Although Japan is known as the country where modernity and tradition collide, Japanese history has never been brought to life by technology quite like this before.

Kenninji is Zen Buddhism’s oldest temple in Kyoto, famous for its beautiful and historic pieces of art. This new experience called 'MR Museum in Kyoto', will bring a whole new dimension to a national treasure that the temple holds. When you gaze upon the 'Wind God and Thunder God' folded screen painted by Tawaraya Sotatsu over 400 years ago, you will be able to see whole lot more than you bargained for.

The idea to infuse appreciation of Japan’s important cultural properties with the Microsoft HoloLens was announced last year, a collaboration between hakuhodo-VRAR and Kenninji Temple. Finally, this ‘MR Museum’ is open to the public, but only for a limited time.

Wearing the Microsoft HoloLens headset, a mixed reality experience guides you through the history of the artwork and adds other atmospheric visual treats. Shundo Asano, who is actually a monk at Kenninji, becomes your personal virtual guide.

MR Museum in Kyoto is the first Japanese project to use the 3D shooting technology available at the Microsoft Mixed Reality Capture Studios. Shundo Asano travelled to the studios in Seattle to record his movements as the guide, and became the first Japanese person to have his movements captured in high definition, smooth 3D graphics. If you walk around the holographic version of him, you can actually see his back as if he was really standing in front of you.

The MR Museum adds a proactive element to appreciating artwork, as you must walk around the room to take in all the contents. You can also interact with certain holographic items using an action called an ‘air-tap’.

Although the run at Kenninji Temple has already finished, the chance to take part carries on at the Kyoto National Museum on 1st and 2nd March. There are no advance bookings but numbered tickets will be given out at the museum from the opening time of the experience (11 am) on a first come first served basis. Two people can take part in each 15 minute session.

If you will happen to be in Kyoto on any of the dates, the MR Museum is free apart from the usual entrance fee to the venue. The times for each date can be found on the hakuhodo-VRAR website.

Kyoto is awash with tourists attempting to escape the neon glare of modernity and immerse themselves in traditional culture. But perhaps the two can be combined to elevate historic artworks in a way never seen before.

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