On Feb 12th, JTB (Japan Tourist Bureau) ﾂ黴€announced the availability of an innovative GPS game integrated vacation package called “Colo-Tabi” (“Tabi” means trip in Japanese). The first such tour, originating in Tokyo with Iwate as its final destination, will be available for reservations on Feb 15th. Iwate is a popular travel destination, 3 hours north of Tokyo.

The GPS game “A Colony Life☆Plus”, developed and operated by Colopl Inc., utilizes the GPS navigation future found in mobile phones. As the user moves around in the real world, he or she will send in their GPS location information in exchange for “movement points” inside the game. These points are then used to purchase real-estate for the development of an in-game colony.

Travelers will take the Tohoku-Shinkansen from Tokyo to Ichinose-station in Iwate prefecture. There they will change on to a tour bus. As they travel around the Iwate prefecture, the travelers will send in their GPS location information to complete the game’s “Iwate area”.