Awaji Island is famed for its seaside and mountain activities, so it should come as no surprise when people feel at a loss for what to do on rainy days. Look a little deeper and you’ll find that there are plenty of indoor rainy day date spots that’ll make you feel warm and cozy inside!
Today, we’re taking a look at HELLO KITTY SMILE and HELLO KITTY SHOW BOX, two perfect spots for a rainy day date, no matter the weather!
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The Instagrammability of HELLO KITTY SMILE, Perfect for Rainy Day Date
HELLO KITTY SMILE features gleaming media art at the “Palace of the Dragon Princess”, an event space for crafting your own original Kitty goods, as well as four restaurants/cafes and a Sanrio and Hello Kitty specialty store. Since everything is inside, you can enjoy the spot during your rainy day date.
The interior of the building is covered with Hello Kitty-themed art – take a selfie anywhere for an adorable memory of your date! Let’s take a look at some places inside that we especially recommend.
The Palace of the Dragon Princess
As you enter the building, the first area you’ll find is the Palace of the Dragon Princess. Who knew the deep blue sea was brimming with Hello Kitties? You can also check out Hello Kitty and her boyfriend Daniel enjoying an underwater drive. That’s right, Hello Kitty has a boyfriend and his name is Daniel Starr, otherwise known as “Dear Daniel”. And he’s British!
Be sure to play around with all the gadgets and gizmos around the Palace of the Dragon Princess – Hello Kitty has prepared a quest for you to complete with your rainy day date. Work together to answer all of her questions, or else!
After that, head over to the event space and paint ceramics of your favorite Sanrio characters, try sand-art and more! Let your creativity flow and design a unique keepsake of your time together.
Any trip to Awaji isn’t complete without a taste of the delicious local food. HELLO KITTY SMILE alone features four restaurants and cafes, where you can feast on delicious Awaji Island seafood or Chinese cuisine. We highly recommend the Party Balcony on the second floor, a more adult-oriented and luxurious café space that overlooks the sea, with latte art and lovely high tea. Perfect for a rainy date!
If you get caught in the rain during your next Awaji vacation, be sure to swing by and take some couple shots at one of their many popular photo spots.
And of course, say hello to Hello Kitty herself! The greetings and décor are perfect for kids as well, if you’re a parent looking for your next family trip.
| Location | HELLO KITTY SMILE |
|---|---|
| Address | 985-1 Nojimahikinoura, Awaji City, Hyogo Pref. 656-1721 |
| Access | 10 minutes by car from Awaji IC or Hokudan IC on Awaji-Kobe-Naruto Expressway. |
| Parking | Free parking available |
| Operating Hours | Weekdays 11:00~19:00 Sat., Sun, & Public Holidays 10:00~19:00 Please note that each restaurant/café has different operating hours. |
| Closed | Tuesdays |
| Website | https://awaji-resort.com/hellokittysmile/ |
| Reservations | https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g1022838-d15190676-Reviews-Hello_Kitty_Smile_Garden_Terrace-Awaji_Awaji_shima_Hyogo_Prefecture_Kinki.html |
| Phone Number | 0799-70-9037 |
Click here for details of HELLO KITTY SMILE
Celebrate Your Birthday at HELLO KITTY SHOW BOX!
Up next, just a stone’s throw away is the theater restaurant HELLO KITTY SHOW BOX.
At HELLO KITTY SMILE, you can have lunch or a coffee while enjoying the spectacular singing and dancing performance put on by the one and only Hello Kitty! Everything on the menu has been designed for maximum kawaii (“cuteness”) overload, so even if you don’t have time for a full lunch, just drop in for coffee and a show and snap some cutesy photos.
HELLO KITTY SHOW BOX also offers an adorable birthday service for those who book in advance. If your special someone loves all things cute, Hello Kitty can wish them a very special birthday from the stage. Where else can you get a birthday shoutout from an international icon?
Enjoy the one-of-a-kind show put on by Hello Kitty and her band. Also, the entire menu is vegan and delicious! Make sure to take a photo with Hello Kitty on stage after her performance!
| Location | HELLO KITTY SHOW BOX |
|---|---|
| Address | 177-5 Nojimahirabayashi, Awaji City, Hyogo Pref. 656-1724 |
| Access | 10 minutes by car from Awaji IC and 15 minutes from Hokudan Interchange on Kobe-Awaji-Naruto Expressway. |
| Phone Number | 0799-70-9022 |
| Parking | Free parking available |
| Closed | Wednesdays |
| Operating Hours | 11:00-17:00 |
| Show Time | 12:10-13:30(Open at 11:00, Last In at 12:00) |
| Café and Greetings by HELLO KITTY | 14:00-17:00 Greeting at 14:30-/16:00- Café Show and Greetings by HELLO KITTY: 14:30~ / 16:00~ |
| Website | https://awajiresort.com/hellokittyshowbox/ |
| Reservations | https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g1022838-d17793182-Reviews-Hello_Kitty_Show_Box-Awaji_Awaji_shima_Hyogo_Prefecture_Kinki.html |
Click here for details of HELLO KITTY SHOW BOX
Hello Kitty’s Gigantic Apple House
When it opened in April 2022, HELLO KITTY APPLE HOUSE broke the hotly-contested record for “world’s biggest apple house”, situated right next to its sister facility, HELLO KITTY SHOW BOX. Bright red and standing proud at 15 meters tall with a 14-meter diameter, it’s hard to miss this massive memorial to the queen of all kitties. And considering Hello Kitty is said to be “five apples tall”, we think she could stand her own against the colossal Godzilla at the nearby Nijigen no Mori.
Climb up to the viewing platform to get an aerial view of the Hello Kitty face on the roof of HELLO KITTY SHOW BOX.
The interior of the apple house features Hello Kitty’s dreamy projection-mapping that is perfect for taking memorable pictures. Go see for yourself!
| Location | HELLO KITTY APPLE HOUSE |
|---|---|
| Address | 177-5 Nojimahirabayashi, Awaji City, Hyogo Pref. 656-1724 |
| Access | Kobe-Awaji-Naruto Expressway: 10 minutes by car from Awaji Interchange and 15 minutes from Hokudan Interchange. |
| Phone Number | 0799-70-9022 |
| Parking | Free parking available |
| Closed | Wednesdays |
| Business hours | LUNCH TIME 11:00-13:30 CAFE TIME 14:00-17:00 |
| Website | https://awaji-resort.com/hellokittyshowbox/applehouse/ |
| Reservations | https://www.tablecheck.com/en/shops/hellokittyshowbox/reserve |
Click here for details of HELLO KITTY APPLE HOUSE
Come in from the rain and make memories with Hello Kitty and your significant other at HELLO KITTY SMILE and HELLO KITTY SHOW BOX during your rainy day date. Oh, and the enormous, literal world-record-holding apple house.
©’2022 SANRIO CO., LTD. APPROVAL NO. L630788
