Japan releases Hello Kitty tourism app for iPhone

TOKYO, Japan – On 3 September, Japan Tourism Agency released a free “Visit Japan with HELLO KITTY” iPhone app. The app introduces great places to visit in all of Japan’s 47 prefectures and enables users to take a picture at each location with HELLO KITTY.

* HELLO KITTY guides you around Japan
The app includes a collection of region specific HELLO KITTYs with local themes or features in the characters costume or the background. There are more than 50 types of regional HELLO KITTYs featured in the app. Users will find many fun-to-look-at HELLO KITTYs they have never seen before.

* Take pictures with HELLO KITTY while travelling in Japan
This app is equipped with camera functions. If you use this camera during your Japan trip, locally themed HELLO KITTYs appear on the screen. You can take a picture with the special location specific HELLO KITTY and keep it as a special memory.

* Store data on all the places you visit
A record of all the places you visit while in Japan can be stored in the app with the pictures you took. It is a perfect way to store travel memories. Travel around Japan and collect various local HELLO KITTYs. Users who collect enough HELLO KITTYs, will get a special personalized HELLO KITTY smartphone wallpaper.

　　　　　　　　　 　　　

This is the first of a series of campaigns Japan Tourism Agency intends to undertake in cooperation with Japanese brands to promote tourism to japan. Future campaigns are planned in collaboration with Japanese cosmetics companies and restaurants.

The “Visit Japan with HELLO KITTY” iPhone app is now available to download for free from iTunes.

“Visit Japan with HELLO KITTY” iPhone App Details

1.　App Overview
　- App Name: Visit Japan with HELLO KITTY
　- Supported Languages: English, Korean, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese
　- Cost: Free
　- Platforms: iOS4, iOS5 (iPhone)
　- Launch Date: September 3, 2012
　- Distribution: Download from App Store (Until March 31, 2013)
　- Developer: NEC BIGLOBE, Ltd.

2.　App Features
　- “On-Site Kitty” Guide Function

Designed in association with famous landmarks and products from across the country, “On-Site Kitty” provides information about each tourist destination through 53 carefully selected mascot characters that represent the prefectures and administrative divisions of Japan.

– Augmented Reality (AR) Camera Function

If users start up the AR Camera while in Japan, the GPS system will be activated, and it will determine the nearest tourist destination. The “On-Site Kitty” character representing that location will appear on the screen for users to take a commemorative photo with. Users can also post the photo to social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter and communicate the appeal of Japan to friends and acquaintances who have never visited Japan.

– Collection Function

The photos users take while traveling in Japan will be recorded in the app as a collection, and they can be viewed as an album after the trip is over. Furthermore, users will receive background wallpaper presents of the “On-Site Kitty” characters that they take photos with.

The “Visit Japan with HELLO KITTY” iPhone app is now available to download for free from iTunes.