Hello Kitty takes over Osaka's airport in comprehensive 2025 World Expo makeover
No sweat! Just 'cause you jump on a plane headed for Oita, don't expect it to be a trip to the cat lady's house – it's a prefecture in southwestern Japan, buddy.
For the following six months, Oita's air hub will be renamed Oita Hello Kitty Airport to entice fans and tourists. Situated on the island of Kyushu, this scenic area is renowned for its natural hot springs.
This rebranding is all part of the hype surrounding Osaka Expo 2025 and aims to offer an alternative destination to overcrowded sites as Japan wrestles with record numbers of tourists. The tourist boom has offered the world's fourth-biggest economy a much-needed boost, but it's also brought some headaches for the locals.
So what does this mean for your travel experience? Expect Hello Kitty (who, by the way, ain't no cat) to be everywhere. As you step off the plane, you'll be greeted by the Japanese character on the boarding bridge. And as you meander towards the luggage claim, you'll pass posters of Hello Kitty tugging a suitcase and riding a miniature aircraft.
As you might guess, Hello Kitty isn't the only friend welcoming you at Oita airport. My Melody, Little Twin Stars, and Pochacco join in the sweetness – these characters all hail from Sanrio, the merchandising company that created this universe of cuteness.
So, darling, why Oita? Sanrio operates a theme park called Harmonyland in the prefecture—they'll sell exclusive Hello Kitty keychains and T-shirts at the domestic terminal.
The tourism department hopes the rebranding will entice more tourists, particularly those who usually frequent high-traffic destinations like Tokyo and Kyoto, to visit Oita instead. The prefecture is about one hour away from Osaka by plane and four hours by train.
Joining Hello Kitty at Oita airport are fellow Sanrio characters on a mission to fill the airport with a dose of Japan's quintessential cuteness—or "kawaii" in Japanese. Let's hope this airport becomes a link connecting countless smiles!
Oita is home to several onsen towns, such as Beppu and Yufuin, and seems more popular among local tourists than international visitors. About 80% of the 530,033 visitors recorded last month were domestic travelers.
The airport primarily operates domestic flights, but also runs a few international routes to Seoul in South Korea and Taipei in Taiwan. Oita Hello Kitty Airport isn't the only airport to embrace pop culture characters – Japan's complex train network also features beloved characters like Hello Kitty on its trains.
Although the Oita Hello Kitty Airport name change is temporary, it marks the first airport in Japan to have a pop culture-inspired name. Other airports may have themed collaborations with brands, but these do not result in permanent name changes.
- The tourism department in Oita, Japan, is rebranding its air hub as Oita Hello Kitty Airport for the next six months to attract fans and tourists, particularly those who usually frequent high-traffic destinations.
- As you travel to Oita, expect to be greeted by various Sanrio characters such as Hello Kitty, My Melody, Little Twin Stars, and Pochacco, who will fill the airport with a dose of Japan's quintessential cuteness.
- Apart from Sanrio characters, Oita offers quintessential Japanese experiences such as the scenic natural hot springs of Kyushu island, and onsen towns like Beppu and Yufuin, which seem to be more popular among local tourists than international visitors.
- In addition to domestic flights, Oita Hello Kitty Airport also runs a few international routes to Seoul in South Korea and Taipei in Taiwan, positioning itself as a link connecting smiles not just locally, but across the continent.
