Fukui, Japan unveils Wowride Ikoss Fukui Go as world’s first extended reality bus

Fukui, Japan has unveiled the Wowride Ikoss Fukui Go as the world’s first extended reality (XR) bus that displays virtual routes on window and ceiling displays while the bus runs along real routes. The XR routes are designed to entertain and educate riders by providing a virtual preview of the popular destinations the bus will take them to. This immersive experience replaces an otherwise mundane bus ride between Fukui Station and popular points-of-interest in Fukui.

Traditional XR experiences use bulky headsets that must be worn during the entire event. Among the biggest problems preventing extended AR/VR/XR/3D headset use are motion sickness and nausea. Fukui and Japan Railways West have partnered to come up with a must-see experience to draw visitors to Fukui with a XR bus tour that does not require headsets.

A unique virtual experience will be shown for each direction of travel along a route. The three destinations are the Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum, the Ichijodani Asakura Family Site Museum, and the Awara Onsen. Each XR projection was directed by Yukihiko Tsutsumi, a Japanese director known for hits such as the TV drama Trick (watch it on DVD from Amazon).

The rides will begin Saturday, June 1, 2024. The fare for the hour-long dinosaur route is 3,300 yen (~$22) weekdays and 3,900 yen (~$26) on weekends. The fare for the other 30-minute and 50-minute routes is 2,200 yen (~$14) all week long.