HoloLens is Heading to Japan

Microsoft announced another major milestone in the distribution of its mixed reality headset: HoloLens is now available for purchase in Japan.

“I am excited to welcome another country to join us on our holographic journey,” Microsoft Technical Fellow Alex Kipman writes in a post to the Windows Devices blog. It is my pleasure to welcome Japan to the HoloLens family!”

This week’s announcement follows an October expansion of HoloLens availability to Australia, Ireland, France, Germany, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom in October.

As with other markets, Developers and businesses in Japan will be able to choose between the HoloLens Development Edition and the Microsoft HoloLens Commercial Suite. Pre-orders begin on December 2, and Microsoft expects to ship the devices to buyers in Japan in early 2017.

And as with other markets, HoloLens is available exclusively through the Microsoft Store in Japan.

“We continue to be inspired by the work developers and customers are doing with HoloLens across the globe,” Mr. Kipman explains. “Japan is no different. One of the companies already innovating with HoloLens is Japan Airlines. By using HoloLens, Japan Airlines has developed two proof-of-concept programs to provide supplemental training for engine mechanics, and for flight crew trainees who want to be promoted to co-pilot status. We are very excited to have them on this holographic journey with us.”

HoloLens Development Edition costs $3000 in the US, while the Microsoft HoloLens Commercial Suite will set you back $5000.