not free; you must purchase it. Guests who are not chosen can select their own wand in the shop and buy one in a clean, dust-free box.
Wait Time for the Ollivanders Wand Experience
About 5 to 30 minutes.
Its wait is consistently short compared with other USJ attractions.
Early in the morning or at night, you may be able to experience it with almost no wait.
Guests hoping to be chosen by the wandkeeper should visit when it is less crowded.
Wearing Hogwarts robes or carrying items from the wizarding world may increase your chances of being selected.
However, your position when you are guided into the room does not affect your chances.
There used to be positions and patterns that seemed more likely to be selected, but today there is almost no difference based on location.
Rare Wands
・Far from ornamental, with an unusual and lethal power
・Its owner commands respect, though maintaining self-control and a strong mind is wise
・A symbol of good fortune
Rare wand sold only in Japan
・Enhances creativity and magical innovation
・Often owned by intelligent witches
・A wand that helps a person of great intellect realize what they desire
Exclusive to Universal Studios Hollywood
Exclusive to Universal Orlando Resort
Exclusive to Universal Beijing Resort
How Long Can a Wand Be Used?
A wand has no expiration date and can be used forever as long as it does not break.
I still own the Harry Potter wand I bought around the park’s opening in 2014, and it can still cast spells after 10 years.
USJ Harry Potter Area Guide: Attractions and Map
Where to Meet the USJ Hippogriff Show, Niffler, Pygmy Puff, and Baby Dragon: Magical Creatures EncounterExchange rate used: US$1 = ¥160.
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