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Step Into Sengoku Osaka: The Mind-Blowing Samurai VR Experience You Can't Miss in 2026!

Step Into Sengoku Osaka: The Mind-Blowing Samurai VR Experience You Can't Miss in 2026!

Date published: 5 October 2026

When visiting Osaka, seeing the grand castle built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the legendary unifier of Japan, is a must. But starting October 9, 2026, through March 14, 2027, the Osaka Museum of History is taking historical exploration to a whole new level with NHK VR’s “Samurai’s Dream: The Ghosts of Osaka Castle.”

This isn’t your typical quiet museum walk-through. In this 50-minute immersive journey (10 minutes of orientation followed by 40 minutes of full VR action), you’ll strap on a headset, transform into a Warring States samurai, and step right into the legendary 400-year-old fortress once celebrated as “peerless under heaven.” Powered by ultra-high-definition 3DCG created for NHK’s famous Taiga historical dramas, this experience turns you from a passive history fan into the main character of an epic historical saga.

(Main image credit: ©NHK/NHKプロモーション/NTTドコモ・スタジオ&ライブ/VIVERSE)

Table of Contents
  1. Step Back into the Warring States Era! 6 Can't-Miss VR Highlights
  2. Star-Studded Voice Cast: Guided by Anime Favorite Saori Hayami
  3. Event Info & Tickets (Advance Reservation Required)

Step Back into the Warring States Era! 6 Can't-Miss VR Highlights

Osaka Venue Exclusives: Hideyoshi’s Golden Tea Room & The Siege of Sanada Maru

(Image credit: ©NHK/NHKプロモーション/NTTドコモ・スタジオ&ライブ/VIVERSE)
(Image credit: ©NHK/NHKプロモーション/NTTドコモ・スタジオ&ライブ/VIVERSE)
(Image credit: ©NHK/NHKプロモーション/NTTドコモ・スタジオ&ライブ/VIVERSE)
(Image credit: ©NHK/NHKプロモーション/NTTドコモ・スタジオ&ライブ/VIVERSE)

The Osaka venue comes packed with exclusive bonus scenes! You can step inside Hideyoshi’s legendary Golden Tearoom, the very place where he entertained elite guests in ultimate luxury, and dive headfirst into the front lines of Sanada Maru. This famous fortification saw the fiercest clashes during the Siege of Osaka.

High Above the Realm: Panoramic Views of Osaka Castle

(Image credit: ©NHK/NHKプロモーション/NTTドコモ・スタジオ&ライブ/VIVERSE)
(Image credit: ©NHK/NHKプロモーション/NTTドコモ・スタジオ&ライブ/VIVERSE)

Ever wondered what Japan looked like to its supreme ruler? Through stunning 360-degree VR, walk in Hideyoshi’s shoes up to the top floor of the main keep, taking in sweeping panoramas of the vast Osaka plain while standing inside a stronghold celebrated as one of a kind.

Power & Prestige: Brilliant Kano School Sliding Screen Paintings

(Image credit: ©NHK/NHKプロモーション/NTTドコモ・スタジオ&ライブ/VIVERSE)
(Image credit: ©NHK/NHKプロモーション/NTTドコモ・スタジオ&ライブ/VIVERSE)

Inside Hideyoshi’s dream castle, the walls were lined with vibrant art painted by masters of the Kano school. The VR experience brings these energetic murals of exotic beasts and mythical creatures to life in vivid detail, showcasing the Toyotomi clan’s supreme power and incredible wealth.

Witness History’s Greatest Clashes: The Bizenjima Bombardment & Osaka Castle in Flames

(Image credit: ©NHK/NHKプロモーション/NTTドコモ・スタジオ&ライブ/VIVERSE)
(Image credit: ©NHK/NHKプロモーション/NTTドコモ・スタジオ&ライブ/VIVERSE)
(Image credit: ©NHK/NHKプロモーション/NTTドコモ・スタジオ&ライブ/VIVERSE)
(Image credit: ©NHK/NHKプロモーション/NTTドコモ・スタジオ&ライブ/VIVERSE)

Time-travel back to the Winter Campaign of the Siege of Osaka in 1614. Feel the ground tremble as Tokugawa forces rain heavy artillery shells from Bizenjima, and watch with bated breath as this magnificent, glittering castle is swallowed by roaring flames at a tragic turning point in Japanese history.

