サンリオ初リゾート化“天空のパーク構想”「あっと言わせる発表が…」半年後めどに具体的計画発表へ　大分

Harmonyland is an outdoor theme park in Hiji Town, Oita Prefecture, operated by the Sanrio Group. In December 2025, plans to transform the facility into a resort were announced. With a total investment of several tens of billions of yen, we spoke to President Aya Komaki of Sanrio Entertainment about the outlook for this project, dubbed the "Park in the Sky Concept." ◆Sanrio Entertainment President Aya Komaki (Oita Prefectural Office, December 2025) "This is the first resort we at the Sanrio Group have built, and it combines the best of Oita with the entertainment of the Sanrio Group, including Hello Kitty. We want to develop it into a resort that will be known as the friendliest place in the world." Harmonyland is where you can enjoy parades featuring globally popular Sanrio characters, including Hello Kitty. Sanrio's only outdoor theme park, located in Hiji Town, Oita Prefecture, is hoping to redevelop the facility into a resort. Harmonyland opened in 1991 and will celebrate its 35th anniversary in April 2026. It was against this backdrop that the current plan was presented to Oita Prefecture Governor Sato in December 2025, with Hello Kitty also participating. Aya Komaki, president of the operating company, said... ◆Sanrio Entertainment President Aya Komaki "Sanrio characters have become extremely popular in Asia, Kyushu as a whole is experiencing economic growth, and we're close to Asia. After careful consideration, we decided it would be a good idea to take the plunge and create the Sanrio Group's first long-term stay resort." ◆TOS Announcer Yuzuki Tono "What you see behind me are popular attractions, like the roller coaster and Ferris wheel. The resort will also be built by extensively renovating the forest area next to them." The plan calls for the integrated development of Harmonyland and the adjacent forest area. The plan, dubbed the "Park in the Sky Concept," takes advantage of the site's uneven elevation. The initial investment is 10 billion yen. The total investment is expected to reach several tens of billions of yen. In addition to adding new attractions, the park will also feature a large roof so that it can be enjoyed in any weather. Furthermore, the park aims to be easily accessible to everyone, with a ropeway and other access points from the parking lot. The park also plans to build a hotel with a panoramic view of Harmonyland and Beppu Bay to accommodate long-term stays. A place that has long been beloved in Oita is about to undergo a major transformation. ◆Park Visitor "I can't wait to go, I'm really looking forward to it." "I'm especially looking forward to the hotel. There aren't any Sanrio hotels, so I'm really curious about it." "I want a roof so I can enjoy it even on rainy days." ◆Sanrio Entertainment President Aya Komaki "We want to share the good things about Oita, along with our connection with the prefecture. We've received a lot of favors from Oita, so this is a way to give back, and we simply love Oita, so we truly want to continue working together with it." Sanrio has deepened its ties with Oita through various initiatives. The campaign to nickname Oita Airport "Oita Hello Kitty Airport," aimed at encouraging visitors to the Osaka-Kansai Expo to visit Oita, has been well-received and is still ongoing. Amid this trend, Sanrio announced plans to turn Harmonyland into a resort. Sanrio estimates that the current annual visitor count of 500,000 people will increase to 2 million, with expected economic ripple effects for the prefecture and Kyushu. President Komaki says the project will be carried out in stages and will likely take about 10 years to complete, but he plans to announce more concrete plans in about six months. ◆Sanrio Entertainment President Aya Komaki "As we approach our 35th anniversary this spring, I hope to be able to make some jaw-dropping announcements." Sanrio's theme park resort project, aimed at creating "the kindest place in the world," is likely to bring excitement not only to Oita but to the rest of the country.