Tokyo VR Park ブイアールパークトーキョー
Virtual reality in the heart of Tokyo
In the trendy district of Shibuya, the VR Park offers an immersion in virtual reality (VR) on an entire floor! The opportunity to discover this amazing technology by playing crazy video games, with friends or family...
Virtual reality, what is it?
Virtual reality , called "VR" in English (for Virtual Reality ) is a technology simulating the presence of the user in a virtual environment , with which he can interact. Virtual reality is used in particular in the context of architecture, for visits to houses, or major cultural sites. But it is mainly applied in the world of video games , because it opens up a whole world of possibilities where the user, who becomes a player, benefits from total immersion in the game.
The experience of virtual reality is done through a helmet equipped with earphones , which is placed on the head and which thus positions a screen directly in front of the eyes of the player. Two controllers equipped with joysticks are also provided to be able to interact with the game. In addition, the user's body is detected by sensors placed all around, which make it possible to take into account the position of the latter in the space of the game. and add even greater interactivity. At Tokyo's VR Park, the headsets used are state-of-the-art HTC Vives.
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Activities at the VR Park
Shibuya VR Park offers many activities exploring the possibilities of virtual reality. Nine different video games are thus made available to visitors, more or less immersive and intense. It's simple, there's something for everyone! Those who prefer shooting can try 'Welcome to Panic Mansion' where the goal is to take down invading ghosts, while sports fans will have the option of playing baseball as part of 'Hachamecha stadium' .
The more adventurous will turn to "Jungle Bungee" , where the user is installed in a suspended harness and experiences a virtual jump . For those looking for adrenaline, "Dive Hard" takes you balancing on a beam in the middle of buildings, for a vitamin shoot'em up. Finally, it is possible to try flying ("Icaros"), car racing ("T3R Simulator") or even a (full-bodied!) ride on a flying carpet , on real moving ground, with "Salomon's mat".
To discover: 5 game centers to try
VR Park, user manual
For starters, there are now two VR Parks in Tokyo : the first opened in Shibuya in December 2016 and there is now a second in Ikebukuro .
In Shibuya, the VR Park is on the 4th floor of a classic Game Center. The entrance is marked by a sign indicating the participation times: you can't come in at any time to play , the rules are quite precise. You will first need to contact one of the many employees to register and get a badge. Then, at the time indicated, the session for which you have registered will begin. You will therefore be accompanied by other participants. It is then up to you to choose which attraction you wish to try. An employee assigned to each space will accompany you for explanations , setting up the helmet, etc. - but not always in English!
You can either try a single attraction for 1,000 yen (about 7€50) or pay an all-inclusive package for 2,900 yen (22€) during the week or 3,300 yen (25€) during weekends and holidays to have the possibility of testing all the games for 110 minutes. Please note that activities are prohibited for children under 7 years old . Sessions are held approximately every two hours. Finally, it should be noted that virtual reality is more or less well supported and can sometimes cause nausea in some people.
To read: For young people in Japan
Flying and shooting experience on a flying carpet: Salomon's carpet
Game Watch
Address, timetable & access
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Address
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Phone
+81 (0)3-3461-1311 -
Timetable
VR Park Shibuya: 5-minute walk from Shibuya StationVR Park Ikebukuro: 3-minute walk from Ikebukuro Station -
Price
From 2,900 to 3,300 yen (22 to 25€) for access to all activities -
Access
Open every day from 10 a.m. to 11:20 p.m. -
Website
http://www.adores.jp/vrpark/en/
