I know you've been waiting for this! Hello Kitty and all of her friends, only a three-minute walk away? It's possible at one of the latest hotels to be offered at JAPANiCAN, the Keio Plaza Hotel Tama. Only a short walk from the hotel is Sanrio Puroland, where you can meet Kitty-chan and the whole gang of Sanrio characters. Sanrio Puroland and the Keio Plaza Hotel Tama are located in Tama Center, a 28-minute train ride away from Shinjuku via the Keio Line. Slightly removed from the center of Tokyo, Tama Center is a great choice for those looking for a slightly quieter place to stay.

Tama Center is the heart of Tama New Town, a large-scale building project that developed from the housing crunch in Tokyo's most crowded areas. Although it's called "New Town," people started moving to Tama over 30 years ago. Besides its large number of local residents, Tama Center also attracts a large number of guests with its shopping and attractions like Sanrio's Puroland.

Just like the geisha of Kyoto's Gion district, you may be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of Hello Kitty or her friends walking from place to place in Tama on weekends and holidays. You'll have to be fast with your camera if you want to capture the moment, however, as the popular Kitty-chan is always immediately mobbed by adoring children. The rest of the time, Hello Kitty, Pochacco, and Keroppi, and all the other Sanrio characters are waiting inside Puroland, about a five-minute walk from Tama Center Station.

Hello Kitty recently celebrated her 35th anniversary, although the festivities are unfortunately over.

Lying atop a hill straight out from Tama Center Station is Tama Central Park, a lushly green park full of families most weekends. On weekdays the park is a great as a quiet place to relax, and is often chosen as a TV location due to its vast green backdrops.

A short distance from the train station is the Kotta River, whose banks are lined with a magnificent stretch of cherry blossom trees, continuing on for three kilometers to nearby Nagayama Station, a true sight to behold during the sakura season.

A short distance away from Tama Central Park is Takarano Park, another beautiful spot for viewing cherry blossoms in spring.

The Tama Monorail stretches out to the north from Tama Center

On clear days Mt. Oku-tama and Mt. Fuji are sometimes visible from the monorail's windows, making the monorail ride a quick side-trip perfect for a clear winter day.

Christmas lights in front of the Keio Plaza Hotel Tama

With easy access to Mt. Takao and Yokohama, the Keio Plaza Hotel Tama would make a great base for families looking to see Tokyo and beyond.

Access to Tama Center
From Shinjuku, take the Keio Line Limited Express and switch trains at Chofu Station to the Keio Sagamihara Line to Keio Tama Center Station. (About 28 minutes)
Or, from Shinjuku take the Odakyu Line Express and switch trains at Shin Yurigaoka Station to the Odakyu Tama Line to Odakyu Tama Center Station. (About 36 minutes)

Click here to reserve a night at the Keio Plaza Hotel Tama!