Footbath
Project Overview
Footbath is an XR wellness prototype that recreates the feeling of a traditional Japanese footbath using immersive visuals, spatial audio, airflow, and thermal feedback.
Developed with researchers from the University of Tokyo, University of Tsukuba, and Tallinn University, the project explores how multi‑sensory VR can enhance relaxation rituals in hospitality and spa environments.
My Responsibilities
Led UX/UI design for the VR experience, defining interactions, flows, and interface elements for the multi‑sensory scenes.
Conducted UX research and prototype evaluations to balance immersion, comfort, and hardware constraints.
Co‑authored the scientific paper and supported the design of demos presented in the Emerging Technologies tracks at SIGGRAPH Asia and AsiaHaptics.
Core Tech & Libraries
XR & Game Engines: Unity (VR), custom multi‑sensory control logic.
Hardware: VR HMD, airflow and thermal devices, custom control hardware for synchronized stimuli.
Collaboration & Tools: Figma, Miro, Git‑based workflows for documentation and iteration.
Impact & Vision
Footbath demonstrates how multi‑sensory VR (visuals, audio, airflow, temperature) can turn a simple wellness ritual into a deeply immersive, research‑backed relaxation experience, showcased in the scientific paper at venues like SIGGRAPH Asia and AsiaHaptics.
The long‑term vision is to bring this kind of ritual‑based XR experience into hotels, spas, and urban wellness spaces, creating repeatable “digital rituals” that support recovery and stress relief.