This post may contain affiliate links. If you use them to buy something, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Before visiting Sanrio Puroland, I mostly thought of it as a theme park for young children and people who love Sanrio characters.
But after going there with my wife and kids, I found it much more entertaining than I expected—especially the shows, parades, and immersive atmosphere.
This is not a detailed strategy guide; instead, I’ll share what stood out to us as a family, along with a few practical things worth knowing before you go.
Sanrio Puroland is located in Tama City, Tokyo.
Ticket prices and opening hours vary, so check the schedule for the day you plan to visit.
Another important point is that a visit reservation is currently required in addition to a passport ticket .
If you’re visiting from overseas, you may not need the standard visit reservation.
With some tickets, you can simply fill out a short questionnaire at the entrance instead. It’s worth checking your ticket details before you go.
Compare ticket options for Sanrio Puroland in Tokyo and choose the one that works best for your visit!
Getting to Sanrio Puroland from Shinjuku
The nearest stations are Keio Tama-Center Station, Odakyu Tama-Center Station, and Tama-Center Station on the Tama Monorail.
The park is about a 10-minute walk from the stations, and the Keio Line ride from Shinjuku to Keio Tama-Center takes about 30 minutes.
That makes Puroland relatively easy to combine with a wider Tokyo trip.
One part of the visit I always enjoy is the walk from the station.
As you leave the station and follow Hello Kitty Street, Puroland gradually comes into view. The first time I saw the building in person, I was surprised by how large it looked.
Seeing it get closer as you walk toward the entrance adds to the excitement before you even step inside.
Why Sanrio Puroland Works So Well for Families
One of Puroland’s biggest advantages is simple: it is an indoor theme park, so rain, summer heat, and cold weather are much less of a concern once you are inside.
For parents traveling with young children, that can make a big difference.
The atmosphere also changes almost immediately after you enter.
Sanrio characters and colorful, fairy-tale-style decorations fill the space from different directions, and there is plenty to look at even when you are not riding anything.
My wife and children love cute characters far more than I do, so they were completely absorbed from the start.
But even though I am not nearly as familiar with Sanrio as they are, the attention to detail eventually pulled me in too.
What impressed me most on our first visit, however, was the way children were able to enjoy the entertainment.
During the illumination show we watched on the first floor of Puroland Village, children were able to watch the show from closer to the front. Some halls also had designated areas where children could watch the performance from nearby.
On our visit, it felt like real thought had gone into helping young children see and enjoy the shows rather than simply bringing them along with the adults.
That was something I appreciated a lot as a parent.
Character Greetings Were the Highlight for Our Kids
Of everything we experienced with our children, the character greeting was probably the most memorable.
We were able to take photos with the characters and interact with them up close.
Beforehand, I wondered whether my two-year-old daughter might be frightened by a costumed My Melody character.
I did not need to worry.
She walked straight up and hugged My Melody herself.
For me, seeing that reaction alone made the visit feel worthwhile.
It is one of those small family travel moments that stays with you long after the day itself.
There is an important practical point, though.
Character greetings require a separate ticket, and popular characters are worth checking as early as possible.
We connected to the Wi-Fi inside the park and obtained the ticket directly on our smartphone.
Adults Can Have More Fun Here Than You Might Expect
Our children were obviously having a great time, but I was surprised by how much I enjoyed Puroland myself.
There are attractions such as the boat ride around the park and the moving-seat shooting attraction, Cinnamoroll’s Little Big Adventure.
You do not necessarily need to be very familiar with Sanrio to enjoy the attractions and shows here.
I am not nearly as familiar with Sanrio as my wife and children are, but I still had fun.
The biggest surprise for me was KAWAII KABUKI.
It is a cute musical show performed by Sanrio characters, but the kabuki-inspired staging and dancing felt much more elaborate than I had expected.
I originally sat down thinking it would mainly be something for the kids to enjoy, but I ended up watching the whole thing with genuine interest.
My Favorite Ride: My Melody Road Drive
My personal favorite attraction is My Melody Road Drive.
You ride an Eco My Melody Car through Mariland, the world where My Melody and her friends live, and several photos are taken during the ride.
Afterward, you can add comments, illustrations, and stamps to the photos to create a personalized souvenir from your visit .
It makes for a fun family keepsake.
The photo cost ¥1,000 when we visited.
It was the kind of souvenir that was hard for me to resist.
