Tourists Will Be Able to Use Fingerprints as Currency in Japan

It’s not always a good idea to carry a lot of cash on you when you’re going on trips, which is why credit cards are usually much more appealing. However, Japan is looking to take things to a whole new level thanks to an innovative system that uses fingerprints as currency. In order to implement this project successfully, though, tourists will have to register their fingerprints and credit card information at airports or at other public locations. Those who will choose to give up these details will be able to buy products from certain stores by placing two fingers on small fingerprint-reading devices.

The system will enter a testing phase soon, which will involve about 300 souvenir shops, hotels and restaurants located in popular areas such as the Kamakura coastal town or the hot springs resort named Hakone. Japan’s officials are hoping that the system will be implemented in various large cities across the country such as Tokyo by 2020, which definitely sounds doable. Obviously, the government will benefit from this new system as well, as it will be able to improve its tourism management policies by analyzing the spending habits of foreign tourists. Apparently, these habits will be analyzed via anonymous data by a government-led consultative body. The main issue with this fingerprint-based system is that it involves giving up very personal data, and I can definitely understand why some tourists would be reluctant to provide this information.