Discover Japan's Past

A society shaped by Samurai, Emperors, Nature, and War

Watch Trailer on Meta TV

First two episodes are available for FREE

15-Episode VR Documentary

Explore the history of Japan while exploring 360 3D scenes from around Japan.

Some highlights (spoilers) from the series are:

• How hunter-gatherers lived and started to form more complex societies
• Ancient history covering the Kofun burial mounds, the Shinto religion, and the introduction of Buddhism
• The rise of the Samurai and the eventual unification under a Shogun
• Earliest writings, hierarchical society and the introduction of tea
• The arrival of, and eventual isolation from Europeans and Christianity
• The rapid modernisation of Japan and its culture
• The rise of an empire and the horrors of World War II
• The post-war period and the Japanese Economic Miracle that led to cultural exports like manga, anime, and video games
  

10 Episodes Exploring Culture

Step inside Japanese culture with 10 immersive VR episodes. Explore what makes this society so unique—from daily rituals to seasonal traditions—with stunning detail and depth:

🐰 Kawaii Culture - Learn what it is, when it began, and how to start using kawaii words yourself!

🌸 Cherry Blossom - Discover the beauty, poetry, and meaning behind one of Japan’s most iconic seasons.

🍋 Agriculture: 2 episodes - Trace the cultural roots of rice and tea back to their origins, then explore Japan’s most prized crops; how they’re grown, and why some have luxury price tags.

👨‍👩‍👦‍👦 Golden Week - Understand the national holidays that make this springtime break so meaningful for families and individuals alike.

🎎 Traditional Japanese Aesthetics - Delve into the fascinating philosophies that inspire Japan's traditional ways of life, thinking, art, and design. This will give you a new perspective when watching Studio Ghibli and other anime.

🌲 Forest Bathing - Experience nature the Japanese way: slow, mindful, and deeply rejuvenating.

🔨 New Year Mochi Pounding - See how the New Year is celebrated in Japan, with mochi, sake, and joyful customs.

🥵 Onsen - Soak in the rich tradition of hot springs, and find out why communal bathing is both healing and beloved.

🌼 Parks and Gardens - Unearth the secrets of some of Japan's most peaceful parks and gardens, full of tradition, immaculate greenery, and quiet beauty.

Explore Japan & Learn Japanese

While you listen to the commentary during these Trips, you'll explore many places across Japan including:

• Stunning rice terraces in Kyushu and Shikoku
• The active Sakurajima volcano and the city of Kagoshima
• Temples in Nara, Kyoto, Osaka, and Tokyo
• Mountains and stunning landscapes across Japan
• The charming pre-industrial village of Shirakawa in Gifu
• The bubbling, steaming hot springs of Beppu
• Forests, waterfalls, parks, and gardens from all over the country

All Trips are available in two languages:

• Advanced English (C2) with Japanese keywords (optional)
• Intermediate Japanese (N3) with Japanese keywords and comprehension questions

All keywords and questions are checked by our speech recognition to help you improve your pronunciation.

These 25 VR adventures teach you about Japan's culture and history, and compliment your language learning with the comprehensible input (listening & reading practise) of intermediate Japanese.

Listening to Japanese while exploring Japan virtually - what more could a Japanese learner ask for?!

Learn Japanese in VR

360 3D live-action video of real people speaking Japanese.

Learn with Anne and Yuka - two teachers with a combined 50+ years of experience.

Practice what you've learned in realistic conversations with real people.

Eye contact, body language, and facial expressions create memorable encounters.

Use speech recognition to improve your pronunciation and progress through the interactions.

Access these on-demand flexible lessons, conversations, and guided culture trips on Meta App Store.