[Osaka Institute of Technology] Experience the Kagiya-ura of the Edo Period!

Osaka Institute of Technology (President: Susumu Inoue), in collaboration with Hirakata City, will launch the "Hirakata-juku Kagiya Museum WebAR Experience System" at the Hirakata-juku Kagiya Museum on May 28, 2026. By scanning a QR code in the museum's annex, visitors can use smartphones or tablets to view 3D AR recreations of the Yodo River and the "Sanjukkoku-bune" boats as they appeared in the Edo period. This allows visitors to visually understand the historical background of Hirakata-juku and the role of the Yodo River. Users can also change perspectives, such as viewing the Kagiya building from a boat, or adjust weather and seasonal settings.

Associate Professor Norihiko Kawai of the Department of Information Media at Osaka Institute of Technology commented, "I am delighted that our students' achievements are being implemented in society. We will continue to collaborate with the local community to promote regional appeal using digital technologies like XR." A representative from Hirakata City added, "We hope this will help visitors feel closer to history and encourage the younger generation to take an interest in local cultural assets."

Key Points:
- Provides a historical experience via WebAR, recreating Edo-period river transport.
- A cultural asset promotion initiative using digital technology to appeal to younger generations.
- Uses "Pre-generated Augmented Reality" to eliminate spatial misalignment caused by GPS or sensor errors.

No prior reservation is required. The system also links to the city and museum websites for further information and event registration.