Cosplayers gather in Okayama town to boost tourism

A town in western Japan has welcomed cosplayers, hoping their presence on social media will help boost tourism. Hundreds of cosplayers and photographers gathered on Sunday at a shrine in the town of Wake, Okayama Prefecture.

Photographers snapped shots of participants dressed as characters from comics and video games as they posed under cherry blossoms and on a bridge.  Organizers said the event aims to draw more young people to the area and hope cosplayers enjoy the atmosphere and post plenty of photos online.