Tomoe Okiyama is the creative director of Immersive Fort Tokyo, a groundbreaking theme park that launched in 2024 in the Odaiba district of Tokyo. Recognized as the world’s first fully immersive theme park, Immersive Fort Tokyo focuses on storytelling and visitor interaction to craft a distinctive, engaging atmosphere. In this setting, guests take on active roles in themed journeys ranging from horror experiences to solving mysteries and enjoying live performance dining, effectively merging reality with entertainment.
Okiyama’s approach centres on immersive storytelling, transforming guests from mere spectators into active participants in the narratives that surround them. This creative direction incorporates techniques from immersive theatre, ensuring that each visitor’s experience is uniquely personal and unforgettable. Highlights include mysteries set in a Sherlock Holmes-inspired London, a horror experience drawing on the legend of Jack the Ripper, and a chase-themed attraction reminiscent of the mobile game “Identity V.”
Speaking to blooloop in 2024, Tomoe Okiyama said: “With immersive theatre, it’s your own entertainment, nobody else’s. You play the role. I think that the depth of the memory that you get through immersive experiences is so much greater than from any other entertainment. Those are the factors that make them compelling.”
Okiyama studied entertainment at California State University and worked at Universal Studios Japan (USJ). In 2017, it was she who first perceived the potential of immersive theatre and introduced it to USJ. In the role of producer, she led Japan’s first large-scale immersive theatre, Hotel Albert, with great success. She then moved on to lead its sequel, Hotel Albert II: Requiem, as executive producer.
Okiyama’s vision for Immersive Fort Tokyo redefines traditional theme parks by providing a deeper level of engagement that seeks to create unforgettable experiences for guests. The park’s cutting-edge design and captivating storytelling establish a new benchmark for theme parks globally, merging performance art with interactive entertainment.