HIS Travel Agency Accepts Bitcoin Payments
Major Japanese travel agency HIS begins accepting Bitcoin payments across multiple outlets.
On September 19, 2017, HIS, one of Japan’s largest travel agencies, announced it would begin accepting Bitcoin as payment at over 80 of its retail outlets nationwide. Customers could now purchase domestic and international travel packages using Bitcoin through a partnership with Bitflyer, Japan’s largest exchange.
The decision was a direct response to increasing consumer demand and the growing mainstream acceptance of cryptocurrency in Japan, particularly following the FSA’s regulatory framework. This adoption showcased Bitcoin’s potential use as a medium of exchange beyond speculation, illustrating how large enterprises could integrate digital assets into existing business models.
For the travel sector, Bitcoin provided opportunities to reach new demographics, particularly younger, tech-savvy travelers and international visitors. HIS’s move reflected broader corporate experimentation with Bitcoin acceptance during 2017’s bull run, reinforcing Japan’s role as one of the most progressive cryptocurrency markets in the world at the time. https://www.travelvoice.jp/english/h-i-s-introduces-a-bitcoin-payment-service-in-38-retail-shops-in-tokyo-metropolitan-area#:~:text=introduces%20a%20Bitcoin%20payment%20service%20in%2038,in%20collaboration%20with%20bitflyer%2C%20a%20Bitcoin%20exchange.