West Japan Railway Company, West Japan Marketing Communications Inc., and JAPAN RAILWAY WEST TRADING Co. are bringing the JR West Group's original metaverse space, Virtual Station, to Comic Market 108, held at Tokyo Big Sight on Saturday, August 15 and Sunday, August 16, 2026. Last year's debut appearance drew attention for a booth built around the concept of a "station," a natural fit for a railway company, and welcomed many visitors. This year, the same world will return along with a new photo session featuring a cosplayer dressed as official character "4.u-ko," plus original goods for sale. Come experience a new blend of virtual and real life, built around the idea of a "station."
Since 2022, the JR West Group has been building Virtual Station as an effort to recreate and expand the social and functional roles of a real "station" in virtual space, and it has been well received by many customers in Japan and abroad, drawing more than 55 million cumulative visitors so far. Virtual Station currently operates two locations: "Virtual Osaka Station 4.u," an evolved version of the original Virtual Osaka Station, and "Virtual Hiroshima Station 2.u."
Virtual Station provides a space where users can communicate and freely share or create content, while also drawing on JR West Group's real-station assets to offer an environment where users can be active both virtually and in real life.
Comic Market is one of Japan's largest events, bringing together people who enjoy a wide range of creative and self-expressive activities. At this year's booth, visitors can learn about Virtual Station's initiatives and experience the value that only the JR West Group can offer.
Be sure to stop by the Virtual Station booth.
Exhibition Overview
Event: Comic Market 108 (organized by the Comic Market Preparatory Committee)
Dates and times: Saturday, August 15, 2026, 10:30 AM to 5:00 PM; Sunday, August 16, 2026, 10:30 AM to 4:00 PM
Venue: Tokyo Big Sight (Tokyo International Exhibition Center)
Booth name: Virtual Station (JR West Group)
Booth location: South Hall 3, No. 2341
An admission ticket is required to enter Comic Market 108. See the official Comic Market website (https://www.comiket.co.jp/) for details.
Exhibition Content — Experiences Available Only Here
Under the concept "A station appears at Comiket!?", the booth is designed to look like a real station, connecting the virtual "Virtual Station" with the real world.
Virtual Station has run a variety of co-creation projects with users over time. These include airing user-made commercial videos in conjunction with real station events, and selling products with labels designed by users, extending users' creative work into the real world.
Comic Market is a place that welcomes all creators and expands the possibilities of expression. Virtual Station's emphasis on co-creation with users shares much in common with Comic Market's philosophy, leading to this second consecutive year of participation.
This year's booth carries forward last year's well-received "A station appears at Comiket!?" concept, offering an exhibit that lets visitors experience a station's distinctive atmosphere. Alongside displays introducing projects created together with users so far, there are also activities visitors themselves can take part in. Stop by the Virtual Station booth and experience the new form of "station" born from co-creation.
Image is for illustrative purposes only.
Exhibit 1: Photo Session With Official Character "4.u-ko"
"4.u-ko," the official character born from Virtual Osaka Station 4.u, will make a real-life appearance at the booth. Visitors can enjoy a commemorative photo with 4.u-ko in uniform. Enjoy this special two-day-only experience at Comiket, as the virtual world steps out to greet visitors.
The photo session with 4.u-ko requires following the official X account of Virtual Osaka Station/Hiroshima Station (https://x.com/official_vos_).
Exhibit 2: 4.u-ko's Partner Character Popularity Vote
Candidates for "4.u-ko's partner," submitted in advance by users, will be on display at the booth. Visitors can vote for the character they think would best suit 4.u-ko as a partner, and the work selected based on the vote results and the company's review will be made an official character as 4.u-ko's partner. Let's decide the next official character together. Submissions of illustrations (characters) have already closed.
Exhibit 3: Mame Hinata Illustration Exhibition
Award-winning entries from an illustration contest held at Virtual Hiroshima Station 2.u will be on display.
This was realized as a collaboration with "Mame Hinata," an avatar hugely popular on VRChat, with the cooperation of 3D avatar creator Kameyama, the avatar's creator. The submitted works showcase users' rich creativity and expressiveness. Enjoy the world of Virtual Hiroshima Station 2.u, which aims to be a meeting point between the virtual and the real.
