Tablecross raises $2M to boost food tourism in Japan

Tablecross, a Japan-based startup that operates a food tourism platform, has raised $2.24 million in Series A funding.

The investment is led by Kemuri Ventures, with JTB Corporation, Veltra Corporation and PR TIMES Inc. as underwriters. 

Tablecross operates ByFood.com, a platform to help English-speaking visitors to Japan find food experiences such as tours and cooking classes. The platform also offers a marketplace for gourmet Japanese products and a restaurant reservation system.

As Japan’s borders have reopened following the COVID crisis, Tablecross says ByFood.com’s monthly gross merchandise value has increased nearly 1,500% compared with 2022 and growth is accelerating.

With the support of this new capital, the company said it has “renewed its own goal to create and refine its high value-added products: original food experiences that attract travelers from around the world.” It plans to use the funding for recruitment, marketing and technological integrations.

“By leveraging the strengths of both companies, such as through sales of ByFood.com food experience tours using the JTB network, we hope to help realize a spiritually rich and sustainable society by providing visitors from various countries with a deep taste of Japanese food and the diverse cultures unique to each region,” said Goro Kido, president of global business unit headquarters at JTB, a Japan-based travel agency.

Since its founding in 2014, Tablecross has raised $4.1 million.