Universal Studios Japan in Osaka said Monday it will open a new attraction area based on Nintendo Co.'s Super Mario Bros. game series on Feb. 4.

The new Super Nintendo World area featuring augmented reality attractions, including the world's first interactive Mario Kart theme park ride, was unveiled to the media the same day.

Those taking the Mario Kart: Koopa's Challenge! ride wear AR goggles while in a 4-seater vehicle accompanied by Mario and his twin brother Luigi. They can throw turtle shells just like in the video game and overturn opponents' cars.

The attraction is located in a building that reproduces the castle inhabited by Mario's enemy Bowser, or King Koopa.

The Yoshi Adventure attraction in the new area allows visitors to ride on the dinosaur from the Mario series and search for eggs while looking at a map.

The opening of the new area was originally scheduled for the summer but was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

USJ has reduced the number of visitors to about half of capacity to prevent the spread of the virus. It will also limit admission to the new area.

==Kyodo

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