Interview with the host of our Metaverse temple - Zen abbot Sasaki Hokaku
Our CTO, Hans Karlsson, interviews the young abbot at the Gyokuryū-Ji, Hokaku Sasaki. Meet us in avatar form in the Metaverse!
Why a Zen temple?
Our goal is to facilitate maximum utilisation of the expanding Metaverse by both individuals and businesses. We've been in the business of helping those curious about Japan enjoy immersive virtual reality experiences without ever leaving home. In the Metaverse, you can enter a virtual world and have your brain believe it is actually in that world, complete with the ability to interact with the other people who appear there.
We picked this spot because it's ideal for a variety of uses, especially those involving culturally curious visitors. The actual 3D space that people enter has narrative significance. However, these kinds of experiences can work equally well for education, training, company branding, meetings, and events, making tourism just one of an almost infinite number of use cases. Let us know what you need, and we'll see to it that you have your own room.
We picked this spot because it's ideal for a variety of uses, especially those involving culturally curious visitors. The actual 3D space that people enter has narrative significance. However, these kinds of experiences can work equally well for education, training, company branding, meetings, and events, making tourism just one of an almost infinite number of use cases. Let us know what you need, and we'll see to it that you have your own room.
Hyper Rapid Metaverse Transport vs. Traditional Travel
Gero city, in Gifu Prefecture, is home to the Gyokuryū-Ji (Temple of the Jewel Dragon). Please come and visit in person sometime! If that's not possible in the here and now, the Metaverse is your next best option. Enjoy tours covering artistic, historical, and cultural themes by knowledgeable guides in real time. Unlike Zoom, you get to know actual people and talk to them as if they were standing right next to you. Come to the temple in person when you feel prepared to do so. Gifu Prefecture is a wonderful place to visit for a variety of reasons, including cultural tourism, hiking, delicious local cuisine, and relaxing in the hot springs of Gero City.
Real World Example: Los Angeles to Gero city, Japan
Time: 7 days including 2 days for travel
Cost: About $3750 ($1000 economy round trip plus $400/day expenses plus $150 day for spa hotel)
The Metaverse route (try before you fly!):
Time: About 30 minutes including free ENGAGE account setup and travel in the comfort of your home.
Cost: Free
Inquire about special events and tours via our contact form.
If you buy a Meta Quest 2 headset, for example, to really feel you step into the place, add $399. It will also enable you to access endless other worlds and experiences for years to come:
How to join an ENGAGE event
- Log in
- Select the EVENTS menu to the left
- Find the event and join
- NOTE: When the event starts, you will automatically enter the temple when you join. After that, you will automatically follow the host wherever he/she takes you in the ENGAGE metaverse.
How to join an ENGAGE Session by ID
- Login
- Select the JOIN SESSION tab
- Select JOIN SESSION BY ID
- Type in the ID you have received
How to access the on-demand Zen Priest-in-Chief!
THIS IS A FULLY IMMERSIVE EVENT - MOVE AROUND FREELY IN 3D SPACE (VR headset or PC)
Watch this short video to learn how to join a virtual event that will start on demand. You just need to press the start button!
What is the easiest way?
You can join the auto-playing event by finding it in Engage's list of public content. Just open the CONTENTS tab after log in and find the temple. When you join this way the show starts automatically! If you want to explore the temple interior on you own and start the show when you are ready, follow the below instructions.
Join by session ID - start the show manually
- Go to https://app.engagevr.io/register and create an Engage account
- Download the app from https://engagevr.io/download/ and install on your device
- Start app in headset or on PC/phone/tablet
- Login
- Select "Join Session"
- Select "Join by Session ID"
- Type in ID "azVLq" (no quotation marks) and confirm. THIS room ID takes you to the event space in the video.
- If your first time, the scene will download and then you will enter automatically
- To move around in VR, just walk :) , or push joystick on right hand controller forward to glide, or press A button or equivalent on right hand controller to warp jump. Instructions for PC and other flat screens appear when you enter the room.
- To start the show, find the START button and press it (use mouse on a PC, or trigger button on VR hand controller)
- The START button is located to the left from the perspective of the buddha statue in the main hall, on a wooden post to the left (shown in the video above).
- For an extra-easy way to enjoy the event, after login instead choose CONTENT and find us in the list. Click to start and the event will start automatically!
- Contact us at https://www.mimir.world/contact.html and we will show you around in person!
