Bank of Japan offers virtual tour as headquarters remains off limits amid pandemic
nttnttntttnttttntttttttttnttttttntttttttnttttttttntttttttn
n n n nttttttt
Forced to cancel a popular on-site tour due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Bank of Japan has created a virtual one that takes viewers through the brick corridors, dome-roofed rooms and even an underground vault of its century-old headquarters online.
With a click of the mouse, visitors to the Tour the BOJ from Home site enter through the central bank’s massive courtyard and stroll inside the western, classical-style building with a 360-degree panoramic view of its interiors.
n
They can also browse a three-dimensional, virtual reality video of the building hunting for hidden “treasures” that include an old chair that was used by the BOJ’s governors and the world’s first automatic bill inspection machine.
The virtual guide, available for free on the BOJ’s website, was created after the central bank was forced to cancel from March a popular tour of its headquarters that attracted 19,000 visitors last fiscal year, of which nearly 10 percent were overseas travelers.
“What’s unique about this online tour is that it’s not affected by COVID-19, and that visitors can have the historical building all to themselves,” said BOJ director Noriaki Kawamura.
ntRELATED STORIESntntttntttnttttBOJ gets first female executive director in 138-year historytttnttntttntttnttttBank of Japan likely to cut economic forecasts again on COVID-19tttnttntttntttnttttPositive rates needed to meet inflation target, says new BOJ board membertttnttnttnn
Located in Tokyo’s Nihonbashi business district, the BOJ’s headquarters consist of a new complex and an old building that was built in 1896 and designated by the government as a site of cultural heritage.
The tour is only available in Japanese but one with English-translated instructions will be available later this month, the BOJ said.
ntnttnttntntnttnttntntnttnttntnnnt
In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever.
By subscribing, you can help us get the story right.
ntSUBSCRIBE NOWnnnntnttPHOTO GALLERY (CLICK TO ENLARGE)ntntnttnt ntttttttttntttttnttttttntttttttnttttttntttttnttttnttttttttttntttttnttttttntttttttnttttttntttttnttttnttttttn ntnnntnttKEYWORDSntntBOJ, virtual reality, covid-19, covid-19 in JapannnYour news needs your supportn
Since the early stages of the COVID-19 crisis, The Japan Times has been providing free access to crucial news on the impact of the novel coronavirus as well as practical information about how to cope with the pandemic. Please consider subscribing today so we can continue offering you up-to-date, in-depth news about Japan.
nnn n n tn tttt