To excel in virtual reality, one must venture forth into uncharted territory, primed for discovery. Often virtually from the comfort of your own home, armed with a reliable headset. Typically fairly actually.
As VR headsets have infiltrated homes of tens of millions, they’ve also staked out a new territory – malls and leisure facilities globally, boasting thousands of locations worldwide.
Without breaking the bank or sacrificing space, every guarantee promises unparalleled expertise that’s unprecedented in even the most ordinary 4-walled home. Although VR destinations may still flourish, their long-term viability will always hinge on the availability of prime real estate and easy access to exclusive experiences. Located in Japan, particularly in Tokyo, numerous hotspots have emerged, catering primarily to the domestic market and thereby remaining inaccessible beyond its borders.
With Japan’s popularity as a top tourist destination, we’ve curated a list of the best VR attractions to include in your Tokyo itinerary on your next trip.
RED TOKYO TOWER
Situated at the foot of iconic Tokyo Tower, RED Tokyo Tower is an immersive digital playground, inaugurated in 2022, offering a unique entertainment experience tailored to delight both family and friends. Across the five levels, a diverse range of attractions converges, featuring eSports arenas equipped with cutting-edge gaming PCs, dedicated poker spaces where players can compete sans financial stakes – a necessity to comply with Japanese laws – alongside augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) experiences.
In fact, a significant number of these virtual reality points of interest appear to be exclusively found within this building or in Japan itself? In Boat Race VR, the concept is rooted in a popular Japanese game where speedboats compete against each other, transporting the thrilling experience directly to virtual reality. By stepping into a replica boat and donning a VR headset, this immersive experience simulates the rush of wind, spray of water, and thrill of racing against others locally and nationwide – an exclusive attraction accessible without committing to the entire entertainment complex.
Upon entering the construction site, visitors are immersed in AR points of interest, including the chance to don a battling robotic suit, but numerous other immersive VR experiences are also available for those who wish to explore.
In the third zone, known as the Inspiration Ground, visitors can explore KAT VR’s innovative KATWALK VR treadmill system. While lack of specialization might initially pose challenges, it’s likely that a region with specific needs would be willing to invest in a solution of this magnitude, considering the upfront cost exceeds $1,000.
In addition to ground-based gameplay, gamers can now experience the thrilling action of Var Box in Virtual Reality (VR), offering four immersive experiences as developed by the creators. Bespoke photo booths offer a diverse array of themed experiences, including zombies, sci-fi, and dinosaur backdrops. While LEKE VR offers four Chinese-developed video games, the true showstopper is a fully immersive Gran Turismo experience that seamlessly integrates virtual reality (VR) or augmented reality (AR) capabilities with multi-screen simulations, fostering an innovative convergence of interactivity through both VR and AR platforms.
Positioned alongside and intimately connected to the iconic Tokyo Tower, this area offers bundled ticket packages that grant access to attractions throughout, either à la carte or as a comprehensive bundle. While most collaborations do not intersect with the attractions themselves, there are also recurring events centered around popular anime series and other shared interests. Recent events have featured collaborations between Crunchyroll and various anime titles, including Bocchi the Rock, which has partnered with us to create exclusive content, such as special drinks, merchandise, and more, as of our knowledge cutoff. In Tokyo’s heart, this attraction stands out for its cutting-edge virtual reality technology, innovative augmented reality experiences, and unique connection to a renowned city landmark, making it an intriguing stop on your travel agenda.
TYFFONIUM
TYFFONIUM stands out as a pioneering example of a Japanese virtual reality (VR) exhibition space, boldly redefining the possibilities in this realm. Tyffon, a leading VR improvement firm with locations in Odaiba and opening its doors in Shinjuku’s South Tower of Keio Plaza Resort Tokyo on August 30th, exclusively creates immersive experiences tailored to the Japanese market at these sites.
Currently, the group offers five immersive experiences, four of which are consistently presented across each location, all designed to be enjoyed either solo or with up to three companions.
Immerse yourself in FLUCTUS: Wandering Ocean, a captivating fantasy attraction nestled within the enchanting depths of the ocean. Embark on a fantastical journey through mesmerizing underwater environments, inspired by the mythical realms of Atlantis and other legendary stories. In Tarot VR: Arcana Journey, the ancient art of tarot card reading is reimagined in a fully immersive experience, where each card serves as a portal to a fantastical realm, awaiting interpretation and yielding profound insights into one’s life journey. You’ll have the option to take a replica of your tarot card reading home with you afterwards.
While individual sounds may pique curiosity, it is their disparate areas of fascination that collectively pose the greatest challenge to the team. Tsuburaya’s Ultraman: Kaiju Haven is an officially licensed celebration of the beloved tokusatsu hero. Unlike fleeting, superficial transformations into Ultraman, this expertise grounds you in a tangible, immersive experience, as you navigate through Kaiju Haven and confront colossal, life-sized monsters up close, requiring you to scan them to collect valuable data. This immersive experience holds a plethora of excitement, boasting 12 colossal kaiju and 8 explorable paths, ensuring each repeat visit yields something novel and thrilling.
