You might chuckle at this fellow for pretending to be taking a picture with his virtual girlfriend, but he's happy. He's on vacation with his love and they're in a place which caters to their sort of peculiar relationship.


The town of Atami, Japan is full of landmarks with barcodes which if viewed using a cellphone's camera will reveal young men's virtual lovers. There's even a hotel with barcodes in its rooms which will show the girls in "flattering summer kimonos."

The entire idea behind these arrangements appears to be to enhance virtual relationships—ones created in simulation game called Love Plus—and to offer the players a new challenge: A romantic trip with their girls. [AFP]