Japan, the land of the rising sun and the birthplace of the beloved Sanrio Character, Hello Kitty. Known for her cuteness and iconic red bow, the Hello Kitty craze has gone above and beyond, marking years of popularity that never seem to die down.
In an adorable blend of travel and fandom, Oita Airport has rebranded itself to be a “Hello Kitty Airport”, packed with Hello Kitty-themed signage, a souvenir shop with exclusive merchandise and a photo zone with giant bath buckets (a tribute to Oita’s famous hot springs). A newly added bus service that connects the airport to Sanrio’s Harmonyland theme park is also available!
The Oita Airport will hold its Hello Kitty theme for six months, running from 13th April to 13th October. The airport sits strategically near the Sanrio-themed Harmonyland theme park, just an hour away in the town of Hiji. The rebranding is an initiative to support a broader strategy aimed at attracting more visitors for the currently active World Expo 2025 held in Osaka.
Japan invites visitors of the World Expo 2025, who are eager to explore more of what smaller prefectures have to offer, to visit Oita Airport. The rebranding is also part of Japan’s larger initiative to leverage its entertainment franchise as the export of popular manga and anime makes it big on the international stage.
For now, Oita is mainly attracting domestic travellers as bigger main destinations such as Tokyo and Osaka remain the main destinations for many international travellers. However, as more and more seasoned travellers search for less busy locations in the country, Oita prefecture could well be on its way to becoming the ideal destination!
Would you travel to Oita to visit the Hello Kitty Airport?
Source: Instagram
Alyssa Gabrielle contributed to this article
