Is Jeju Island's Adorable Hello Kitty Theme Park & Cafe Worth A Visit? (My Honest Review)

If you're obsessed with Hello Kitty  or any other Sanrio characters, then one place you might be considering visiting in South Korea is Hello Kitty Island - also called the Hello Kitty Theme Park Cafe & Museum on Jeju Island. Tickets are 14,000 KRW for adults, and includes an all day visit to all 3 floors inside the museum, including access to the adorable Hello Kitty Themed Cafe. If you're wondering what you can expect or if a visit to Hello Kitty Island is worth it, then you'll find my entire honest review below.

​My Essential Korea Travel Resources :
There are plenty of travel companies out there, but these are my favorite websites and resources for planning an unforgettable trip to South Korea. This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

For flights, I recommend using Hopper to compare the cheapest travel dates to South Korea.

Car rentals, although not common in Korea, are best through Discover Cars - just make sure to have a copy of your international driver's permit with you!

I always use AGODA's  easy-to-use platform for hotels in Asia.

To keep cell phone service, I use Airalo’s easy to purchase eSIM’s (no installation required) - make sure to have NordVPN ready too while you surf random wifi connections.

For fun things to do, Klook specializes on tours in Asia, otherwise Viator also does the trick.

Just in case, Safetywing is the insurance I always use when visiting a new country.

Lastly, my essential packing list when traveling.

Getting to Hello Kitty Island & Where to Stay

Getting around Jeju Island can be pretty easy if you've already been exploring other areas of South Korea. The main difference between the mainland of Korea and Jeju Island is that there is no subway system on Jeju, meaning that unless you have a rental car you'll need to use the public bus system (which covers almost the entire island) or use KakaoT (Korea's version of Uber). 

Since there's free Wifi available pretty much everywhere, as long as you use NAVER Maps or Kakao Maps for navigating it should be pretty easy to get around without getting too lost. Most public buses in Korea stay away from cash now, so before you board I recommend stopping by a convenience store like GS25 and picking up a refillable T-money or Bee Card to use (just tap on when you board and tap off when you get off). One ride is about 1,200 KRW.

If you're visiting for more than the day then you'll need a place to stay. I recommend either choosing to stay on the North end of the island in Jeju City or on the south end of the island in Seogwipo - these are the two largest cities on the island and have the most options. Personally, I recommend Seogwipo only because it's closer to Hello Kitty Island and after visiting both areas, Seogwipo seemed to have more things to do - like visiting all the local (but popular) waterfalls. However, Jeju City is where the island's main airport is if you're wanting to stay close by. Either way, it takes about 2-3 hours to go between the two cities via public transportation. If the hotel says they have "traditional" sleeping arrangements, you'll want to ask for a "westernized" room with beds - otherwise you might be sleeping on the floor.

-> My Favorite Hotel in Jeju City <-
-> My Favorite Hotel in Seogwipo <-

My Favorite Tours on Jeju Island : 
- Folk Village & Women Divers Full Day Tour
- Luxury Sailing Tour

Visiting Hello Kitty Island - My Honest Review

Before you visit Hello Kitty Island, you'll want to get your tickets first. Typically, tickets for adults are 14,000 KRW (about $10/$11 USD). If you're unable to get them ahead of time, you can usually get them right at the door without worrying too much about them selling out for the day. Inside, you'll find multiple floors to the museum, an adorable Hello Kitty themed cafe, interactive exhibits, a 3D theater where you can watch a short Hello Kitty & Friends film, and of course, a gift shop. Everything is so on theme that even inside the bathrooms you'll see Hello Kitty shaped mirrors.

As you walk through the various exhibits, you'll see all kinds of Hello Kitty history, decor, and memorabilia. Think Hello Kitty hanboks, an entire Hello Kitty bedroom, and even an outdoor Hello Kitty exhibit where you can take photos. When you eventually make it to the Hello Kitty Cafe on the top floor, you can even find fun Hello Kitty themed drinks and cakes. Personally, even thought they're super cute and worth getting, they didn't taste the best and were almost entirely frosting.

-> Hello Kitty Island Tickets <-

If I'm being honest, a visit to the Hello Kitty Museum is a perfect rainy day activity or attraction for anyone who's obsessed with Hello Kitty or Sanrio. You'll also notice that a number of families take their kids here to play, which is a great choice with the interactive exhibits and playrooms, so expect small kids running around. I would carve out a few hours for your visit, and a few more if you're taking the public bus to get there. You can find so many adorable souvenirs, take some cute photos, and eat some (very sweet) Hello Kitty cakes. I wouldn't necessarily put it at the top of my list of things to do on Jeju Island, but it's definitely a unique attraction to add to your list in case of bad weather!

Watch my Hello Kitty Island Visit!

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Other Korea Blog Posts you might be interested in : 
-> Lotte World Full Guide
-> My Complete Review of Lotte World
-> Lotte Tower Observation Deck Guide

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