Hello Kitty in Taiwan is big business! Sanrio’s cutest cat and cartoon character, Hello Kitty in Taiwan is everywhere – and we aren’t just talking about merchandise or shops.
As Hello Kitty is celebrating their 50th anniversary in 2024 (“Happy Birthday”), there are a heck of a lot of Hello Kitty Taiwan things to do.
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From Hello Kitty cafes to Hello Kitty 7-Elevens, there is even a Hello Kitty Hospital in Taiwan (a themed maternity hospital for babies) – talk about a lot of kitty treats!
Taiwan has always been a ‘puff-fect’ destination for travellers but Hello Kitty in Taiwan is a fun thing to do.
From Hello Kitty trains to Hello Kitty planes, here is our ultimate guide to Hello Kitty things to do in Taiwan.
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1. Hello Kitty 7 Eleven stores
7-Eleven Taiwan has over 100 themed convenience stores across the country, including cartoon character branded stores such as Bugcat Capoo, Ultraman, Sumikko Gurashi and Mofusand.
However, perhaps the most popular themed 7-Elevens in Taiwan are the two Hello Kitty 7-Elevens, both of which can be found in the Ximen / Ximending district.
7-Eleven Hello Kitty Ximending is the bigger (and better) Sanrio Hello Kitty store and it can be found on Google maps here. It has a huge Hello Kitty statue inside plus a themed Hello Kitty cafe seating area inside.
The smaller of the two Sanrio Hello Kitty 7-Elevens can be found very close to the Ximending entertainment district. It can be found on Google maps here.
It is easy to visit both Sanrio 7-Elevens featuring your favourite cat as it is only an 8 minute walk between the two – ‘fur real!
From huge Hello Kittys to sublime Sanrio character signs and statues, here is our ultimate guide to Hello Kitty 7-Eleven stores in Taipei (with photos and maps) >
2. Cheers to Hello Kitty 7-Eleven Coffee Cups
As part of the Hello Kitty 7-Eleven takeovers, you can also enjoy 7-Eleven City Cafe drinks in special / exclusive ‘Stay Cute’ Hello Kitty coffee cups.
Alas there isn’t coffee art as such but it is fun to drink a cat-puccino…sorry cappuccino… in a themed cup and the price is pretty paw-some (usually between NT$45 and NT$65 a cup).
The Hello Kitty paper sleeve cup holder also makes a super cute souvenir.
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Taipei MRT Hello Kitty Takeover – Trains and Stations
For the 50th anniversary of Hello Kitty, Taipei MRT and Sanrio have collaborated to launch Hello Kitty branded trains plus a Taipei MRT station takeover.
In addition, there are around 20 limited edition Sanrio stamps and Hello Kitty and Friends exclusive train merchandise to collect – get saving!
3. Hello Kitty Taiwan Station Takeover
We discovered the Sanrio / Hello Kitty train station takeover purely by chance in Taipei’s Nanjing Fuxing MRT station.
The ticket gates are all branded with Sanrio characters plus there is a super cute selfie spot and seating area where you can pose with Hello Kitty and Friends.
There is also a Sanrio souvenir stall selling lots of exclusive Taiwan Hello Kitty and Taipei MRT gifts – all of it is limited edition and only available in 2024 so get along this year!
In addition to the Nanjing Fuxing pop-up, fans can collect free Sanrio stamps at Taipei Main Station, Ximen, Zhongshan, Zhongxiao Fuxing and Zhongxiao Xinsheng.
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4. Hello Kitty MRT Trains in Taiwan
In addition to station takeovers, there is actually a Sanrio / Hello Kitty themed train in Taipei in 2024 that runs along the Tamsui-Xinyi Line until December 2024 – who needs the ‘Cat Bus’ when you have a Hello Kitty Train!
The Hello Kitty MRT train in Taipei is bright pink in colour (so it easy to spot) and is adorned with all the Sanrio characters.
So how can you guarantee to catch the particular Sanrio / Hello Kitty train? You can actually find its location and station stops using the ever hand “Go! Taipei Metro” smartphone app.
During the promotion period, around another 50 MRT carriages in Taipei will have Sanrio themed children’s seating areas, where families usually congregate.
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5. Hello Kitty Taiwan EVA Air Plane and Airport Check-In AKA Hello Kitty Jets
Taiwan’s national airline carrier EVA Air has a whole range of Sanrio inspired and Hello Kitty planes (which the company refers to as ‘Hello Kitty Jets’).
