Yamagata Initiative Begins Challenge to Create New Gateway to Local Charm with VR x AI

Challenging the Creation of Regional Experiences Using VR and AI

Miyabi Innovation LLC (Headquarters: Yamagata Prefecture, Representative: Masashi Sato) has launched a market validation project titled "Delivering Local Charm with VR x AI: A Yamagata-Based Challenge!" on the crowdfunding site "CAMPFIRE" starting at 10 AM on July 6, 2026. This project aims to create a new gateway to experience the charm of rural areas using VR and AI, with Yamagata Prefecture as the stage.

This project will verify whether it can lead to increased visits, repeat visits, and a growing base of people connected to the region. This will be achieved through "VR Fit Trip," which allows users to virtually experience local scenery before their trip; "Omni Scouter," which utilizes AI on-site to find and enjoy fruits and local resources; and "MIYABI PORTAL," which connects travel records with local shops, accommodations, and specialty products.

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Background of the Project Launch

Rural areas possess numerous attractions, including scenery, food, accommodations, experiences, people, and culture. However, without an opportunity to encounter these charms, many rural areas remain merely "places I want to visit someday."

Even if people become interested in a region through travel, they often lack continued contact, and the experience ends up being a one-time event.

Miyabi Innovation LLC conceived that by leveraging VR and AI, they could create new pathways for regional experiences that connect the pre-trip, on-site, and post-trip phases. In this market validation, Yamagata Prefecture will serve as the initial demonstration field to test a sustainable format for both users and regional businesses.

MIYABI PORTAL: Connecting VR Experiences, AI Experiences, Travel Records, Food and Lodging, and Specialty Products

Before the Trip: VR Fit Trip

"VR Fit Trip" is a service that allows users to enjoy regional scenery and experience the area as if they were walking or cycling, all from the comfort of their homes.

VR is not intended to replace travel but rather to serve as a "trailer" that inspires people to visit the actual location. The system will be validated as a mechanism to experience Yamagata's nature, townscapes, tourist spots, cycling courses, and marathon routes before a trip or event.

VR Fit Trip | Top Screen ImageVR Fit Trip | Menu Screen Image

VR Fit Trip | Exercise Screen ImageVR Fit Trip | Point Acquisition Screen Image

During the Trip: Omni Scouter

"Omni Scouter" is an experiential service that uses AI on-site to find and enjoy fruits and local resources.

For example, at a tourist farm, by scanning fruits with AI and displaying scores and titles based on their color and appearance, it adds an element of "searching," "comparing," and "discovering" to the fruit-picking experience.

In this project, we plan to conduct market validation for fruit-picking experiences, including peach picking, in cooperation with "Osho Fruit Orchard," a tourist fruit orchard in Tendo City, Yamagata Prefecture.

Osho Fruit Orchard Official Website

Osho Fruit Orchard is one of Yamagata Prefecture's largest tourist fruit orchards, located in Tendo City, Yamagata Prefecture. Visitors can enjoy fruit picking of cherries, peaches, grapes, and apples, and there is also an attached "oh!show!cafe" and shop.

Omni Scouter | Top Screen ImageOmni Scouter | AI Scan Screen ImageOmni Scouter | Scouter Certification Screen Image

After the Trip: Travel Records, Food and Lodging, and Specialty Products

MIYABI PORTAL will also validate the "Travel Record" function, where users can post photos and experiences from their visit.

The aim is for each individual's experience to accumulate like small introductory articles conveying the region's charm, becoming a catalyst for future visitors.

Additionally, we will verify pathways to local restaurants, cafes, accommodations, specialty products, and existing e-commerce sites or official sales pages. Instead of replacing existing tourism, booking, or sales sites, we will confirm whether new opportunities for awareness, visits, and repeat visits can be created while coexisting with existing regional initiatives.

MIYABI PORTAL | Top Page ImageMIYABI PORTAL | Find Food and Lodging Page ImageMIYABI PORTAL | Travel Record Page Image

Crowdfunding Overview

Item

Details

Project Name

Delivering Local Charm with VR x AI: A Yamagata-Based Challenge!

Project Period

July 6, 2026 (Mon) - August 7, 2026 (Fri)

Application Window

Crowdfunding site "CAMPFIRE"

URL

https://camp-fire.jp/projects/944971/view

Target Amount

300,000 yen

Method

All-in

Main Returns

Thank you message, activity reports, MIYABI PORTAL beta version usage guide, co-creation community participation, listing plans for businesses, etc.

Use of Funds

Personnel costs, public relations/advertising expenses, beta version operation costs, server costs, tool usage fees, communication costs, etc.

Future Schedule

July 2026: Crowdfunding implementation

August 2026 - January 2027: Market validation in Yamagata Prefecture

February 2027 onwards: Consolidation of validation results, consideration of future developments

Representative's Comment

Rural areas have scenery, atmosphere, food, people, and experiences that are difficult to convey without actually visiting. I believe that by utilizing VR and AI, we can create opportunities for people who don't yet know the region to become interested, and make on-site experiences more enjoyable and memorable.

This crowdfunding effort is not for selling a finished service, but a challenge for market validation. Together with our supporters and regional businesses, we want to nurture this new regional experience creation initiative originating from Yamagata.

Miyabi Innovation LLC Representative Masashi Sato

About Miyabi Innovation LLC

Miyabi Innovation LLC, based in Yamagata Prefecture, is a company engaged in tourism DX, regional experience creation, and operational efficiency support for the manufacturing industry, utilizing AI, image processing, and VR technologies. We aim to connect regional charm with on-site challenges through technology, creating new experiential value and practical business improvements.

Company Profile

Company Name: Miyabi Innovation LLC

Location: Yamagata Prefecture

Representative: Masashi Sato

Business Activities: System development utilizing AI, image processing, and VR technologies; tourism DX; planning and development of regional experience services; operational efficiency support

Official Website: https://miyabi-innovation.com/