Sanrio Puroland

Sanrio Puroland (サンリオピューロランド, Sanrio Pyūrorando), also known as Hello Kitty Land,[1] 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, Cinamoroll, Gudetama, and Aggretsuko, in a manner akin to Disneyland and its sister theme parks.

Sanrio Puroland
LocationTama New Town, Tokyo, Japan
Coordinates35°37′28″N 139°25′45″E
ThemeSanrio characters
OwnerSanrio
Operated bySanrio Entertainment Co., Ltd.
OpenedDecember 7, 1990 (1990-12-07)
Visitors per year1,500,000
Area45,900 square metres (494,000 sq ft)
Attractions
Total2
Websitepuroland.jp

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

The theme park lost money during its first three years, owing to operational foul-ups and a temporary lull in Hello Kitty's popularity.

Notable temporary closures

Sanrio Puroland was temporarly closed on February 22, 2020 until July 20, 2020, during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.[2]

Points of interest

Rides

Sanrio Puroland offers visitors two rides, both with commemorative photos at the end of the ride that can be purchased separately, as follows:

  • Sanrio Characters Boat Ride - Located at the second floor. Riders are led by Cinnamon and his friends to a party held by Hello Kitty, meeting various Sanrio characters along the way.[3]
  • Mymeroad Drive - Located at SANRIOTOWN (first floor). Riders are taken to a tour of Mariland (My Melody's homeland) via a rental car designed by Kuromi, My Melody's rival.[4]

Walkthrough attractions

Sanrio Puroland has two walkthrough attractions, both found at SANRIOTOWN (second floor), as follows:

  • Lady Kitty House - Visitors explore a regal-like residence with several items decorated in Hello Kitty's image (some parts of this attraction are designed by Japanese graphic designer and art director Yuni Yoshida). At the end of the attraction, visitors can have a photo together with Hello Kitty (can be printed for a separate fee).[5]
  • Kiki & Lala Twinklingtour - Visitors explore a replica of the birthplace of Kiki and Lala (Little Twin Stars).[6]

Other attractions

Visitors can ring Hello Kitty's Bell of Happiness, located inside the Tree of Wisdom.[7]

Other attractions inside Sanrio Puroland include five food factory displays (candy, juice, chocolate, bread, and ice cream), and a game corner with kids' rides, purikura booths, and UFO catchers.[8]

Main parades

The main parades of Sanrio Puroland take place around the Tree of Wisdom in Puro Village (first floor). The current main parade is "Miracle Gift Parade" (performances are currently suspended since 2020), which debuted in late 2015 to commemorate Sanrio Puroland's 25th anniversary. Past parades and seasonal parades are as follows:[9]

Past parades

  • Sanrio Starlight Parade (1990 to 1997)
  • Sanrio All-Star Parade "Cosmic Fantasy" (July 19, 1997 to June 19, 2001)
  • Illuminant (June 22, 2001 to June 12, 2007)
  • Sanrio Heartful Parade "Believe" (June 15, 2007 to October 31, 2013)
  • Hello Kitty 40th Anniversary Parade "ARIGATO EVERYONE!" (November 1, 2013 to January 13, 2015)
  • My Melody and Little Twin Stars 40th Anniversary Parade "OMOIYARI TO YOU" (January 16, 2015 to November 29, 2015)

Seasonal parades

  • Musical Show "The Puro Christmas" (Since 2018)
  • Puro Summer Fest LIVE!!!! (Since 2019)

Stage shows

Sanrio Puroland hosts a variety of stage shows (both regular and seasional) in various areas. Selected past and present shows are as follows:

Märchen Theater

  • KAWAII KABUKI (Since March 10, 2018) - A kawaii-themed kabuki musical adaptation of the Japanese traditional folktale Momotaro. Created in collaboration with Shochiku.
  • Hello Kitty in Wonderland (April 20, 2013 to January 31, 2018) - A musical adaptation of Alice in Wonderland created 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 (April 13, 2009 to April 4, 2013) - 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 (June 6, 2006 to April 5, 2009) - Based on The Nutcracker. Includes a musical revue portion at the end of the show produced by Takarazuka.
  • Hello Kitty's Journey Through Fairyland (April 23, 2004 to May 31, 2006)
  • Hello Kitty Dream Revue 2 (March 26, 2002 to April 4, 2004)
  • Hello Kitty Dream Revue 1 (March 10, 2000 to March 17, 2002)
  • Sanrio Characters on Broadway!! (April 10, 1991 to January 30, 1992)

Fairyland Theater

  • MEMORY BOYS: The Shop Selling Memories (Since June 30, 2018)
  • Little Hero (June 27, 2015 to May 26, 2018)
  • My Melody and the Legend of Star and Flower (June 25, 2011 to May 24, 2015)
  • Someday saga (June 20, 2003 to May 8, 2011)
  • Marron Cream's Love Fantasia (February 1999 to May 18, 2003)
  • Monkichi's Magical Mystery (July 1996 to February 1999)
  • Pocchaco and Pekkle's Adventure (February 1992 to July 1996)

Discovery Theater

  • Gudetama the Movie Show (Since June 25, 2016)

Other shows

Sanrio Puroland also hosts a daily fireworks show (during the summer) and various illumination shows.

References
  1. "Sanrio Entertainment Co. Ltd. Factbook" (PDF).
  2. "After months of closure, Sanrio Puroland stages for re-opening in mid-July". SoraNews24 -Japan News-. 2020-06-20. Retrieved 2021-12-10.
  3. "サンリオピューロランド". puroland.jp. Retrieved 2021-12-10.
  4. "サンリオピューロランド". puroland.jp. Retrieved 2021-12-10.
  5. "サンリオピューロランド". puroland.jp. Retrieved 2021-12-10.
  6. "サンリオピューロランド". puroland.jp. Retrieved 2021-12-10.
  7. "サンリオピューロランド". puroland.jp. Retrieved 2021-12-10.
  8. "サンリオピューロランド". puroland.jp. Retrieved 2021-12-10.
  9. "沿革 ｜ 株式会社サンリオエンターテイメント". 沿革 ｜ 株式会社サンリオエンターテイメント (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-12-10.
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