Japanese cafe combines real world and virtual travel

Tuesday, May 2, 2023 15:46 (GMT+7)
15:46 5/2/2023

A cafe in Osaka city (Japan) is attracting attention thanks to the virtual change of scenery through the window.

Japanese cafe uses virtual tour feature. Photo: Courtesy of G1 .

The pandemic has made traditional tourism more difficult. From there, a new trend was born called virtual reality tourism thanks to the development of science and technology. Although there are still concerns about this new trend, many people point out many benefits.

Enjoy coffee with real and virtual experience

In Japan, a cafe called Anywhere in Osaka, scheduled to reopen in May, is gaining traction as a virtual tour experience. The cafe is located in a 70-year-old house on a historic street. Inside, the interior features traditional furnishings, such as tatami mat seating on the floor.

The cafe allows visitors to go anywhere in the metaverse. This gives a sense of reality through a floor-to-ceiling window. Specifically, the scenery outside the window will change to different destinations when guests wear virtual reality glasses.

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The cafe offers an architectural contrast between its old exterior and the modern feel of the virtual space inside. Photo: Natsuko Nakamura.

In early March, the virtual universe's exterior scenery was an Okinawa beach. Customers who came to the cafe discussed the southern island and enjoyed a live sanshin instrument performance.

In one part of the virtual space, customers can listen to descriptions of Okinawa's attractions. In another, a portal leads to various tourist spots in Japan and abroad.

While still under development, the cafe will add features such as a garden display showing views of the northern Japanese Alps. Customers will be able to enjoy the view while enjoying popular sweets from the region.

The restaurant is also expected to design a dome screen in the garden for visitors to watch sporting events.

Shaping the future of travel

According to Keiichi Koshiba, who runs the cafe, they built this model as a laboratory to shape the future of tourism.

He aims to work with local governments, business operators, creators and students to build a new future where virtual and real experiences coexist.

Koshiba sees virtual tourism as having its own advantages. Having been directly involved in managing the Olympic opening ceremony and several events across Japan, he feels that we can all enjoy the real feeling when surrounded by images of the place.

Virtual tourism trends

About 1.47 million people visited Japan in February, about 60% of pre-pandemic numbers, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization. Japanese are also traveling more as the industry recovers from the pandemic.

Some people call virtual tourism a temporary trend that originated during the pandemic. This new trend cannot compete with traditional tourism because of some disadvantages such as the size of the images and the need for virtual reality glasses.

However, virtual tourism has less impact on the environment. It is also a sustainable trend in the future. Moreover, this new trend can be easily accessed and enjoyed by the elderly.

As Japan's labor shortage becomes more severe, physical and virtual tourism will complement each other rather than compete to create a balance of jobs.

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