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Fujikyu Railway and HIKKY Launch XR Annual Project for 100th Anniversary

A century-old railway operator is using XR to extend its physical theme park into the metaverse, treating virtual engagement as a pipeline for real-world tourism rather than a standalone promotion.

Reporting from 1 sources: PANORA.

Fujikyu Railway and HIKKY Launch XR Annual Project for 100th Anniversary

Fujikyu Railway, celebrating its 100th anniversary, has partnered with HIKKY to launch an XR Annual Project. The first phase brings Fuji-Q Highland to Virtual Market 2026 Summer with a VR roller coaster that accelerates based on rider scream volume. The project aims to build virtual fan communities and drive real-world visits.

Fujikyu Railway, which operates Fuji-Q Highland, is marking its 100th anniversary by entering the metaverse. The company partnered with HIKKY, the organizer of Virtual Market, on an XR Annual Project that begins with a Fuji-Q Highland booth at Virtual Market 2026 Summer. The centerpiece is a VR version of the coaster FUJIYAMA that speeds up the louder riders scream-a feature HIKKY calls the world's first voice-accelerated VR coaster.

The booth is designed as a pop-cute interpretation of the park rather than a direct replica. Senior Managing Director Motomitsu Horiuchi said the goal is to build a fan community through continuous virtual interaction, then convert that into actual visits, longer stays, and travel around Mt. Fuji. The project treats XR not as a one-off marketing stunt but as a long-term channel for customer acquisition and retention.

Synthesized by Yomimono from the 1 cited source below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.

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