In January, Yoshida and Ogawa visited Las Vegas to attend CES. This article highlights experiences in Las Vegas outside of CES. For the CES business trip report, please refer to the link at the end of this article.
MSG Sphere
Yoshida: We visited the MSG Sphere, which just opened in September 2023. This massive spherical structure is right in the heart of the city, standing out prominently in the skyline.
Yoshida: Many of you may have seen videos on social media showing the vast immersive visuals viewed from the seats. These videos are actually from within this spherical building. The visuals were impressive, but the pre-show entertainment was also fascinating. We bought tickets for a 7 PM show, but the actual screening started an hour after entry. While waiting, you could buy drinks and snacks or interact with humanoid robots called Aura. Each of the four robots has a theme and answers questions posed by visitors. Despite being surrounded by people, the robots turn to face the questioner when responding.
Yoshida: The seating area in the screening hall is very steep, providing a good view from any seat, though it can be a bit scary until you sit down. We chose seats slightly behind the center, costing about 8,000 yen per person. The MSG Sphere offers 18K, 60fps visuals and has about 160,000 speakers for immersive sound, ensuring a consistent audio experience from any seat.
Yoshida: We watched a work titled "Postcard from Earth," directed by Darren Aronofsky, known for films like "Black Swan."
(Spoilers ahead--skip to the next paragraph if you prefer not to read them.)
The first few minutes are like watching a typical movie on a rectangular screen. Then Earth appears, gradually growing larger until it fills the entire field of view, transitioning to a stunning blue sky. The audience erupted in awe at the realism. This level of immersion is something that canʼt be fully appreciated without experiencing it in person. If youʼre in Las Vegas, this is a must-see spot.
Sphere | Immersive Shows, Concerts & Events in Las Vegas
Experiecne unparalleled entertainment at Sphere in Las Vegas.
Sphere | Immersive Shows, Concerts & Events in Las Vegas (thespherevegas.com)
Theme Park-like Hotel Experiences
Ogawa: One of the pleasures of Las Vegas is experiencing diverse entertainment within a single hotel. Hotel facilities are open to non-guests as well. During our trip, we visited several hotels. Resorts World Las Vegas, which opened in 2021, is one of the largest hotels in the US. It features a casino, shopping area, theater, nightclub, and pool. The resort also showcases art, including a humorous and well-organized periodic table of 24 elements representing Las Vegas by artist Daniel Cohen.
Ogawa: The Venetian Resort Hotel, designed to replicate Venice, was particularly impressive. The interior includes canals with boats navigating through a luxurious shopping mall and hallways with ornate ceilings. Dining on the terrace felt like being in a Disney attraction.
Ogawa: We also tried the casino. We played a simple roulette game, but our results were not great, haha. The thrill of unexpected wins kept us playing late into the night, so be careful. There were also UFO catchers with cash prizes, which had a significant visual impact. Besides the hotels mentioned here, many other unique hotels make exploring them a delightful activity when visiting Las Vegas.
Culinary Experiences in Las Vegas
Yoshida: I wanted to try ramen abroad, so I went to a ramen restaurant called "Kataya." The clientele was mostly Asian, and I heard some Japanese spoken, which was reassuring. The restaurant had a high rating of 4.4 on Google Maps (at the time of our visit), with positive reviews like "tastes like Japan" and "great for hangovers." I ordered karaage tonkotsu ramen. Although karaage might seem unusual, the ramen tasted authentically Japanese and was delicious. Itʼs a great spot if you crave Japanese flavors in Las Vegas.
Yoshida: I also saw a service where robots make cocktails, ordered via a tablet at the table. Watching the robot spill a bit while shaking the drinks was endearing in its clumsiness.
Yoshida: Las Vegas is close to the desert and extremely dry, making you very thirsty. On the first day, a bottle of water at the exhibition hall cost about 800 yen due to the weak yen, so the next morning, we bought a pack of 12 bottles at a drugstore. The drink section of the store had full-screen LCDs that played ads when approached. Las Vegas extensively uses LCD displays, which was surprising to see even in a drugstore. The beer section showed animations of beer being poured, which made me want a drink.
Transportation Experiences in Las Vegas
Yoshida: Ride-sharing services like Uber are widespread, with designated pickup points at all major facilities alongside taxi stands. Generally, a ride arrives within five minutes. However, some areas have specific pickup spots, so pay attention to that. Many drivers engage in conversation during the ride, and I managed with the words I knew, but it made me wish I had studied English more.
Ogawa: Although I couldnʼt take pictures, I saw two self-driving cars during our stay. One looked like a bus, and the other was used for hotel transport. These vehicles are still rare, so if you spot one with LiDAR and a unique shape, I recommend taking a picture.
Weʼre reinventing personal transportation-making the future safer, cleaner, and more enjoyable for everyone. Itʼs on-demand autonomous ride-hailing.
Yoshida: Monorails are also very convenient for getting around Las Vegas. Many stations are directly connected to hotels and casinos. A day pass is quite economical, making it the best transportation option if thereʼs a station near your hotel. Some lines operate until 3 AM on certain days, typical of the ever-energetic Las Vegas, where itʼs easy to stay up late.
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