Photo/Illutration Participants are photographed during their virtual lunar experience at the Tottori Sand Dunes in Tottori on Nov. 13. (Midoriko Nagasaki)

TOTTORI--The rolling Tottori Sand Dunes here form the backdrop of a virtual reality-based astronaut experience to simulate landing on the lunar surface.

Located not far from the city center, the dunes stretch for about 16 kilometers, making them the largest in Japan.

The tour is offered by Tokyo-based amulapo, inc. to provide space experience-themed content for up to 20 participants on Saturday nights until the end of March, except for when the weather is bad.

Participants don virtual reality (VR) goggles when they arrive at the company’s reception area to experience a moon landing, and then wear augmented reality (AR) smart glasses to walk to the dunes.

The AR glasses allow participants to experience a lunar development program overlaid on the dunes at night. This involves carrying out five missions, including planting a flag on the surface and scooping up sand.

“The sand dunes looked gray and it was cold out there, which really made me feel I was standing on the moon,” said Yoshiki Takahama, 25, a company worker who came from Osaka with three friends. “It was an extraordinary experience.”

The tour is offered to those aged at least 18 and costs 9,800 yen ($86), including tax.

Reservations are accepted at (https://lunar-base.jp/).

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