As this travel journalist knows, when it comes to Sanrio, the obsession knows no bounds.
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An unending collection of plushies, stocking up on kawaii stationery, decking your room with Hello Kitty bedding, and the list goes on from there.
If you don’t already have enough merch, there’s only one thing left to do: board a flight to Japan’s capital city and visit a Sanrio-themed “hotel” experience. We say hotel, but it’s not a place where you can stay the night…
Tokyo’s Shinjuku-ku ward is currently hosting Sanrio fan favourites as part of the "Hotel Floria Tokyo - Sanrio Characters Exhibition" at the Tokyu Kabukicho Tower – less than a 10-minute walk away from a number of train stations.
Here, visitors can “check in” and tour themed rooms of beloved characters from the world of Sanrio – from Cinnamoroll and My Melody to, of course, Hello Kitty herself.
This comes after a successful run in Seoul, Korea, where the exhibit first made its debut as the brainchild of digital design and art company D’strict.
“Set in a hotel filled with the characters’ dreams, each room and installation allows visitors to discover their distinctive personalities and charm,” a Hotel Floria Tokyo spokesperson told Euronews Travel.
Running in Tokyo until May 2027 across 11 themed rooms, general entry starts at ¥2,400 (€12.87) during weekdays, with “check-in” prices slightly higher over the weekends and holidays.
Guests are handed their very own character-designed “Luc-key” entry pass at reception. But there’s a catch: much like a Sanrio blind box, guests don’t get to know or choose which character they get, instead, the reveal is entirely at random.
After passing the lobby, guests can wander through rooms and pay a visit to Sanrio favourites before a trip to the exhibit’s garden, pond, art gallery and indoor beach experience. Fun for all ages, the hotel-inspired exhibition also has a dedicated “Photo Zone”.
“Beyond taking photographs, guests can walk through, explore and experience these worlds for themselves,” Hotel Floria Tokyo said. “This creates the feeling of becoming part of the story, as an immersive experience that can be enjoyed by children and adults alike.
“Adults can reconnect with fond childhood memories and a sense of nostalgia, while children can enjoy discovering them for the first time.”
If time is not on your side and there are only enough minutes to visit one exhibition area, Hotel Floria Tokyo recommends making a beeline for the Beach Zone.
There, pink hues ripple as part of an ocean sunset display on a floor-to-ceiling screen while real sand crunches beneath guests’ feet. In this daydream, Hello Kitty (in statue form) is standing beside her electric pink surfboard, while her canine friend Pochacco plays in the sand nearby.
“Visitors do more than simply watch images on a screen,” the organisers said. “As they walk across real sand, the visuals, sound and sensation beneath their feet naturally come together as one seamless experience.
“Rather than merely viewing the dreamlike scenery imagined by the Sanrio characters, visitors can walk through it and experience it with all their senses. This is what makes the Beach Zone so special.”