Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsHarvey’s Island has two distinct attractions in Animal Crossing: New Horizons: Photopia, a studio for staged photos, and a plaza of shops and services. Fly there from the airport; use amiibo only if you want to add compatible characters to studio scenes. Plaza shops are unlocked with Bell donations.
How to get to Harvey’s Island
- Go to the airport and speak to Orville.
- Choose “I wanna fly!” and then “Visit Harv’s island.”
- Once on the island, enter Harvey’s house to use Photopia, or visit the open-air plaza for its shops and services.
Nintendo’s amiibo instructions give this airport route. The plaza is a separate area from the house and was added in Ver. 2.0.
Photopia: stage photos with characters
Photopia is Harvey’s indoor photo studio. Arrange a scene in one of its rooms, position characters and furniture, and take pictures. Compatible Animal Crossing amiibo cards or figures are optional: they let you bring supported characters into a studio scene.
How to use an amiibo in Photopia
- Enter a room in Harvey’s house.
- Press Down on the directional controls to open the studio’s character setup.
- Scan a compatible amiibo at your controller’s NFC touchpoint.
- When the character appears, dress them and set their reactions for the photo.
amiibo are not required to visit the island or use Photopia’s basic photo features. Nintendo’s support guide describes the scanning procedure and character setup.
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![Animal Crossings New Horizons - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51ErvUL40zL._SL160_.jpg)
- Build your community from scratch on a deserted island brimming with possibility; Create your personal getaway and customize your character, home, decorations, and even the landscape itself
- Collect materials to construct everything from furniture to tools. Then, use what you create to give your island a personal touch
- Watch as the time of day and seasons match real life—even your hemisphere. Each day holds potential for surprises and discoveries
- Get to know the island residents, garden, fish, decorate, hunt for fossils, and more.
- Show off your paradise – play on the same system with a total of 4 people, or play together online or over local wireless for fun with up to 8 players
The plaza: shops and island services
The open-air plaza brings several familiar visitors’ businesses to one place. Nintendo’s Ver. 2.0 feature explainer describes the merchants and services, including:
- Kicks: sells shoes, socks and bags.
- Leif: sells plants and gardening supplies.
- Saharah: offers rugs, wallpaper and flooring.
- Redd: sells art and other items.
- Katrina: offers fortune-telling.
- Tortimer: lets you access home storage while on the island.
- Reese and Cyrus: Cyrus can customize some ready-made furniture that cannot be customized at a DIY workbench.
- Harriet: teaches hairstyles at the plaza.
Nintendo says plaza shops can be visited throughout the week; they are not limited to the day their visitors would otherwise appear on your island. See the Ver. 2.0 FAQ.
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- Share Your Paradise - Show off your island utopia to family and friends - or pack your bags and visit theirs.
- Get Building - Experience a robust new crafting system - collect materials to construct everything from furniture to tools!
- Create Your Perfect Getaway - Craft everything from tools to creature comforts as you create and customize your island community.
- Explore Your Island - Collect bugs, decorate your paradise throughout the day, or enjoy sunset on the beach while fishing in the ocean.
- Play Together - Up to eight players can reside on an island; four residents of the same island can play together simultaneously on a single system.
How to unlock the plaza shops
Donate Bells to establish the plaza businesses. Nintendo’s English-language Ver. 2.0 FAQ confirms the donation requirement but does not give the exact cost or progression prerequisite. Nintendo’s beginner guide states that the opportunity follows K.K. Slider’s concert and that each new shop costs 100,000 Bells, payable all at once or in installments. That amount is in-game currency, not a real-world price.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What changed in the latest updates?
The plaza itself was introduced in Ver. 2.0. Nintendo lists Ver. 3.0.0 as released January 14, 2026, and Ver. 3.0.1 as released February 18, 2026, in its update history.
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- Take in-game photos of your designs and add them to your portfolio. Show them to other characters and you may get more requests to create vacation homes. Share the photos with other players using the in-game Showroom in the Happy Home Network app and they can tour your personally-designed resort islands or go tour theirs for some relaxation and inspiration.
- Purchase the Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Happy Home Paradise DLC from Nintendo eShop, or download and play it as part of an active Nintendo Switch Online plus Expansion Pack membership at no extra cost.
Ver. 3.0.0 added a weed-removal service from Leif when at least 30 weeds are present. You can ask for it on Harvey’s Island or during Leif’s visits, and the update reduced the service fee. The feature is useful if your island needs clearing; it is separate from unlocking the plaza shops.
Which part of the island should you use?
| Area | Best for | Bell donations | amiibo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Photopia | Staging and taking character photos | Not needed for basic studio use | Optional; use compatible cards or figures to add supported characters |
| Open-air plaza | Visiting recurring shops and services, including furniture customization and storage access | Required to open shops | Not needed for plaza shops |
For version details, Nintendo’s update history lists the current update notes, while its amiibo support instructions cover Photopia setup. The game is Animal Crossing: New Horizons for Nintendo Switch; Nintendo also lists a separate Switch 2 Edition.
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