YOKAI × AR: Spirits of Edo Come Alive
YOKAI—mysterious creatures from Japanese folklore—are attracting attention around the world.
Some are frightening. Some are mischievous. Others are strange, funny, or even lovable.
The EDOAR YOKAI Stamp Rally brings these legendary characters into the modern world through augmented reality.
Visitors explore the venue, scan QR codes, and watch YOKAI and other supernatural characters appear on their smartphones. They can take photos and videos, collect digital stamps, and discover the stories behind each character.
It is an interactive Japanese cultural experience that combines folklore, traditional decorations, digital technology, and entertainment.
🏮 What Are YOKAI?
For centuries, people in Japan used stories of YOKAI to explain mysterious events and things they could not understand.
YOKAI were said to live in mountains, rivers, forests, old houses, and even everyday objects. One particularly Japanese idea is that old tools and household items can develop spirits of their own. These supernatural objects are known as tsukumogami.
During the Edo period, YOKAI became more than simply frightening beings.
They appeared in picture scrolls, illustrated books, woodblock prints, popular stories, and theatrical performances. Artists gave them distinctive shapes, personalities, and names, transforming them into popular characters and entertainment.
This culture of imaginative supernatural characters can still be seen in Japanese manga, anime, games, and movies today.
In Japanese folklore, YOKAI generally refers to supernatural creatures or mysterious phenomena, while YUREI are the spirits of people who have died. The EDOAR experience features both, bringing together some of Japan’s best-known supernatural stories.
✨ Meet the Six Characters of EDOAR
Six legendary characters appear at different locations throughout the venue.
Each character is connected to a particular Japanese decoration, creating a visual link between the physical event space and the digital AR experience.
👻 Oiwa-san × Japanese Lanterns
Oiwa-san is the tragic ghost from Tokaido Yotsuya Kaidan, one of Japan’s most famous ghost stories.
After being betrayed by her husband, Iemon, Oiwa dies and returns as a vengeful spirit. Her story became famous through Kabuki theatre and has since inspired many films, plays, and other works.
In the EDOAR experience, Oiwa-san emerges from the eerie glow of traditional Japanese lanterns.
🦊 Kitsune no Yomeiri × Torii Gate
Kitsune no Yomeiri means “the fox’s wedding.”
In Japanese folklore, mysterious lights seen moving through the mountains at night were believed to be lanterns carried by a hidden wedding procession of foxes. A sun shower—rain falling while the sun is shining—is also sometimes called Kitsune no Yomeiri.
Scan the QR code near the torii gate and a magical fox wedding procession will appear.
☂️ Karakasa-obake × Japanese Umbrellas
With one large eye, a long tongue, and a single leg, Karakasa-obake is one of Japan’s most recognizable supernatural characters.
It resembles an old Japanese umbrella that has come to life and is often associated with the tradition of tsukumogami—everyday objects that acquire spirits after many years.
Combined with colorful Japanese umbrellas, Karakasa-obake creates a playful and highly photogenic AR experience for visitors of all ages.
🍶 Shuten-doji × Japanese Bridge
Shuten-doji is one of Japan’s most legendary oni, or demons.
According to the story, he lived on Mount Oe near Kyoto and ruled over a group of demons. His name means “sake-drinking boy,” reflecting his famous love of alcohol.
He was eventually defeated by the warrior Minamoto no Yorimitsu and his four retainers.
In EDOAR, the powerful Shuten-doji appears near a traditional bridge or railing, bringing a dramatic scene from Japanese legend into the event venue.
👺 Tengu × Bamboo
Tengu are supernatural beings associated with mountains and forests.
They are commonly depicted with red faces, long noses, fans, and extraordinary powers. Some stories describe them as dangerous tricksters, while others portray them as guardians or masters of martial arts.
Point a smartphone toward the bamboo decoration and watch a Tengu fly out of the forest!
🏮 Kohada Koheiji × Traditional Lantern Tower
Kohada Koheiji is a ghost from a popular Edo-period tale.
In the story, Koheiji is murdered by his wife and her lover. He later returns in a terrifying form to haunt them.
His ghost became a popular subject in Japanese art, including a famous woodblock print by Katsushika Hokusai.
In the EDOAR experience, Koheiji quietly emerges from the shadows near a traditional lantern tower, creating the unsettling atmosphere of an Edo ghost story.
💧 Bonus Character: Kappa × Traditional Festival Games
Kappa are among the best-known creatures in Japanese folklore.
They are said to live in rivers and ponds and are usually depicted with turtle-like shells and water-filled dishes on their heads. Depending on the story, they can be mischievous, dangerous, or surprisingly friendly.
In EDOAR, a Kappa can appear near water-themed festival games such as yo-yo fishing or super-ball scooping.
It is an ideal addition to summer festivals, family events, and Japanese-style festival spaces.
Up to six stamp locations can be installed. The combination of characters can be selected according to the venue decorations and the theme of the event.
📱 Find the YOKAI! The EDOAR Stamp Rally
The EDOAR YOKAI Stamp Rally is a digital experience that encourages participants to explore the venue and search for supernatural characters.
How to Play
- Find a YOKAI spot inside the venue.
- Scan the QR code with a smartphone.
- Point the smartphone camera toward the floor or surrounding space.
- Watch a character appear in AR.
- Take photos or videos and collect a digital stamp.
- Continue to the next location and find them all!
No dedicated app is required, making it easy for visitors to participate using their own smartphones.
After each AR encounter, participants can also access information about the character’s history and origins.
The experience combines discovery, photography, collecting, and learning—all within one interactive activity.
💀 Complete the Rally and Unlock a Giant YOKAI
Participants who collect all the stamps can unlock a special final AR experience.
The final character is Gashadokuro—a gigantic skeleton from Japanese folklore.
When participants point their smartphones toward the floor, an enormous three-dimensional skeleton appears before them, creating a dramatic finale and a memorable photo opportunity.
The AR reward can also be replaced with a physical prize, such as event-exclusive merchandise, hotel gifts, company-branded items, or regional products.
🎪 Traditional Decorations Meet Digital Technology
EDOAR is more than a digital attraction.
Traditional decorations—including torii gates, lanterns, bamboo, Japanese umbrellas, bridges, and lantern towers—are combined with AR technology to transform the entire venue into an immersive YOKAI world.
The experience encourages guests to explore different areas of the venue and is suitable for a wide range of events, including:
• International conference receptions
• Incentive events for overseas guests
• Hotel family events
• Shopping mall campaigns
• Tourism and regional promotion events
• Summer festivals and Halloween events
• Corporate parties featuring Japanese culture
Japanese and English versions are available. Event dates, location names, stamp spots, prizes, and participant guidance can also be customized for each event.
🌏 Transform Japanese Folklore into an Interactive Experience
YOKAI were born from Japan’s relationship with nature, daily life, storytelling, and imagination.
During the Edo period, they developed into colorful characters that entertained people through art, literature, and theatre.
The EDOAR YOKAI Stamp Rally brings these stories into the present through AR technology.
See them. Find them. Photograph them. Collect them. Discover their stories.
Why not invite your guests into a new world where Japanese folklore and digital entertainment come together?
From the selection of traditional decorations and AR characters to the design of the visitor journey, we can create a complete experience tailored to your event and venue.
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