Sanrio Puroland


Sanrio Puroland, also known as Hello Kitty Land, is an indoor theme park located in Tama New Town, Tokyo, Japan. Opened on December 7, 1990, it hosts attractions, live shows, shopping outlets, and restaurants dedicated to Sanrio characters such as Hello Kitty, My Melody, Cinnamoroll, Gudetama, and Aggretsuko, in a manner akin to Disney theme parks.
Sanrio Puroland attracts over 1.5 million visitors per year, and is ranked among the major theme parks in Japan, along with both Tokyo Disney Resort parks and Fuji-Q Highland. Sanrio also operates Harmonyland, an outdoor theme park in Oita Prefecture.

History

Sanrio Puroland was a "bold attempt" to challenge the Walt Disney company and its theme parks. During its conceptual phase, Sanrio Puroland was known by many names - first as Sanrio Communication World, as well as Sanrio Heart Park and Sanrio Piero Land. The original theme was going to be "communication", as opposed to Sanrio's existing works, including its characters.
In 1985, Sanrio initiated a project called "Sanrio Science Culture Communication Center" with the goal of constructing a theme park that would open in 1990 to coincide with Sanrio's 30th anniversary. To build knowledge on theme park operation, management, and interior design, Sanrio commissioned Landmark Entertainment Group to design two facilities - the Ginza Sanrio Gift Gate and Sanrio Phantasien. The initial design phase began in 1987, and Sanrio Puroland broke ground on November 16, 1988. It took a team of 2,500 workers approximately two years to complete, at a cost of around JPY 60-70 million.

Early days

Sanrio Puroland opened on December 7, 1990, and would operate at a loss for the first few years of operation, due to factors such as the aftereffects of the Japanese asset price bubble burst and complaints from city locals.

Modern times

Notable temporary closures

Sanrio Puroland was temporarily closed from February 22 to July 20, 2020, during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Points of interest

Attractions

Rides

Sanrio Puroland offers visitors two dark rides. The Sanrio Characters Boat Ride, which tells the story of various Sanrio characters preparing for a party held by Hello Kitty, was the park's only ride until the opening of SANRIOTOWN in 2013, and with it the introduction of Mymeroad Drive, where riders are taken to a tour of Mariland via a rental car designed by Kuromi, My Melody's rival. Both rides offer commemorative photographs which can be separately purchased.

Walkthrough attractions

Sanrio Puroland has two walkthrough attractions, both found at SANRIOTOWN, as follows:
  • Lady Kitty House - Visitors explore a regal-like residence with several items decorated in Hello Kitty's image. At the end of the attraction, visitors can have a photo together with Hello Kitty.
  • Kiki & Lala Twinklingtour - Visitors explore a replica of the birthplace of Kiki and Lala.

    Other attractions

Visitors can ring Hello Kitty's Bell of Happiness, located inside the Tree of Wisdom.
Other attractions inside Sanrio Puroland include five food factory displays, and a game corner with kids' rides, purikura booths, and UFO catchers.

Former attractions

was a former simulator attraction featuring Godzilla that ran from March 18, 1994 to July 1, 1998.

Live entertainment

Main parades

The main parades of Sanrio Puroland take place around the Tree of Wisdom in Puro Village. The current main parade is "Miracle Gift Parade", which debuted in late 2015 to commemorate Sanrio Puroland's 25th anniversary. Past parades and seasonal parades are as follows:
Past parades
  • Sanrio Starlight Parade
  • Sanrio All-Star Parade "Cosmic Fantasy"
  • Illuminant
  • Sanrio Heartful Parade "Believe with Hello Kitty"
  • Hello Kitty 40th Anniversary Parade "ARIGATO EVERYONE!"
  • My Melody and Little Twin Stars 40th Anniversary Parade "OMOIYARI TO YOU"
Seasonal parades
  • Musical Show "The Puro Christmas"
  • '''Puro Summer Fest LIVE!!!!'''

    Stage shows

Sanrio Puroland hosts a variety of stage shows in various areas. Selected past and present shows are as follows:
Märchen Theater
  • KAWAII KABUKI - A kawaii-themed kabuki musical adaptation of the Japanese traditional folktale Momotaro. Created in collaboration with Shochiku.
  • Hello Kitty in Wonderland - A musical adaptation of Alice in Wonderland created by Koike Shuichiro to commemorate Hello Kitty's 40th anniversary. Includes a musical revue portion at the end of the show produced by Takarazuka.
  • Hello Kitty and the Wizard of Oz - A musical adaptation of The Wizard of Oz created by Koike Shuichiro to commemorate Hello Kitty's 35th anniversary. Includes a musical revue portion at the end of the show produced by Takarazuka.
  • Hello Kitty's Nutcracker - Based on The Nutcracker. Includes a musical revue portion at the end of the show produced by Takarazuka.
  • Hello Kitty's Journey Through Fairyland
  • Hello Kitty Dream Revue 2
  • Hello Kitty Dream Revue 1
  • Sanrio Characters on Broadway!!
Fairyland Theater
  • Beyond Words
  • Wish me mell's Chance for you
  • MEMORY BOYS: The Shop Selling Memories
  • Little Hero
  • My Melody and the Legend of Star and Flower
  • Someday saga
  • Marron Cream's Love Fantasia
  • Monkichi's Magical Mystery
  • '''Pocchaco and Pekkle's Adventure'''