Tracing Hideyoshi’s Footsteps: A Dancing Phantom on Gokuraku Bridge

(Image credit: ©NHK/NHKプロモーション/NTTドコモ・スタジオ&ライブ/VIVERSE)
(Image credit: ©NHK/NHKプロモーション/NTTドコモ・スタジオ&ライブ/VIVERSE)

What was day-to-day life really like for Toyotomi Hideyoshi inside his fortress? As you cross the solemn Gokuraku Bridge in VR, you'll encounter an ethereal vision of Hideyoshi himself dancing, offering a quiet, poetic glimpse into the heart and dreams of the ruler who shaped an era.

Recreated in Stunning 3DCG: Iconic Warlord Helmets & Samurai Armor

(Image credit: ©NHK/NHKプロモーション/NTTドコモ・スタジオ&ライブ/VIVERSE)
(Image credit: ©NHK/NHKプロモーション/NTTドコモ・スタジオ&ライブ/VIVERSE)

Step into the virtual gallery space, where famous samurai armor and exotic helmets—including Hideyoshi’s iconic “Ichinotani Iris-leaf” helmet—have been meticulously rendered in high-definition 3DCG. History buffs can get up close and examine every intricate detail!

Star-Studded Voice Cast: Guided by Anime Favorite Saori Hayami

(Image credit: ©NHK/NHKプロモーション/NTTドコモ・スタジオ&ライブ/VIVERSE)
(Image credit: ©NHK/NHKプロモーション/NTTドコモ・スタジオ&ライブ/VIVERSE)

Making this journey even more memorable, top-tier voice actress Saori Hayami (known for her roles as Yor Forger in SPY×FAMILY and Shinobu Kocho in Demon Slayer) brings the experience to life as your narrator. Performing as the “Spirit of Osaka Castle,” who watched the rise and fall of the Toyotomi dynasty, her warm, elegant voice guides you seamlessly through this unforgettable adventure.

Event Info & Tickets (Advance Reservation Required)

(Image credit: ©NHK/NHKプロモーション/NTTドコモ・スタジオ&ライブ/VIVERSE)
(Image credit: ©NHK/NHKプロモーション/NTTドコモ・スタジオ&ライブ/VIVERSE)

Planning your visit? Keep in mind that this event is strictly 100% reservation-only. You'll need to secure your date and time slot on the official website beforehand, as tickets will not be sold at the venue.

Event Name
NHK VR "Samurai's Dream: The Ghosts of Osaka Castle" (Osaka Venue)
Event Dates
October 9, 2026 to March 14, 2027
Hours
9:30 AM - 5 PM (Last entry at 4 PM)
Closed Days
Tuesdays (or the next day if Tuesday falls on a national holiday), New Year holiday period (Dec 28 to Jan 4)
Venue
Osaka Museum of History, 6F Special Exhibition Room (4-1-32 Otemae, Chuo-ku, Osaka)
Getting There
Ride the Osaka Metro Tanimachi Line or Chuo Line to Tanimachi 4-chome Station; use Exit 2 or 9 for direct access
Ticket Pricing
Adults
Weekdays 3,500 yen / Weekends & Holidays 4,000 yen
Elementary, Junior High & High School Students
Weekdays 1,500 yen / Weekends & Holidays 2,000 yen (※For safety reasons, children under 7 years old and individuals who do not meet the NHK VR terms of use cannot participate.)
Written by:
Wemmy Chau
Wemmy Chau

LIVE JAPAN

Originally from Hong Kong, she graduated from university with a degree in English and Japanese before moving to Chiba, Japan, in 2015. With her 10 years of experience living in Japan, she excels at discovering unique, off-the-beaten-path information that you won't find in typical travel guides. Specializing in art, seasonal scenery, and theme parks, she provides the latest and most useful travel information. She has experience writing for major travel media outlets and regional tourism websites and has also obtained JLPT Level 1 certification. She hopes to offer reliable travel information from a unique Hong Kong perspective.

*This information is from the time of this article's publication.
*Prices and options mentioned are subject to change.
*Unless stated otherwise, all prices include tax.

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