#Japan #Osaka #AR Experience #Shinsekai #Local Verse

Discover the New World through AR: Shinsekai AR Chronicle

On October 6, 2025, a revolutionary augmented reality (AR) experience titled "Shinsekai AR Chronicle Powered by Local Verse" will launch, offering participants a unique chance to engage with history in a fun and interactive way. The initiative is a collaborative effort between the Kansai Innovation Center (KIC), Tamurakoma Co., and Designium, aiming to create a dynamic platform for exploring cultural narratives in Shinsekai.

An Immersive Experience Awaits

This virtual event invites participants to step into the shoes of various historical characters in Shinsekai, including merchants and chefs. Upon accessing the designated web app, users can navigate through a map to discover five distinct stories, each represented by a unique Billiken character. As users interact with the stories, their choices influence the dialogue and narrative, enhancing the immersive nature of the AR experience. Completing all five stories rewards users with a special AR photo frame, serving as a memorable keepsake from their journey.

The web-based nature of this experience ensures easy access, as no app download is required. Users can immediately dive into the adventures waiting for them in Shinsekai.

Purpose and Future Vision

The launch of "Shinsekai AR Chronicle" serves as a pilot project for a larger initiative known as "Local Verse." This experiment aims to assess the practical functionality of AR in tourism, while also focusing on connectivity and user experience in a local context. Future iterations will delve into automating data integration and storytelling generated by AI, allowing for a more scalable approach to cultural experiences.

Critical aspects being evaluated in this pilot include:
1. Feasibility of narrative branching design.
2. Operational costs and production efficiency.
3. Methods for measuring tourism effects.

What is Local Verse?

Local Verse is an innovative project leveraging AI and AR to create a new model for interactive tourism experiences. This initiative promotes engagement with local history and culture, transforming it into compelling narratives based on user choices. It can automatically generate multilingual content, making it scalable and widely accessible to diverse audiences. Through these experiences, the initiative aims to deepen local understanding and stimulate tourism, particularly targeting young audiences and international visitors.

Event Details

Title: BILLIKEN CITY Shinsekai AR Chronicle - A 100-Year Story of Shinsekai Through AR

Available Period: From October 6, 2025, to January 15, 2026

How to Experience: Simply visit the dedicated URL for a web-based adventure. For more details, visit shinsekaifes.jp.

Experience Spots in Shinsekai AR Chronicle:

• - Tsutenkaku Tower (Observation Floor)
• - Tsutenkaku (1F Observation Deck Entrance Area)
• - Shinsekai Market Entrance Area
• - Kushi Katsu Yokozuna (near Tsutenkaku South Street Shopping Arcade)
• - The b Osaka Shinsekai (near entrance)
• - Nankai Shin-Imamiya Station

The Gears Behind This Initiative

KIC: Responsible for overall planning and promotion.
Tamurakoma: Supplier of characters for the experience.
Designium: Develops the AR content and facilitates the user experience.

Additionally, the event will coincide with the "BILLIKEN CITY Walking" event, which combines real and virtual experiences to explore Shinsekai, Abeno, and Tennoji. For further information, check out shinsekaifes.

Overall, "Shinsekai AR Chronicle" represents a significant step towards redefining how we experience historical narratives in tourism. It promises an engaging, educational, and entertaining experience that brings the past to life in vivid new ways.