Backpacker Buzz

If you’ve visited Japan, then you know that they’re already living in the future. The Japanese have renewable energy, fuel-celled vehicles, ASIMO (the world’s most advanced humanoid robot), and let’s not forget umeboshi, the pickled plums that cure hangovers.

And now, they have virtual reality.

A team of Japanese researchers have announced the development of the world’s first 3-D television system that allows viewers to touch and change the shape of the three dimensional images on the screen. Take that James Cameron.

That means while we mere mortals over in North America are still rubbing sticks together to make fire, Japan is busy reinventing the wheel in a parallel universe, in 3-D. And from they way they like to party (karaoke and single malt whiskey anyone?), it appears that they’re having a good time doing it.

It won’t be long before backpackers can teleport into Tokyo and communicate to hostel staff with their minds.

And if that’s not a cool enough reason to visit Japan, then surely their state-of-the-art capsule beds are. Who doesn’t want to sleep in a tightly confined tube? It’s like being stationed on Mars.

If your imagination isn’t ready for space-travel, then stretch out on a real bed, the kind with four legs and a mattress. Check into a Japanese Youth Hostel in any of the major cities. After all, cities like Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto provide all the space-aged technology that a traveller needs.

For more information on hostel accommodations and rates in Japan, click here.