Japan’s Local Governments Use NFTs for Regional Revival & Tourism
Local Japanese governments are more and more partnering with firms to leverage Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) for regional revitalization and to draw worldwide guests. This development, accelerating quickly all through 2025, marks a big pivot to incorporating Web3 expertise into the nation’s core financial technique.
Today alone noticed main developments: Toda Corporation, JTB, and Fujitsu launched a pilot program in Echizen City, Fukui Prefecture, using NFTs to boost Digital Transformation (DX) in tourism and enhance inbound site visitors . Separately, Shizuoka-based SFG Marketing introduced its entry into the NFT enterprise after profitable early trials.
This surge is underpinned by the Ishiba administration’s dedication to “Regional Revitalization 2.0,” and coincides with an important shift in inbound tourism, the place overseas guests are more and more exploring locations past main metropolitan areas.
The Rise of “Government NFTs”: From Digital Residency to Tourist Passes
NFTs issued by native governments—typically termed “Government NFTs”—have advanced past easy digital collectibles. They now function highly effective instruments for reaching a trifecta of objectives: securing native funding, fostering “relationship populations”, and metropolis promotion.
As of August 2025, over 17 local governments throughout Japan have issued NFTs. These tasks are extremely different. Fukaya City supplied the “Fukkachan NFT” as a furusato nozei return reward. Kumakogen Town partnered with a manga artist for a “Digital Resident NFT.” These NFTs perform as loyalty or digital multi-pass methods. Specifically, they grant holders tangible advantages, comparable to native reductions or precedence occasion entry. This creates clear experiential worth.
Crucially, the enlargement gained vital momentum after the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications designated native NFT projects as eligible for the “Local Economy and Living Environment Creation Grant” this fiscal yr.
NFTs as a Catalyst for Inbound Tourism to Regional Japan
The adoption of NFTs is strategically aligned with Japan’s nationwide tourism objectives. In current years, inbound vacationers have proven a transparent choice for locations past main cities, increasing their focus to regional Japan. According to Japan Tourism Agency data, consumption by overseas guests in 2024 hit a report high of $53 billion (JPY 8 trillion).
NFTs function a potent software to speed up this development of vacationer dispersion:
- Digital Incentive: International NFT fanatics have an interest. Acquiring distinctive digital certificates or unique native advantages creates a robust journey incentive. These advantages are solely obtainable by visiting particular Japanese areas.
- Promoting Local Circulation: The Echizen City pilot reveals one path. Linking NFTs to native transport permits Tourism DX. This encourages vacationers to discover areas extra deeply. JAL and JTB are additionally operating trials. They mix “Oshikatsu” (fan actions) with NFTs to generate new customer flows in Kansai.
- Global Showcase: The Cabinet Office’s “Cool Japan Showcase” on the Osaka-Kansai Expo 2025 in April featured 26 areas presenting regional tourism through NFTs and immersive applied sciences. This highlights a transparent, government-led effort to undertaking regional belongings onto the worldwide Web3 stage.
NFTs are remodeling the expertise for overseas guests, shifting the main target from easy “spending” in main cities to “experiential consumption” and establishing “relationships” with rural Japan.
The Legacy of Ishiba’s Policy: Web3 because the Cornerstone of Revitalization
The accelerated proliferation of Government NFTs in 2025 is extensively seen because the end result of the Ishiba administration’s twin push for a Web3 National Strategy and Regional Revitalization.
Speaking at WebX 2025 on August 25, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba affirmed the federal government’s stance on selling Web3 as a nationwide technique. Furthermore, he highlighted Web3’s potential for regional revitalization. For occasion, he cited profitable Web3-driven initiatives in Ama Town on the Oki Islands for instance.
As a former Minister of Regional Revitalization, Ishiba championed “Regional Revitalization 2.0,” positioning Digital Transformation (DX) as indispensable for regional renewal.
At WebX, the Prime Minister acknowledged that the “2020s might be recorded as an important turning level in historical past,” evaluating it to the Industrial Revolution, and dedicated the federal government to actively make the most of new expertise with the spirit of “let the one who’s going to behave be the primary to do it”.
The Ishiba administration is ending. However, native authorities NFT implementations are quickly increasing. This occurred simply two months after his keynote. It demonstrates his remaining coverage dedication is taking agency root. The objective is anchoring Web3 within the areas. This NFT collaboration is increasing its position. It isn’t just a development. It is a brand new digital infrastructure poised to essentially shift Japan’s financial construction.
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