In a city that’s never short of technology or places for people to go, Bandai Namco is to open what is described as “a new type of entertainment facility.”
J-World Tokyo was previewed to selected guests recently ahead of its official opening this summer in the city’s Shinjuku neighbourhood. It offers more than 10 attractions featuring anime and video game characters, including several virtual reality (VR) offerings. Neon Genesis Evangelion and Mario Kart are among the titles featured.
Fans of Mario Kart can don a VR headset and participate in a virtual go-kart race. When a kart goes around a bend, the simulator will careen to create a false sense of reality. When a kart jumps, an air-conditioning system will kick in to create a flow of air over the driver’s hands. According to comicbook.com, there is also be an attraction called Dragon Ball Z 3D. Riders don 3D goggles as they board a simulator shaped like Flying Nimbus, a fast-flying cloud featured in the Dragon Ball manga series. Since these kinds of attractions don’t require much space, they can easily shoe-horned into crowded, high-rent downtown areas.
Located in Shinjuku’s bustling neon-lit Kabuki-cho district, J-World Tokyo replaces a 24-hour bowling alley and cinema complex. The area already boasts such entertainment options as baseball batting cages, a robot cafe and host bars. The grand opening is set for July 14.
All images courtesy J-World Tokyo
https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Companies/Race-a-Mario-Kart-or-go-bungee-jumping-in-the-middle-of-Tokyo?page=1
