Sanrio Harmonyland Guide: Rides, Food, & Tips for Visiting

If you love Hello Kitty, Cinnamoroll, My Melody, Kuromi, and the rest of the Sanrio gang, there’s one seriously kawaii place in Japan that deserves a spot on your travel list: Sanrio Harmonyland!

Located in Oita Prefecture on the island of Kyushu, Harmonyland is an outdoor Sanrio theme park filled with character-themed rides, colorful attractions, live shows, super cute food, and plenty of places to shop for Sanrio goodies. It’s one of only two Sanrio theme parks in Japan, along with Sanrio Puroland in Tokyo.

And yes, we went there ourselves! We spent the day exploring Harmonyland’s rides and attractions, then took on another very important mission: trying as much of the kawaii character food as possible.

So if you’re planning a visit, here’s our guide to what Sanrio Harmonyland is really like and what you shouldn’t miss.

What Is Sanrio Harmonyland?

Sanrio Harmonyland is a theme park in Hiji, Oita Prefecture, near Beppu on Japan’s southern island of Kyushu.

Unlike the completely indoor Sanrio Puroland, Harmonyland is primarily an outdoor theme park that combines classic amusement park rides with plenty of Sanrio magic. You can ride a roller coaster, explore colorful buildings and gardens, enjoy views of the surrounding area, and spot Hello Kitty and her friends throughout the park.

And while Hello Kitty is naturally one of the stars, she’s definitely not alone. Depending on the attraction, show, event, and season, you may spot characters like Cinnamoroll, My Melody, Kuromi, Pompompurin, Pochacco, Badtz-Maru, and more.

Best Rides and Attractions at Sanrio Harmonyland

One thing surprised us when we visited: Harmonyland has a lot of rides! We tried to experience as many as possible, and they range from chill, kid-friendly rides to attractions with a little more speed.

Here are some of the Harmonyland rides and attractions to look out for.

Rhythmic Coaster

Don’t let all the kawaii surroundings fool you. Harmonyland actually has a roller coaster! Shaped like a giant pair of roller skates, the Rhythmic Coaster is one of the park’s more thrilling rides. It’s not an enormous thrill coaster, but it definitely adds a little adrenaline to your otherwise extremely cute Sanrio day.

If your ideal theme park experience needs at least one ride that makes you scream, put this one near the top of your list.

Harmony Train

Want something more chill? Hop aboard the Harmony Train for a relaxing ride through a different side of the park. The train travels through Harmonyland’s hilly landscape and is a fun way to enjoy the scenery while giving your feet a much-needed break.

It’s especially worth riding if you want to explore more of the park without adding quite so many steps to your day.

Sanrio EV Go-Kart

If you want to get behind the wheel, the Sanrio EV Go-Kart lets you drive a small electric car around its course! Keep in mind that this attraction may require an additional fee, so check the current park information during your visit.

Water Shot

Another interactive attraction in Harmonyland is Water Shot, where you aim at targets as you make your way through the ride. Of course, this is Harmonyland, so the whole experience comes with plenty of colorful Sanrio character theming.

Wonder Panorama Ferris Wheel

For one of the best views in Harmonyland, head to the Wonder Panorama Ferris Wheel. The colorful gondolas feature different Sanrio characters, and you can choose which to ride. Once you’re up high, you’ll get a fantastic view of Harmonyland and the surrounding landscape!

Strawberry Cafe

Despite the name, Strawberry Cafe isn’t a place to stop for cake! It’s a cute spinning ride featuring giant strawberry-shaped cups.

It’s one of those wonderfully whimsical attractions that feels right at home in a Sanrio theme park. Just be careful how enthusiastically you spin your strawberry if you’ve recently had lunch!

Sanrio Character Boat Ride

If you only have time for a few attractions, make sure the Sanrio Character Boat Ride is one of them. This cute indoor boat ride takes you through colorful scenes filled with familiar Sanrio characters. It’s a great choice for families, but longtime Sanrio fans will probably have just as much fun spotting their favorites along the way.

Love discovering cute places and things in Japan? Join the Blippo newsletter for kawaii finds, character news, and fun updates straight to your inbox!

Don’t Skip the Sanrio Shows and Parades

It would be very easy to spend your entire Harmonyland visit rushing between rides, but make sure you save time for Harmonyland’s shows and parades too!

This ended up being one of our favorite parts of our visit. We got to see Cinnamoroll and his friends performing, and even got to greet them! There’s something extra exciting about seeing characters you love right in front of you and getting a wave or greeting back!