Photo Spots, Games, and More at Sanrio Puroland
Puroland is not only about attractions, parades, and stage shows.
There are photo spots throughout the park, so families who enjoy taking pictures can easily come away with a lot of them.
My daughter seemed to be drawn toward every photo spot she saw, and we ended up taking far more pictures than I expected.
There are also multiple merchandise shops, a lottery where Sanrio character goods can be won, and even a game area with crane games.
My daughter made a souvenir coin there during one of our visits.
Even simply walking around can be enjoyable, particularly on the first floor, where much of Puroland’s distinctive atmosphere surrounds you.
The Biggest Downside: Crowds and Long Lines
The main frustration for us was the crowds.
Depending on the day, there can be so many people that simply moving through certain areas becomes difficult.
Popular attractions can also involve long waits, and slow-moving lines are especially tiring when you are traveling with small children.
I felt this most strongly while waiting for the boat ride. The line seemed to move very slowly, and standing there with a young child became genuinely exhausting.
ADVICE ADDED
This does not mean you need to avoid the popular rides, but if you are visiting with small children, it helps to decide which experiences matter most to your family rather than trying to do everything.
PUROPASS Can Help Cut the Wait
One option that became very tempting while we were waiting was PUROPASS, which can shorten the wait for certain attractions.
For example, according to the system during our visit, the boat ride cost ¥1,000 for one person, while a group of up to four people could use priority access for ¥2,000.
Depending on the crowd level, paying for shorter waits may be worth considering for families with young children.
The PUROPASS options we saw also sold out fairly quickly, so this is something I would check early rather than leaving until later in the day.
Eating Outside Puroland Can Be a Useful Option
There are several places to eat inside Puroland, including restaurants, a food court, and cafés.
Many of the dishes are themed around Sanrio characters, which makes the food itself part of the experience.
The problem for us was lunchtime.
When we visited, the restaurants were extremely crowded around lunch.
Instead of waiting, we temporarily left Puroland and ate near the station.
That worked well because Puroland allowed us to leave and re-enter the park .
When leaving, we told a staff member that we planned to return and had a stamp placed on our hand for re-entry.
There were plenty of places to eat around the station, and personally, I liked having the option to choose something outside the theme park.
Souvenirs and What to Buy Early
After a full day at Puroland, it is hard to leave without taking a look at the merchandise.
There are several shops inside, but the largest one during our visits was the Entrance Shop near the park entrance.
It had a wide range of Sanrio products, including stationery, plush toys, clothing, and snacks.
If you are looking for gifts for friends or family, there are plenty of options.
Buy Character Headbands and the Wonder Ribbon Light Early
Most souvenirs are easier to buy toward the end of the day so you do not have to carry them around.
However, some items are more fun to buy at the beginning of your visit because you can use them inside the park .
Character headbands are one example.
Another is the Wonder Ribbon Light.
The light reacts to scenes during parades and shows, which makes it more entertaining to join in with what is happening.
Our family has an older version of the light, and we bring it with us whenever we return to Puroland.
You certainly do not need one to enjoy the park, but it can add to the atmosphere if you and your children enjoy getting involved in the shows.
Is Sanrio Puroland Worth Adding to a Tokyo Family Trip?
I am still not as familiar with Sanrio as my wife or children, but I have enjoyed Puroland each time we have gone.
More importantly, my daughter has always looked genuinely happy there, which is the main reason I would happily take her again.
If you are traveling in Tokyo with children who like Sanrio—or if the idea of an indoor, character-filled family attraction sounds fun—Puroland is worth considering for your itinerary.
It may be less appealing if your main priority is avoiding crowds or if Sanrio characters, shows, and themed spaces do not interest anyone in your group.
Puroland also tends to close relatively early based on the operating hours described above, which can leave your evening open for something else after your visit.
Before You Go: Check Tickets and Nearby Hotels
If you decide to visit, the next thing to work out is how you want to buy your ticket.
There are several ways to purchase admission, so check the available options and the current visit-reservation requirements before paying.
Compare ticket options for Sanrio Puroland in Tokyo and choose the one that works best for your visit!
If you are traveling with young children and have a long journey before or after your day at Puroland, staying nearby may also be worth considering.
Traveling early in the morning, spending a full day at the park, and then making another long journey afterward can be tiring with children.
For families who want to reduce the amount of travel on the same day, checking hotels with convenient access to Puroland can be a practical option.
Comments