Art Research

What Art Research does

Art Research Inc. (株式会社アートリサーチ) is a Kyoto-based private company founded on October 2, 2020 that provides ultra-high-definition digital preservation, VR content production, and AI-powered multilingual guide solutions for cultural heritage institutions in Japan. The company serves temples, shrines, museums, art galleries, local government cultural departments, and universities, with named engagements including Ninnaji Temple, Miyajima Daishoin Temple, Tokyo University of the Arts, Kameoka City Museum, and Nishijin Lifestyle Museum Tomitaya. Its offering spans the full digitization stack: 2D and 3D scanning services, VR experience production, multilingual digital archive systems, accessibility-focused 3D-printed replicas, and most recently an AI-powered conversational guide robot (Okami Bot).

The technology backbone derives from ultra-high-definition cultural heritage scanning research at Kyoto University, delivering 1000-1500dpi image capture with color accuracy of delta-E ≤2, photogrammetry and laser-based 3D capture, and a proprietary single-lens 360-degree robot camera system producing 100K-200K resolution panoramas. The product portfolio includes software (ARTSURF, an IIIF-compliant viewer handling up to 16GB images; ARTEXPLORER, a multilingual digital archive database), hardware (Gallery Kiosk touch-panel signage), mobile (MaNavi, a GPS/BLE-triggered audio guide app), and AI (Okami Bot, a 1.3-meter multilingual conversational robot supporting six languages).

Revenue is generated through professional services for scanning and content production, one-time software licensing for ARTSURF and ARTEXPLORER, and hardware sales for Gallery Kiosk. All pricing is custom-quoted after consultation and the company does not disclose pricing publicly. Distribution is sales-led via direct engagement with cultural institutions across the Kansai, Kanto, and Chugoku regions of Japan, with multi-year project contracts. Strategic technology partnerships include Kyoto University's Ide Laboratory and the Advanced Imaging Engineering Research Institute (AITREC), which provide ongoing imaging engineering expertise underpinning the company's scanning IP.

Name

Art Research

Legal name

株式会社アートリサーチ

Website

https://artr.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Art Research is a Kyoto-based private company founded in 2020 that provides ultra-high-definition digital scanning, VR content production, multilingual digital archive systems, and AI-powered guide solutions for cultural heritage institutions including temples, museums, and universities across Japan.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cultural Heritage Digitization Services

NAICS

Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121)

SIC

Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYTHAJADAH

Art Galleries & Exhibition Spaces (Commercial & Nonprofit)

Travel & Hospitality/Tours, Attractions & Experiences/Museums, Galleries & Cultural Institutions

SECONDARYEDAMAAAB

Digital Arts & Design (Graphic Design, Illustration, Animation)

Education/Supplemental & Enrichment Programs (Arts, STEM, Language)/Arts & Creative Enrichment (Visual Arts, Music, Theater, Dance)

SECONDARYTHAJADAA

Art Museums

Travel & Hospitality/Tours, Attractions & Experiences/Museums, Galleries & Cultural Institutions

Keywords

• Cultural heritage digitization
• Ultra-high resolution scanning
• Digital archive software
• VR content production
• 3D cultural preservation

Headquarters

HQ city

Kyoto

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. 超高精細撮影・デジタルコンテンツ制作・動画制作・VRコンテンツ制作: Core service offerings including ultra-high definition photography, 3D measurement, digital content production, video production, and VR content creation for cultural heritage preservation.
2. ソフトウェア製品販売 (ARTSURF, ARTEXPLORER): Standalone and web-based software solutions for high-resolution image viewing and digital archive management. Pricing through custom quotation after consultation.
3. ハードウェア製品 (Gallery Kiosk): Touch panel digital signage hardware with pre-installed digital collections for museums and cultural facilities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Art Research provides ultra-high-definition cultural heritage scanning, 3D measurement, and digital content production services for temples, museums, and cultural institutions. The company also develops and sells proprietary software (ARTSURF image viewer, ARTEXPLORER digital archive), hardware (Gallery Kiosk digital signage), mobile applications (MaNavi audio guide), VR content, AI-powered guide robots (Okami Bot), and 3D-printed replicas for accessibility.

