Did you know that there is a theater restaurant on Awaji Island where you can enjoy Hello Kitty shows? Hello Kitty and a jazz band will appear during lunch and cafe times. Performers sing, dance and play instruments alongside Hello Kitty.
The venue will be very lively. We also offer delicious lunches and sweets. At the end, you can greet and take a photo with Hello Kitty. This time, we would like to introduce Hello Kitty’s theater restaurant, Hello Kitty Showbox.
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Theater Building Certified by Guinness World Records
Awaji Island is famous for its rich culture and history, and the farmland in the northern part of the island is lined with large apple buildings and buildings with large Hello Kitty faces painted on their roofs. The buildings listed in the Guinness Book of World Records are show theaters featuring Hello Kitty.
Upon entering the restaurant, I was met with the sight of a giant screen spanning 15 meters wide and 6 meters high. I was told that the establishment uses a theater restaurant concept where you can enjoy a delicious meal while watching a wonderful performance. I sat down at the table in front of the stage and waited patiently while enjoying the relaxing atmosphere and the high class yet charming decor. This venue is perfect for families, couples, and anyone who appreciates the adorableness of Hello Kitty.
Performance Show with Hello Kitty
The performance surpassed all my expectations. It started with a projection on the screen illustrating the story of Hello Kitty and her dream. This was very enjoyable, but the part that really blew me away was the actual performance which consists of a medley of songs, musical performances, and dances. I am not a music expert, but the cohesion between the background music and the instruments was perfect. The powerful dances fit the music as well and all of these combined to create a very cute but classy atmosphere.
Vegan Lunch and Vegan Sweets
The meal was also incredibly delicious. I was informed that all the ingredients come from local farms. The healthy and environmentally conscious menu was created by Hal Yamashita, an award-winning chef who has traveled the world and developed his own fusion style of cooking. He calls this Shin-washoku or “New Japanese Cuisine”. This style is all about using the finest ingredients and the passion handed down through generations while at the same time acknowledging that preparation and presentation methods have evolved dramatically in recent years.
As the food is Hello Kitty themed, not only does it taste great, it’s also fun to look at. I was served a full-course lunch meal consisting of salad, Awaji onion consommé soup, cheese rice gratin, and homemade apple pie. The salad was very unique, made with smoked applewood, which matched surprisingly well with the dressing. The soup was light but intensely savory. I have eaten many vegetarian meals in my life and the rice gratin is up there with one of the best ever. The dish provided a strong, robust flavor which I would not typically expect from vegetarian food. The apple pie was also the perfect dessert to close this unique course.
It was a great meal and you truly would not believe that it is made without any animal-based ingredients. For kids, they have a set menu that consists of curry, potato salad, corn soup, dessert, and juice. After lunchtime, you can also buy items from their café menu which includes Hello Kitty-themed pancakes, sweets, and apple pie.
Goods shop
Don’t forget to check the gift shop after the performance, as this is your chance to purchase limited edition Hello Kitty goods. If you’re a fan of Hello Kitty, I can guarantee that you’ll be amazed by the items sold at the store.
Observation Facility
The theater restaurant is exceptional, but there is still more to enjoy. Located in front of the restaurant is Awaji Apple House, a gigantic apple-shaped Hello Kitty House where you can step into the world of Hello Kitty and get immersed through the magic of projection mapping. Moreover, at the top of this cute-looking building is a 360°observation deck with superb views of the surrounding scenery. You can even see a cute Hello Kitty face on the rooftop of the theater restaurant next door.
| 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 |