Whilst we’ve never been fortunate enough to fly Hello Kitty Air, we did discover the Eva Air Hello Kitty branded check-in desks at Taipei Taoyuan International Airport earlier in 2024.
The whole special check-in was bright pink with lots of Hello Kitty check-in kiosks plus colourful graphics and shelves of Hello Kitty goods.
Alas, the Hello Kitty check-in desks didn’t seem to be in use when we visited so they may be out of operation.
EVA Air also sell an exclusive range of goods include a Hello Kitty EVA Air tote bag and a Hello Kitty EVA Air airport Nanoblock set (which we want so badly right ‘miaow’).
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6. Hello Kitty Hospital
Yes, you read that right – there really is a Hello Kitty hospital in Taiwan! To be precise, it is a Hello Kitty themed maternity hospital, called Hau Sheng Hospital in Yuanlin.
Obviously it isn’t easy to visit (unless you are pregnant and live in Yuanlin!), but the Taiwan Hello Kitty Hospital opened in 2008 and still retains the exterior signs of Hello Kitty today (and is officially endorsed by Sanrio).
Most of the walls are pink, mothers and their new born babies are given Hello Kitty blankets and clothing plus the staff are in Sanrio uniforms. A huge Hello Kitty statue also greets all new expectant mothers. Let’s hope it doesn’t give them ‘kittens’!
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7. Hello Kitty EasyCard Taiwan
There are literally dozens of Taiwan EasyCard designs with Hello Kitty (EasyCards are travel passes in Taiwan that you use on the Metro, local trains and buses plus in convenience stores, taxis, for parking etc).
Whilst some are just standard printed cards like the Hello Kitty limited edition Chinese New Year card, some have practical functions like doubling as a calculator.
It’s so much fun and it makes it easy to work out how much you’ve spent on your EasyCard. 7-Eleven and FamilyMart in Taiwan are usually the best places to find Hello Kitty themed EasyCards (usually by the counter).
Check out our guide to the best 30 Cute EasyCard, iPass & iCash Card Designs in Taiwan >
Read more about how to use EasyCards in Taiwan and how to top up in our guide >
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8. Sanrio Gift Shop in Taipei / Gift Gate
Most Sanrio stalls and Hello Kitty shops are often pop-ups, including the special Sanrio Taipei MRT shop in Nanjing Fuxing station.
As it stands in May 2024, there are several Sanrio gift shops in Taipei with Hello Kitty merchandise including a Sanrio store on floor 1 of the Far Eastern SOGO Taipei Zhongxiao Store, plus a few small Sanrio Gift Gate stores dotted around Taipei.
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Closed attractions
9. 50th Anniversary Exhibition – closed in 2024
From late 2023 until early April 2024, there was a Hello Kitty 50th Anniversary Special Exhibition at Huashan 1914 Creative Park called ‘Be Friends with the Future’.
When we last visited, there was a huge queue to go in and a massive Hello Kitty outside greeting visitors.
Alas, whilst this particular Taiwan Hello Kitty exhibition in Taiwan may be over, it certainly won’t be the last.
Huashan 1914 Creative Park is always hosting regular pop-up events and exhibitions featuring the likes of Snoopy / Peanuts, Squid Games, Rilakkuma, the Moomins and more
Be sure to check out the Huashan 1914 Creative Park current listings here >
You might like our full guide to Huashan 1914 Creative Park, Taiwan’s best cultural park here >
10. Hello Kitty Shabu Shabu (Closed)
BBQ Kitty anyone? Located in the Daan Park neighbourhood in Taipei, there used to be a Hello Kitty Taiwan Shabu Shabu restaurant complete with themed BBQ menus, Hello Kitty figures and merchandise.
The rice was served shaped like Hello Kitty and even the Shabu Shabu hotpots has wooden lids with kitty ears sticking out – the fishcakes were also shaped like Hello Kitty (and cats love fish).
Alas, the Hello Kitty Shabu Shabu in Taiwan closed a couple of years ago.
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11. Hello Kitty Sweets in Taipei
Another Hello Kitty dessert cafe and restaurant in Taipei that has now closed down in early 2024.
12. Hello Kitty Kitchen and Dining
This Zhongsheng Hello Kitty restaurant in Taipei (next to Huashan 1914 Creative Park) closed in 2017, but still has a listing on Google maps so don’t waste your time – bad kitty!
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