It's been pointed out on many occasions that virtual reality has applications beyond games. So it should come as no surprise to learn that one of the fastest growing uses for the technology is when watching pornography.

The hobby is apparently so popular in Japan that the country's first VR porn festival has been closed prematurely after too many people tried to enter the building.

In addition to showing off a range of new adult entertainment content set in the virtual reality space, the festival featured some interesting "accessories" designed to complement the immersive porn experience. These included a rubberized, moving hand attached to a machine and an utterly terrifying blow-up doll that lacked arms, legs, or even a head - but presumably possessed some other anatomically-accurate parts.

It seems that so many porn/VR aficionados wanted to get a look at these not-at-all-creepy products that the overcrowding spilled out into the Tokyo district of Akihabara. In a partly translated Hatenblog report on VR Talk, one of the festival's attendees said: "The event didn't start until 2pm, so I went there in high spirits an hour before then, but the city was already overflowing with people. There were so many that it was almost impossible to keep the situation under control. While waiting for my friends, I couldn't help but think that if they couldn't control the mass of people, a riot or something similar could happen. The 20 lucky guys closest to the building were let in by the staff."

The organizers were forced to shut the festival over fears that the large crowd could become uncontrollable. But staff did say that next time they would book a larger venue for the festival.

Earlier this year, Pornhub became the first adult website to provide free VR content. And in April, it was reported that Las Vegas hotels will soon offer VR porn rentals. It seems that if virtual reality doesn't take off as a gaming device, it's still got a bright future when it comes to porn.