Product overview

Art Research (株式会社アートリサーチ) offers a comprehensive portfolio of software, hardware, and services for cultural heritage digitization and preservation. The core software suite includes ARTSURF (TR-S001), an IIIF-compliant ultra-high-resolution image viewer handling files up to 16GB, and ARTEXPLORER (TR-E001), a digital archive database managing images, videos, 3D objects, audio, and text with integrated viewing and search capabilities. These are complemented by Gallery Kiosk (TR-G001), a touch-panel digital signage system for visitor-facing displays. The service lineup includes VR content production (Heritage Quest VR), 3D printing replicas for accessibility, and professional ultra-high-resolution scanning services using 2D photography, photogrammetry, and laser scanning technologies. Recent additions include MaNavi, a GPS/beacon-enabled audio guide mobile app, and Okami Bot, an AI-powered multilingual conversational robot for cultural facilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ARTSURF (TR-S001): Ultra-high-resolution image viewing system compatible with IIIF standards, supporting files up to 16GB per image.
• ARTEXPLORER (TR-E001)
• Gallery Kiosk (TR-G001)
• MaNavi
• Heritage Quest VR
• Okami Bot

Products and services

• ARTSURF (TR-S001)

Quantifiable outcome

• Color accuracy with delta-E of 2 or less, surpassing industry standard of 3
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability9 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• 先端イメージング工学研究所 (AITREC)coreTechnology or IntegrationTechnical collaboration partner providing imaging engineering expertise. Led by Kyoto University Professor Emeritus Ide Ari, contributing to advanced digital imaging solutions for cultural heritage.
• 株式会社相互技研 (Sogo Giken)supportingTechnology or IntegrationTechnical cooperation partner contributing specialized engineering expertise to Art Research's digital heritage projects.
• 株式会社カリアーク (Culiarch)supportingTechnology or IntegrationTechnical cooperation partner participating in Art Research's collaborative technology development initiatives.
• 京都大学 井手研究室 (Kyoto University Ide Laboratory)coreTechnology or IntegrationAcademic research partner and origin of ultra-high definition cultural heritage scanning technology. Professor Emeritus Ide Ari's laboratory developed foundational scanning technologies used by Art Research.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Toppan Inc. Major Japanese printing, communications, and digital solutions company with heritage digitization, archive, and VR content services for cultural institutions and museums. Comparable as an incumbent operating broadly across the same Japanese heritage digitization space with far greater scale.
• Dai Nippon Printing (DNP): Large Japanese printing conglomerate with significant cultural content, digital archive, and immersive media operations including museum VR experiences. Directly comparable on cultural heritage VR/archive services and Japanese museum customer base.
• Google Arts & Culture: Google's cultural heritage platform featuring ultra-high-resolution imagery, virtual tours, and 3D models of museum and heritage collections worldwide. Comparable as a high-visibility cultural heritage digitization platform with similar gigapixel imaging and multilingual features.
• NTT Data Institute of Management Consulting: Large Japanese IT services group with cultural heritage digital archive and government DX practices. Comparable as an incumbent offering digital archive platforms to Japanese museums and government cultural departments.
• Canon Inc. Global imaging company with high-resolution photography, document scanning, and digital archive solutions targeting cultural heritage and enterprise customers. Comparable on the underlying scanning/imaging technology foundation.

Direct peers

• CyArk: Nonprofit specializing in 3D digital preservation of world heritage sites using high-resolution scanning and photogrammetry. Comparable as a dedicated cultural heritage digitization specialist with similar scanning methodology, although CyArk operates at international scale.
• Histovery: French company producing immersive VR tours of historical sites and museums for visitor engagement. Directly comparable on the VR cultural heritage experience product category and museum/temple customer segment.

Emerging players

• Matterport: 3D spatial capture platform providing photogrammetry-based digital twins of physical spaces. Comparable on the 3D scanning and digital twin technology layer, though focused on real estate/architecture rather than cultural heritage.
• RealityCapture (Capturing Reality): Photogrammetry software for 3D scanning of objects, architecture, and cultural artifacts from photographs. Comparable as an enabling technology for the 3D capture workflow Art Research uses for heritage assets.

Regional players

• NHK Enterprises (Cultural Heritage / 8K VR): Japanese broadcaster subsidiary producing high-resolution 8K VR content of cultural heritage sites and temples. Comparable on the Japan-focused ultra-high-resolution VR cultural content production activity and similar temple/museum clientele.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Art Research