Niseko is the world's first crypto ski resort on the island of Hokkaido. It is popular among tourists, especially from Australia and China, and has been actively developing infrastructure related to cryptocurrencies in recent years.
What's happening there?
• In 2017, Niseko began accepting bitcoins as payment for accommodation, food, and equipment rentals.
• Some hotels, restaurants, and shops have rejected fiat money and operate only with crypto.
• This has become part of an experiment to implement blockchain technologies in the tourism industry.
• The Niseko Bitcoin Village platform was launched to simplify transactions in BTC.
Why was this done?
1. To attract crypto enthusiasts – Japan is one of the most advanced countries in terms of crypto regulation, and such a move could attract more tourists.
2. For the convenience of international guests – Many visitors from China, Australia, and the USA prefer to pay with crypto to avoid losing money on currency exchange.
3. To test decentralized finance – This was a kind of experiment to understand whether it is possible to create an autonomous economy based on crypto.
However, the project is currently not operating at full capacity – after the pandemic, some establishments have returned to traditional payment methods. But Niseko is still considered one of the world's first crypto-friendly tourist destinations.