Awaji Island HELLO KITTY SMILE
Chartered car from Osaka. As the car drives along the coastline of Awaji Island, a gigantic Kitty head sculpture, seemingly emerging from the sea, gradually comes into view against the backdrop of the azure Seto Inland Sea—a truly breathtaking sight at first glance. The entire structure is built by the sea and nestled against the mountains. This is a Hello Kitty-themed complex that combines art, cuisine, ocean views, and multimedia experiences.
💎 Must-Experience Highlights and Travel Tips
💗 "HELLO KITTY SMILE"
· — An In-Depth Exploration of the Dreamy Underwater Dragon Palace
· 👉 The main venue of "HELLO KITTY SMILE" is centered around an immersive underwater dragon palace concept. Here, Hello Kitty transforms into Otohime (Dragon Palace Princess) from Japanese mythology, guiding visitors into a fantastical underwater world.
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· 👉 Scenes and Atmosphere:
o You will pass through an entrance resembling an underwater tunnel, entering a mysterious space filled with a bluish glow and flowing light.
o The entire area utilizes advanced media art technology, projecting images of various marine creatures (such as colorful schools of fish, elegant jellyfish, and massive whale sharks) on walls, floors, and even ceilings through large-scale projections, lighting, sound effects, and mirror effects.
o A Hello Kitty figure dressed in a gorgeous kimono (Otohime attire) occasionally appears in various scenes, dancing alongside the surrounding marine creatures, creating a dreamlike "underwater stroll" experience.
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💗 Cuisine and Scenery: Two Unique Oceanview Restaurants
The venue houses two restaurants:
1. A restaurant focusing on health and local ingredients: Offers dishes centered around Awaji Island specialties, with the individual hot pot being the most recommended.
2. A restaurant specializing in seafood and Chinese dim sum: Focuses on fresh seafood from the Seto Inland Sea, offering various grilled seafood and exquisite dim sum.
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Shared Highlights: Both restaurants feature large floor-to-ceiling windows facing Harima-nada. Whether it's the sparkling blue sea during the day or the magnificent sunset listed among "Japan's Top 100 Sunsets" in the evening, these views add endless romance to your dining experience.
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💗 "HELLO KITTY APPLE HOUSE"
· — The World's Largest Apple Fantasy Theater
· 👉 This is a standalone building shaped like a giant red apple, making it an iconic photo spot. It forms a complete entertainment area with the adjacent "HELLO KITTY SHOW BOX" performance theater.
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· 👉 Interior Theater Experience:
o Inside the "apple," you'll find a 360-degree dome theater. All viewers are surrounded by a massive spherical screen.
o Using high-tech projection mapping technology, a 10-15 minute dreamy short film is presented. The story typically showcases Hello Kitty preparing for a grand performance in the "Apple House," featuring her favorite things (like bows, candies, and stars). The visuals are beautiful, colorful, and full of whimsy and imagination.
o As it's an immersive theater, it's recommended to choose a central spot in the venue and look around for the best viewing experience.
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💗 High-Altitude Viewing: 15-Meter Observation Deck with Stunning Views
· After experiencing the theater, you can take an elevator to the observation deck atop the apple-shaped building.
· Two Major Highlights:
1. 👉 Overlooking the Roof of "HELLO KITTY SHOW BOX": From this unique angle, you can clearly see the massive Hello Kitty face painted on the roof of the adjacent building—a stunning sight not visible from the ground.
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2. 👉 Panoramic View of Harima-nada: The observation deck is an excellent spot to enjoy the ocean view of Harima-nada. Especially at dusk, this location is renowned as a perfect place to witness "Top 100 Sunsets" level sunsets, where the sea and sky are dyed golden and orange, creating a breathtaking scene.
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In summary, "HELLO KITTY SMILE" and "HELLO KITTY APPLE HOUSE" together form a complex artistic vacation space that goes beyond an ordinary theme park. The former takes you into a dreamy underwater world, while the latter elevates you to a fantastical cloud realm. Together, they offer a complete Hello Kitty dream journey from the sea to the sky.