Harmonyland Oita Review: Hello Kitty, Sanrio Characters & Rides

We visited

Harmonyland,

a Sanrio theme park located in Hiji, Oita Prefecture.

It is a dreamlike place where you can meet

Hello Kitty,

My Melody,

Cinnamoroll,

and other popular Sanrio characters.

During our visit,

we enjoyed

character photo opportunities,

shows,

rides,

lunch,

and souvenir shopping.

Harmonyland is incredibly cute,

but it is not just for children.

Adults can enjoy it too, especially if you love Sanrio characters, photography, or relaxed theme parks.

What Is Harmonyland in Oita?

Harmonyland

is a Sanrio theme park in Hiji, Oita Prefecture,

where visitors can meet Hello Kitty

and many other famous Sanrio characters.

Unlike

Sanrio Puroland in Tokyo,

Harmonyland is

an outdoor theme park surrounded by nature.

That gives the park a more open and relaxed atmosphere.

Flowers and seasonal events change throughout the year,

so the atmosphere can be different each time you visit.

We went during the Halloween season,

and even the flower displays featured Sanrio characters in seasonal costumes.

Meet My Melody, Cinnamoroll and Other Sanrio Characters

One of the best things about Harmonyland

is the chance to

meet popular Sanrio characters and take photos with them.

When we visited,

we were able to take photos with

My Melody

and Cinnamoroll.

The characters available may change

depending on the date and time.

My Melody was incredibly cute.

The staff kindly took several photos for us.

Next was

Cinnamoroll.

Even before we reached the room,

Cinnamoroll was already waving to us.

Too cute～～!

We were able to take such a cute photo.

Because the photo area has a bright background,

lighter-colored clothing may photograph better than black

if you want especially bright photos.

Hello Kitty Castle｜Photo Spots Everywhere

Next,

we visited

Hello Kitty Castle

to meet Hello Kitty.

Hello Kitty Castle is designed like Kitty’s home.

There are many adorable photo spots,

so it is fun even before meeting Kitty herself.

Everything inside is incredibly cute.

Megumi from our editorial team

also took a photo here.

So cute!

 

This is one of Kitty’s rooms.

You are free to take photos here as well.

This is Kitty’s dining room.

Even the chairs are shaped like Hello Kitty.

There are so many places to take photos,

so make sure your phone or camera has enough battery.

 

And then came the main event!

We finally met

Hello Kitty!

When we visited,

guests could purchase a flower for

¥900

and give it to Kitty.

In return,

we received

a small Hello Kitty plush toy.

This is the plush toy we received.

The pink outfit was adorable.

※Character interaction details, gifts and prices may change.

Sanrio Character Shows at Harmonyland

The

Sanrio character shows

are another highlight.

One thing we especially liked about Harmonyland

was how close the audience felt to the characters.

There were even moments when it felt like we made eye contact with them.

We also watched a special Halloween show.

The costumes were colorful,

and the music and dancing were much more impressive than we expected.

There was even a section where the audience could dance along,

which made it a fun memory.

 

Harmonyland Rides｜Fun for Children and Adults

Harmonyland has a variety of attractions

for different age groups,

from scenic rides

to classic amusement park attractions.

The train in the photo was faster than I expected

and was surprisingly fun.

We could also enjoy views of the Oita countryside.

The Ferris wheel gondolas

also feature Sanrio characters.

The weather was beautiful,

so the view was fantastic.

The Ferris wheel ride takes around

15 minutes.

There are also gentle rides suitable for young children.

Harmonyland is popular with families,

but because the rides are generally not focused on extreme thrills,

it can also be enjoyable for older travelers who prefer a relaxed theme park.

The carousel is especially photogenic.

The whole park is colorful,

so even simply walking around with a camera

can be fun.

Lunch at Harmonyland｜Adorable Character Food

At lunchtime,

we took a break at a restaurant inside the park.

Many of the dishes are inspired by Sanrio characters,

so they are almost too cute to eat.

We ordered a

Halloween limited-edition Hello Kitty curry.

It came with a pudding dessert.

The pudding was served in

a mini Hello Kitty mug that we could take home as a souvenir.

The portion was comfortable for us,

and the food tasted good too.

It works well for both adults

and families with children.

At the time of our visit,

some menu items also allowed the spice level to be adjusted.

 

The restaurant itself was also bright and pleasant.

Harmonyland Souvenirs｜Exclusive Sanrio Goods

Near the park exit,

you will find souvenir shops filled with Sanrio goods.

There were Harmonyland-exclusive sweets,

plush toys,

keychains,

stationery,

cosmetics,

and many other cute products.

We were told that these sweets were especially popular.

There were so many cute plush toys

that it was difficult to choose.

Sanrio characters always seem to have such stylish outfits.

 

There were also plenty of keychains.

Beauty items included

hand creams

and lip products.

There were also backpacks,

pouches,

hairbrushes,

and other accessories.

We also found

OITA HELLO KITTY AIRPORT merchandise.

Harmonyland had a good selection of airport-related goods,

so if there is something you want,

it may be worth checking here as well.

The souvenir shops were fun to browse

even if you did not plan to buy anything.

Is Harmonyland Worth Visiting for Adults?

Harmonyland gave us

a full day of cute characters, relaxing rides, and happy memories.

Surrounded by the natural scenery of Hiji,

the park feels spacious and relaxed.

The quality of the shows

and the kindness of the staff

were especially memorable.

Even as adults,

we found ourselves feeling like children again.

Because the park is not centered around intense thrill rides,

it can also be enjoyable for travelers in their 60s and beyond.

It is also a fun option

for multigenerational family trips.

With relatively easy access from

Beppu,

Yufuin,

and Oita Airport,

Harmonyland can be a fun addition to an Oita itinerary.

If you love

Hello Kitty,

My Melody,

Cinnamoroll,

or Sanrio characters in general,

Harmonyland is absolutely worth considering.