ABSTRACT
Japan has been carrying out diverse policies and initiatives with the purpose to preserve, utilize, and promote Kyoto’s cultural properties both in the country and worldwide through the Agency for Cultural Affairs, the Kyoto City government, the Kyoto Prefectural government, the Japan Foundation and the National Institutes for Cultural Heritage. Virtual reality reconstruction projects of Kyoto’s temples and other structures, allowing users to travel through time and space via VR equipment and observe how the assets have looked in the past, were suggested as well. Other proposed initiatives consisted of virtual reality tours of Kyoto’s museums, offering interactive exhibitions and access to audiences worldwide. In addition, with the fast development of digital technologies and the increasing popularity and significance of online cultural experiences in the post-COVID-19 era worldwide, there will be a favorable atmosphere for the establishment of more such initiatives.
