Everyone knows that America, the global police have galliantly defended the rest of world against terrorism, tradition, vegetables and a healthy lifestyle, with Japan being a prime example. Post ww2, Japan hosted America and all its BBQ wing, hamburger, TV and theme park glory with Universal studios, the pinnacle of American amusement, being carbon copied and plonked right in the middle of Osaka.
The giant rotating globe, welcomes you as you stroll past groups of Japanese Minions and young couples styling matching everything from headwear to jeans to shoes. And you step into every one of your favourite childhood films.
The rides are cool, undoubtedly, especially when they use real fire and backwards rollercoasters but it’s the place itself; the New York cityscape, the San Fransisco harbour and the Jurassic park island that give the place it’s incredibly addictive atmosphere. With King Kong swinging from walls and Spiderman dangling upside down it’s like everything has jumped straight out of a kids colouring book.
And that’s not even mentioning Harry Potter, an identical replication of Hogsmeade, Diagon Alley and Hogwarts castle itself. You get your little ticket and you wait with a mixture of excitment and nerves, exactly like Harry did may I add. After a quick walk through the Forbidden Forest, which by the way consists of thousands of imported conifer trees, if you’re lucky, you’ll bump into Train conducters as the meander around Hogsmeade and chat casually about this week’s Daily Prophet and last night’s Quidditch match results. Florence and Blotts sells notebooks and quills, Honeydukes sells magic sweets, Zonko’s sells toys and Ollivanders is where you buy your wands.
As difficult as is, with the ground being so unbelievably cool, don’t forget to look up at the sky every once in a while because Hedwig still lives. Owl trainers have snowy owls and fly them around the castle grounds and occasionally they’ll perch themselves on top of the perfectly decorated, snow covered roofs. Like the chapter in Prisoner of Azkaban where Harry isn’t allowed to go Hogsmeade so being the badass he is, he sneaks out. An eternal November.
The best piece of advice you’ll receive though, is to not fill up on Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans or Honeydukes cupcakes because the Shepards Pie at The Three Broomsticks is the best Shepards pie you’ll have outside of England. And there’s always the house ale or Butterbeer, take you pick. I mean what’s more Northern than eating pie under the glassy stare of a wall-mounted hog, next to a brick, coal fireplace, on uncomfortable benches watching parents struggle to control their unruly offspring. Home away from home.
And then you end the day with a 20 minute trippy as hell ‘Magical Lights’ parade.
As a out and proud Disney fan, it’s hurts me to say that in this instance (and this instance only!) Universal takes the crown.
Reluctant Wanderer 