5 Places to go if You are a Hello Kitty Fan

Originally published September 15, 2023

This year marks Hello Kitty's 50th birthday! Created in 1974 by Yuko Shimizu for the Japanese company Sanrio, her simplistic and adorable image is why I and billions worldwide absolutely adore her and has led to an estimated worth of $80 billion, second only to Pokémon. Hello Kitty's universal appeal is evident, as she has numerous places around the world. If you are a Hello Kitty fan 🎀, here are five places that you should check out.

1.) Hello Kitty Island - Located on Jeju Island, South Korea, Hello Kitty Island is actually an exhibition hall, despite having “island” in its name. Some of the exhibits include a museum, a café, a gift shop, a Music Education Hall, and much more! Hello Kitty Island is open year-round so that you can visit anytime.

2) Hello Kitty Smile - Located on the west coast of Awaji Island in Japan, it’s the place where you can meet Hello Kitty as Otohime, a princess from a popular folktale. At Smile, you can eat at one of four restaurants and enjoy Hello Kitty-themed activities. It has two floors, with the first floor being sea theme and where Hello Kitty greets visitors, and the second being the Hello Kitty Room, where you can meet and greet Hello Kitty face-to-face.

3) Sanrio Puroland - Located in Tokyo, it’s an indoor theme park where you can meet Hello Kitty and her Sanrio friends. There are many activities to do, such as a musical show, boat rides, and shopping for limited-edition items.

4.) Hello Kitty Cafe Trucks - Opened in 2014, the trucks go around the country offering Hello Kitty-themed baked goods for fans. To find their schedule and see what they are serving up, you can check out their website.

5.) Hello Kitty Grand Cafe - Located in Irvine, California, you can enjoy cookies, cakes, seasonal items, and hot and ice drinks. You can relish these delicious treats in the cutely decorated café. You can check out their website for the whole menu and hours of operation.

Additional Links for further reading:

10 Places Every Hello Kitty Fan Needs to Visit

10 best Hello Kitty attractions and hotels in Japan

Hello Kitty Island Adventure - Announcement Trailer – Nintendo Switch