A new VR museum has been launched on Steam, allowing users to view and interact with cultural assets from across Japan. The Japanese Cultural Property VR Museum uses photogrammetric technology to model the assets in ultra-high definition 3D, creating a virtual environment where visitors can "hold" the objects and view them from all angles.
Japanese Cultural Property VR Museum
The museum currently features five areas, each exhibiting precious cultural assets that users can "touch." These include the Iwabitsu Sanada Ninja Museum "Ninpaku" Area, which showcases ninja tools such as shurikens, and the Yamanashi Prefectural Museum of Archaeology Area, which displays Jomon earthenware. Other areas include the Hida Miyagawa Archaeology and Folklore Museum Area, the Mongol Fleet Area, and the Folding Screen Area, which exhibits folding screen paintings.
Japanese Cultural Property VR Museum
In addition to allowing visitors to view the cultural assets, some areas of the museum also have fun features. Users can make use of a flashlight, magnifying glass, and cross-section viewer to observe the objects in ways that are impossible in the real world.
Japanese Cultural Property VR Museum
More areas are set to be added to the museum in the future, providing visitors with even more opportunities to interact with Japan's rich cultural heritage. The Japanese Cultural Property VR Museum is free to play on Steam, making it accessible to anyone with a VR headset and a love of Japanese culture.