Harmonyland’s live entertainment brings together Sanrio characters, music, dancing, and colorful costumes, and it’s a nice change of pace between rides. Some performances also take place in covered areas, which came in handy during our visit when the weather wasn’t exactly on our side.

Show, parade, and character schedules can change, so check Harmonyland’s current schedule on the day of your visit to see who you might get to meet.

Visit Hello Kitty at Kitty Castle

You can’t visit a Sanrio theme park without spending some quality time with Hello Kitty! One of the park’s signature attractions is the Kitty Castle, where it feels like stepping right into Hello Kitty’s adorable pink home. The best part? You may even get the chance to meet and take a photo with Hello Kitty herself!

What to Eat at Sanrio Harmonyland

Come hungry because Harmonyland has plenty of cute Sanrio food to try! You’ll find character-themed meals, snacks, desserts, and drinks around the park. Everything is almost too cute to eat!

During our visit, we made it our mission to try as much as we could, including stops at Harvest Table, Charaful Marche, Circus Kitchen, and Happy Cafe. If you’re looking for a proper meal, Harvest Table is our top pick. The food is filling, the character presentation is adorable, and it’s a great spot to recharge before heading back to the rides.

You’ll also find plenty of snacks and seasonal treats as you explore, so keep an eye out for limited-edition goodies featuring your favorite characters. The menus change, so there’s always a chance to find something new!

Shopping for Sanrio Merchandise

Obviously, you’re not leaving Harmonyland without checking out the shops. You’ll find plenty of Sanrio goodies around the park, including Hello Kitty plushies, Sanrio souvenirs, accessories, and stationery.

Aside from shopping, there’s the Sanrio Characters Fun Plaza, where you can find amusement games and activities such as crane games and other ways to collect cute souvenirs.

Basically, leave a little room in your suitcase. You have been warned!

Can’t make it to Harmonyland just yet? Explore Blippo for Sanrio goodies, plushies, stationery, and more kawaii finds from Japan! 

Is Sanrio Harmonyland Worth Visiting?

For a Sanrio fan? Absolutely. Harmonyland feels very different from the huge theme parks you may already have visited in Japan. It’s smaller and easier to explore, with less focus on massive thrill rides and more on cute character experiences.

That makes it especially fun if your priorities are Sanrio characters, photo spots, kawaii food, shopping, parades, and themed rides.

It’s also a great addition to a Kyushu itinerary. If you’re already planning to visit Oita or Beppu, Harmonyland can easily become one of the highlights of your trip.

How to Get to Sanrio Harmonyland

Harmonyland is located in Hiji, Oita Prefecture, so it’s quite a trip from Tokyo. The easiest option is to fly from Tokyo Haneda Airport to Oita Airport, which takes around 1 hour 40 minutes. From Oita Airport, you can continue to Harmonyland by bus. Currently, the Harmony Liner offers direct service between Oita Airport and Harmonyland, making the trip much easier.

If Harmonyland is high on your kawaii bucket list, consider staying overnight in Oita or nearby Beppu instead of trying to squeeze it into a day trip from Tokyo.

Sanrio Harmonyland vs. Sanrio Puroland

If you’re planning a Japan trip, you may be wondering which Sanrio theme park you should visit.

Sanrio Puroland is indoors and located in Tokyo, so it’s much easier to add to a typical first-time Japan itinerary. It’s especially known for immersive indoor areas, character experiences, shows, and elaborate Sanrio theming. Check out our Sanrio Puroland guide for more information about Japan’s Hello Kitty land!

Sanrio Harmonyland is outdoors in Oita Prefecture and feels more like a traditional amusement park given a giant Sanrio makeover. You get roller coasters, a Ferris wheel, a carousel, go-karts, and character attractions.

If you’re a major Sanrio fan and your Japan itinerary allows it, though, there’s an even better answer: Visit both!

Ready for a Kawaii Day at Harmonyland?

Sanrio Harmonyland might not be as famous internationally as Sanrio Puroland, but that’s part of what makes it such a fun discovery.

Where else can you ride a roller coaster, visit Hello Kitty’s castle, spin around with Cinnamoroll, watch your favorite characters perform, eat ridiculously cute food, and then somehow convince yourself that you definitely need another Sanrio plushie? Sanrio Harmonyland is absolutely worth adding to your Japan itinerary.

And if your Harmonyland trip is still a little too far away, you can always bring some of that Sanrio cuteness home. Shop officially licensed Sanrio goodies at Blippo and find a new kawaii favorite while you wait for your next Japan adventure!