In the midst of two freely explorable virtual reality destinations, Hall stands alone as a unique experience, allowing players to fully immerse themselves in a terrifying environment illuminated only by the faint glow of a single candlestick. With the flickering flame casting eerie shadows, you’ll navigate treacherous terrain, burning newspapers to light your way and uncover the dark secrets that lie within. Maybe what’s even more captivating is the team behind Pennywise: The Story of It, which has crafted an IT-themed prequel, IT Carnival, that promises to be just as unsettling. In an eerie precursor to the chilling events of IT: Chapter Two, this immersive experience transports you back in time to a foreboding carnival setting from the film, where you embark on a harrowing search for a missing child and may even encounter the malevolent force that is Pennywise himself? While IT has garnered a significant following in Japan, the creation of a unique Japan-only attraction in partnership with both New Line Cinema and Warner Bros stands out as a notable exception.
The venue’s theming maintains an undeniably enchanting aura, as if transporting visitors to another realm altogether. Compared to simply installing a handful of VR units and proclaiming success, significant investment has gone into crafting a comprehensive experience that justifies the cost of visiting any of their locations.
Common Studios Japan
Many gaze upon Universal Studios Japan with one primary consideration: the phenomenal Nintendo-themed area, Nintendo World. While that or their common anime 4D collaborations with franchises like One Piece may resonate with fans of the Japanese animation style. While exploring our immersive VR theme park, you may find it challenging to grasp that this space serves as a daily residence for innovative VR experiences and features at least one VR-based attraction always available for visitors.
As of this writing, that immersive adventure, dubbed Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba XR Trip — The Virtual Quest for Swordsmith Village, is an exhilarating VR rollercoaster ride themed around the popular Demon Slayer series. Riders don VR headsets before hurtling through an immersive Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba experience, bringing the action-packed film to life alongside actual roller-coaster tracks. The immersive experience in your entire space is elevated by a thoughtful pre-ride setup and meticulous theming throughout the journey.
The VR attraction features a recurring cycle of fresh themes, currently showcasing innovative collaborations such as those based on Doraemon and Attack on Titan. Though currently inactive, the park has piloted free-roaming VR experiences, including Monster Hunter World Iceborne XR Stroll, which challenged gamers to wear 8 kilograms of VR equipment for 25 minutes to fully immerse themselves in an authentic battle against a Velkhana directly from the game. While an additional fee beyond the standard ticket price, the unique opportunity to become a genuine hunter proved so alluring that the attraction has operated intermittently since its initial opening. While no new developments have emerged, consideration is still given to the prospect of a comeback within its latest designated timeframe, which recently came to a close in June, leaving room for a potential return.
In Japan, VR (Virtual Reality) is simply a reality.
While these examples represent the pinnacle of leisure complexes featuring immersive VR experiences, similar innovations can be found throughout the city and country in unique ways unmatched anywhere else? You can easily stumble upon numerous experiences without even trying.
Kabukicho Tower is a cutting-edge skyscraper situated at the epicenter of Shinjuku’s vibrant nightlife district, featuring a diverse range of attractions including a cinema, membership/live performance venue, theater, arcade, restaurants, and an immersive XR experience inspired by Crystal Maze, known as The Tokyo Matrix. Within this vibrant arcade, visitors can indulge in a vast array of entertainment options, including sprawling crane machines, a professional-grade DJ setup, a dedicated store for the popular One Piece trading card game, and immersive virtual reality experiences themed around beloved franchises like Neon Genesis Evangelion and Godzilla. The preceding experience has been accessible because the construction previously featured within the now-closed VR Zone Shinjuku facility, where you assume the role of a character from the series, piloting an Evangelion unit against an Angel, with the incorporation of Godzilla as a recent addition to the building’s attractions.
First Airways in Ikebukuro offers an immersive, two-hour virtual reality experience that simulates a thrilling journey to exotic destinations, complete with authentic cuisine that allows guests to savor the flavors of their chosen getaway destination, further enhancing the sensation of being transported to a new and exciting place. For those with a spare ¥40,000 ($276), you can indulge in TREE by Bare, an immersive dining experience that combines cutting-edge technology – including projection mapping and VR headsets – to elevate the flavor and visual presentation of dishes, offering a truly unique culinary adventure. Now, indulge your spirit while simultaneously emptying your wallet – all in one swift motion. You’ve then accessed Neuu, offering each virtual reality coworking space to host meetings within Meta Horizon Worlds and VRChat, a platform to view VR films, and opportunities to engage in discussions both within and outside the virtual environment through your headset.
These assertions are utterly scattered throughout, defying any semblance of cohesion. Stroll into the OIOI Men’s Division retailer in Shinjuku, and you’ll stumble upon an unexpected treasure – a thriving anime retailer, tucked away within its walls. Throughout Tokyo and its neighboring city Yokohama, these hubs are ubiquitous, making them almost impossible to miss. While some virtual reality (VR) destinations may be created with varying degrees of quality, a few exceptional individuals have put in extra effort to craft unique experiences that cannot be replicated within the confines of one’s own home, regardless of whether they possess their own VR headset.
Can we explore more immersive experiences in Japan’s vibrant tech scene? Are there any innovative VR-based reveals that our audience should know about, beyond the ones already popularized?
