Activities
Liz Ong
For the first time in a little over three years, visitors to Sanrio Puroland will be able to experience the theme park’s iconic Miracle Gift Parade. Featuring beautiful illuminations, stunning acrobatics and moving messages, the parade is sure to capture visitors’ hearts and minds. Sanrio Puroland: The Wonderful World of All Things Sanrio [photo id='235053'] Established in 1990, Sanrio Puroland is an amusement park centered around Sanrio characters. Other than that famous Hello Kitty, other characters you might know of include My Melody, Little Twin Stars (Kiki & Lala), Pompompurin, and Kuromi. A beloved fixture of Japan’s kawaii (cute) culture, these characters are extremely popular not only in Japan, but around the world. [photo id='235058'] Tucked away in the Tama Region just 30 minutes away from Shinjuku, Tokyo, the 4-story indoor establishment features extremely realistic and immersive interior design and photobooths, amusement rides, an exclusive goods store, and much more. Return of the Miracle Gift Parade [photo id='235056'] Dubbed the ‘Miracle Gift Parade’, the charming parade has been a beloved fixture in Sanrio Puroland since it was first launched in December 2015. As implied, the parade is centered around the theme of luring guests into a fairytale world where miracles abound and wishes to convey the message that if one stays positive and open-minded even in the darkest of times, it is possible for a miracle to occur. [photo id='235059'] Despite its immense popularity, the parade had unfortunately been temporarily suspended since February 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This June, however, Sanrio Puroland will be re-unveiling the Miracle Gift Parade, this time with different outfits, new music, and even more kawaii performances, all designed in collaboration with Sebastian Masuda, a famous Japanese artist, and other leading Japanese artists. What to Expect [photo id='235050'] Beginning with a colorful light show and an entrancing acrobatic act, the parade hooks you in right from the beginning. Actors and characters dolled up in their newly-designed pastel pink, blue, purple and yellow costumes stream into the circular parade space and take turns showing off their different outfits and cute dances in step with the powerful music. Perhaps one of the most enchanting things about the parade is how it makes use of Puroland’s unique indoor landscape to showcase the characters’ numerous charms and thoughtfully-designed costumes and the moving storyline. Every fixture and space in the indoor parade area are utilized to their fullest potential to fully transmit the key message of the Miracle Gift Parade to the audience. [photo id='235052'] The lovely costumes are also complemented by the theme park’s magical interior design and beautiful illuminations, making all photographs taken during the parade picture perfect. The parade will take your breath away. There’s something new at every turn, the storyline plays out extremely smoothly, and the characters’ stunning outfits capture your attention for the entirety of its 25 minutes. You won’t even notice those 25 minutes fly by! New Goods to be Bought! [photo id='235051'] Sanrio Puroland will be selling new merchandise to commemorate the reinstatement of the Miracle Gift Parade. These items include the Miracle Heart Light (¥1,800), a lightstick that automatically lights up in different colors at specific moments during the Miracle Gift Parade. CDs and DVDs (¥2,420~¥4,000) of the parade will also be sold, so you can enjoy the miracle created during the parade right in the comfort of your home. Other merchandise, such as bags, key chains, and posters with new designs will be available over the next month or so. A new dessert menu inspired by the parade will also be available from July. How and Where to Catch the Parade [photo id='235057'] The parade will be reinstated from 17 July 2023. The 25-minute parade will take place one to two times a day on the first floor of Sanrio Puroland, in the Puro Village. Parade times will be announced on the official website.
Tokyo
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