"Web3.0 x Hiroshima" - Diverse Regional Resources Nurtured by Mountains and Seas: Crafting Unique Pathways from Digital Experiences to Reality

Key points of this article

1.Merging local resources with Web3.0
In Hiroshima Prefecture, an initiative is underway to revitalize the region by combining its rich tourism assets, history, and local specialty products with Web3.0 technology. Its defining feature is a distinctive approach that offers digital perks and NFTs as added value, creating a strong incentive for visitors to travel to the area and explore it further.

2.A wide range of digital initiatives
Examples span a broad spectrum: digital souvenir NFTs from art museums, a digital resident certificate in Akitakata City, a metaverse touring experience in Setoda, and a regional DAO in Jinsekikogen Town. Experience-driven designs are also advancing, such as combining shared taxis for sake brewery tours with NFTs.

3.Building a lasting relationship population
Rather than stopping at generating short-term buzz, the effort aims to expand a sustainable "relationship population" by acquiring digital residents and cultivating fan communities. This approach to redefining a region's appeal through technology stands as a model other municipalities can look to for future community building.

Hiroshima Prefecture is located almost at the center of the Chugoku region in western Honshu, with the Chugoku Mountains to the north and the Seto Inland Sea and approximately 140 islands to the south. The coastal area enjoys a relatively mild climate with low rainfall due to the Seto Inland Sea climate, fostering thriving agriculture and fisheries, including oysters and lemons.

Known as a "manufacturing prefecture," Hiroshima produces a wide range of products from heavy industry to advanced sectors, boasting the highest shipment value in the Chugoku and Shikoku regions. The prefecture is also rich in regional resources, including two World Heritage Sites, the Atomic Bomb Dome and Itsukushima Shrine, traditional performing arts like "Hiroshima Kagura," and the Setouchi Shimanami Kaido, a scenic cycling route connecting the islands. Efforts are underway to combine these tourism, traditional culture, and culinary features with Web3.0 technologies to drive regional revitalization.

Efforts to use the Metaverse as an entry point for tours are gaining attention. In a virtual space modeled after Onomichi City's Setoda Town, visitors can enjoy an experience akin to visiting the area through videos and photos of tourist spots. Subsequently, by actually visiting the location and registering on a dedicated smartphone app, participants can join a stamp rally that takes them through various tourist attractions.

Three types of courses are available: one that tours the shopping district, another connecting accommodations and art museums, and a cycling route that allows participants to enjoy the scenery. Upon completing each course, participants receive commemorative NFT digital art.

▶ A limited-time virtual space has emerged in Setoda Town, Onomichi City, known for its rich tourist resources such as lemons and cycling. By registering on the "Setoda Tour" smartphone app, participants can join three stamp rally courses that visit tourist spots like Shiomachi Shopping Street and the Kosanji Museum. Participants who complete the stamp rally are also gifted original NFT art.

Participating companies and organizations → NEC Corporation, Onomichi City Hall Setoda Branch, Onomichi Tourism Association