PS5 Exclusive Ghost of Yotei Triggers Tourism Push in Hokkaido, Japan, With Plans for Curated Tours of Locations Featured in the Game

PS5 Exclusive Ghost of Yotei Triggers Tourism Push in Hokkaido, Japan, With Plans for Curated Tours of Locations Featured in the Game

Towns near the real-life Mount Yotei in Hokkaido are capitalizing on the success of Ghost of Yotei, the PlayStation 5 exclusive game from Sucker Punch, to attract more visitors during the off-season. With initiatives such as official merchandise collaborations and guided tours of in-game locations, local authorities are working to turn the game into a tourism opportunity.

Set in 17th-century Japan, Ghost of Yotei follows Atsu, a warrior seeking vengeance against the six men who killed her family. The game is based on extensive research trips by Sucker Punch to Hokkaido, showcasing the natural beauty of Mount Yotei and its surrounding area. Japanese residents in the region have praised the game for its accurate depiction of the area since its release in October 2024.

Now, towns in the Niseko region, which surrounds the real-life Mount Yotei, are hoping to bring Ghost of Yotei fans to the area. According to reports from Nikkei and spotted by VGC, the region is exploring ways to promote its attractions beyond the winter season.

The real-life Mount Yotei is located in Shikotsu Toya National Park in Hokkaido. Nearby, Niseko is already a popular destination due to its heavy snowfall, which supports a long ski season from November to May. During peak months, luxury hotels in the area can cost around 200,000 yen (approximately $1,200) per night, but this price drops significantly to about 10,000 yen ($60) during the summer off-season. Local officials hope that Ghost of Yotei will draw more visitors to the area even when the snow has melted.

“We hope that through playing the game, people will discover not only the area’s winter landscape but also its spring, summer, and fall scenery, and that this will lead to actual visits,” a spokesperson from the town’s planning and environment division told Nikkei.

With Ghost of Yotei selling over 3.3 million copies by November 2025, a discussion group was quickly formed to explore tourism strategies related to the game. Seven towns in the area, along with tourism associations, have joined the initiative. A representative from Niseko told Nikkei: “We want to focus these promotional efforts on seasons other than winter.”

So far, Niseko has partnered with a Tokyo-based company specializing in intellectual property (IP) collaborations, aiming to sell Ghost of Yotei T-shirts. Further plans include expanding the range of officially licensed merchandise. Local businesses are also getting involved. Kumagera, a company that produces sustainable products from local wood, has already released a series of Ghost of Yotei badges and magnets. There are also plans to offer curated tours of locations featured in the game.

Sucker Punch’s previous title, Ghost of Tsushima, had a significant impact on tourism to Japan’s real-life Tsushima Island. The game’s director, Nate Fox, and creative director, Jason Connell, were named cultural ambassadors as a result. However, the increase in visitors also brought challenges. While donations from Ghost of Tsushima fans helped repair the Watazumi Shrine after a typhoon, the island had to ban tourists in March 2025 due to the misconduct of some visitors.