Japan is the capital of cartoon characters. You can find IRL versions of your favourite childhood buddies in Tokyo, from local mascots like the adorable bear monster Kumamon to Pokémon collaborations and even a life-size Gundam for lovers of action anime. Of course, you can’t miss Hello Kitty and her Sanrio friends, and now you can sleep in your very own Hello Kitty-themed hotel room in Asakusa.
The newly opened Asakusa Tobu Hotel, just around the corner from Sensoji Temple, is offering two types of Hello Kitty-themed rooms. Inspired by traditional Japanese culture, these pastel pink hotel rooms are perfect for a girls’ night in.
The Sakura Tennyo hotel room is decked out in cherry-blossom pink shades. Hello Kitty, transformed into a tennyo (a kind of Japanese Buddhist fairy), watches over the four beds and protects while you sleep. This girly room also has a zashiki tatami sitting area, completing the traditional Japanese aesthetic.
For a modern twist, the Wa-Modern hotel room combines sleek western style with a traditional Japanese sensibility, resulting in a maroon-decorated room with Hello Kitty in a fashionable kimono. The darker colours and classier setup here make Wa-Modern room feel less fairytale and more mature than the Sakura Tennyo room.
The Hello Kitty hotel rooms open on October 8 and reservations begin August 24 at 10am on Tobu Asakusa’s website. Up to four people can stay in each room. There are only six Hello Kitty rooms, three Sakura Tennyo and three Wa-Modern, so be sure to reserve quickly. Prices have yet to be announced, but they probably won’t be cheap.
Prefer hot noodles over anthropomorphic cats? Book this ramen-themed hotel room in Sapporo until September 30.
Check our guide to going out safely in Tokyo.
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