    Other shows

Sanrio Puroland also hosts a daily fireworks show and various illumination shows.

Shops

  • Entrance Shop - The largest shop in Puroland, which is located on the third floor. Original Puroland goods are available here. When the park first opened, it was called the “Souvenir Festival Plaza.” Inside of the store was a castle and circus tent, and a moving trap bridge was built. Additionally, the cashier was set up inside of an enclosure similar to that of an Orient Express train car called the “Register Train,” and the entertainment part of shopping was displayed.
  • Lady Kitty House Shop - Shop focused on selling Kitty goods, located on the second floor of Sanrio Town. Original “Lady Kitty House” goods are also available here.
  • My Melody Shop - Located directly above the entrance of Rainbow Hall on the fourth floor, vivitix was renovated. This is a shop focused on selling My Melody goods and there are some available that are designed exclusively for Puroland. Attached to this shop was a room entirely decorated with My Melody goods, which was renewed as a photo spot called “My Melody Garden” in 2020.
  • Gudetama Shop - Shop focused on selling Gudetama goods, located on the third floor of Rainbow Hall.
  • Village Shop - Shop that mainly sells stationery, plush toys, etc. for children and is located on the first floor of Puro Village.
  • Duty-free counter - Tax-free counter that sells candy, plush toys, cameras, etc. on the fourth floor of Rainbow Hall. The duty-free counter and duty-free services will no longer be available as of November 17, 2023.
  • Boat Ride Photo Corner - Shop located on the second floor of Puro Village that sells souvenir photos, headbands, etc. during the Sanrio Character Boat Ride.

    Restaurants

  • Restaurant Yakata - A buffet style restaurant on the fourth floor of Rainbow Hall. Visitors are able to enjoy meeting and taking photos and/or videos with 6 different characters at random- Hello Kitty, Dear Daniel, Cinnamoroll, My Melody, Pompompurin, and Wish me mell - at this restaurant. There is a 70-minute time limit. Installed at the information desk is a “reception system to reduce waiting time.” To know their turn in line, customers get a numbered ticket from the information desk and use their mobile device to scan the QR code found on the ticket. Until their turn is called, customers can freely roam around inside the park. Operation was suspended after its temporary closure in February 2020. In July 2020, the buffet was made available again. In the same year on August 10, the buffet format was suspended, and the restaurant reopened for business with a one-plate menu. As of 2022, greeting visitors at their seats has been suspended and instead characters appear onstage in the restaurant.
  • Sanrio Rainbow World Restaurant - Located on the fourth floor of Rainbow Hall, this “Food Machine Restaurant” underwent renovation and reopened as a rainbow-themed food court-style restaurant on December 23, 2016. The restaurant interior is decorated with colorful rainbow-like decor. Mainly depicted are the associated colors and messages of seven Sanrio characters, and aside from this, their objet d’art is placed at the entrance of the restaurant. The menu features desserts decorated with Sanrio characters such as Hello Kitty and Gudetama, as well as other foods that can be found in food machine restaurants, regardless of the typical clientele. Additionally, a limited-time menu supervised by Koji Matoba was available to celebrate the restaurant's opening. Seating capacity: 350 people.
  • Character Food Court - A fast-food style food court/ restaurant inside of a renovated “gourmet bazaar” which is located on the first floor of Sanrio Town. The menu is primarily aimed at young women and children, and features Japanese curries and sweets in the shape of characters like Hello Kitty, My Melody, etc., which is reminiscent of character bentos and food art, as well as the Sanrio characters that are popular on Instagram. Events like the “Character Curry General Election” are held periodically. Seating capacity: 524 people.
In addition to these restaurants, there is the Dream Cafe, which is located on the fourth floor of Rainbow Hall. For a limited time, the cafe is open as “My Melody Dream Cafe,” “Cinnamoroll Dream Cafe,” etc. which offer original sweets and other items with the character designs. Additionally, on the first floor of Puro Village is Sweet Parlor, which offers a collection of drinks, character designed ice creams, etc.