Japan, a world-renowned tourist destination, is now entering a new phase through digital evolution. In collaboration with Western partners, Japan is using the metaverse to deepen foreigners’ understanding of Japanese culture and create a bridge to attract more inbound visitors. “Visit Japan” is the result of this very initiative. 

“Visit Japan,” the first Japanese tourist destination in Meta Horizon Worlds

GHC Inc., a company with extensive experience in multilingual translation services, has been actively promoting Japanese culture and tourism through its “Visit Japan Metaverse” on the Spatial metaverse platform in recent years. Now, they have launched a fully Japan-themed world, “Visit Japan,” within Meta Horizon Worlds.

This world serves as a relaxing space of comfort for Japanese users, while also allowing people from around the world to “visit” Japan and experience its beauty and culture, including views of Mount Fuji and open-air hot springs, all from within a virtual setting. 

It is not only a virtual community space where cross-border exchange events and meetings can take place, but it also has the potential to increase interest in Japanese culture, ultimately leading to more real-world inbound tourism. 

With features like art exhibitions, gamification elements, and tools designed to overcome language barriers, you can enjoy learning about Japan in an engaging and interactive way.

The growing potential of Horizon Worlds

Now, have you heard of Meta’s metaverse platform “Horizon Worlds”?

Horizon Worlds is a consumer-oriented metaverse platform provided by Meta, allowing users to play and explore various virtual worlds. Through multiple improvements since its launch, the platform’s usability has improved by leaps and bounds. As time goes on, the metaverse is steadily becoming more accessible to a wider range of users. With even more integration on social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook, the community is becoming more active, facilitating interactions between users and making Horizon Worlds one of the most promising metaverse platforms today.

Additionally, the strong sales performance of Oculus headsets has increased demand for VR experiences. When combined with high-performance VR headsets, users are enabled to enjoy a more realistic and immersive digital tourism experience. In short, this metaverse setting allows users to explore Japan comfortably and thoroughly, even without being physically present there. This means that “Visit Japan” has successfully created an ideal environment that can boost interest in Japan and encourage more real-world visits.

Top creators unite! A Japan-themed world co-created by Japan, America, and Canada

The reason Visit Japan came into existence was that creators realized there was no authentic Japan-themed world in Horizon Worlds. This realization led them to create a high-quality Japanese world from scratch. Being a Japanese user myself, I feel like this kind of initiative is something to be proud of.

Being the product of a collaboration between Japan, America, and Canada, this project is built on the concept of “East meets West.” By blending traditional Japanese aesthetics with contemporary Western influences, they have created a free and innovative world where ideas transcend language barriers and cultures, mixing together in order to shape something truly unique. 

Enjoying metaverse tourism in a beautiful modern Japanese space

Upon entering, visitors are greeted by a luxurious and relaxing space. The stylish black and wood design, combined with the warm lighting, creates an atmosphere of both elegance and tranquility, immediately making it appear more inviting. .

A beautifully maintained Japanese-style pond is situated inside, where graceful koi fish can be found swimming leisurely. The fusion of traditional Japanese décor with modern design elements creates a calm and inviting environment where you can unwind and forget about the time.

Interactive features enhance user engagement. So, for that reason, visitors can take part in quizzes about Japan to earn virtual Japanese umbrellas, use a VR-compatible photo-sharing slide function, interact with a camera-equipped mirror, and utilize a keyboard for text input from within the VR space. These gamification and interactive elements only add to the experience, making the world more pleasant to spend time in.

A unique language exchange tool allows users to type out text, which appears above their avatars. This feature helps bridge language barriers and facilitates smooth communication between users from across the globe. The keyboard is portable within the world, and since two keyboards are available, two parties can use them simultaneously.

Approaching a traditional sliding door automatically triggers its opening, revealing a breathtaking recreation of Mount Fuji. The surprise of unveiling such an iconic landscape in a metaverse setting perfectly captures the respect and admiration that people from around the world feel toward Japan’s most famous mountain.

Visitors can also enjoy an open-air hot spring while admiring the sunset over Mount Fuji. The serene atmosphere provides a digital wellness experience, making this a modern yet deeply traditional way to relax.

Guests can also experience traditional elements of Japanese summer culture, like lighting sparklers and enjoying slow conversations under the night sky.

The second floor features a stylish bar area surrounding a small enclosure of bamboo, designed as a standing social space inspired by Western-style gatherings. It can also be used as a party space, with Japanese language guides and cultural  information being displayed to serve easy conversation starters.

Beyond the sliding screen doors lies a traditional tatami room where visitors can relax and chat in a more private setting. This space can also be used for business meetings, with a digital whiteboard conveniently available for presentations and discussions.

An indoor stage, set against the stunning backdrop of Mount Fuji, has been designed for cultural performances, workshops, and various other events. The combination of traditional Japanese beauty and metaverse technology provides a glimpse into the endless possibilities of virtual tourism, networking, and cultural exchange.

Conclusion

Japan is one of the world’s most idolized travel destinations, but distance and travel costs remain as sturdy barriers for many prospective visitors.

By offering an immersive replica of Japan, Visit Japan provides an accessible way for people to engage with Japanese culture before visiting in-person. This approach helps people appreciate aspects of Japan that they may have been unaware of previously, ultimately serving as a gateway to real-world tourism. It’s hardly a  surprise that Visit Japan is attracting attention within the tourism and metaverse communities. 

If this article has managed to pique your interest, why not take a virtual trip and explore the wonders of Visit Japan yourself? Dear readers, see you in the metaverse!