The southern Japanese Island of Kyushu just got an official Hello Kitty airport makeover. Located in the Oita Prefecture capital city, Oita, its airport has been converted into the Oita Hello Kitty Airport for six months.
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Here’s what to know about the Oita airport Hello Kitty transformation
The airport in the Japanese city of Kunisaki has been renamed in honor of Hello Kitty.
Sanrio Entertainment told PR Times that the name “Oita Hello Kitty Airport” will remain in place until October 13, 2025, as part of efforts to boost tourism.
Special photo zones featuring… pic.twitter.com/Zc74zzXA9r
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) April 18, 2025
Starting from May until October 13, the entire airport will be themed on the iconic Sanrio character, along with friends like My Melody, Kuromi, Badtz-Mar, and Little Twin Stars, in time for the 2025 Osaka Expo. This is also the ideal location to open a Hello Kitty Airport, as Sanrio also operates its Harmonyland theme park nearby in the town of Hiji.
This is part of Japan’s ongoing leveraging of its entertainment franchises as the export of things like manga and anime makes it big in the West. We’ve seen things like Pokémon-themed airplanes from ANA, Demon Slayer MLB, and even a One Piece Collab with the Los Angeles Lakers, and this airport is sure to draw in some tourists. As it stands, Oita is mainly attracting domestic travellers, as metropolitan cities like Tokyo and Osaka remain the main destinations.
As many seasoned travellers to Japan continue to look for less busy locations in the country, Oita could be the next big destination. Who knows, HK Express has been adding some pretty interesting direct flights on its route map, so we may see Oita join the ranks of cities like Miyako, Fukuoka, Shizuoka, and Komatsu.
This story first appeared here
Related: Go Beyond The Tourist Trail To Savour The Experiences You Can Only Get In Japan
Note:
The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.
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