Toyota, whose history in virtual marketing is already notable, has launched its own virtual island aimed primarily at a Japanese market (the site, thus far, only uses the Japanese language).

The island itself will be self-sufficient and boasts residential areas, a museum for automobile prototypes, a mall, and an event hall.

The technology uses the meet-me platform, a Japanese reality simulation game that some call a “G-rated” version of Second Life. Toyota is connected to the Tokyo meet-me, which was launched in December of 2007 specifically for a Japanese audience.

While the development of Toyota’s 3D presence through meet-me may seem a slight to Second Life, Linden still views Japan as a key market, according to an anonymous source reporting to the AP. The source said that “it plans to strengthen its Japanese services,” and notes that Japan lags behind only the US and Germany in number of hours spent in Second Life.