JAPAN TRENDS



 

As previously reported, VR Zone Shinjuku opens this summer as Tokyo’s latest virtual reality entertainment facility.

Produced by Bandai Namco, the large space in Kabukicho features a range of VR games and rides based on a number of popular franchises, including Dragonball and Evangelion.

 

The biggest attraction, though, is surely a Nintendo property. Visitors can enjoy Mario Kart in virtual reality, the first such game of its kind in the world. The player sits in a rig that is like a life-sized Mario Kart vehicle while wearing a helmet and hand straps to feel fully immersed in the digital world of the game.

Since the government is looking to crack down on Mario go-kart services due to traffic accidents mainly caused by foreign drivers, this virtual ride may well be the safer way to experience driving inside the iconic game.

 

https://youtu.be/ud_4MTQuw74

VR Zone Shinjuku opens July 14th. Admission for adults costs ¥800 (and ¥500 for ages 6-12) and each ride costs an additional fee. You can buy one-day passes for ¥4,400 that cover admission and four rides.

Other recent virtual reality entertainment spaces in Tokyo have included Doraemon’s Anywhere Door and VR Park Tokyo in Shibuya.