A museum in downtown Los Angeles has come over all pink and cuddly with the opening of a new Hello Kitty exhibit, quintupling visitor numbers at the attraction.

The Japanese American National Museum, saw numbers increase from around 500 visitors daily to more than 2,500 thanks to the exhibition, which showcases several decades’ worth of Hello Kitty memorabilia, with a further 500 Hello Kitty-mad fans attending special sold-out evening events over the weekend.

Organised as part of the popular Japanese cartoon character’s 40th-anniversary celebration, the Hello! Exploring the Supercute World of Hello Kitty exhibit, examines the history of Hello Kitty and its influence on popular culture. The exhibition features more than 500 Hello Kitty items, including jewellery, lunch-boxes, dolls, contemporary and pop art, plus one-of-a-kind items including a dress once worn by singer Lady Gaga.

The exhibit opened to the public on 12 October and runs through to 26 April 2015.

The Hello Kitty IP has proved popular as a visitor attraction, with plans to launch a branded attraction in Indonesia and in the UK, while a Hello Kitty Town launched in Malaysia early last year.