
The staff and characters of Puroland want you to know that they’re waiting for your visit from the bottom of their hearts.
With most family-friendly theme parks and museums closed in Japan at the moment due to the spread of coronavirus, Sanrio Puroland in Tama-Center, Tokyo is no exception. The fan-favorite park has also extended their closure until an unspecified time in early April due to a new governmental ordinance.
However, Puroland wants you to know that despite the closure, its staff are doing everything in their power to prepare to greet visitors with a smile again soon. The park even released a touching video message on their official YouTube channel on March 22 with the poignant message “Even though we’re closed…we’re here for you” and featuring a rare behind-the-scenes compilation of scenes at the park.
The video begins with a somber spattering of rain on deserted streets that are usually bustling with laughing families. We see dark entry gates and catch a glimpse of maintenance staff taking advantage of the lack of guests to change all of the LED lightbulbs. We’re then privy to a Sanrio Rainbow World Restaurant chef dreaming up new nutritious and cute menus to offer patrons, as well as a glimpse of Hello Kitty perfecting her step work on an empty stage. The video ends with shots of staff cleaning every square inch of the facilities.
Net reactions to the video were beyond touched and many longtime fans of Sanrio fans unabashedly shed tears:
“The sight of the staff carefully cleaning everything is heartbreaking and made me tear up.”
“To all the staff and characters: Thank you so much. I was supposed to visit Puroland for the first time for Purin-kun’s birthday event on April 5 but it got cancelled. While it’s too bad, your feelings have reached us. I will be sure to visit Purin-kun another time.”
“I want to go but I can’t…I promise I’ll visit as soon as things are better. I’ll always support you!”
“I wept uncontrollably. Puroland is a special and important place for me. Seeing all of the maintenance being done now, as well as the characters sending their greetings, I feel better knowing that I’ll see everyone again.”
“I’m sad I can’t see all of my favorite characters for now, but everyone’s hearts are like rainbows connecting each other forever.”
We’ll have to wait a little bit longer to see all of their hard work in person, but in the meantime it’s comforting to know that Hello Kitty and all of her pals are with us in their hearts.
Source: Byokan Sunday via My Game News Flash
Images: YouTube/purolandJP
● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

After months of closure, Sanrio Puroland stages for re-opening in mid-July
Ready, set… woomy! Sanrio new character collaboration poll starts, featuring Splatoon 2 and more
Sanrio amusement park opening first new attraction in six years: an ultra-cute meet-and-greet house
DJ Hello Kitty drops the beat and F-bombs at all-night Sanrio Puroland Halloween event【Video】
Celebrate your wedding with Hello Kitty at Japan’s Sanrio Puroland amusement park
Japan’s 5.3 million beautiful Hitachi Nemophila flowers are now in full bloom[Photos]
New Totoro carabiner pouches are ready to clip/tag along with you on all your adventures[Photos]
Japan’s awesomely beautiful Alpen Route snow corridor is now open
Japanese-style afternoon tea in this Japanese manor house outside downtown Tokyo is something special
Haikyu fan event lets you step onto the court, see what it’s like to play with the anime athletes
Pokémon hot spring footbath opening in Japan this spring
Ponyo-catching game comes to Ghibli Park anime theme park this summer
Cup Noodle’s Nissin develops space ramen, space curry rice for astronauts to eat among the stars
Suit up for video conference calls with new business pyjamas from Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Catbus pullback keychain that runs like the anime character
Wisteria season starts early with blooming of Japan’s Great Wisteria in its beautiful garden
Brand-new Pokémon manhole covers coming to help the recovery of a disaster-stricken part of Japan
Japan’s best conveyor belt sushi restaurant of seven years ago has now, finally, come to Tokyo
Injuries on stairs in Tokyo highlight an overlooked design flaw
Move aside, convenience store egg sando – there’s a better version of the iconic sandwich in Japan
Japanese government wants overseas anime market to roughly triple in 10 years, but are they crazy?
Japanese bento shop sells croquettes for 13 cents, but are they any good?
Japan’s popular bead bonsai kit is as beautiful as it is gruelling to make
Starbucks Japan releases FIVE new Frappuccinos in a day, and we try them all in 90 minutes
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Pokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration events
Japan now has a special desk for people who work at home with a pet cat[Photos]
Famous Tokyo cherry blossom spot installs view-blocking screens to fight overcrowding[Video]
Uniqlo announces new T-shirts for One Piece, Naruto and more for manga publisher’s 100th birthday
Krispy Kreme releases Super Mario doughnuts in Japan for a limited time
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Hello Kitty fans have a special reason to go to Sanrio amusement parks December 4 – They’re free!
Who killed Hello Kitty…?! Sanrio’s Puroland wreaks gory havoc with zombies, ghoulish cuisine
Two human beings set to marry Sanrio characters at Tokyo’s Hello Kitty theme park
We visit the Hello Kitty theme park to eat an adorable Sanrio meal
Hello Kitty theme park to be overrun by zombies this summer, young children barred from entering
Hello Kitty’s hilariously meta YouTube debut is a hit with netizens, earns likes and subscribers