Photo= Goods featuring characters such as Hello Kitty and My Melody are sold at Sanrio Gallery Kyoto (Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto)

Sanrio Company, Ltd. opened "Sanrio Gallery Kyoto" at Shijo-dori Teramachi Higashi-iru、Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, on July 11 to sell its goods, such as popular character "Hello Kitty" goods and others. The store has a tax-free counter for foreign tourists.

This is the second store along street-side store in the Kansai Region, after Daimaru Shinsaibashi Sanrio Gallery in Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture. As Hello Kitty is also very famous abroad, it intends to capture the huge demand among foreign tourists visiting Kyoto.

The store is located on the first and second floors of a commercial building, and has 145 square meters of sales space. It sells stationery, household goods, bags and other items featuring six characters, including Hello Kitty, My Melody, Cinnamoroll, etc. on the first floor.

The second floor focuses on foreign tourists, providing items such as tableware with a kimono-clad Kitty, and souvenirs that are popular overseas such as Nambu ironware, nail-clippers and others. Suitcases are also on sale for a "shopping spree" or massive souvenir purchases popular among Chinese tourists.

The store expects the first year's sales to reach two hundred million yen.