Oita Prefecture in southwestern Japan, host to a Sanrio character theme park, plans to temporarily pitch its airport as “Hello Kitty Airport” in hopes of luring tourists visiting the country for the upcoming World Exposition in Osaka who are eager to travel further.
Oita Airport will call itself Oita Hello Kitty Airport for six months starting April 13, when the expo begins in Osaka, western Japan. Oita Prefecture is the only location other than Tokyo that hosts a theme park dedicated to the globally popular feline character.
The airport will welcome travelers by setting up a photo spot and banners featuring Hello Kitty and other Sanrio characters, according to the local government and the operator of Sanrio theme parks, Sanrio Entertainment Co.
Oita Gov. Kiichiro Sato (R) and Sanrio Entertainment Co. President Aya Komaki pose for a photo during a press conference in Oita on March 17, 2025, announcing that Oita Airport will be temporarily pitched as Oita Hello Kitty Airport. (Copyright 2025 Sanrio Co., Ltd. Tokyo, Japan)(Photo courtesy of Sanrio Entertainment Co.)(Kyodo)
A shuttle bus connecting the airport and Harmonyland, the Sanrio theme park, will also run between August and October, they said.
Noting that the prefecture saw a record high 1.5 million foreign visitors in 2024, Oita Gov. Kiichiro Sato was quoted in a press release as saying he hopes to share the charms of his prefecture while the expo is under way.
Aya Komaki, president of Sanrio Entertainment, said her company is aiming to make Harmonyland an “entertainment and resort area.”
Undated photo shows a panel displaying the image of a photo booth which will be set up at an arrival gate in Oita Hello Kitty Airport. (Copyright 2025 Sanrio Co., Ltd. Tokyo, Japan)(Photo courtesy of Sanrio Entertainment Co.)(Kyodo)
“We will make efforts so that Harmonyland can contribute to attracting tourists in and outside the country as one of Oita Prefecture’s attractions,” she said.
Oita Prefecture is also known for its hot springs. In addition to domestic flights, Oita Airport has international flights connecting with South Korea and Taiwan.
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AloJapan.com