In Japan, Sanrio’s characters – from the eponymous Hello Kitty to My Melody (the bunny with a red bow), Little Twin stars (Kiki and Lala) and Keropi the frog among others, are as well known and perhaps even more beloved than Disney’s crew of Princesses and animated film heroes. After all, you would rarely see anyone over the age of 10 in a Cinderella t-shirt or 20-something using a Peter Pan lunchbox to work in the West, while in Japan, these adored characters seem to withstand the test of puberty and oftentimes adulthood.
So when the Japanese need something other than Disney‘s magic in terms of Theme Parks, they turn to Puroland, Sanrio’s answer to Disneyland. Located in Tama City on the outskirts west of the capital city, Puroland has all that you would expect of a theme park – rides, shows, gift shops, restaurants, and larger-than-life characters wandering around – all in a massive indoor area.
Theres Hello Kitty’s house for the kids to explore (although the size is large enough for grownups too!), a Hello Kitty ride, and a fantastic parade/show which caps off each day. here’s what to expect according to Sanrio:
Each day is highlighted by the main event – a singing, dancing, acrobatic story which takes place 360 degrees around Puroland’s centerpiece – the magnificent “Friendship Tree.” The entire park crowds around and buzzes with excitement as the music starts, then holds its breath as the star, Hello Kitty, floats to the stage from the star-filled sky above, wearing royal silver and gold. Sanrio characters dance as the music blasts and acrobats spring through the air in the action-pack finale.
Sanrio Puroland also boasts one of the largest Sanrio stores in Japan, certainly one of the busiest. It features just about every Sanrio product imaginable, even many, like the Hello Kitty “Plaid” or Badtz Maru “Metro” lines, that are designed exclusively for the Western hemisphere markets.
[tags]Sanrio, Puroland, Hello Kitty[/tags]