Latest news with #HelloKittyAirport
IOL News
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Oita Airport becomes a Hello Kitty wonderland: where travel meets cuteness
Sanrio's character, Hello Kitty, outside Oita Hello Kitty Airport in Japan. In a delightful fusion of travel and fandom, Japan's Oita Airport is embracing cuteness like never before and has rebranded itself as "Hello Kitty Airport". This whimsical initiative comes as part of a broader strategy aimed at attracting a torrential influx of tourists for the World Expo in Osaka, currently taking place in the country. According to reports from Kyodo News, Oita Prefecture, nestled in the picturesque island of Kyushu in the southwestern region of Japan, is strategically positioning itself to entice visitors with its unique offerings. Japan is known as a destination for anime, manga and out-of-this-world theme parks. Known for hosting a Sanrio character theme park, Harmonyland, the airport will don its new identity for a full six months, making it a focal point for those keen to explore more after arriving for the expo. As visitors step through the gates of Oita Hello Kitty Airport, they will be greeted by a veritable celebration of the iconic character, created by Yuko Shimizu and now delightfully designed by Yuko Yamaguchi. With her signature red bow and three whiskers, Hello Kitty has transcended her status as a fictional feline to become a global phenomenon beloved by millions.
Hype Malaysia
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hype Malaysia
Japan Rebrands An Entire Airport To Be Hello Kitty Themed
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