Original Goods for Sale — Official Merchandise Exclusive to Comiket
Original goods featuring official character "4.u-ko," along with other items exclusive to Comiket, will be available. Customers who meet the purchase conditions will also receive a bonus gift, so don't miss this opportunity.
4.u-ko goods example (acrylic diorama stand)
Mame Friends goods example (keychain)
■ 4.u-ko Goods
These original 4.u-ko goods make their debut at Comiket. In addition to supporting 4.u-ko, the items can also be used to support other characters.
■ Mame Friends Goods
Limited-edition goods will be sold featuring a collaboration between Virtual Hiroshima Station 2.u and "Mame Friends," including "Mame Hinata," who also appeared in the illustration contest. Can badges featuring the illustration contest's award-winning entries will also be sold, letting visitors enjoy creators' work as real merchandise.
■ Comiket (Doujin Market) / JR West Destination-Sign-Style Goods
New products exclusive to Comiket, inspired by the fonts used on JR West's destination signs, will go on sale. These are goods only possible thanks to official approval.
A variety of other goods will also be available. Check the product list below.
URL: https://www.jr-odekake.net/navi/virtual-station/osaka/
Comiket (doujin market) / JR West destination-sign-style goods example (set of 3 acrylic keychains)
Original shopper
■ Purchase Bonus (For Purchases of ¥5,000 or More, Tax Included)
① Original Shopper Gift
Customers will receive an original shopper printed with a large image of official character "4.u-ko." The 4.u-ko design featured on this shopper is the grand-prize-winning entry from a fan art contest.
② (WESTER Members Only) 500 WESTER Points Awarded on the Spot
500 base WESTER points, part of the JR West Group's shared loyalty program, will be awarded on the spot. These points can be used for train fares and shopping.
Since a large turnout is expected, please register as a WESTER member in advance before making a purchase.
Points cannot be awarded after checkout.
■ Notes
- Quantities are limited, and sales will end once goods are sold out.
- Purchases of the same item are limited to a maximum of two per person.
- Depending on crowd conditions, the sales method or line formation may be changed.
- Please follow staff instructions when lining up.
- To avoid inconveniencing other participants, please do not linger near the merchandise sales area.
- Sales content, purchase bonuses, and sales methods are subject to change or cancellation without notice.
- Except in the case of defective items, returns and exchanges are not accepted.
Novelty Giveaways — Limited Items Available Only Here
Original novelties, available only at the booth, will be given out. Original flyers about Virtual Station, created by the staff members actually involved in the project, will also be distributed. These are available for two days only, so be sure to pick one up as a memento of your visit to the Virtual Station booth.
■ Novelty
This is a ticket-style original novelty designed to make Virtual Station feel more familiar. Scanning the QR code printed on the novelty lets you view details about each Virtual Station location.
QR Code is a registered trademark of Denso Wave Incorporated.
Novelty image
Novelty image
■ Notes
- Limited to one novelty per person.
- Quantities are limited, and distribution will end once supplies run out.
Updates about the exhibition will also be shared on the official X account, so be sure to check there as well.
- "Virtual Osaka Station / Hiroshima Station [Official]" X account
[Reference] About "Virtual Osaka Station 4.u"
■ A Field for Co-Creation With Companies, Powered by Users' Ability to Share
This is an SNS-style "Virtual Station" built within the virtual space of REALITY, a smartphone-based metaverse app that has surpassed 20 million cumulative downloads worldwide, recreating and expanding the social and functional roles of the real Osaka Station. Building on progress made since 2022, it continues to refine the features and characteristics that have made communication and independent content creation easy, while leveraging the real Osaka Station to give virtual users opportunities to be active in real life as well.
"Virtual Osaka Station 4.u" official website
https://www.jr-odekake.net/navi/virtual-station/osaka/
[Reference] About "Virtual Hiroshima Station 2.u"
■ A New Value-Creation Field Powered by Users' Creativity
Built within VRChat, a multi-device metaverse platform accessible from a range of environments including PCs and VR devices, this space opened on May 27, 2026 under the concept of "Hiroshima Station after the last train, a place no one knows." It is designed to function as a co-creation platform that broadens users' activities such as sharing creative work, socializing, exhibiting, and holding events.
"Virtual Hiroshima Station 2.u" official website
