World Square's Cherry Blossom Festival is set to return next month.
Free cultural events, workshops and special offers will take over the Sydney shopping precinct from August 12, with an interactive augmented reality (AR) experience the key attraction.
Led by artificial intelligence, it will be the first interactive AR experience at a retail venue of this scale in Australia.
Visitors will collectively play a number of games to ‘grow’ a virtual cherry blossom tree on the big screen including Taiko drumming, calligraphy dancing and a Nara deer park encounter.
Customers can also witness World Square transform into a cherry blossom wonderland by downloading the World Square app.
This will allow them to use their smart device to view the AR spectacle through a life-sized Torii Gate in the Square.
World Square is also set to target Instagrammers with a series of art installations.
Liverpool Lane will feature a large-scale mural painted by artist Eddie Balic of Creative Features, while a Cherry Blossom Arbour Tunnel and Torii Gate will be installed in the Square.
Visitors from August 22 to 24 can see a Kombi Van as it is transformed into a cherry blossom artwork.
Social media posts with the tag #WSqCherryBlossom will go in the chance to win a number of prices including a Samsung S9.
Other prizes for spending during the activation include a $500 G-Star Raw voucher, a $200 Nine West Voucher and Peter Alexander pyjamas.
Cultural activities will run throughout the last two weeks of the festival including traditional Japanese drumming; calligraphy performances; personalised origami and bonsai workshops; and traditional Yosaki Soran dancing.