Fukuoka City Museum AR
Photo: Time Out Tokyo

Get Fukuoka City Museum’s Japanese artefacts into your home via augmented reality

Examine an ancient geisha doll, samurai armour and more in 360-degree views – you can even place them in your home

Kasey Furutani
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Kasey Furutani
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Some of Japan’s best museums have gone online now, but the Fukuoka City Museum has taken things to a new level. Not content with just virtual tours, the museum is now letting us transport its prized artefacts into our homes. 

The Fukuoka City Museum has partnered with Steampunk Digital to turn seven of its historical treasures into digital VR and AR models. Steampunk Digital uses 3D scanning to create 360-degree VR versions of samurai helmets, Hakata dolls and other objects dating back to the 16th century. 

Fukuoka City Museum AR
Photo: Time Out Tokyo

Instead of just staring at a display case, you can now get an interactive 360-degree view of the artefact. Pictured above is a 16th-century war helmet and armour set owned by the Lord of Fukuoka. 

Fukuoka City Museum AR
Photo: Time Out Tokyo

If you like what you see, use the AR function to add some ancient décor to your home. Using a phone or tablet with the latest version of Google Chrome, Safari or Firefox, just tap on the picture to see these valuable objects hanging out on your couch. The wooden statue above is modeled after Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun of the Tokugawa clan. 

Fukuoka City Museum AR
Photo: Time Out Tokyo

Feeling lonely in your apartment? Now you can spend time with this geisha Hakata Doll, made by renowned puppeteer Yoichi Kojima. The model is based on Kojima’s wife. 

Access the artworks on Fukuoka City Museum’s website. For AR compatibility, visit the site on your smartphone or tablet. 

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